Temples and missions

The week and weekend were challenging for different reasons but I feel like we were blessed tremendously in spiritual things that allowed us to refocus and concentrate on the things that matter most - our faith and our family.

The challenges are trivial - All of our football teams lost. Chase's Lehi varsity football team lost a 37-34 heart-breaker at home to Pleasant Grove. Chase and teammates did so well and surprised us all. Despite the loss we feel like there are some great things that can happen if this team continues to work hard. Mica did well too but his team really fell apart in a way that we have never seen before. We are hoping that this week works out better for them. Kenyon and Quinn had a tough time too and to top it all off we had to sit through another terrible BYU-Utah game. But football games, even with the many life lessons that sports teaches us, they are still games. We win some, we lose some.

What gives us the greatest joy is seeing the joy that emanates from the people we love most and this weekend we saw that light magnified as we participated in some very memorable and emotional events.

First, we spent Saturday morning with Seti's sister Annette at the Jordan River temple where she was able to grow closer to our Father in Heaven. It was such an amazing experience to be there to support Annette in one of the most important milestones in her life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Second. we had the opportunity to listen to our nephew Elder Wilson Matua bear his personal witness of the gospel Jesus Christ as he prepares to leave this week on his mission to Auckland, New Zealand where he will speak the language of his forefathers - Samoan. There were moments when we felt so close to our own son while listening to Wilson speak. We miss Kingston dearly but seeing the smile on Wilson's face really confirmed for us again that Kingston is in the right place and time in his life. We are so blessed to have these young men whom we love so much out there serving the Lord in such a critical time of their young lives. It is a blessing and such a wonderful example for us.

Being with our immediate and extended family always brings us closer to each other and to our Father in Heaven. As our boys continue to grow and as they begin to leave our home, these moments become more and more special and important. We look forward to more opportunities like this in the future and pray that we will always be an eternal, loving family.

Most of our Matua clan at Wilson's Mission Farewell