reVision magazine - August 2016

Off the shoulder looks

a reVision publication

August 2016

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“I have a personal mission to encourage, empower and inspire women to chase down their purposes, live out their passion and perform at the highest level God created them.

I am scouring the globe for women who want to leave behind mundane, passion-less lives and who are ready to exist in the greatness they were created to be!” —Christie www.revisionforwomen.com

From the editor

It’s time to get back to the classroom. Children are soon to be dressed in new clothes with backpacks full of school supplies. The comforting routine the school year can bring is welcomed, but that doesn’t make it any easy to see those kiddos grow up — moving into a higher grade level, taking on new challenges, getting smarter, getting more independent.

Whether you are waving off your child to kindergarten for the first time, sending your freshman off to college or watching your baby move into their career — it tugs at a momma’s heart.

You know these days are going to come, but that doesn’t make it any easier.

Hopefully you have tucked away memories from the summer months to smooth this time of transition. Even so, let me offer some helpful hints. First, don’t try to deny how you feel. It’s OK to reach for the box of tissue and have a good cry. Go sit in their room, snuggle their favorite teddy bear and admire their finger paintings. It’s OK. Second, set a special time on the calendar to be together with your kiddo. If your child Don’t try and will come home each afternoon deny those feelings. from school, set aside some time It’s OK to feel sad, to be together and talk about their day. If you child is a bit oldlonely or to miss er and won’t be back until the holyour child...no iday break, mark that on the calmatter what age endar and plan a special activity during that time. Knowing there’s they may be! a specific time you will be with your child can lessen the loneliness, giving you something to look forward to.

We want to hear from you!

We want this magazine to impact your life and touch your heart, all while encouraging, empowering and inspiring you.

So is there something that you like, something that touched you or meant something to you? If so, send us a message and let us know! We’d love to hear your thoughts, comments and suggestions.

Comment on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ revision.christie.browning; Twitter at @speakerchristie or email us at revisionforwomen@outlook.com.

Christie Browning — Editor, Speaker, Writer ReVision magazine is a monthly publication with issues made available online and in print. For submissions, please email christiebrowning@outlook.com and include a method of contact. reVision magazine and it’s editor/publisher reserve the right to refuse submissions without explanation as well as edit content without preapproval of its contributor.

Contributions are offered complimentary. reVision magazine nor its parent company, reVision for Women LLC, offer compensation or payment for the contributions it receives. Images used are done so with credit to the known photographer and with permission from said creator. All other content, images and articles are the property of reVison magazine and may not be reproduced or used without permission from its editor/ publisher.

Contact reVision by emailing christiebrowning@outlook.com or visit online at www.revisionforwomen.com

11 On the cover: Leslie Grass is a wife and mother who’s oldest son is hundreds of miles away serving as a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Photo courtesy of Leslie Grass.

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Motivations: How to battle busy by figuring out what your heart wants.

15 Bombarded by negativity?

We’ve got solutions to help!

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Studying Scripture: Dreams and prayers from Hannah in our new study of I Samuel

9 Life Lessons: A mother’s example of a foundation built on the Word.

10 Off the shoulder looks won’t disappoint during summer fun!

Inspiration

T

ime is a sensitive issue for some of us. We’re either complaining we don’t have enough or mad that it’s going by quickly. We can never get satisfied with time.

We buy into the lie that we have all the time in the world. Although we know that’s really not true, our calendars reflect differently. We try to cram 30 hours worth of things to do in a 24-hour period.

That’s living on borrowed time, and it’s the best way to create frustration and stress in your life.

By Christie Browning

When we choose to live as if there are 30 hours in our day, some real symptoms manifest in our lives.

We push our time to the limits and there’s no time left for us to rest.

We are constantly engaged, motivated to move and act with every ding, beep and ring of our cellphones. We don’t know how to stop, be still and silence our hearts and minds. We feel as if we must constantly be on the go, be connected and be accessible.

We can’t get it all done. When we’re trying to tackle a lengthy to-do list, we fall short and begin doubting our abilities, our motives, and ourselves. We measure ourselves against the mom, wife, or business woman who we think can do no wrong. When we feel like we don’t measure up, often times we try to do more. However, when we can’t keep all the balls in the air, things start to drop and fall apart. That leaves us feeling even worse than when we started, and begins a viscous cycle that can easily spin out of control. What we’ve built up in our heads is a zero-tolerance mindset that forces us into excellence, perfection and a “please-all-people-all-of-the-time” mandate.

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in our path leads us to bob our heads in compliance without even thinking.

Nasty self-talk, negative emotions and unrealisThese feelings tic expectations rob aren’t necesus of our peace and sarily bad or joy in life. We are harmful. It’s left feeling empty, natural to drained and exwant to feel hausted. In this needed or usesickness, there is no ful. However, fulfillment. We lose when we use our identity, our them to fill a goals and our void in our dreams. We try to hearts, we be all things to all might get a people, and in the temporary fix, middle of it all, but not a perwe’ve lost the ability manent solution. This is like expecting a Bandto know what we want.

Aid to do the job of a tourniquet.

When it comes to your hurried, scurried lifeOften times we agree to add another task to our style, motivations need to be evaluated. If acto-do list on emotion. We feel obligated to say ceptance and worth is only found in your to-do “yes” because a friend asked us to do something. list, you will find yourself hurting, empty, and frustrated with the outcomes.

Maybe it’s because we want to feel needed or we want to belong.

Motives are important and checking in on them We can also stretch our time because we want to be appreciated, to feel important and valuable. Many times our disease to please everyone

regularly is a smart way to make sure you are staying in control of your time and the heart connected to it.

Think about the last thing you agreed to do, go to, or be a part of.

Maybe you are being faced with a decision right now. If you were, or are, faced with that opportunity today, how would you answer the following questions: What am I hoping to gain from this?

What will I be willing to give up in order to do this?

How does my husband/family feel about me doing this?

Do I really want to do this?

What is my honest reason for wanting to do this?

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Could you be hired as a master juggler.. You’re that good at keeping all the balls in the air, but your arms are getting tired?

Feeling as if you’re working hard, but at the end of the day there's nothing to show for it?

Do you deeply want to slow down and BREATHE?

Visit our online shop at www.revisionforwomen.com to get yours!

Our new faith-based study combines Biblical principles and practical tools to help you battle the hectic, hurried pace of life to give you back your control and peace.

United

for the joy of

giving

It’s not Mother’s Day, but recently my mom has been on my mind. Maybe it’s because this month is her birthday. Regardless of the reason, memories of my times spent with mom have been rolling around in my head and heart lately.

In my family, my mom always took a backseat — isn’t that just like most moms? My dad has a big personality and commands the room when he is present. However, my mom is the perfect balance of meekness and boldness.

She knew how a sweet whisper in my ear could calm my little-kid heart. And she also knew how to launch into protector and defender, momma-bear style. Growing up my mother was patient and understanding, shaking her head at my dad’s crazy antics and childish sense of humor. She indulged us each time we wanted a new pet. She made our single-wide trailer a home that seemed as big as a mansion, full of love and laughter.

Both of my parents set a visual example of what it means to not only follow God on Sunday, but how to do it the other six days of the week. I saw my mom diligently study her Bible and prepare weekly for the Sunday School lesson she would be teaching. Looking back now, that was a spiritual foundation-builder for my own life. The Word was a real guidebook for my mom. She turned to it for her own guidance, but also to help her kids in their own paths.

When it was time for “the talk,” mom sat me down and showed me God’s

Continued on page 21 >>>>

Fashion

By Kennedy Slavicek Off the shoulder shirts are so in right now. They are the number one summer staple this season. They are so versatile and not to mention adorable!

You can wear one by itself, with a vest over it, or under a pair of overalls. No matter what you wear with it, it always looks put together and chic.

I like to add some spunk to a “girly� top. So I added a black choker, distressed denim shorts, and black belt offset the yellow, floral top. Dress it up or down to the way you like it and get on with this amazing weather we are having this summer! :)

Wearing: Vintage top | Vintage shorts | PacSun choker | Forever 21 belt

You can learn more about Kennedy by visiting her at her online clothing store, kennedynoellescloset.com and her blog, kennedynoelle.com .

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Feature

to 11

By Christie Browning

R

aise your hand if you’re a mother who is sending her child off to school, college, a career or some other unknown in the next few weeks.

It’s that time of year when the school calendar reminds mommas that their kiddos are getting older and growing up faster than they would like.

Leslie Grass is no stranger to the mix of emotions that come from sending a child off to face the next great life challenge.

Almost a year ago, Leslie said goodbye to her oldest son, Conner who was 18 at Pictured is the Grass family. From left: Ellie, Megan, Cameron, Conner, Mike and Leslie - with a few family pets. the time. She sent Conner off to serve a two-year stint as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The ner’s mission would give him some much needed Grass family are Mormons and live in Salt Lake real-world skills and experience, but that didn’t City, Utah where Leslie and her husband Mike lessen the emotions she knew she’d experience grew up and have lived ever since. once Conner left home for two years.

Young men who are members of the Mormon faith are encouraged to serve a two-year mission “I certainly wanted Conner to be a valued member of society, to be able to take care of himself where they spend their time sharing their faith and serving the community they are in. They can without me always at his beck and call,” explains Leslie. “I kept asking myself, is there any other start their mission as early as 18 years of age. way that he could get this same life-changing exAs part of their commitment to their work, misperience and not have it be for two long years? sionaries are not allowed many of the comforts Anywhere I could send him where I could still be other 18-year-olds have. Social media interaction a successful helicopter parent and answer all his is not allowed, movies and television are susquestions, text messages and pleas for help?” pended, video game play is not allowed and communication with family is done on a limited basis There were other options, ones that would include Conner being available anytime via the in— mostly through weekly emails. ternet or cellphone, neither of which is offered to “As a mom, I like all my little ducklings in my lita Mormon missionary while on his mission. tle bubble — within reach to pull them in when “We knew we wanted him to have an experience there is danger, be there to give them Tylenol at where he would have to rely on himself, rely on all hours of the night, and be nearby to throw them in their room when they make dumb choic- God, find his own faith in God and in himself,” es,” Leslie says. “I was struggling with the letting says Leslie about how her and he husband felt.

“We wanted him to learn that he can do hard go part. This is my oldest, my first born, my things, and we knew it was the right thing to sweet baby boy.” do. It ultimately was his decision, and he acceptWanting the best for her son, Leslie knew Coned the call to serve in the Ohio, Cincinnati mis-

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sion.”

education,” Leslie recalls.

“This 18-year-old boy would Once Conner made his choice, have rather spent time with preparations began for him to “I'm so proud of his girlfriend or getting maxispend ten, 14-hour days learning mum use of his Xbox Live achow to share the gospel mesConner, and I now count. He was leaving for sage at the Missionary Training two long years! Lesson know he can do Center in Utah. Leslie soon reallearned for this ized there were several things hard things.

I’m mom: choosing to take care of Conner would need to learn all the household needs is not that only could be taught at learning that I can being the best mom evhome. do hard things, too.” er. Maybe it was part of being “I’m one of those moms that bea good mom, but it was not lieves it’s just easier most of the teaching my family the skills time to do things myself rather they needed once they leave my nest.” than hear the complaining and whining of getting Part of transitioning from life as a boyfriend/ my kids involved,” she explains. “After Conner received his mission call, I quickly learned what a video-game junkie to Mormon missionary meant mistake this type of parenting had been. My kid getting a haircut, abiding by a curfew and schedwas going out into the world with no clue how to ule, and taking on the name “Elder,” as in Elder do his own laundry or make his own food. I had Grass. just recently taught him how to put gas in his car “It was quite a change for him to go from staying and got him his first debit card. It was time to out until all hours of the night, sleeping until get to work.” noon, spending Lesley gave crash courses on laundry, grilled his days cheese sandwich making, bathroom cleaning, going grocery shopping and budgeting. from one “Of course he was not open to all this domestic electron-

Pictured above left: Leslie and Mike pose with Conner while preparing for his two-year mission. Pictured above right: Elder Grass before he left for his mission.

ic device to the next,” Leslie says.

As time moved rapidly toward his departure date, Leslie started feeling worried about what Conner might experience. The uncertainty weighed heavily on her mother’s heart.

Elder grass, pictured left, poses with his mother Leslie before leaving for two years as a Mormon missionary.

“What was he getting himself into? Leaving his family, friends, a car, free time, and his iPhone for two years was a lot of stress. There was a lot of questioning and second guessing his decision,” Leslie remembers.

“We told him from the beginning that we would support whatever decision he made, to go or not to go. He knew it would be a good thing for him. We knew it would be a great thing for him. We all knew it would be one of the hardest things he ever did, and we knew that progress could not happen in his comfort zone. He

needed to step outside himself to grow.”

So Conner went. “We all dreaded that moment of letting go. It was met with many tears. Not only from an emotionally drained mom, but a loving dad who was losing his playmate for two years and Conner’s siblings who think their older brother is pretty cool,” says Leslie.

Just as moms often do, Leslie had encouraging words for her son in that moment.

“I hugged my boy and told him ‘You got this.’”

Conner was taken to Ohio to start his mission. Leslie and her family waited with “baited breath” for the first email saying he was still alive, eating and thriving.

“He was alive, not enjoying it, but he was still there. Eventually the letters became more positive,” says Leslie. >>Continued on page 23

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Faith

By Toni Ryan Someone asked me the other day if I had written anything pertaining to the hate crimes of late.

She was in need of a little help in dealing with the negative posts on Facebook as well as conversations she didn’t want to be included in.

I completely understand how she feels. Even though there is an abundance of goodness in the world, it seems the bad news is all that’s focused on within the news media and, quite often, on social media.

Watercooler conversations can easily turn ugly when opinions take over and in situations where unity needs our focus. Family gatherings can get out of hand when certain topics are discussed.

In essentials: unity In opinions: liberty In all things: love Christian or not, good people usually want to bring more joy into the world rather than evil.

However, if we’re not careful, it’s easy to get sucked into the constant barrage of negativity.

Since we can’t do anything about what’s happening in the world, we need to ask ourselves what we can do to make our little corner of it a better

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place. More importantly, what would God have us do to make our sphere of influence more positive and joyful? Let us ask Him, even in the midst of someone spewing hatred, how to show grace and love.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone Romans 12:18 This verse makes it very clear. It is our responsibility to live in peace with others. It is our prerogative to walk away when a conversation turns ugly. If we feel we can’t walk away, it’s OK to nicely say we are uncomfortable with the topic.

Social media run amok? Maybe we need to hide certain posts from those we are “friends” with on Facebook. We don’t necessarily need to “unfriend,” but hiding certain content is totally acceptable. However, if said “friend” is always posting unkind things that make us uncomfortable, “unfriending” or “unfollowing” is probably what God would have us do. Yep, even praying about social media posts is a good thing to do.

There’s a song by Anne Murray entitled “A Little Good News.” I remember when it came out. It is just as true now as it was then. Although the music video was released in 1983, the images mimic much of what we see today.

It may feel as if our world is worse than ever, but it isn’t quite as bad as we think it seems. The difference now is that we have more access to the news of the world than we’ve ever had before.

Garbage In, Garbage Out Grace And Love In, Grace And Love Out We need to remember this, not only for our children, but for ourselves, too. If it isn’t something we want our children to see or hear, maybe we shouldn’t be seeing or listening to it either. Just sayin’…

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

There has always been, and always will be, evil in the world. Evil, sadly, began with the first set of siblings. Cain and Abel. Cain was jealous of his brother and killed him. Good verses evil will always exist. It’s how we respond to it that makes Do you have any thoughts on this subject? Let’s the difference. all help one another deal with the onslaught of negativity. After all, we’re in this mess called life For me, it’s how to raise our children and grand- together. Let’s start a trend of unfriending negachildren that makes this a much more serious tivity. concern. They have way more access to negativity and evil because of social media.

Heavenly Father, we come before You for guidance. Please help us show the love of Your Son in spite of the negativity People are more emboldened in what they share all around us. Please help us to create a peaceful atmosand post. Things they would never say to somephere in our homes and places of business. We need Your one face-to-face becomes easy in a post. So sad. help Lord. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for grace and the joy that comes from knowing You. In the matchTeaching little ones, and not so little ones, to be respectful is imperative. Teaching them to show less name of our Lord, Savior and Friend amen. grace in spite of negativity will help them as they In His embrace, grow.

Toni

Toni Ryan is a wife, mom, a Christian, and business woman with a heart to write and speak about the love of God. Insurance agent by day, speaker and writer by night, Toni has a deep connection to her faith and shares her writing online at In His Embrace (www.inhisembrace.com)

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Studying Scripture

By Christie Browning

Death of a Dream

1 Samuel 1

The story of Hannah, found in the first chapter of Peninnah, Elkanah’s other wife, had children and 1 Samuel, is remarkable and memorable at best. chose to pick at her and put Hannah down.

She prayers with a fervor that is like no other. “…the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Because the LORD had “In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenbitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remem- ever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival ber me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then provoked her till she wept and would not eat.” I Samuel 1:5 I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

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As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

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“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”

18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.”

Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[b] saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.” I Samuel 1:10-20 NIV Hannah was one of two wives to Elkanah. Hannah had no children, a concern that weighed heavy on her mind and heart. Verse 5, tells us that for whatever reason, the Lord hadn’t blessed her with children.

This was bullying to the extreme. It was so bad that Hannah couldn’t eat! You can imagine the grief and heartache Hannah experienced.

Elkanah tried to console her. He obviously loved her. This chapter is specific in saying Elkhanah cared for Hannah, even giving her a double portion of meat to sacrifice.

But Hannah was looking for something different – a child. She had a dream, an ardent desire, a true longing of the heart to have a child.

Most of us can relate to Hannah. We might not grieve to have a child, but we all have dreams.

We all have that one pressing heartache for something to come true.

In our day and age, we live in a society that encourages us to follow our dreams, chase them at all costs and run after them, work for them, don’t give them up or let them die.

Although these are all very positive aspirations and sentiments, Hannah’s story and her example tells us to go about our dreams differently.

Hannah’s story teaches us to lay our dreams down, to let them die in order for God to resurrect them in His way and timing.

In verses 10 and 12, Hannah desperately prays and pleads for a son. She is found in the temple praying and Eli, the priest, sees her in anguish.

Hannah explains to him that she was overcome with grief. She was so overcome that Eli thought she was talking to herself, intoxicated and under 18

the influence of alcohol. Again, the dream of having a son was extremely special and important to Hannah.

You have to assume that Hannah had this dream for a while and that this wasn’t the first time she prayed for a son. But for some reason, this prayer was different – different enough to be recorded in scripture and different enough to get God’s attention. What makes this prayer so special is in her vow to lay Samuel down and offer him back to the Lord.

The traditional dream would have probably been to have a son, raise him, care for him, watch him grow and mature, have his own family and possibly Hannah would live with him when Elkanah died.

However, Hannah gave up that dream and to say, “OK God, I give you my son, whom I don’t even have yet. I trust that you’ll fulfill my heart’s desire you way and in your time.”

And God does just that!

The first lesson we learn from Hannah is that we need to let go, lay down our dreams and trust that if God chooses and that dream is from Him,

He’ll be the one to raise it up and make it happen — in His way and in His time.

That’s exactly what God did for Hannah. Once she vowed to give Samuel, the son she hadn’t even conceived yet, back to God, big things started happening.

Read the rest of this lesson and get more great stuff from Hannah’s story by visiting us online at www.revisionforwomen.com and click on “Bible Reads.”

Christie Browning is a speaker and author with a passion to encourage, empower and inspire women to live as the amazing ladies God created them to be, instead of getting hung up on their pasts, mistakes, shortcomings and insecurities. As a speaker, Christie has been seen on stages across the U.S. since 1996, as well as on television programming such as PBS and FOX. In addition to speaking, Christie is an award-winning writer with five HSPA awards. She is a featured contributor to The Huffington Post, has been a contributor for DaySpring.

Christie publishes a monthly women’s magazine read nationwide and can be found on numerous blogs including her own at www.revisionforwomen.com. Her first book, “Kick the Clock – How to give up on managing your time,”(available on Amazon.com) brings a Biblical perspective to the everyday struggle of time management. She is a wife and stepmom with a healthy love of music, hiking and dogs.

Go deeper into this study of 1 Samuel online!

Free to read devotionals and study material is available on our “online Bible Reads” page at www.revisionforwomen.com Subscribe and get updated material delivered right to your inbox for FREE!

Has there ever been a dream or goal you wanted to reach so badly that you could taste it, feel it, imagine it? Describe how it made you feel.

Have you ever forced or pushed a dream or goal to happen even if the timing or circumstances may not have been right? How did it turn out?

What would it have meant to stop, pray and wait on God’s timing?

Why do you think Hannah was willing to give her son back to God? Do you think she knew what that would mean when she promised to do so?

Consider a goal or dream you currently have. Are you willing to lay that dream down and let God have it to do with what He chooses? What does that mean to you?

Hannah eventually takes her son to the temple to live and serve. In this day and age, what can you do to give your dream over to God?

Mom leaned on scripture for every area of her life plan for marriage and family as it is instructed in and she taught her kids the same. It was a discithe scriptures. She painted the story of Adam and pline that stuck with me and has helped shape me.

Eve with new colors. She shared scripture from the New Testament, teaching me how to be a Someone recently told me that they went to Godly young woman and what Google to seek help on some conversations she >>>Continued from page 9

expectations to have for my future mate.

needed to have with her child. I bet there’s a wealth of information there. But it can’t be as true and timeless as the guidance and direction offered from our Heavenly Father.

I remember one particular dating relationship that was moving a bit too quickly and in the wrong direction. My dad swooped in typical dadI encourage you to do what a sassy preacher’s like fashion and commanded that I break it off with the guy. Although he was right to have con- wife once said to me. cerns, it was my mother that convinced me to end “Don’t run to the phone, run to the Throne.” the relationship.

What she meant by that was to not seek advice She pointed, once again, to scriptures that reand help from every girlfriend you can find, but to minded me of my value and worth, and taught me do what my mother did — go to the Throne in again the plan God had already designed for a prayer and look for truth and direction in the Biperfect love between a guy and a girl. ble.

Looking for something different?

How about a speaker that encourages, empower and inspires your audience to become a better version of themselves? What if conferences were interactive, impactful and applicable?

Christie Browning is something different.

Engaging and compelling she speaks to audiences armed with a variety of topics for spiritual growth and development.

Visit www.revisionforwomen.com to learn more!!!

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BOOKING NOW FOR YOUR RETREAT, CONFERENCE OR EVENT

ter Conner left,” says Leslie. “We loved it, but it One of the general authorities of our church once seemed to start the wave of missing him all over again. I wouldn’t trade it for anything but it did commented about missionaries. He said, “You take a common, teenage young man; you call him set us both back a week or so. Mother’s Day was on a mission; you give him another teenager as a much better. We felt like he was right there in the room with us and we didn’t miss a beat.” companion; you send him out someplace away from home with $100 a month provided by him- Leslie finds support and comfort from other self. You give him a simple list of instructions: no friends who are in similar situations. A Facebook dating, rigid mission rules — spend all your time group exists for mothers of missionaries, which preaching and prophesying, and so on. And some- Leslie says has been a help to her. how it works. These missionaries are obedient However, her biggest source of help and strength and are a mouthpiece for God.” has been her faith.

>>>Continued from page 14

Elder Grass has been on his mission approxi“...Lots of lots of faith,” she says. “If I didn’t bemately 11 months, and lieve 100 percent in what Leslie says the time has my son was doing, there made missing him a bit is no way I would have easier.

“If you see one of these cute let him go, but I do be-

boys walking or riding around town in their white shirts and dark pants, their name badge proudly displaying their name as ‘Elder,’ and sweating in the hot summer heat, give them a little wave.

Remember, there’s a mom back home praying for kind people to show them some sweet momma love.”

lieve. I have faith in the process and in the purpose of serving a mission. I have faith that spending two years forgetting about yourself, focusing on others and seeing the bigger picture “Getting Conner’s letgives perspective. I’ve ters, positive or those learned to hand over my where he is struggling, helicopter parenting is always a highlight of skills to a loving Heavenmy week. We are able ly Father who wants the to be online at the best for my son and has same time and chat more control and insight back and forth over than I will ever have. I’ve email for about an seen the divine intervenhour. It’s awesome,” says Leslie. “There are many times that something tions that haven’t just happened. I know there is happens and I just want to send him a text with a a higher power watching over him and his loving family back home.” little picture, but that is not allowed.”

Even though they are separated by hundreds of Missionaries are not allowed to have contact miles, Leslie has witnessed some surprising with family other than email or mailing letters, except for Mother’s Day and Christmas. On these changes in her son.

For the missionaries, Mondays are spent preparing for the week and it is also the time they are allowed to send and receive emails.

“When I get those letters from my child who I holidays, moms and families around the world can Skype with their missionary for typically one miss dearly and he tells me he’s gained ‘so much confidence, has no problem approaching total hour.

“Our first Skype was Christmas, four months af- strangers and initiating a conversation about God 23

and a higher being and a plan of happiness’ … that is the reward,” she says. “This is a kid that was all about him just months ago and now he is greeting as many people as he can, teaching Bible study classes, talking intelligently about doctrine and making people think about religion, God, a bigger purpose, and a greater plan. He is waking up at 6:30a.m. and going to bed at 10:30 p.m., spending all day studying, teaching, walking, having doors slammed in his face, and learning how to live with companions who meet as strangers and end up being lifelong friends.”

“He’s making a difference. He’s changing lives, giving up two years of his life with his family so people can have their families for eternity. And he’s thriving … and doing it without his mom cooking his top ramen or doing his laundry or telling him to wash his face. He’s figured it out. And that’s what makes it worth it to this very proud mom.”

Elder Grass will finish his mission in approximately 13 months. Leslie says she is still counting every month that her son has been gone and every month that remains until he returns home. But she also has some words of advice for those of us who might encounter a Mormon missionary.

“If you see one of these cute boys walking or riding around town in their white shirts and dark pants, their name badge proudly displaying their name as ‘Elder,’ and sweating in the hot summer heat, give them a little wave. Remember, there’s a mom back home praying for kind people to show those boys some sweet, momma-type love. I'm so proud of Conner, and I now know he can do hard things. I’m learning that I can do hard things, too.” Learn more about the Mormon mission and the church’s faith at www.lds.org.

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