sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare?

The other day I awoke from a most pleasant dream - the kind of dream that leaves you feeling so happy and excited and wonderful.

That is, until you realize it was JUST a dream not a reality. Upon this realization, my dream quickly became a NIGHTMARE. A sad, leave-me-feeling-depressed-and-forlorn type of nightmare.

You see, my brother Ben and his wife Kari are blessing their new baby this Sunday. In my dream I was heading to the blessing in Grantsville. To get to Grantsville, I generally pass the SLC Airport. This is where it gets good -- in my dream, I was stopping by the airport to pick up Brakston!

Yes! In my dream, Brakston was finished with his mission and I was eagerly anticipating the reunion. There would be hugs and laughter and joy! Pure, unadulterated JOY!

The dream was so real that it took a few minutes of wakefulness for the realization that Brakston still has almost 8 months of his mission left and that scene at the airport will not take place until the very end of January.

How quickly the sorrow and the longing replaced the joy. I truly am happy that my son is serving a mission for the church. He is learning and growing and I am so proud of him. He is doing what he is supposed to be doing. Many are hearing the glorious gospel message due to his efforts. I am happy for those who recognize the truthfulness of gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, I still miss my son. There is a hole in my family and in my daily life that just gapes open. At times I can ignore the wound. At other times the "missing" just pierces me to the core.

Still, eight months is not long. He is 2/3 the way through. I will survive.