Greatest 26 years of my life

So I was just reminded that today I celebrate my five year anniversary of coming home from my mission. Somehow I figured I'd be older by now. I sure don't feel old. I remember standing at the top of the escalator in the airport. I saw my parents and wanted to run the opposite direction. I finally realized that there was nowhere to run to. I let the escalator carry me down and greeted my parents, my grandmother, my 2 brothers, my 2 new sisters-in-law, and my new niece. My dad told me that the stake president had said it was okay for me to hug my sisters-in-law because they were family. I didn't even know them well, how could they be family? I started with the one that I had at least known before the mission. As I leaned in to give her a hug my brother teased, "What do you think you're doing with my wife?" I jumped. (although not as high as I did when the other sister-in-law was the one to wake me up the next morning).

After some quick greetings, my brothers yelled at me to hurry and that there was still time to make the second half of the BYU football game. So there I am rushed from the airport to the stadium. I'm still set apart. I'm still wearing a suit and nametag. I was subjected to whispers of "Where's his companion?" and "I didn't know missionaries could come to football games." My favorite was a group of girls that gave me a nice cheer "Yay Missionary!". I spent five days in UT as a set apart missionary so that we could bless my niece before returning home to be released.

I think back now to what I might tell that dazed return missionary knowing what I know now. This has worked out so different than I imagined. I never imagined I would be doing gerontology. I never imagined I would be living in San Antonio doing my prereqs for med school. And I guess if I'm perfectly honest I think a part of me assumed I'd be married by now. But I don't think I'd tell myself anything about all of this future. I like my life the way it is, and I'd hate to mess it up.

Many people talk about their mission as the best 2 years of their life. I remember mine as having some of the hardest times of my life and also some of the most rewarding. I don't think that stopped when I came home. The past 5 years have continued in that pattern of trials and blessings. So here's to many more "greatest years of my life".