I left on my mission and it was a love/hate relationship with Joel. We didn't leave on the best of terms and I had a lot to sort out. Each transfer and companionship would somehow determine whether or not he got a good letter or a not so good letter. Good companion meant good letters. Poor companion relationship meant I don't like you, letters. This went on throughout the mission.
President Thomas knew about Joel. He knew a lot about Joel. In his own way he kept tabs on the relationship and sometimes encouraged it without actually encouraging me to it. Ex: We were at a zone conference and President Thomas asked all the Elders with girlfriends at home to raise their hands. They did so. Then he turned to the 6 Sisters and asked the same question. Only one sister raised her hand. President Thomas took the time to look at me for a moment longer. I folded my arms tightly. I did not have a boy friend at home.
Eventually life happened and it was time for me to return home. The mission had been brutal and I was ready to go home. I had served for 14 months and life was falling apart in a way that was sending me home. I was ok with that. I had stopped writing to Joel about 3 months previously when things started turning rough for me in the mission. The last I knew, Joel was working in Wyoming.
I returned home to Colorado on a Saturday. President Russell McClure, Bishop Steve Hitz, my parents and Sister Lynette Hanks were the only ones that knew I was coming home. Sister Hanks picked me up at the airport and let me stay with her for a short time till I figured out the next step. I was glad to be back in Colorado.
Mamma Hanks asked if I had kept in touch with Joel while I was away. I said a little bit. She kept asking if I had called him. yet I said no, and no, and no. Then she handed me the phone and said Joel is on the line. We talked awkwardly for a few minutes. Then the blow came that Joel was actually in town for a wedding that he went to Friday night. Shannon Harrison had gotten married and he came down for the wedding. Mama Hanks knew this. She encouraged me to come to a play her son was in and bring Joel with. I told Joel about it and that he could meet us there.
When he got out of his car he looked like a scruffy mountain man. I'm pretty sure he had plaid on, but I honestly can't remember, and he had a full mountain man beard. At the play with Mama Hanks and I, I sat as far away from him as I could without completely sitting on Mama Hanks. The flay was good and at the end Joel offered to take me home and Mama Hanks agreed.
I don't recall what happened later that evening. I do remember calling Ryan Marsden before the play to see if he wanted to come up Sunday for church and visit. I needed a man friend to block Joel. Neither of them knew this.
Sunday was great and it was great seeing old friends. Somehow someway Ryan disappeared and Joel and I ended up talking. It was good to talk with him. He originally was planning on leaving that weekend to go back to work but called his boss and extended his stay. I told him that I had wanted to visit Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs before my mission but never made it there. We planned to go the next day.
Mamma Hanks asked if I had kept in touch with Joel while I was away. I said a little bit. She kept asking if I had called him. yet I said no, and no, and no. Then she handed me the phone and said Joel is on the line. We talked awkwardly for a few minutes. Then the blow came that Joel was actually in town for a wedding that he went to Friday night. Shannon Harrison had gotten married and he came down for the wedding. Mama Hanks knew this. She encouraged me to come to a play her son was in and bring Joel with. I told Joel about it and that he could meet us there.
When he got out of his car he looked like a scruffy mountain man. I'm pretty sure he had plaid on, but I honestly can't remember, and he had a full mountain man beard. At the play with Mama Hanks and I, I sat as far away from him as I could without completely sitting on Mama Hanks. The flay was good and at the end Joel offered to take me home and Mama Hanks agreed.
I don't recall what happened later that evening. I do remember calling Ryan Marsden before the play to see if he wanted to come up Sunday for church and visit. I needed a man friend to block Joel. Neither of them knew this.
Sunday was great and it was great seeing old friends. Somehow someway Ryan disappeared and Joel and I ended up talking. It was good to talk with him. He originally was planning on leaving that weekend to go back to work but called his boss and extended his stay. I told him that I had wanted to visit Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs before my mission but never made it there. We planned to go the next day.
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