Let me recap a minute as to how we got to this point of our 'retirement years'!   I might say it has been a wonderful 5 1/2 years since that retirement in August 2008.  We have had so many wonderful opportunities that we never dreamt would be ours.

Once Wayne retired from his Medical Practice in August of 2008 we were asked by President Luthy (Helsinki Finland Temple President) if we would be willing to come to Finland and serve as Temple Missionaries for 18 months.  Of course we were thrilled with the idea of being able to do that.  Wayne served a mission in Finland as a young missionary from 1962 - 1965 (2 1/2 years for foreign missions back in the day).

This foto was taken of us as we finished our last shift in the Temple the day before we left Finland after two years (yes, we extended another 6 months from our original 18 months.....we loved the people and the country so much we left a huge part of us there....hopeful that some day we could go back and serve another mission there again!).   That was April 2011.

 Once arriving home in April 2011we were given an Honorable Release as full-time missionaries and extended a new call to serve as Church-service Missionaries with LDS Family Services working specifically with the National Council For Adoption in Alexandria, Virginia.  This was also an 18 month mission.  However, we just don't know how to sit still so it actually ended up being another 2 year mission.  Once we were released from that in March 2013 we continued on for another year as 'volunteers' because we couldn't just walk away (with no replacements being in place for us when we left).  That was such a wonderful experience being able to be involved with the great work of helping to create eternal families.  Most of the folks we worked with were good Christian folks and very appreciative of the work we were doing.  Our commute was an 'awful' commute.....about 2 hours each way!  Although a nice scenic drive it was still not fun in the horrible traffic everyday!  The foto below was taken of us on our last day in the office on April 1, 2014.  We simply had to 'retire' from there because we had received our next mission call!!

And here we are.....ready to embark on yet our next mission assignment....our THIRD MISSION!  We are excited about this new opportunity.  Wayne had been asked way back at the first mission call if he would be willing to serve as a Medical Missionary.  He needed a little 'break

 from the medical part of his life.  I think he really enjoyed doing these other missions for the variety. However, while we were serving in Finland he was asked to take care of the Medical needs of the missionaries who were serving there.  He was happy to do that.  He was like an 'extension' of the Area Medical Advisor in Frankfurt Germany.

We now find ourselves with a new opportunity.  Wayne has been called as the AREA MEDICAL ADVISOR for the NorthAmerica SouthEast Area.  I have been called as THE ASSISTANT TO THE AREA MEDICAL ADVISOR.  I have been 'practicing' mine for the last 45 years.  I hope I will be able to assist Wayne well!  

We will be serving in the states of GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY.  Our apartment will be located in Peachtree City (south Atlanta).  Our call is for 2 years!  We report to the MTC Provo on June 9th, 2014.  We will be there for 2 weeks....first week will be 'Preach My Gospel'.  The second week will be in Salt Lake City and it will be 'Medical Training'.  

The foto above is the one we chose for our 'official' Mission foto.  I might just add a side note here.  When we came home from our mission to Finland and service as Church-service Missionaries our oldest son, Jonathan, was diagnosed with stage 4 color cancer in December 2011.  He fought a good fight.  He passed away on September 12, 2012.   The entire family rallied around Jonathan and Tina and their 4 children (Tyler, Spencer, Garrett and Kristyn) during the 9-month battle.  His cancer was very aggressive and difficult.  In the end we all knew that the Lord had a bigger assignment for Jonathan and was needed on the other side of the veil.  We felt the love of our family, many many friends and especially the Lord as we struggled through this.  We were so grateful we were able to be home at this difficult time.  The Lord has a way of having things work out just the way He wants them to....even though sometimes we might wonder.  There were so very many tender mercies and miracles through that 9 months.  We felt the time was right for us to now serve this mission.  And, again, feel so blessed for this opportunity to serve our 3rd mission.

I might just mention a little about this mission.  My great-great grandfather and great-great grandmother joined The Church in 1872 in Mt. Airy, North Carolina......Dr. James Dickerson Dean and Esther Hiatt.  I am sure they went through many trials as they faithfully served others in the church in that area.  Being in the 'bible belt' in a Southern Baptist area was not easy.  Even for me growing up in that area we were constantly frowned upon as members of the church!  Now to be serving a mission in the same area where my family joined the church, I feel it is a real honor to be able to do this.

And the story begins of our 3rd mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!