The missionaries like to visit these trolls on their preparation days, and Mark sends photos of them from time to time. These whimsical creations can be found throughout the world, including the United States. They’re kind of quirky and fun, and each has a name. The Danish sculpture artist who creates them is Thomas Dambo. You can do a Google search for his troll map. Richard and I saw one of his trolls in the Huntsville Botanical Gardens but oops, didn’t take a picture.
Mark is serving his last few weeks of his mission and this post is a record that my missionary “son flowers” arrived again this year. In fact, I had to thin them by about 50% earlier this summer because the ground was so crowded. God is an abundant giver.
My first missionary sunflower showed up 8 years ago on the week that Daniel left, and each year their return has been a symbol of hope for me, a new love language expressed to me by the Lord.
Just like the surprising arrival of the sunflowers, I didn’t expect to have feelings of loss during these last weeks of being a missionary mom. I didn’t realize I will miss this burden that I can now call sweet.
Soon we will end this era of writing and sharing spiritual moments, praying for friends I will never meet from countries far from home, and so many unique blessings and experiences. It has been a good era because the Lord has been very near.
Like the sunflowers, the impact of our sons’ missions grows and multiplies with the years, bringing blessings to them and the people they loved and taught. The Lord of the Harvest is so, so good.
There are moments in life where I can expect to have parental joy and awe, such as weddings, births, baptisms, and other milestones. And then there are moments that surprise me, like sitting down to a meal and realizing our once little family now takes up two tables at my parents’ house.
There is room for Mark at the table where I was seated. He’ll complete his mission in late September. 🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰
When I compare myself to others, my life seems small. When I look at my life by the Lord’s measure, I no longer feel that way.
As one who has made a covenant with God, you are part of the house of Israel. You have been gathered, and you are a gatherer. The centuries-long epic story of the covenant people is building to its climax, and you are a key player.
Now is the time when “Jesus will say to all Israel, ‘Come home.’”This is the message of the gatherers: Come home to the covenant. Come home to Zion. Come home to Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel, and He will bring you home to God, your Father.
-July 2026 Come Follow Me Manual chapter, “Jesus will say to all Israel, Come Home.”
President Russell M. Nelson has called this gathering “the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it.”
“Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that.”
-Russell M. Nelson
Let’s be sure to read something from the Book of Mormon today, and every day. 📖☀️👦👧♥️
It’s not very often that I can see all of our children’s faces in the same conversation. We had five or ten minutes together last Sunday. 🥰
Mark has been a missionary for 20 months and he remains enthusiastic and full of light.
When Mark became a missionary, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hug him while he was 19. What a small sacrifice in comparison to the growth and service we’ve seen from him this year. We won’t be celebrating with him, but we celebrate the good man he’s become.
This sister missionary is a friend and I have watched her grow up. This is an awesome musical number. Her voice and testimony have become so strong during her missionary service!
Serve a mission! Anyone who wants a blessed and happy future should consider it. The Lord knows and understands even better than you what you sacrifice and you are compensated for it.
Elder Mark Ross, February 2026
Our temporarily silent piano means that pianos throughout the world have been played by our sons. Our silent piano stands in contrast to their missionary voices sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. What a privilege to have a silent piano for a few years while a child serves a mission!