The Day Sam Came Home

The day Sam came home from his LDS mission to Arizona was nothing short of incredible—one of those days that settles deep into your heart and stays there.

Nate, John, and I left early for Calgary, our excitement building with every mile. We arrived at the airport at the exact same time Abby and Jessica were landing from Edmonton. The timing felt like a small miracle. Together, we made our way to the international gate, joining the Bultsma family, since Sam and Brooke were both coming home on the same flight. There was a sense of shared anticipation in the air—families united by love, pride, and a whole lot of emotion.

Aside from a brief moment when security almost kicked us out for gathering in the wrong spot (apparently joy can be a little disruptive 😄), the pickup itself was flawless.

And then Sam walked through.

It was so good to see him. He had such joy on his face—real, settled joy. He looked people in the eye. He was present, intentional, and genuinely attentive to every single person he spoke with. Watching him interact, it was impossible not to feel inspired. This wasn’t just our Sam returning home; this was a young man who had been shaped, refined, and strengthened by two years of devoted service.

After the airport, we headed to Olive Garden for lunch—a perfect place to sit, breathe, laugh, and soak it all in. Saying goodbye to Abby and Jessica was hard, but with finals the very next day, there was no other choice. We parted ways with hugs and full hearts.

The four of us—Sam, Nate, John, and I—then returned home, where Sam was officially released by President Ferguson. That moment felt sacred. Two years of faithful service brought to a close, and a new chapter beginning.

It’s astonishing how quickly two years can pass. Even more amazing is how much growth can happen in that time. Sam has grown in confidence, faith, compassion, and purpose—and now, we are together again as a family.

God is good.

Nine Days!

 Hey Elder Hardy, and girls!

Can you believe we’re down to single digits? Nine days until Sam is home! It’s wild even to write that. We are so excited we can hardly stand it.

We kicked off the week by decorating for Christmas. The house looks cozy and warm, and we immediately claimed our usual spots by the tree. I’ve been enjoying it —well, enjoying it in between marking what feels like hundreds of Grade 6 spooky stories. Let me tell you, nothing says “holiday cheer” like reading about ghosts, monsters, and kids who still haven’t figured out where to put quotation marks. Jealous?

It was SUCH a treat seeing Abby and Jess last weekend. This week, though, we were back to the routine—just me, Dad, and Nate holding down the fort. And honestly, it still baffles me that my life revolves around the one who keeps drinking straight from the milk jug. 

Nate and Dad wrapped up their volleyball season—they finished 5th in the league, which is pretty solid. And just when we thought we were free, Nate got asked to join the Varsity team for their last week or two of games. So don’t worry, we still have bleachers to warm and whistles to endure.

In other exciting Hardy-family news, a high school kid came over to restore the headlights on Nate’s car. I’ll admit—I wasn’t expecting much, but he did an amazing job. I took a picture halfway through because the difference was honestly shocking. At this point, those headlights are the newest part of that sad little vehicle.

But of course, all of these small details feel tiny compared to what you are experiencing right now. We can’t imagine the emotions that must come with wrapping up your mission. We are beyond proud of you, Sam. Truly. We pray every day that you finish these last days with no regrets, knowing deep in your heart that you gave your very best to God. And we’re certain He’s looking at you with so much pride.

Nine days. We can’t wait to hug you.

Love you always,
Mom

Chili, Weddings and Sushi (Now Featuring a Licensed Driver!) - Letter from Mom

 Dear Sam (and girls),

Sixteen days. Sixteen! I can practically hear your suitcase zipping itself in preparation. The house is humming with the thought of you walking back through the door. In the meantime, life here has been complete, funny, and just a little chaotic. So...the usual.

First, your sisters. Jessica and Abby spent the week swimming through midterms. We’re hoping the academic universe was kind to them. They seem lighter now, almost human again, so I’m counting that as a win. 

Now, the headline: Nate. He passed his driver’s test! We had to go all the way to Magrath to get a date close to his birthday. He got 50 points taken off, but the limit was 75, so mathematically speaking, that’s triumph. I watched him climb into that car like a boy, and I swear, he climbed out looking two inches taller. Sure, Nate is still a goof, but suddenly he’s a goof with a license. He’s taking his girlfriend to Lethbridge tomorrow. Please add a prayer to your daily rotation. May he remember to yield to oncoming traffic. 

Brooke asked Nate to go to Sadie's this week and left the sweetest things in his room. Nate is responding by filling her room with hundreds of SOLO cups. Hundreds. A sea of plastic chaos. 

Wedding Bliss: This weekend was a blur of travel. Nate and I drove up to Edmonton for Mason and Bethanie’s wedding. He handled most of the drive like a champ, even when I accidentally aimed us toward Banff. Eventually, the steering wheel returned to me just in time for us to hit a snowstorm near Leduc and creep our way into Edmonton at 15 km/h. It took an hour and a half to do a 15-minute stretch. But the prize at the end of the journey was Abby waiting with homemade chili. Heaven in a bowl. It felt like Grandpa and Grandma Hardy, faithfully setting out warm food no matter the hour. My heart felt full. 

Saturday was a temple marriage, ring ceremony, dinner, and reception. Mason glowed the entire day. Absolutely radiant. It is a beautiful thing to see someone so clearly in love. We soaked up the city, enjoyed late-night sushi, and spent time with family. 

Today, Nate and I headed home. Got back in time for Sunday naps and a BBQ dinner with John. Radar and John spent the weekend together in serene bachelor domesticity. John even moved Radar’s sleep mat closer to him on the bed so they could keep each other company. That image will carry me for days. Tiny soft miracles everywhere. 

We are thinking of you constantly, cheering you through this second-to-last week. You have run the race with your whole heart. Keep your eyes on the Savior and your spirit steady. We’ll have you home soon, filling this house with your laugh and your stories. Though I know your heart may ache a little, we cannot wait! 

All our love,
Mom  

The Web-Slinger and the Old Man

 Hey Elder,

It’s been another week of Hardy mayhem and milestones!

1. Ward Halloween Party 
Tuesday night was a blur of pizza, laughter, and sugar-fueled chaos. I’ve decided that attending ward functions without my kids feels like showing up to a group project after everyone else graduated. I did, however, manage to find a baby to hold for two hours—which, as you know, is my spiritual gift.

2. Back to the Chalkboard 
Dad and I are officially back to work! The strike came to an abrupt and somewhat unconstitutional end, but we’re choosing to focus on the bright side—being back in our classrooms, surrounded by our students and our purpose.

3. Nate the Spandex Avenger 
Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man made an appearance! Unfortunately, his XL costume was less “superhero chic” and more “super snug,” so he saved the day (and his dignity) with a quick pair of jogging pants. The big news: our web-slinger turned sixteen this week! He’s gearing up for his driver’s test, and after a hardcore practice run on Saturday, I’m 900% confident he’ll pass—and 100% confident I’ll need to start taking sedatives to sleep at night.

3. Jessica: The Commentator’s Crush 
Jess had two games this weekend, and while she didn’t get tons of court time on Saturday, the announcers couldn't stop gushing. “Hardy consistently packs a lot of good things into her time on the court,” they said. Translation: she’s a spark plug with style, and they expect big things ahead. You could say her cheering section (ahem, me) was glowing with pride.

4. Abby the Maker of All Things Awesome 
Abby continues her reign as queen of competence. She made her own Halloween costume this year—because of course she did. Honestly, I’m starting to think she could run a small Etsy empire if she weren’t busy being amazing at everything else.

5. The Big 5-0 
Your father officially joined the half-century club on Halloween! Nate was at work, so it was me, Dad, and Radar holding down the fort—literally 450 kids came to the door and they all loved our "6-7" pumpkins. By the end, Radar and I were handing out candy like war veterans handing out rations. Dad survived, though, and we all know how he enjoys joining the Halloween chaos.

So that’s the week—full of costumes, candy, and celebration. Life feels full, even if it’s quieter without all of you here. 

Sam, keep shining down there in Arizona; your light’s reaching home more than you know. We can hardly believe that in just a few short weeks, you will be BACK!  Girls, good luck with your midterms.

Love you all bigger than Nate’s spidey muscles,
Mom