My in-laws are considering a short job opportunity in Europe in the next few months. If they take the position, they are wanting to invite all of their children and grandchildren to come and visit them while they are away. I haven't been to Europe since my mission and my wife went once when she was a toddler so this is a pretty unique opportunity for us and especially for our kids. I don't anticipate that I would ever be able to go back to Europe with my kids ever again.

My biggest concern is that my oldest son is on a mission right now and obviously wouldn't be able to go with us. I worry that he may feel left behind and I don't want to make his mission any harder. I expect that we would be traveling right as he is transferring to a new area and it will be dark and cold and January is just a depressing time of year anyway. And while he is doing well on his missions, missions are hard and I believe his mission is especially hard and he had some mental struggles prior to leaving. My wife brought it up with him yesterday and he said that he just didn't want to know about it. Maybe I am overly sensitive, but my parents went on a big trip while I was on my mission and several afterwards with my younger siblings and it always hurt a little bit as they took my younger brothers to see cool places. I don't expect that I would ever be able to take him on a comparable trip and don't want to get into situation where my kids are keeping score.

Ultimately I realize this probably part of my kids growing up and moving in their own directions. But it would have been very hard for me to hear of my family doing something super fun without me while I was on my mission.

And if we don't go my daughter may never forgive me for robbing her of the opportunity to see France. But if I mess up my son's mission, I may never forgive myself.