A Missionary- Elder Monson!

He's a Missionary!  We spent an amazing Tuesday evening at the Stake Presidents office as Jaymes was set apart as a missionary.  He was blessed with some wonderful gifts that will truly help him become a strong missionary.  

We started Wednesday morning doing Baptisms for the Dead, as a whole family, in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  What an fabulous experience to have all your children surround you in the temple.  Loved it!  So Elder Monson started his mission with 20 baptisms!

Good-bye and the Drop off!

Our classic first day of school spot on the front porch, and yes Elder Monson is headed to a very cool school...the MTC!

What a hard day! It was tough on everyone.  You think you've said everything and hugged enough but can you ever say "I love you" enough or give enough hugs?  No!  But we sure tried.  As we pulled up to the curb at the MTC his host missionary was so excited and happy which give Jaymes the extra umph to wheel his suitcases up the side walk and walk into a new chapter in his life.  We haven't heard from him yet
but feel that he is settling in and soaking all of it in.   

Just pulling into the MTC

our last few moments were spent at the Provo Temple surrounded by lots of missionaries

saying good-bye to his best friend - DAD!

don't look to closely those eyes are filled with tears

Elder Monson!

Thanks for everyone's encouragement, support, love and especially prayers.  He is blessed to have such wonderful family, friends and examples.  Now go get em' Elder Monson!

Love that Missionary!

Just about ready

The bags are packed.  I can't think of anything else he needs (well except his Mom :)) and he seems a little anxious.  We have had a long day with a funeral in our ward so my emotions are on a roller coaster. At this point I feel ready to watch him soar.  Wonderful times ahead, just can't wait for his adventures to begin.  But whose kiddin' who?  I'm sad, happy, excited, nervous, sick to my stomach and feel incredibly blessed all at the same time!  What a great young man who has a testimony of this gospel of Jesus Christ and wants desperately to serve the Lord.  I am blessed!  Now for dinner, the setting apart, Brayden's ordination, a trip to the temple to do baptisms for the dead as a family (in the morning), say our good-byes and then the "drop off".  It's time.

-Love ya Jaymes (almost Elder Monson)

Farewell-What an amazing day!

Elder Monson's Farewell 

Sunday September 9, 2012

I can honestly not believe my son is leaving on a mission!  It all seems surreal and a little bit overwhelming. I am full of too many emotions.  Time has traveled by so quickly, I can still remember bringing him home from the hospital, his sweet toddler years (such a good big brother to Tyler), his first day of Kindergarten, watching him play soccer from age 5-18, a few heartaches a long the way with a broken leg and arm, when he passed the drivers permit exam, when he received the aaronic priesthood and became a squirly deacon, when he asked his first date to Homecoming - with bananas and a monkey, when his favorite toy was the fisher price farm or the 4x4 truck and horse trailer. I will forever remember talking and sharing our days journey's, trials and joys.  He has been a "protector" of his Mom and a caretaker for his family.  I know all of these moments and experiences will be enhanced as he serves the people in Mexico.  They are in for a treat!

So as you can imagine I sat in sacrament meeting and listened to my now big adult son speak and thought, wow, what a great MAN!  His talk was beautiful, heart felt and sincere.  He used scriptures and quotes and spoke eloquently about the Holy Ghost.  He testified of eternal families, temples, scrpitures and Jesus Christ.  He expressed love for his family, for his own father (also his Bishop) who has taught him to love the gospel through his example and word.  He spoke about his love of being home and the feeling there (thank you Jaymes!) and his excitement to serve the Lord.  He told about how he has planned, with parents help, to serve a mission and looks forward to the day after his mission to be married and sealed in the temple.  He thanked his family, his leaders and friends for their support and help.

John and Jaymes

Monson cousins (some of them)

Megan and Jackie

Brayden, Connor and Brandon

Barney Family

Friends!

Brandon, Kellie and Mike

Dave and Jeanine, Alec, Caleb and Grandpa

Friends!

Grandpa, Heather, cousins

Garrett, Nic, Jackie

Tyler and friends

Mecham Family

Mom

Grandma Hunter with Jaymes

Garrett, Jaymes, Lyndsay and Grandpa

Grandpa Payne and Grandma Hunter

There were so many people there to support him I am so grateful for all of them being there.  After sacrament meeting we had a dinner at our house, thankful for the beautiful weather, and served many many family and friends.  All in all a wonderful day and I wouldn't trade it for anything!  I just hope I remember it since a few pictures only capture a little bit of the day.

And now the last bit of preparations begin!  Sewing name tags on everything, buying the last few things, spending as much time together as possible and loving every minute of it. 16 days and counting!  Yikes! 

love you Jaymes!