Off To The Missionary Training Center!

And our boy is off and has started his mission journey.

The two nights before he left,

Chance and his siblings made a big bed out of blankets across the living room floor and 

had a slumber party.

There were treats, movies and lots of laughter. 

The day Chance went into the MTC, we all went out to eat together

before we dropped him off.

Going out to eat together is a tradition for many families that are dropping off a missionary

at the MTC.

Many families have quite a drive to the MTC so they eat on the way.  

Some missionaries who are coming from other states, fly into Utah instead of driving with their families.

Our drive was quite short so we got to spend the morning with Chance at home and going 

out to eat.

Knowing that these were our last hours together for the next two years, we were

all enjoying every second together. 

A goodbye to his younger brother.

A goodbye to his little sister

A goodbye to his big brother

A goodbye to his sister

Eventually the time came when it was time to part. You have
a time to arrive at the MTC based on your last name.

Saying goodbye to his dad

Missionaries arrive on Wednesdays so it is a series
of drop offs for most of the day. To streamline the
process, the long goodbyes are usually said before
you actually arrive at the MTC.

 One of the more popular
places to say goodbye, is a field across from the MTC
in front of the Provo Temple. That is where we parked and
got out of the van to give everyone a chance to say goodbye.
We did a family group hug, and then everyone gave
Chance one last squeeze. They were tight squeezes.

It was bittersweet. I was obviously going to miss him, but
I was also very excited for him and the journey that he was
beginning.

Saying goodbye to me

If I could choose to have him stay at home, or have him go
on his mission, I would choose to have him go.

He made the decision to go by himself. He
is ready. He has prepared himself and it is time
for him to begin this chapter in his life.

       

I wore my cowboy hat in
honor of Chance.  We all had cowboy hats on actually, and they were all piled at the end of our table at the restaurant.  Chance wore his cowboy hat until he got out of the van in the parking lot with his luggage.  Chance elected not to take his cowboy hat with him. It is hard to keep a cowboy hat
in proper condition when all of your belongings for the next two years are packed into two suitcases.

Chance will be getting a hat in England. Probably not a cowboy hat, but a hat that blends into the culture of the English. It is probably a good thing that he is getting a hat there since his head is going to feel naked with out one.

There were a few tears of
course when we parted. We will miss him
like crazy. But as much as
we will miss him, we could
never hold him back.

A final farewell to the family and his cowboy hat.