Making memories one day at a time.......and then I write about it.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Mr. T!!! That's What's Been Happening!!



As most of you know, and for those who don't, our family belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  When the young men in our church turn 18 and the young women turn 19, they can serve a mission.  Most of these youth spend their growing up years looking forward to this and earning money to get ready.  Yes, they pay for these missions themselves.  The young men go for two years and the young women for 18 months.  Close to $10,000 is earned and saved up for this incredible experience to go and serve people all over the world.

My second to the oldest Native made the choice to serve a two year mission.  He put in his papers to the leaders of our church saying he was willing and able and then we awaited to see where he would go.


The day arrived and we all waited for Mr. T to open the big official envelope to tell us where he was going.  Much anticipation and an entire house full of people excited for him.  He opened the envelope and started reading.  He would be serving in the Iloilo, Philippines Mission!!!  Yay!!!  And, he would be leaving to go to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) on July 2nd.

Missing Mr. B who was at work.  Mr. T and Mr. B said goodbye the night before.
 July 2nd still seemed so far away.  Mr. T had gotten his call in May.  We had gobs of time right??  Man, 3 months flew by fast and the next thing we knew...... it was time to say goodbye!  FOR TWO YEARS!!!


These are the photos of that day.  I even included the one's of me with my face all cry ugly.  Does anyone look attractive when they cry?  I mean, really truly cry?


Anyway, the hugs started and oh my goodness!  It was hard!  So excited for him but hard saying goodbye.  Mr. T had asked me to make scones for breakfast before he left.  I made him his scones and had to laugh.  He was so excited to go that he could hardly eat.


After the goodbye's were said, we drove away and then I really lost it.  Levi was sitting next to me in the truck and looking at his Dad, he had the most disgusted look on his face and said, "What is wrong with HER'!  Which then made us all bust up laughing.  Thank you Levi for always making me smile and laugh.


And then.........  the waiting begins.  The waiting to get letters.  Is he okay?  He'll get a companion/roommate........ will they get along?  Does he miss me yet?


The missionaries can receive letters and packages all week long but they only get one day which is called their P-Day (Preparation Day) to write home.  On their P-Day, they do their shopping, laundry, write letters, clean, etc.  I didn't know when Mr. T's P-Day would be so everyday I would go and check my computer to see if he'd written.


And then........ he did!  Friday is his P-Day!  The first letter I got, I jumped up and down screaming for joy!!!  Yay!!  I got a letter!!!  Oh my word.  And then.......  oh my heart....... I'd have to wait for an entire week before I would get another!!!


Yesterday was P-Day.  I got his second letter.  That one week between his first letter and second letter was the longest week of my life!!!  It felt like a month!!  I'm told, that it gets better and time starts to fly by.  It better!!!


When I got Mr. T's letter yesterday I had to go to the grocery store right after.  I wanted to run up to everyone in the grocery store and give them a hug and say, "I just got a letter from my son"!!!  Oh yeah!  Friday's have most definitely become my favorite day of the week.


Some moms make an entire new blog for their sons/daughters who are on missions and post their letters and photos there.  I thought about it but then thought, you all have watched my son grow up.  You'll want to see and hear from him too, right?!  Just agree with me because we all know I'm a little obsessed right now with all of this.


So, for now, Mr. T is at the MTC for 6 weeks learning the language he'll be speaking over in the Philippines and then on August 7th, he'll fly over to the Philippines where he will spend the rest of his two year mission serving the people.


Oh my dear boy!  My stars I miss you but I am ever so proud of you!!!  I pray for you in all of my prayers and you are constantly in my thoughts.  You are my baby.  You will always be my baby.  Don't care how old you are.


I'll love you forever, and always.  Love, Mommy

8 comments:

  1. These pictures are priceless.

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    1. I'm glad I have them. Even the one's where my face is cry ugly.

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  2. "You'll want to see and hear from him too, right?! Just agree with me because we all know I'm a little obsessed right now with all of this." I AGREE!!!!!! Wow, what an experience. I look forward to following it! And hugs to you, mama.

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    1. I'm so glad you do Wabi because as a parent, I just figure the entire world is obsessed with the natives like I am. :D

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  3. Oh Rachel, what a heart wrenching thing, to have your precious boy so far away. Like you say it must seem like an eternity between his weekly letters to begin with but hopefully that will start to go a little more quickly each time. Such an incredible experience for him though, what a wonderful young man he is and you must be such a proud Mama xxx

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    1. Those first weeks felt like, forever!! But now, the weeks are going by faster. The Natives are in school and things are busy. That helps. Thank goodness!!!!

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  4. PS. your face could never be cry-ugly when crying tears of such love, your face in those last two pictures says everything about how hard it was to part x

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    1. xxxxxxxxxx!!!!!! I love you to the moon and back for saying that!!! Parting was so hard but now, I get to look forward to our reunion in less than 2 years. :) It's. Gonna. Be. Awesome!

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