MTC Day- September 27, 2017

September 27, 2017

A great day to start a new adventure.

After spending the previous day packing...

we woke up ready to go, yet not ready to go.

We tried to make the most of our family time together by having one final trip to our favorite ice cream parlor.

Then it was back home to hug and kiss the pets, get one last sibling pic (for 2 years, at least) in the backyard, load up the suitcases and our family, along with a ton of tissues, 

and head south to Provo, Utah.

We arrived early so we could stop by the Provo Utah Temple grounds for some final hugs and photo opportunities.

It was just us....and dozens of other families doing the exact same thing.

 

And even though our time was limited, there is always time for a good old-fashioned 

awkward family photo.

After about 20 minutes of dragging out the hugs and picture taking opportunities, it was time for us to "rip off the bandaid" for good.

We piled back into the van and followed the sea of minivans headed into the MTC parking lot.  We got a blue post it note stuck to our windshield because we were dropping off an elder and were directed to the underground parking lot where we would "kick him to the curb" so to speak.

It did my mom heart good to hear nearly every missionary we passed yell out, "Welcome, Elder!"

The spirit at that Missionary Training Center is incredible.

We met the host elder who would be helping Josh with his bags and then Mark and I got one final, quick hug.  

And now, he is safely tucked away in the MTC...at least I think he is.  I haven't heard from him yet.  I am not sure when his P-day (Preparation Day) will be, so now we just all wait patiently.  That is definitely easier said than done.