Jaiden: MTC!!

Jaiden gave many of her goodbye's the day before she left for the MTC (Tuesday, August 29):

Wednesday morning, Jaiden and I worked out in the Shane and Alicia's home gym and then she went to get ready and I went on a nice long walk. Jaiden said her goodbyes to Grandma and Grandpa Westra and we all got ready and packed up! We headed to Provo to pick up Janelle and saw her new apartment. Then we met everyone for lunch at the Golden Corral in Orem. Janika, Brandon, Everett and Ellen, Evan, Eli met us there. Jase and Jared had to work. I was SO hungry and everything tasted go good to me! Then Jaiden said goodbye to everyone and Rick and I headed with her and Janelle to the Provo Temple where we took a few pictures. Then we dropped her off! I didn't get emotional until right there at the end when we were dropping her off in the parking garage and saying our final goodbyes! We are excited for all of the adventures that lie ahead!  

ASL Board Meeting and Prepping for Jaiden's MTC Drop-off!

Rick had a board meeting with the ASL Board and the general board on Tuesday night in SLC and so we decided to go up a day early for Jaiden's MTC drop-off so that he and I could attend the meeting. So Jaiden said goodbye to Josh and Jenna on Tuesday morning before they went to school. Jaiden had been packing for a few days and finished up the last few things Tuesday morning. I had was interpreting at Utah Tech in the morning and then stopped at Smiths to pick up a few last minute items for Jaiden. I hurriedly packed my stuff and then we packed up the car. 

Rick dropped us off a the dentist (Jaiden's six month appointment just happened to fall on this Tuesday and we decided to keep the appointment for a last cleaning before she left). I went to the dentist and Rick went to interpret a class. We normally interpret this class together, but I got a sub so that I could stay with Jaiden at the dentist. Rick then went to the rent a car place to switch to a rental car and then picked us up from the dentist, and then we headed out! We got a rental car since Rick was attending the board meeting and so the church gives him a rental car for transportation when he comes to SLC for various meetings. 

We stopped at Carl's Jr. for lunch on the way there. We dropped Jaiden off at Shane and Alicia's and Rick and I changed to our church clothes and headed to the Board meeting. It was neat to be able to go since I also work with the Deaf and knew several people there. Elder Peter Johnson was presiding and the General RS Presidency was in attendance. I was a little self conscious because I had had an allergic reaction to something I had eaten the day before, which caused swelling around my eyes, and it still hadn't cleared up by Tuesday evening! But hopefully it wasn't too noticable! The swelling FINALLY went away by Wednesday night, thank goodness! 

Meanwhile, Jared and Jase and Ellen and their two boys came over to Shane and Alicia's to visit with Jaiden and say goodbye. Adria also came back from BYU to visit with her and say goodbye. Grandma and Grandpa were there too along with Shane and Alicia's family. So it was nice that Jaiden could visit with family before leaving on her mission. We came back and visited for a few minutes before heading to bed!

 

Jaiden: Set Apart as a Full-Time Missionary!

Jaiden's setting apart was tonight. It was a special, sacred experience! Unlike Janelle's setting apart, where her farewell, open house, and setting apart were all on the same day (and the same weekend as Jaiden's big show of SpongeBob), Jaiden had her farewell and luncheon last weekend and her setting apart this weekend. So today was actually pretty calm (at least for me, ha ha, it wasn't necessary relaxing for Jaiden!)  We met at the church at 7:30 and took a bunch of pictures of the family (Jaiden and Janelle obviously don't know how to do a hand-off, ha ha, they were not involved in track like Jared was when he and Jase did this same pose). I had curled my hair, but it was a bit drizzly outside and so the curls quickly turned frizzy.  Apparently the girls have better hair than I do, ha ha! Jaiden invited Emily to come as well.

While we were waiting for the the Stake President (President Nadauld) Rick had everyone singing hymns around the piano in harmony! We went in for her blessing and President Nadauld had everyone share their feelings about Jaiden and her decision to serve a mission. Of course this got the tears flowing for all of us! She was given a beautiful, powerful blessing! I recorded it on my phone and typed it up so that she could have a copy to help her while on her mission. I am so grateful for her decision to serve. It won't be easy, but it will certainly change her life and she will bless the lives of many with her service! 

Jaiden's Missionary Farewell

(From Jaiden) Today was my farewell and it was super cool! I was very very nervous about my talk, but I had it written ahead of time and I practiced it a LOT. Finally it came time for my talk and it was a little shorter then I prepared for, but I think I did well! I talked about my mission scripture (3rd Nephi 5:13) and how I've gained faith to take this leap to serve a mission! I got tons of compliments on it and I looked up at all the people there instead of just reading it! 

Maddox got to come as a missionary and it was Soo Soo good to see him!! His whole family came too! And I had 8 friends come from out of town to see me! And I had lots of people there to support me it was super cool! We all went to my house for lunch after and it was so so good to talk to everyone. I only had to say my actual goodbyes to a few people since I don't actually start my mission til next week, but it was still sad to say goodbye. We took lots of pictures and everyone talked for a long time!! 

After everyone left Maddox got to come back over with his dad to give me a blessing. It was very cool because it was the first blessing he's ever given someone! He blessed me with a lot of things that will be helpful in my mission and as I am preparing for my mission. After that we just talked for like an hour and it was super fun! Then we had to say our last goodbyes for two years because he leaves for Brazil tomorrow. We already had our hard and sad goodbye, and I feel like this was more of an exciting see you later!! It was really good. I am getting more and more excited for my mission every day, and I am glad that I have so many people in my life to support me! 

(From Wendy): Today was such a happy day! Jaiden did a great job on her talk and spoke from the heart. During church I felt a rush of gratitude. I felt gratitude for Heavenly Father and His plan, for my Savior and His Atonement, for my husband and our marriage, and for our children. I am truly blessed! 

We had a nice luncheon at our house afterwards with way more young adults than I was expecting. I was able to get a picture of some of them, but forgot to get pictures with others before they left. There were also a lot who came to the farewell but didn't come to the house after. It was fun that Derek and Danielle could come with their kids. They were in town with Danielle's family and so the timing worked out for them to be there! Kiera and Emily did a beautiful job on the musical number. Emily had just gotten over Covid and so we were worried about that, but it all went well! We are grateful that Jared could come to her farewell and bring Hallie, the girl he is dating.

I spent the entire day yesterday cooking. We had pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, jello salad, green salad, chicken salad, watermelon, brownies, and cookies. Rick and the kids helped a lot also. I was grateful that we had enough of everything and didn't run out. Everyone seemed to enjoy eating and visiting. Jaiden was able to see Maddox, and Rick and I were able to visit with him and his Dad (his temporary companion) for about an hour. Jaiden and Maddox gave their last goodbye before he flies to the Brazil MTC tomorrow. 

Jaiden was then able to leave with her SUU friends to head up North for a day at Lagoon tomorrow -- one last HOO-RAH before she starts her mission next week! Janelle, Rick, and I then went to Justin Gulbranson's missionary homecoming open house tonight and had a good visit with neighbors there. It was a wonderful fulfilling day! 

Here are a couple more pictures that Derek sent me later:

Jaiden's Endowment

Jaiden received her endowment today in the Cedar City Temple! I was so grateful that all of our endowed children could come! 

(We went to the Cedar City instead of the St. George Temple, since it is currently closed for remodeling.)