Josh, MTC Drop Off!!

Today was the day! It was a crazy day for all of us. Jenna was picked up at 4:50 am to go to the church at 5:00 for a temple appointment with the young men and young women. She made it home at 6:40, just ten minutes before she was to be picked up for Madrigals! Then she had "lunch bunch" at Bria Thompson's house and then was supposed to work tonight (but ended up giving her shift to someone because she was so tired!) I don't blame her! 

Rick, Josh, and I left at 7:30 to head up north. We stopped in Orem at the car rental place so that Rick could rent a car for the next few days, since he would be staying up north and I would be driving back home. Josh and I both tried to sleep in the car on the way home, but I don't think either of us were very successful! 

Rick listened to a couple of good church talks on the way. Then we pulled out the letters that everyone had written to Josh and gave them to him to read. Then Rick said he wanted to read them and so I read them out loud to Rick and Josh and that brought all the tears! I read the letters, bawling the whole time! Our kids are so so awesome! They wrote such thoughtful, heartfelt letters and gave such amazing advice! I am so glad that we started this tradition of having all of the siblings write a letter to their brother or sister when they leave on a mission. They are treasures! 

After renting the car we all met at the Golden Corral. It was so funny because we ran in to Mark Tarr (a friend from Snow College) and his family again, just like we did when dropping off Janelle three years ago! At that time he and his family were dropping off their daughter to the MTC, and this time they were dropping off their son to the MTC, same as us! And what is even more ironic is that their son is going to Korea on his mission too! Only he is in the other mission. So we introduced his son to Josh and they got to visit a bit. They will probably see each other quite a bit in the MTC!

Janika and Brandon were able to take a little time off work to come to the Golden Corral with their boys, and so that was fun! Ellen also came with Evan and Eli and they made a cute little poster for Josh. She also brought a polaroid camera in order to take some pictures with Josh that he could take with him, which I thought was such a great idea! Josh loved them! Janelle and Bryton also came. Josh's good friend, Adam Parkhurst, was also to come since he was up north for Education Week. We had a really nice lunch and took some pictures. 

After that Josh said goodbye to the rest of the family and those of us seeing him off met at the chapel right next to the MTC. Usually we always take pictures at the Provo Temple, but it is not there any more! They tore it down and so now it is just a grassy field! So Jaiden was the last of our family to get pictures in front of it. We then headed into the parking garage to drop off Josh! I was fine until that final hug and then I was crying again!! We all were! Well, I don't know if Josh was, but I am sure he was feeling all the feels too! 

I sure wish I could be a fly on the wall those first few days at the MTC to witness everything he is experiencing! After our goodbyes we all went our separate ways! Rick was staying up north since he had meetings in Salt Lake this week. I was rushing back because I was scheduled to interpret for Frozen at Tuacahn that same night! So that was stressful. I listened to the show over and over the whole way home in order to prepare. I mean I had already prepared lots of hours, but this was the final preparation.

At least it forced me to take my mind off of Josh leaving, ha ha! The play went really well tonight. It was fun, but I was glad to get it behind me! So that was our day!! 

And Jaiden's one year mark!! I am sure the next six months will fly by!! 

Temple Endowment!

Tonight Josh went through the temple to receive his endowment! All of his siblings came down for this special occasion, which is so awesome! We all went out to lunch at the Golden Corral, and then Josh and Rick went straight to the temple (since they needed to be there early in order for Josh to receive his other ordinances) and the rest of us hurried home to change clothes and drop off the boys to be babysat by Jenna and her friend, Bria, and then all headed over to the temple to meet up with Rick and Josh. We had a really nice session and met in the Celestial room and talked for a while, and then went out to take some pictures. It was a special day! 

While we were gone, Jenna and her friend, Bria babysat the grandkids! 

He Passed!! Josh -- our newest driver!!

Josh is the first one that got his driver's license right after his birthday! His birthday was on Saturday (so the Driver's License Division was closed) and he got his license on Monday! 

Jaiden was two months after her birthday (due to Covid), Janelle was five months after her birthday, Jared was 4 months after, Jase was 3 1/2 months after, and Janika was six months after! Josh took driver's education clear last summer. We figured that summer would be best so that it wouldn't conflict with soccer. But he didn't really start driving much with us until January 2022. At that time we sat down and figured out how many weeks there were until his birthday and how many hours a week he would need to finish his driving hours by then. I kept track of it on a spreadsheet and he had the hours he needed by time he was eligible. The Monday before his birthday one of the driving instructors contacted him to set up driving time with him. He did it before school at 6:00 a.m. a few days this week and then a few hours on Friday since school was our for Easter break.

The instructor drove with Josh again on Saturday (on Josh's birthday) for a couple of hours and texted him Monday morning to ask if he wanted to take the test that day. It worked out perfectly because the kids were out Monday for Easter break too. Josh wasn't sure if he was ready, but I assured him that he was and that he should jump at the opportunity! Then I went to the driver's license division website to see if there were any open appointments that day, and there was just one appointment left! So I took it! I figured if he didn't pass his test then we could always cancel. I was confident he would pass though -- he is a good driver. 

I was supposed to go interpret that morning, but Josh wanted to practice parallel parking and backing up by a street curb and so I asked Rick if he could interpret my class instead so that I could practice with Josh, and he agreed. During our practice Josh didn't do very well parallel parking the first time, but then did perfect the second time. Josh went to take his test and only missed six points. Two points for not signaling when leaving a round-a-bout (is that a thing?) and then four points for parallel parking. Apparently it didn't go as well as it did during our practice, ha ha! But he did great on everything else!

There is an online test they have to get 100% on and Josh had done one section, but not the rest. I told him to hurry and finish because he couldn't get his license without it! Their website was soooo slow and kept timing out and so that was frustrating, but he was finally able to finish it and we went to Hurricane to get his license! We were in and out in ten minutes! Congratulations, Josh!!!

 

Josh's Fifth Grade Program

I went to Josh's fifth grade patriotic program/graduation this afternoon. This is my sixth time seeing this program and I get a little emotional every time! I love patriotic songs and contemplating on the blessings of living in a free country as the children sing. Josh said that they only started learning the songs a week ago. You would never know it, they sounded awesome!

Those kids who passed off all of the requirements also received their "Give Me Liberty Award." Josh was extremely motivated and was the second person in their whole fifth grade to pass off all of his requirements for this award. The kids also received their graduation diplomas! Next year they all move on to the Intermediate School!

Josh's Baptism!

Josh got baptized today.  We are so proud of him! 

 

 

Some of Josh's thoughts about his baptism:  

When I was putting on my white clothes I thought:  I’m getting ready to be baptized!  I felt good!

When I saw the water I thought:  Wow!  That looks HOT!  I was nervous.  My dad asked me if I was ready and I said, “C’mon dad!”  When I went into the water I felt:  REALLY HOT WATER!  It wasn’t burning me though. When I received the Holy Ghost I felt:  I felt warm inside.  Not inside my clothes, but in my heart.

My favorite part of the day was when I got my temple picture. 

Dad:  Why do you like that picture?

Josh went to get the picture so we could look at it and we also looked up Gal 5:22-23 to help us understand what the spirit feels like.

Josh:  Pretty sunset on it.

Dad:  what are you going to do with it?

Josh: Put it in my room?

Dad:  What is it supposed to help you think about?

Josh:  Next step in life  - going to the temple.