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!! 

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!

 

Janelle MTC!!!

Last night was our final night with Janelle before she heads to the MTC! Rick gave her a beautiful Father's blessing and we had everyone write her a letter that we would give her the next day. This morning the kids said their goodbyes and then the three of us headed to Provo! She read the letters on the way there and then Rick had me read some of them out loud. Of course I blubbered like a baby!! I especially liked Ellen's letter -- she had lots of solid advice for Janelle! 

We stopped at the Golden Corral in Orem for lunch and I ran into Mark Tarr, an old friend from my Snow College days! He and I were in the LD Singers together and his wife was in LD's with my sister, Jen. They were there sending their daughter off to the MTC too! So that was fun to visit with them. It turns out that their son when on a deaf mission like me and is currently attending Snow College. Small world! 

We went to the Provo temple to take a few pictures. I would have liked to take more, but we were running a little late by this time and Janelle was anxious to get on her way! She has been waiting for this moment for a long time and she is ready!! She will be such an amazing missionary!! Good luck, Janelle, we love you!!!

Chris sent me this one... (pretty cool!)

Jared MTC!!

Rick and I left at 7:00 a.m. to take Jared to the MTC!! Jared was able to take a nice nap in the car after his emotional evening last night (saying goodbye to his friends). Then Rick and I told him stories from our mission. We ate lunch at Golden Corral in Orem and took some pictures at the Provo temple and then did the quick drop off! They changed the drop-off point to inside a big parking garage. They had lots of missionaries there to greet the new missionaries! We are sure going to miss this kid! I am already looking forward to his first letter!

MTC!!

More details to come (hopefully!)