Elder Vance

 Yesterday the boys and I drove down to Provo to help drop off my youngest brother, Alex, at the MTC (missionary training center). I guess I should call him Elder Vance now that he is a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will be learning Spanish in the MTC for the next eight weeks and then head off to Panama City where he will spend his next two years. Two whole years. We will miss him like crazy but I know that he will learn and grow so much from this experience that I can't be too sad. Mostly I am just so proud of him and so glad that he is my brother.

 My mom asked for some last-minute shots before he went in so I took these while he tried our older brother's missionary tag on for size. Too bad Aria was away at a family reunion. She would have done a MUCH better job. 

The whole day I was impressed by how cheerful, pleasant and handsome he was but mostly I couldn't help being amazed at how old he is already. As I took his pictures, I couldn't help but see him as a little boy in my minds eye. The dark, curly-haired sweetheart that I spent my teenage years practicing mothering. Now he is grown and is off to share his wonderful self with the people in Panama.

This is the picture of Alex on his baptism day that I kept in a frame for most of my whole college experience. Wasn't he a cutie-pie?

Dropping him off was short but sweet. When we drove up to the curb (where they have so say your quick goodbye these days) the missionary host waiting to whisk him away just happened to be our very own cousin David (who entered the MTC several months ago and will be serving in Kathleen's old mission in Florida)! This wasn't even remotely planned but was especially sweet since they are good friends. Heavenly Father knows how to bless his children!

 Elder Vance and Elder Osborn

 L: Kathleen is now teaching missionaries at the MTC and was able to leave her class for a minute to say goodbye with us. R: Charlie getting one last hug.

 I am so glad that our boys get to have a missionary to write for the next two years. What a great example my brother is for them.

 Me saying goodbye.

 Slingle getting her hug in.

 Tony and Alex hugging. I am so sad that I screwed up the exposure on this one! Photography is tricky business!

Off he goes!

Good-bye, Elder Wirthlin

I was sad to hear that Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin passed away last night in his sleep. It is wonderful that he gets to be with his wife again, and he was 91 years old, but I am sad all the same. His talks were always so inspiring to me and I have come to love him so much, over the years.

President Hinckley's Passing

Since we are cut off from the world when at home on Stubbs Ave, we did not know about our Prophet, Pesident Hinckley's death until the next day...the same day we had to put our two dogs down.(It was a low blow.)However, about a week before, I started working on a little Valentines Day figurine of an elderly couple in love. Since the Hinckley's are the dearest little couple I knew of, I decided to model it after them. While working on it, I reflected on how long it had been since Sister Hinckley's death and how hard that must be for our dear Prophet. When I did hear about his death, I felt a personal loss, but I felt SO happy for the two of them! I thought that was a neat way for me to say good-bye to that wonderful man. Even though the figurine didn't turn out exactly, it is a fun little reminder of our dear prophet and of the wonderful example of love in marriage that they set.

Mason's Blessing

On Mason's Four month birthday, we got to come together and witness his baby blessing. He wore the same little outfit that James wore when he was a blessed.