A Witness of Jesus Christ

The day has finally arrived!

We let everyone sleep in (except for Emmy who had to leave bright and early for school) and then had the last breakfast of Candy French Toast and Hashbrown Quiche at around 10:30 when Emmy came home during her lunch break.

We prayed together and had family scripture study, just like we've done every morning since Jackson was in the 1st grade.  I don't know how much Jackson has actually learned over the years from our family scripture study as often times the kids are barely awake and when they are alert they are easily distracted.  But I hope he can come to understand how important it was to his parents to invite our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ into our family life every day.  We sang our family song, I Belong to the Church of Jesus Christ.  And then it was time to go to the MTC.

Emmy had a presentation to give for one of her classes so she said her goodbye's and went back to school (I think she was secretly happy not to be able to go to the MTC.) When she gets emotional she starts crying--she's one of those "hiccup criers" and once she gets started she can't stop, poor thing.

I was sad to not have all the kids in the picture but that's just something I have to get used to from here out.  Gone are the days when I get to have all of my kids with me, all of the time :( 

Have I mentioned that every where we go we run into someone who has served their mission in the Sao Paulo Brazil area?  The guy who took our picture served there too--which came as no surprise!

This is our first experience with the curbside drop-off at the MTC.  Loved it!  And loved seeing all these cute missionaries lining the sidewalks!

Didn't love all the goodbyes...

I will say that I felt MUCH better about dropping him off here than I did dropping him off at USU last August.  He is so ready for this mission and he is so excited.  I am so excited to get this goodbye behind me.  

  

Rick was so excited to get this JDawg sauce we picked up for him in Provo and delivered right to his door!  

When we got home the girls insisted we would all feel better with a little ice cream.  I agreed so we ate cookies and ice cream.

Estabon and the husband decided working on the trailer would make them feel better.

The husband also thought sending Jackson a letter would make him feel better so he sent one via Dearelder.com and then bragged to everyone that he was the first to send Jax a letter.

I thought I would feel better by sending Jackson the card I had for him and also included his immunization records they told us to BE SURE AND BRING TO THE MTC that his mother forgot to send with him to the MTC.

Estabon (completely covered in dirt) spraying a sealant on the floor of the trailer.

Well, we survived.  I've been a bit of a wreck since we dropped Jackson off.  I KIT long enough to do what I need to, to take care of the family and then when no one's looking I have little breakdowns.  I didn't anticipate that saying goodbye to Jax would bring to the surface so many of the feelings I went through losing Baby Kevin.  On our way out this morning Kevin looked at me and my tears started to fall.  He hugged me and said it isn't fair for a mama to have to give two of her boys back in less than a year.  I agree, it isn't fair.  But a lot of what happens in this life isn't fair and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing that helps me to make sense of any of it.  It's the only thing that helps me to accept my trials and have the faith to keep moving forward.  There are people in Brazil (and all over the world) who don't understand that.  They don't know about where we lived before this life and where we'll go after we die.  They don't know they have a Heavenly Father who knows them and loves them and they don't know they have a Savior that will help them repent, heal their hearts and help them reach their true potential.  I've thought a lot this past year about the parents who have lost children who don't know where their child is or if they'll ever see them again.  I'm grateful I know where Baby Kevin is.  I'm grateful to know he's alive and well and serving his mission among those who have passed on.  When President Ivins set Jackson apart he blessed him that he'd be watched over by angels.  I have no doubt that one of those Angels will be his brother.  I am grateful my Jackson gets to be a witness of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel.  He'll be a wonderful missionary!

If you want to write him his address is:

Elder Jackson Thomas Beck
MTC Mailbox #133
BRA-SPIN 0423
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

If you go through Dearelder.com you can type up your letter and they'll print it off and deliver it to the MTC for free :)