Set Apart

We had such a great weekend.

It began Friday with our favorite Chinese food at the Mandarin in Bountiful.

Then a session at the Bountiful Temple with the stake presidency and Elder Kevin Brown, the general authority who would be presiding at our stake conference Saturday and Sunday.

I had such a hard time staying awake during the session.

That happens sometimes.

But I was wide awake when Elder Brown taught us some beautiful lessons about the Savoir in the celestial room after the session.

Elder Brown has worked with seminary and institutes for 17 years and it showed.

He is a fantastic teacher and the youth loved him.

He's from Jamaica and moved to Utah just four months ago.

In the leadership session Saturday we discussed this photo.

It was the first I'd seen it.

I am going to have to have it in a canvas for sure.

Jesus has ran to me a time or two.

I love Him.

Gracie spoke about her love for the Savior and the temple covenants she's made with Him in the Sunday session of conference and later that afternoon was set apart as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our girl is ready.

She's been preparing since she was 16 and is so excited.

Yay for technology.

Jax was able to be there too.

Bishop Mann is Gracie's bishop and has been helping her prepare for over a year.

He's the best.

Melanie was Gracie's young women president before her mother and they are great friends.

So thankful for our little village.

Gracie said some goodbyes.

Then we went back to the house for her last supper.

The tag looks good on her.

After dinner we all shared favorite memories of Gracie along with advice.

A few memories:

 Harry Potter World on Gracie's 12th birthday.

Listening to Frank Sinatra while going through the carwash.

Talking about Gracie's crushes.

Fishing on the Logan river.

Cleaning bathrooms, a bedroom and closet.

The nurses at Primary Children's hospital saying what a fighter Gracie was.

Car rides running errands.

Vacation in Flaming Gorge.

Some advice:

BCBC = Bad Companions Build Character.

Be okay with how many things are out of your control.

Keep an open mind to do hard things.

Remember, everybody here on earth had a testimony at some point, otherwise they wouldn't have chosen God's plan. And so there's that sliver of testimony in them somewhere.

Be intentional with your invitations.

Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthen's each of us.

Remember, everything happens for a reason.

By the way, Logan learned to ride a bike while we were talking.

He's brilliant.

Home MTC begins today and she'll leave for the Mexico MTC next Tuesday.