July 28, 2010
He’s there!
I woke up feeling completely fine. No upset stomach,not butterflies, no nerves. Then it just got crazy busy with trying to get the last load of laundry done and him all packed… I had forgotten to pick up his suit from the cleaners. I had wanted to go on one more walk and just talk and see how he was feeling about it all, but no such luck, truly no time. Aunt Polly had written and told me to write him little love notes and put them throughout his suit case with treats. I was so grateful she suggested that! It got down to the wire and finally we took off. He looked so handsome and was very quiet. I did ask how he felt, he said “good.” He didn’t seem nervous at all. However Mitch pointed out he was awfully quiet which isn’t normal. We went to lunch at California Pizza Kitchen, and Jordan met us there. We wolfed it down so obviously nothing was wrong with our stomachs. We had a great visit then left. We hoped to get to the MTC with time to walk over and take pictures. We were there about 5 minutes late. They do give you a time slot so we weren’t over the time, we were still 10 minutes before the next group but felt very rushed to get over there and take pictures. As we drove up we saw huge groups of missionaries out playing soccer, volley ball, and other things. We parked and as we started to walk over, one of Mitchell’s best friends (Andrew Angerbauer) was just walking over with his family! That was a huge tender mercy. We knew his time was an hour before ours. They had some real conflicts so were late. I know the Lord really blessed them both because it seemed to really help their nerves to have each other. We took great pictures of them and us and Mitchell walking in. I loved seeing the 10-15 Elder’s standing outside waiting to escort the new missionaries inside. Truly the whole thing was so darn cool. I thought Mitchell seemed completely fine and our dumb camera which takes so long to take a picture kind of made the pictures more posed and impossible to get emotional. We left and immediately Taylor and I reached for our phones to text Mitchell and find out all about his new comp., his district, the Mtc. We both started laughing realizing we don’t get to do that anymore. I am sure it will hit at some point… just not yet. It was such a great day, so much better than I thought and I keep wondering what is wrong with me that I am not crying. Taylor put it very well when he said “I guess it is because this is what you have prepared us for our whole life. It’s exciting to be here.” It is! I am thrilled but I can’t wait for his first letter!! Erin
July 27, 2010 – One More day
I awoke with a migraine and tried to fall back asleep. At 6:10 I got up to a very unsettled stomach and went on a much needed run with Becky Murri (my dear dear friend and running partner). Sunday I woke up to much the same feeling. I proceeded to read my scriptures as my hands shook and I felt so sick to my stomach (nervous feeling). I started to bawl so hard I went into my room and prayed it would stop. It did and I was able to calm down. Mitchell came up at 11:00 and proceeded to re-write the outline for his talk. His hands were shaking so badly I knew he was feeling the same thing. I asked if he needed a blessing and as he nodded yes he started to cry. I knew he felt that “it’s here” feeling. As he got his blessing I gave him his little Bert we had bought him to take on his mission. I knew the humor of it would help and it was the perfect timing. He tucked him in his suit coat pocket. As he sat on the stand and the church began to fill (and I mean fill—there were more people than attend stake conference. I can honestly say I have NEVER seen so many kids at a farewell in my life) he started to cry. His emotions were completely written on his face and he was so touched and overwhelmed by the love and support he felt. He said that morning as he left he got a text from 4 of his friends who were out of town and had driven back to be at his farewell. He lost it before we ever left our home. I had prayed the night before that people would come. Mitchell was so worried with it being a holiday weekend that there wouldn’t be many people there. How funny that was. Mitchell has never — never in his life felt that or had that. Even when we did his surprise party and only 5 kids showed up. I think he has just never felt that loved or accepted—at least here in Utah. I know he will never have such a happy birthday again! It was such a gift from heaven and so touching as our stake center was filled to capacity. It was amazing and a breathtaking sight.
Mitchell’s talk was awesome. I loved that it was on Obedience. He used Disneyland and 6 flags as an example of the pursuit of happiness and the bigger thrill. He compared that to lasting happiness coming from peace and knowing that comes from doing what the Lord commands and knowing He is pleased with you. HE talked about his wreck the first week of school when he was a sophomore and the consequences of not obeying and forgiveness. He talked about texting in class and being mortified and never doing it again. HE talked about his baseball team in Seattle and not swearing or playing on Sunday and not consciously setting out to be an example however finding out he was one, and the influence he had just obeying. He talked about Lehonti and Amalikiah and being poisoned by degrees, and not coming down as Satan tries to do to each of us. It was such a great talk and it ended with the quote “2 men can do anything as long as one of those men is god.” By Elder Anderson in his conference Address. It was amazing. He took the entire 25 minutes and did such a great job of sharing personnel experiences, scriptures and quotes from preach my gospel. I loved that it was completely him. I was so worried he would stand and try to be this great scriptorian and he didn’t. He was him the entire talk and I loved it! It was a big pay day for me and I was so touched as he talked about each of his family members. He talked about how beautiful his sisters are and how he can’t wait to come home and scare away their boyfriends. He talked about watching “Jonas LA” with Mckinley. We loved that(and Mckinley just buried her head in her dad’s side! He talked about Lincoln being his hero and wishing he was a tenth the person Lincoln is. I guess Lincoln completely lost it at that. What a gift to have a big brother idolize you. Mitchell has always been so proud of who Lincoln is and made it known very clearly. It reminds me of Joseph Smith and his older brothers Alvin and Hyrum. How lucky is Lincoln? He talked about how much he loves Taylor and that he is his best friend. He said “it prob. Sounds horrible but I will miss him least of all, but that is prob. Because I don’t worry about him. I know he is such a great kid. I truly wish I was Taylor.” He has said that many times over the years to me and I was so proud of him for saying it. It meant so much to Taylor. Mitchell has been such a great oldest. We are so lucky to have him as a big brother and the head of our children. We will so miss his influence and presence in our home. He spoke about his dad being his hero and he just sobbed. I loved that and Mitch cried. He didn’t say more than “I love my mom, we argue most days but I love her. She is so outgoing and friendly.” It was perfect. I was so touched by his honesty and his sincerity. He nailed it and I loved it all. IT was a huge pay day and I could not imagine a more perfect day. It far exceeded any expectation and I felt it was such a huge gift.
So today I just feel a little sick to my stomach. I feel ready to get on with this and anxious to get his first letter. I feel like this is a lot like pregnancy, I am just ready to be done with the anticipation, the worry, and the nerves. Let’s just do this thing! Plus I am so ready to read and see the changes in him. I am so ready to begin the countdown to him coming home. I am ready. What a great adventure and privilege. How blessed I am to be a mother, to be Mitchell’s mother! I am so incredibly grateful.
Erin
