It was quite an interesting experience. Filled with both good and rough moments.
It all began (for me at least) on Friday afternoon. My older sister Kimberly and paternal grandparents when I got home from Columbia. And so lots of visiting and excitement took place.
Then Saturday came....the older half of the clan went to the temple, while us younger ones stayed home and hung out. This day also brought lots of song practicing.........
We had been asked ages ago to sing a song in Sacrament Meeting when Garrett would speak, but since we were not all in the same place at once...the practicing came down basically to the day before! YIKES!!!
The end of the day brought an open house at the Neuburger home. They are a close family friend who also has a son entering the Missionary Training Center at the same time as Garrett. So a whole bunch of people from church, and school ans family too came over to celebrate and say farewell to two great guys!
After hours of mixing and mingling...we came home and practiced some more before crashing into bed.
Looking back, our busy schedule and company likely helped us maintain our emotional health at least a little, since we were too tired and crazy to really think about what was about to happen!
So Sunday came and my little baby brother gave a GREAT talk. For those who don't know, before a guy leaves on his mission, he is often asked to give a short sermon in the main Sunday meeting. And Garrett did an AWESOME job! I recorded it and will try to upload it....not sure if I will have success or if anyone will be able to hear it but.....
MP3 PENDING!
Right before he spoke, us (all four of his sisters) sang a song called "I Know My Savior Lives" (if you want to know more check this out!) It turned out pretty well....if I do say so myself!
My maternal grandparents were also able to come into town just for Sunday, which was really great. They got here just in time to hear Garrett speak and us girls sing. They were quite proud I think!
After church THOUSANDS of pictures were taken of course. Hundreds of groups/combinations, tons of angles and several cameras were involved.
here's some faves
The first set of grandparents left Sunday evening, and the second set and Kimberly left Monday.
So by the time Monday night came around we were all alone again.
The next couple of days were spent finishing up all the things that needed to get done before Garrett left.
Then Wednesday night came. We all piled into the car and drove to the stake president's home. When a guy gets a mission call he gets a special blessing "setting him apart" before he leaves. This basically means that he is given rights and privileges from God to be able to serve his mission the best way he can. This was the official moment. And this is when the emotions really began to run strong.
Its weird how after all the waiting and all the time we spent knowing it would happen and preparing for it...I was still shocked that it was happening.
Thursday morning we got up and headed to the airport. We got him all checked in and then waited for a while until it was time for him to go through security. We took a few more pictures and sent him off with lots of tears and lots of hugs.
Dad then found a creepy corner of the airport that I highly suspect we were not supposed to be in, where we waited and watched his plane take off...first for Atlanta, Georgia and then for Accra, Ghana.
It was a while before we heard from him. But he is now out of the MTC and in his area teaching the Gospel to the people in Ghana.
He is loving it and doing very well. Doesn't stop us from missing him or worrying about him. But the fact that he is doing the Lord's work helps. He is where he is supposed to be doing what he is supposed to do. And I couldn't be a prouder big sister!
No comments:
Post a Comment