Mission Time!

Joplin, MO Airport ~ April 2, 2013

 She flew from Joplin to Dallas to SLC where Richie and the kids picked her up.  She spent the evening with R&R's family.  Then on Wednesday, 4/3/13 at 2pm the Garners dropped her off at the MTC.  I am so thankful that Taysom was able to spend some time with family.  I guess Miles was quite upset that he couldn't go with her.  He wanted to go on his mission!

And she's off!

Easter

(My camera needs to be replaced.  Sorry about the lousy picture quality.)

For some reason Taysom didn't like sleeping in her room alone after having a roommate at BYU-I.  She took up residence on Ilah's floor, and Tay's bedroom became a huge closet.  Most nights Henry joined them as well.  I loved peeking into Ilah's room seeing all three writing in their journals or reading.  

This picture was taken Easter Eve.  Just 3 nights before Taysom left.

Easter Sunday was a busy day.  President Jones met with our family right after our ward and before Taysom's branch to set her apart as a missionary.  I wrote down as much as I could in Taysom's journal.  I don't remember many specifics from the blessing.  I do remember the peace I felt.  Taysom, who had been a ball of nerves, immediately calmed down and relaxed.  We didn't have any time to discuss it though because we had to hurry into the chapel since she was speaking in her YSA branch - I guess you could call it a farewell talk.  (She was supposed to speak the week prior to Easter, but we had a snowstorm and the YSA branch was cancelled. ) She did a beautiful job!  The talk she had prepared for the previous week was put to the side and she spoke on the resurrection and atonement.

Later that day...

Officially a missionary

Henry had already changed.

Traditional egg hunt!

Taysom got a head start since she isn't the best egg finder but never wants ANY help!

Found all of the eggs

Big winner

 Finally that evening we had the Tuckers and Belnaps over for some pie and a few photos.

The Belnaps

Ben & Henry

The Tuckers (missing Tasha)

Taysom and Emily

Absolutely Beautiful Families

&

An Easter I'll Never Forget!

Sam, Tucker and Henry volunteered to stay home from school Monday to be with Taysom since she couldn't be alone.  Silly me, thought that she would get all of her packing done and be ready for some family time when the rest of us got home from school about 5:30.  She hadn't even started.  They had spent the day playing Ticket To Ride (our family's new favorite game that we learned about from the Tuckers and purchased with the Easter Target card Grandma Wallace sent).

Taysom's Endowment

It was crazy how quickly the time passed from getting the mission call to leaving for the MTC.  With trying to find mission wardrobe items, altering skirts and dresses,  purchasing new glasses, creating her mormon.org profile, renewing/extending her driver's license, working things out with her dermatologist, and trying to find time to spend with friends and loved ones, Taysom was one busy girl and a whirlwind of emotions: stress, happiness, frustration, peace, giddiness, etc.

We had the incredible opportunity to go with her to the temple for her own endowment.   Mom and Dad were able to make the trip, and I am so thankful they came.  They arrived on a Friday afternoon in plenty of time to catch Henry's play.  Henry played Jimmy (the male lead) in Thoroughly Modern Millie.

for some reason I can't find any of the pictures I took...

Sydney also made the trip to Joplin that weekend.  We are so thankful that she was able to make arrangements for her family and to fly out to for the quick visit.  She came with Jim & Amy to the play.  The entire cast did an amazing job.  Just wish the sound system had been working better.  Henry has a great sense of comedic timing and was the best male dancer hands down.  He made it look effortless.

That night Mom and Dad gave a beautiful temple prep lesson for the whole family.  Mike and I are so thankful for that evening.  Taysom wouldn't have been as calm and prepared without it.  During the lesson the temple matron, Sister Hardy called to make sure Taysom was ready and to check and see if she had any questions.  Sister Hardy is amazing.  The temple had been closed for a couple of weeks (do to cleaning and inclement weather) so I'm sure there were several sisters taking their endowment out and a myriad of other responsibilities- yet she made the time to call.

We left bright and early the next morning and made it to the temple about 8:15 am.

We had a beautiful session.  Not only did Sister Hardy meet with Taysom and I, but she had our group and another sister's group (who was there for her own endowment) taken to the Creation Room prior to the entire session coming up and spoke to us along with President Hardy.  At the end of the session Sister Hardy assisted Taysom as she passed through the veil.  It was a moment I'll never forget as I watched Taysom come into the Celestial Room with tears streaming down her face.  Dad quietly said something about fulfilling the measure of our creation.  He and Mom commented that they wouldn't have missed it for anything.  It was such a blessing to have family from both sides there (Mom, Dad, Ben, Sydney, Jimmy and Amy) and many from our Joplin family too (esp. the Belnaps and the Tuckers).

at lunch after the temple

in front of the Stake Center

It doesn't seem that long ago that I rushed to the temple after a choir concert (forgetting my recommend) and took out my endowment.  Has it really been 21 years?

Tucker's Slideshow

Try this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA20bN2egKI

TAYSOM

This was the video I made for Taysom's YW medallion recognition night.

Try this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH2PJwyX7Hk&feature=youtu.be

Our First Eagle Scout

As most of you know, Tucker completed his Eagle project last summer during his HEFY trip to Tonga.  He collected all kinds of rugby equipment (shoes, socks, jerseys, shoes, balls, pads, shoes, etc.) to provision a rugby team in Tonga.

 Although he did some fundraising, most of the equipment was donated - not by sports companies, but by individuals Tucker located through an email campaign.  The money earned through fundraising was used to help pay for the excessive baggage fees to transport the equipment.

I don't think any of us realized the headache, and more importantly, the testimony building this experience would be for our family.  I cannot put into words how thankful I am that Tucker was able to have this experience.  What a blessing it has been.  So many miracles... from getting in touch with the right people through emails/blogs - to earning enough money to transport all of the boxes - to airline employees who didn't weigh things correctly and who allowed things through customs that apparently weren't supposed to be allowed through - to all but one of the seven HUGE boxes making it safely, etc., etc., etc.  Even though Tucker had to leave a lot of stuff behind simply because he couldn't afford the baggage fees, he still had enough equipment to provision TWO rugby teams.  One team was set up before hand though HEFY.

The other team was coached by a local that Tucker met at Yum Yum Burgers.  It was a complete surprise.

It has been almost 9 months since his trip.  He had to finish up a couple of merit badges, turn in his eagle paper work, and have his board of review.  Check - Check - and Check!  A couple of months ago we received a letter congratulating Tucker on becoming an Eagle scout.  We had hoped to have his Eagle Court of Honor the same weekend that Taysom took out her endowment hoping to have some extended family there to celebrate with us.  Unfortunately it was the same weekend as Stake Conference, and we couldn't make it work.  Instead we planned for Wednesday March 27, 2013.  Mom designed the program for us...

This was folded in half - the right side as the front.

Inside the program

It was a wonderful evening.  Our "family" out here provided the refreshments - American flag cupcakes from the Tuckers and cookies from the Belnaps and Arayas.  Tucker was showered in love and support.  I cried through the video watching my little boy growing up before my eyes and felt guilty as his pinned the mother's pin onto my lanyard.  I remember my mom guiding my brothers as they worked through the scouting program and especially their eagle projects.  Tucker really did this on his own.  My contribution of teaching him that he could mail boxes using the post office instead of the UPS store seemed so insignificant and definitely not "pin-worthy".  Since it is tradition, I kept it... mostly to remind me of this incredible experience.

Way to go Tucker!

*see Eagle slideshow

Spring Break in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Ahhh - I want to go back...

I am to thankful to Melanie and Leslie for planning and making this Spring Break trip to the beach happen.  They found a great deal on a vacation home rental in Gulf Shores a couple of blocks from the beach.  The Tuckers loaned us their Highlander - not sure why as their family (5 adults) had to squeeze into their mid-sized car.  The drive there wasn't too bad - a mere 12 or 13 hour drive.  But on the way home we got stuck in a traffic jam for a couple of hours and some wintery mix weather off and on.  It was a LONG drive home!

The home was very nice - across the street was a tennis court and pool, 

view from the house

some contemplation time at the house

...but we spent most of our time at the beach.  
It was heavenly!!!

 

all kids besides Taysom and Lindsay

walking to the beach

almost there

Henry

Ilah

Sam and Tucker

Beach hair

 

enjoying the water

Tucker, Lydia, Ilah, and Megan

Tasha, Tucker, Henry, Ilah, and Lydia

Dan Belnap

Ultimate Frisbee

Taysom

my sweetheart

the ending of an era... the turning of a page

 Come back Spring Break... 

Special thanks to Sam for the excellent pictures!