After we dropped off Elder Dayley at the airport, we came home and of course Dad took a nap.  It was a very early morning for everyone and nobody had slept well for a couple of days.  

While he napped, I blogged.  I knew our families would want an update quickly, and I know how much joy and peace it brings to me to read and see pictures of events when I am far away. It's like I got to be there almost.

Shortly after, we decided to run some errands.  I had enough time in at work to go get my scrubs and my strong silent mysterious man had a fence project that evening and needed to pick up some supplies.

We began to get some emails from Aunt Patsy...

He had arrived at the airport... they drove to Provo and met up with Marcus, Brittany and John....

Went to lunch at PF Changs!

Oh how relieved I was that his last meal would not be re-heated frozen pizza from the night before (that story to come).  Plus, he LOVES PF Changs!!

We were trying not to call them, we had said our goodbyes and didn't know if it would be hard to talk to him again.  But when they sent the fortune cookie photo... we called.

It was all good, he was happy, nobody cried.  I think I will miss his voice and smile the most.

Not to hear "Mom" for two years will be tough. 

The next update we got was a phone call from Patsy, he was officially delivered to the MTC.

She said he was greeted by his Host Elder at the curb, and he grabbed him and pulled him out of the car with a hand shake and a BIG OL' HUG, saying "I have been waiting for you ALL DAY!!"

She thought, "wow they really are giving quite the greeting"... and then found out it was his buddy from home, who he played on the golf team with.

She couldn't remember his name, but sent us this photo to my phone and as soon as I opened it, we couldn't believe it was Luke!  His fellow Elders on the curb were asking, "is this the Elder you have been waiting for ALL DAY?"

 In all the excitement, Patsy said they were walking away and she had to call him back to say goodbye.

He felt bad, but it was heartwarming to us to know he was not "looking back" he is ready to start his mission.  

I reached Luke's Mom and share these pictures with her, they have 3 missionaries out right now.  A son in Argentina, a daughter in Spain, and Luke leaves for Mexico on Monday!

It was such a tender mercy for us, to know he was so well received!

We are so grateful for the update along the way dropping him off and the photos, thank you Aunt Patsy for taking him in like he was your own!

It has been solomn and quiet at our house.  We have big ol' smiles on, but huge empty spaces in our hearts.  I can't bring myself to go into his room yet.  But I will have to go tackle that project soon, before something starts to grow in there.

Missing you Elder!!  Write home soon!!

Departure...

The alarm went off at 4:45am this morning, we hit our knees directly out of bed with the missionary and said lots of prayers of gratitude for this day.

Then got ready for the morning ahead.

Priesthood blessings for Mom and the Missionary, what a great peaceful feeling of comfort and love and assurance that all will be well.  We then said all of our farewells and Elder got enough puppy kisses to last him and we were off to the airport. 

 I know it looks like in most of the pictures, he was running from me through the airport, but it just wasn't about pictures today, especially for him.  So I just did the best I could.

He was really peaceful, but mostly seemed very focused.  He has flown so many times, so I never worry about that.  

 I have a hard time keeping up with him on any other day of the week, so when he is this focused, I really didn't have a chance.  But it was all good!

 We must have walked up to the ticket counter looking a little dazed (from this pic of my Strong Silent Mysterious Man... a very solomn daze)... this really nice agent came right over to us and helped get him all checked in.

 When he went to pay for his checked luggage, his debit card wouldn't go through.  But he wasn't panicked, he just looked at me and said "Mom, it will be fine".  I assured him I would go right home and find out what the problem was and get it fixed and let him know in my first letter.  He didn't seem concerned at all.

 He didn't slow down a minute for any pictures, so I had to just hold the camera out, bend around to the front of him and shoot to try and get anything other than the back of his head.  

 We got one more quick hug and he was off (sorry I missed the hug photo too, this one is right after).

 Then the wait through security.

 It went fairly quick, but I have never seen so many people at the Boise Airport, ever.  Crazy.

 We never saw any other missionaries traveling this morning.  We thought we might, but not one.

 He kind of stands out anyway, but those missionaries really stand out in a crowd.

 We got one last wave and smile from him and he was off.

If you pause and watch the video by frame, you can kind of catch the wave behind the post.  Oh well.

 A few tears as he walks away, but we are good.

Mostly just feeling the big ol' tall empty space right now.

I made it home and found out exactly why his card didn't work and got it fixed.  He won't know, but I can leave word for him with his Aunt.

He will arrive in SLC at 9:11am and his Aunt Patsy will be picking him up and driving him about 1 1/2 hours to the MTC in Provo, UT.  So we will call her and get one final update on the missionary before he reports, and then wait anxiously for that first letter home.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my Mom's Birthday!!

Happy Birthday Mom... aka Nene!

We Love You!!!!!

Elder Dayley

Tonight our son was set apart as a full time missionary.   We were asked to call him Elder Dayley (out of respect) and not refer to him as Jacob until he is released.  He told him it might be the only time he will  serve directly under the direction of the Prophet. I had not thought of it that way, he is now a servant of the Lord, and Thomas S. Monson will be his supervisor who reports back to the Lord of his work.

It was a very sacred experience, there were many many wonderful blessings and promises and council.

I get to be his companion for the next two days until he departs for the Missionary Training Center.  (Elders should never be left alone, you will always see them in pairs, it is a very comforting protection).

The best job EVER, I accept!!!

Behind the scenes...

I almost never post the pictures I take that don't really turn out.

I am a perfectionist that way... but sometimes they do capture the moments and have a story to tell of how I got that ONE photo.

(btw, it's never just ONE photo, ask my boys)

"it should  be like this"...

(A parents right to council, no matter how old you are)

 "no, I like it like this"

He was blinking on purpose, every time I took a shot.  Only I didn't notice until about 9 or 10 clicks and ever picture a re-do... he thought he was being hilarious messing with me.  This is why I probably torture everyone involved and take a hundred shots trying to get just one.  And why I will never be a confident photographer, my son has wrecked it for me.  But to see him laugh, it's almost worth it. Almost.

I love our Missionary!

Family Pics...

I had procrastinated long enough, it was time to go get a few pictures together as a family before the mission.
And if you know my strong silent mysterious man at all you KNOW "few" would be the operative word... unless I wanted a lot more with sunglasses on or closed watering eyes.  He just can't tolerate the sun.  All of his sisters have this condition and his son has it too, just not as extreme as his.
But somehow in between, we managed a few!
Biggest thanks to his bff for coming and putting up with him :)