MTC

Dallin reported to the Missionary Training Center Wednesday, Dec. 18th.  We were pretty sad the 24 hours leading up to dropping him off, but the actual drop off wasn't too bad.  Everyone had warned us about how difficult is was going to be (of course) and I was prepared for the worst.  I guess it's good to have those sort of expectations, because when we drove away and I was wiping tears I felt OK.  Dallin was all smiles.

It was hard not to be excited by the atmosphere.  Twice as many missionaries as usual were checking in due to Christmas falling on the next Wednesday.  People were EVERYWHERE taking pictures, hugging, crying (mostly just moms), directing traffic, smiling, and wishing well.  We had wandered around the temple waiting for our drop-off time and had been laughing and taking pictures.   I think Dallin was so tired of saying goodbyes to everyone that he was anxious to just get out of the car.  He asked me to keep it together until he was gone and I mostly made it (a tear or two may have slipped out while he was watching).

Ed and I both had a good cry in the car, but mostly we just felt so grateful that he was choosing to serve a mission.  Grateful that he was where he needed to be.  Grateful that he has so many friends and family supporting him.  Grateful for the awesome experiences we will get to hear about from him.  Grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

... and grateful that instead of counting down until the day he leaves we now can begin counting the days until we get his first letter, or our first Mother's Day call, or maybe even his first tropical Christmas next year.  I'm not quite ready to start counting the days until he is coming home... but I am looking forward to sharing this experience through his letters and pictures.

As I promised, here are the standard pictures in front of the Provo temple and with his suitcases heading off with Elder English.