MTC day!! (Mom's version again)

Dec. 20, 2017

Nathan entered the MTC today! It was emotional, but I'm so proud of him and know he's going to be fine. He's up for adventure and has faith and a good testimony and will be an excellent missionary. 

This morning we got up and puttered around a little. Nathan added the rest of the stuff we had bought here to his suitcases and took a shower after I trimmed up his neck hair (and irritated his skin on his neck - oops) so he wouldn't look scruffy going in. London and Porter were here from a little before 9 until about 11:30 and Samia was here for the last half hour or so of that. I brought our Fisher Price nativity sets for Porter because London doesn't want to share hers. Porter brought the stable, baby Jesus, and one of the shepherds over with him and played with it the whole time. London played with Pam's homemade stuffed nativity set. They are into scripting from Peppa Pig lately, so Porter kept introducing himself as George and telling us London's name was Peppa. So cute. Porter also somehow got Pam's stuffed wreath that Kathy made her years ago (about 45 she said) and put it around his neck and wore it like a necklace. Pam made gluten free chocolate chip cookies with a little help from Porter. :) She also made Nathan a unique and personalized laundry bag - love it!

Re-packing

Porter with his wreath necklace.

Granny with the homemade laundry bag!

London saying goodbye to Nathan.

Samia and Nathan hugging

Nathan holding Super Porter!

Samia gave Nathan a journal that she made out of a composition book and covered with fabric made to look like a missionary shirt and tag. When the Sibleys were leaving, they all gave Nathan hugs and wished him well. London told me, "Say, 'Aunt Becky loves you, London.'" (So, I did as I was told.)

I called Sprint and got his phone unlocked and Nathan worked on getting the missionary 'operating system' or whatever it is installed on his phone, which worked, yay! Then he got dressed in his suit and tie, we loaded the car up, took a few pictures with Pam (La Mar was at his humanitarian service) and off we drove to Provo. 

Brother basketball.

Granny and Nathan

Mom and her Elder.

Mom and her boys.

Nathan and Celeste

Celeste drove her car and the boys and I were in mine. We met at the Conference Center parking lot at BYU and she hopped in my car and we drove up to the MTC, were guided through a parking lot into the parking garage, parked for a few minutes while we got his stuff out of the car, gave some tearful hugs and the elder that met us and helped him with his stuff took some pictures for us. His name is Elder Smith from Bountiful, UT and is going to serve in Brazil. He'd been at the MTC for 2 weeks now. I wonder if Nathan will get to be a greeter for incoming missionaries sometime during his stay there. Then he and Nathan walked away into the MTC! 

Unloading the car

Talking to Elder Smith.

Bros

Twins

With tearful mom

Saying goodbyes.

Few more minutes

Getting everything together

Off they go!

Outside of the MTC - so close, but so far!

Another shot of the MTC

Jake, Celeste and I got back into the car and tearfully drove away! Celeste took some pictures of the outside of the MTC while we were driving away. We drove back to her car, she went to get ready for work and Jake and I went to the BYU Creamery and got french fries and ice cream to soothe our hurting hearts. (Probably not the healthiest coping mechanism, but tasty, anyway.) Mom had texted me earlier in the day and Diana texted me as we were pulling out of the MTC. Phew. Tender heart and leaky eyes.

The lady who took my order looked a little concerned at my teary eyes.

Ice cream and french fries!

After we carb-ed up, Jake and I drove back to American Fork and I took a nap. Had a headache despite pre-medicating with Tylenol. Then he and I drove up to Taylorsville and visited with Stephanie and the girls for a bit. It started snowing just as we were leaving Pam's and it was snowing pretty good up at the point of the mountain and north - nickel size flakes! We stayed for just about an hour and Stephanie gave us some insight to what the first day of life at the MTC is like - checks on haircuts, luggage and supplies, meeting his district, and getting settled in his room. 

Snowy yard

Jake coming after me with a snowball.

Driving back to AF.

Tonight it's not snowing any more, but is VERY cold. Jake decided to be insane after his shower and run up to the jungle attic to get his PJ pants that he left up there. He had wet hair and was only wearing his boxers. Crazy kid!!

Phew! I'm so proud of my missionary and hope he had a good afternoon and evening and has a great first night. His P-day is on Saturday, so we should get an email then! Yay!

Got this email from Nathan in the afternoon on the 20th: "Hey everybody I made it to the MTC my P day is on Saturday! I got to go now, love you all bye!"