And He's Off!

We had way too many 'adventures' getting Caleb ready for his mission to count.  I have a story in my journal called "The Miracle of the Passport".  To that, I could add  "Miscommunications in Becoming an Elder"  and "THE Night Before"  among others, but all would tell of odd roadblocks that made getting Caleb ready memorable (not all in a good way!).  Between all of that, getting a high school senior ready to leave for a foreign country that you can't send packages to and where everything is so expensive just 19 days after graduation felt like running a marathon!  Seniors in high school are typically focused on Prom and AP tests, graduation, and last hurrahs to really think a great deal about a mission; he was not much different.  So those 19 days after graduation were very tightly packed.   Just for my records, it cost about $3500 to get him sent out.  And we were super conservative!  I'm amazed at the difference--we only spent $1300 getting Cache ready to go.

He was all smiles all day.  He was SO excited!

Chan is going to miss having Caleb around too.

These two are best buds.

She's going to grow up so much in two years.

The girls insisted on riding with Caleb from the temple grounds to the MTC.

Because of the rush, hurried effort, apparent opposition and strange hiccups, dropping him off ended up just being a huge relief. It was quite an accomplishment to have completed everything that needed to be done, to make it there in one piece and to have good feelings in everyone's hearts.  I felt a little bad that I didn't feel so empty and train-wreckish driving away from the MTC like I did with Cache. But I was just SO thankful to have made it there with him ready that no other emotion could have filled my heart.  Plus I've decided that it truly is a privilege to send a missionary out. For quite a while I've felt a bit sorry for myself about the overlap, but I've decided just to be very happy about it.  It's been much better that way.  

This is my 2 for 1 week.

I get to have two missionaries out for one week. How lucky am I?

(I'll be honest, though, I am super excited for Wednesday!! But at the same time, I'm really sad for Cache that it is coming to an end.  Always a mixture of bitter with sweet it seems.)