Got A Letter!

We got a letter from Gary today! I guess the doctors office missed an MMR when they were copying down his shots for his mission record. I need to send him a copy or he'll have to get another shot.

His companion is Elder Whipple from Layton. Gary is the senior companion. I guess I never thought about this when Andy went. I just figured there were missionaries that were there already, that weren't leaving quite yet, going to the same mission and they were the senior companions. Nope. Both companions enter the MTC the very same day. How did I miss that 3 years ago?

He is no longer nervous and ate a huge meal Wednesday night. I figured he would once the unknown became known.

He is feeling the importance of the mission. As senior companion he has so much to read and do. We could already feel such a strong spirit coming off his letter.

Moose-isms

Wednesday and Thursday night Tanner has been sleeping in Gary's bed because he misses him. And he says it's more comfortable than his! The first night Moose slept by himself on Tanners bed. The next night he came and got me, took me to Tanners room and showed me that Tanner wasn't in the bottom bunk where he usually sleeps. (When Drew is home, she sleeps in the bottom bunk and Tanner sleeps on the top bunk. Then I have to help Moose get up there so he can sleep with Tanner.)

Since Tanner wasn't on the bottom he kept looking up at the top bunk and meowing at me until I lifted him up there and showed him Tanner wasn't there. He jumped down and meowed pitifully until I carried him to Gary's room and showed him Tanner was in Gary's bed. He jumped out of my arms onto the floor and looked at the bed, then in Tanner's room and then at me, meowing the whole time. I went to Tanners room and got Mooses blanket to put on Gary's bed. He jumped up on to it and layed down to sleep with Tanner and left me alone the rest of the night.

As soon as Tanner got up, Moose went to Tanner's room to sleep, so I had to move the blanket. I heard much noise coming from Tanner's room and couldn't figure out what Moose was doing. I just figured he was playing with his toys that Tanner has in there for him. Then it got quiet. I had to look and then ran for my camera. This is what I found....

He had to work to get the blanket the way he wanted it!

A lot of good that blanket is doing keeping cat hair off the bed! His head was completely covered with just his legs sticking out before I got the camera. More often than not, this is how we find him sleeping.

Tonight I got a bigger blanket to cover the whole bed since Moose tends to move to where ever Tanner is. And I don't want to have to keep moving his little blanket.

A Bit Behind

Our internet went out for a few days so I am now once again behind on posting. Over the next little bit I will catch up on.......

• Gary's birthday Saturday
• Gary's 'farewell' on Sunday
• Last 2 days with Gary on Monday and Tuesday
• Taking Gary to the MTC on Wednesday
• Actually have a Lexieism to post as well
• Lexie and Tanners soccer season

I will post them with the date that they happened, so a few things might get mixed in between.

Have to get the girls off to school, Tanner up and ready for school, and myself ready for my last 2 days of work until next school year. Stay tuned, more interesting posts later!

Lexie-isms

While we were at Cabella's Lexie decided she wanted to go on the elevator instead of the stairs. I saw her get on the elevator and then stood on the stairs to make sure she got off. Drew was downstairs and after what seemed an exceptionally long time I started to worry. I hadn't seen her get off so I asked Drew if she had seen her. Nope. I went back upstairs and called the elevator. It was empty. Not panicing yet. She could have gotten off in the mean time. I got on the elevator and pushed the button I thought was for the first floor. As soon as the doors opened I knew what had happened. They doors in the front AND the back of the elevator on the 1st floor! She had done as I had and pushed the button for the rear doors. She was confused and went back up. An employee got on and helped her go back down. She did indeed get off as I was going upstairs.

I got off the elevator and heard them calling me. I came around from the backside of the elevator and they told me what happened. I told her that was OK, I hit the same button.

Drew, 'No, it's just cause she's a crack head.'
Lexie, 'No. My head is nice and uncracked.'
Drew, 'Do you know what a crack head is?'
Lexie, 'Yep. Someone who takes the drug crack. And there are no cracks in my head either. So my head is nice and uncracked in more ways than one!'

After The MTC

It's hard to drop a child/sibling off at the MTC knowing that is the last time you'll see them for 2 years. You have to do something to get your mind off of it. After we dropped Andy off, we went to the Hogle Zoo. We let Tanner pick what he wanted to today. We went to get pizza and then to Cabela's in Lehi. It's a big store so we walked aroung and looked at the displays for quite a while. These are the only pictures I have for some reason. I know I took more, but don't know what I did to them.

Tanner wanted to take this moose home.

I told him he already has a Moose.

The moose is squeezing too tight!

but it kind of tickles

And our favorite.......

Is Lexie actually kissing the Moose that's strangling Tanner?

Off To The MTC

It's official. Today, May 27,2009, was the day. Elder Gary Dean Jenkins entered the MTC in Provo, Utah at 12:00 noon. We picked Drew up at Wynn's parents so Gary could say good-bye. They are getting older and though they are both doing better health wise, you never know. He wanted to have that chance, just in case. He will be at the MTC until June 15.

The famous missionary at the MTC sign picture

As we got here to take this picture, he looked up at the missionary that was getting his picture taken and saidm "Hi Dylan!" It was one of his friends from high school. We know not everybody gets to be here with people they know.

Wynn and I with Gary

All the kids

The Jenkins' family

As Gary went in one door, and us the other, we were asked if any of us had had a fever or the flu in the last week. Wynn had had a cold and was asked if he had been checked by a doctor. Since he hadn't been he was asked if he minded being checked out by the MTC doctors to because of the Swine Flu epidemic and trying to keep it out of the MTC. They also ask that nobody shake hands there. The missionaries aren't even allowed to shake each others hands or give a hug to a friend that is also there.

Putting on the name tag.

Me and Elder Gary Jenkins

The first time I went with anybody to the MTC was when Andy went, 3 years ago. I explained to my kids that they are lucky to live close enough to go. Many people can only afford for part or just one of the family to take them. Others put them on a plane at home and send them by themselves. I found out this was the case this very day for one of my friends from high school in New Mexico.

Setting in that room isn't any easier the second time. We sat and talked and waited. They played those Mormon commercials that make you cry when they are just on TV, bawl when you're sitting at the MTC. We sang Called To Serve. We listened to talks. The closing prayer was given by a sister missionary that will be going to Gary's mission. The whole time I could here Lexie setting down there sobbing, Andy crying, Drew crying, I tried to be strong. He hugged them all. He hugged Wynn. He hugged me. I gave him a hug good-bye and told him it would be easier to let him go if he had been a more difficult child but it's hard when he was such a good kid. I told him what a great missionary he is going to be. I turned and told everybody to just go. Go fast and don't look back.

Serve with Honor Elder Jenkins. You'll be back before any of us know it.

Gary's mission poster 5/27/2009

It sure looks empty with only 1 sticker on it. Good thing we know it will fill up fast.

That's one lonely turtle.

On the way home, Tanner asked if he could sleep in Gary's bed...'Because I miss him so much!' Of course, I said yes.

Last Two Days

Last week one of our dear friends that Gary worked for, Lou Wilhelm, took Gary and his friend Phil fishing at Flaming Gorge. They had both worked for him hauling hay and this was his way of telling them goodbye before they left for their respective missions. They were hard workers and he really loves those boys.

Now this has been our last 2 days with Gary before he leaves on his mission. This is always an emotional time. He spent yesterday with us and his friend Chelsey Richman. Though they aren't boyfriend/girlfriend they have become the best of friends. We absolutely love her for the way she helped Gary prepare for his mission. She is a sweetheart. They went to the movie and then he got to meet her new boyfriend/guy friend(?). He approved and said he was a really nice guy.

Gary and his best friend Chelsey

Today was our last day to try to cram all those things in that you always think you'll have time to do before they leave. So what did we do? We went golfing. Wynn has always loved golfing and last Tuesday he took Gary and Tanner and Gary decided he could love this game. So he wanted to go one last time. Wynn, myself, Gary, Andy and Leza (she didn't play) went to Sherwood Hills. (it's 2 for 1 on Tuesdays) This was my first time golfing. I agree with Gary. I LOVE this game. Wynn says I was really good for my first time. I only lost one ball. Yeah me! I forgot my camera though so I didn't get any pictures which I had planned to do. It started downpouring while we were on the course, we kept playing. It stopped and I guess the rain washed off the sunblock because when we were done I was kind of red. Oh, well.

When we got home, Gary and Wynn worked on getting his room packed up. They didn't quite finish, but Gary told him what to keep, what to throw away and what was what ever. I just couldn't do it. I kept crying and that was not what he needed right now. The nerves are still here and he didn't need me crying in his face all day.

At 8:00pm we went to the Stake Presidents office for Gary to be set apart as a missionary for the Texas Lubbock mission for the duration that he needs to be there. It was a beautiful thing. The Stake President was gone so his counselor, President Younkers set him apart along with Wynn and Andy. The whole family was there. It was wonderful. The Spirit was so strong. And now he is a missionary, a man of God and we will be taking him to the MTC tomorrow morning. And though he has been preparing for this his whole life and immersing himself in all things missionary that he could for the last few months, I am going to miss him. I know this is where he is supposed to be. I know this is what he is supposed to do. I wouldn't want him anywhere else at this time. I am sp proud of him and his choices. But I am going to miss him. He is such a good son, brother and friend to all. He is an excellent example to all around him...so loving and kind, even though he has his mischeivous side. I know he's not perfect, but he's close. He is going to be an excellent missionary for the Lord.

God speed, Elder Gary Dean Jenkins. I love you.