I looked over and saw Max sitting there, his long legs looking way too big for the bench, his sisters interlinked to his arms and suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks that he would be gone in a matter of weeks.
I loved how interested Max was about everything in that box...
Among the treasures we found a letter addressed "to my son:"
Dave had forgotten he wrote that years ago to his future son. I love that it is addressed to his "son" and not "sons"...he must have had some good intuition back in high school when he wrote it:)
Max opened it up and it had all kinds of great advice.
Then it was on to the shopping. Boy, I will tell you what: there's a lot to think about when you're sending a boy overseas to live for two years and he won't be able to buy any clothes that fit him there.
I'm pretty sure they don't have any size 15 shoes or slacks that will fit a kid who's 6'7" in Taiwan. We were able to knock out a ton at one store that it totally catered to missionaries and we felt pretty grand about that.
I felt pretty grand about having a helper at Costco too.
After that first big errand day Max started work so he's been busy as can be and we've been trying to fit in things here and there as we can.
We've been trying to do a little "missionary boot camp" trying to get on a good schedule and reading and haircuts and attending the temple and even trying to eat better.
He's been in charge of our morning scriptures most days...
So many kids left in the summer, it was missionary farewell season galore (back HERE). It's kind of fun all over again to be in round #2 (but on a much smaller level). These next boys are all leaving within the next few weeks:
And of course, had to get one with my photo-helper too who was meeting some girls to go to the temple as well.
SO, on to the farewell...I cannot believe this day is finally here!
Today some of my family who are coming for the farewell are starting to trickle into town and we're so excited to see them. Five of Max's friends are coming down from BYU too (he and his roommate both have their farewells on the same day) so we're trying to situate everything to get ready for all the festivities so I'll log out now, but come join us if you're local!
Yes, this is all getting real!
XOXO
December had been so full that we hardly had time to dwell on that little fact, but suddenly right then and there it became real.
We have been doing everything in our power to soak that kid up the last few weeks. It reminds me of a time when he was in his early teens and I was explaining the reason we were doing what we were doing (whatever it was, I can't remember), was because we loved him so much.
I remember his reply really well though: "well I wish you could love me just a little less." Ha! I think he's pretty used to the "loving him too much" thing by now which is a good thing since we all can't get enough of him.
Dave is not girly-emotional like the rest of us, but I know him so well even the expression on his face makes me more emotional because it tells me everything loud and clear: he's going to have a hard time without his boy. Cleaning out the garage together, fixing the sink the other day, talking through life, I see that expression over and over again.
One night when we were still on Hawaiian time Max asked about Dave's mission at one o'clock in the morning. We were all still quite awake so Dave lugged out his big box and we found some Taiwan treasures in there.
And he saved aside some great things for him to carry on to his own mission:
Among the treasures we found a letter addressed "to my son:"
I felt pretty grand about having a helper at Costco too.
We've been trying to do a little "missionary boot camp" trying to get on a good schedule and reading and haircuts and attending the temple and even trying to eat better.
And it's been fun to see and hang a little with his friends who are still around.
One of Max's friends from his high school volleyball team (Curtis) got the exact same mission call to Taiwan, Taichung leaving on the very same day. Have I mentioned that before? Sorry if it's a duplicate, but maybe that little fact deserves a duplicate because how crazy is that??
Curtis's farewell was last Sunday.
So many kids left in the summer, it was missionary farewell season galore (back HERE). It's kind of fun all over again to be in round #2 (but on a much smaller level). These next boys are all leaving within the next few weeks:
So here we are, with Max's farewell coming up THIS SUNDAY.
We stole away one evening to snap some pre-misson pictures in preparation.
Curtis came to join us at the end since he was meeting Max and the other boys to go to the temple so we snapped some of them together too.
SO, on to the farewell...I cannot believe this day is finally here!
Today some of my family who are coming for the farewell are starting to trickle into town and we're so excited to see them. Five of Max's friends are coming down from BYU too (he and his roommate both have their farewells on the same day) so we're trying to situate everything to get ready for all the festivities so I'll log out now, but come join us if you're local!
Yes, this is all getting real!
XOXO