He is off! I wasn't sure we would make it through, or how we would, but we did! Today was a day for our history books! We got up and still had a few lists of things we wanted to gather - new razor, Tylenol, Advil, cover his scriptures, edit and have him sign the Power of Attorney, etc. Not much, but some jobs that needed doing. We didn't get up early, but were all up and going by about 8:30 a.m.. I walked out to the kitchen to hear something in the garage sometime before 8. I found Jed there, on the ground under his jeep, working on the exhaust manifold! Of all things! He is so darling! Sunday after his farewell our dear friend and Stake High Counselor gave me a hug, and complimented Jed for his message. Then he said that the thing about Jed is that he is "the whole package!" I totally agree! Someone else quoted that later, he must have said it to more than just myself, we all agreed! Jed is smart, handsome, clean, pure, worthy, obedient, hard-working, spiritually in tune, strong in the Gospel, etc. etc. I know I am his Mom and I am biased, but that was not my comment, but rather that of Brother L, then quoted later by another!
So this morning, B went to the store and picked up some donuts, we stopped at Shopco and bought the Advil, razor, etc. We also checked on school supplies for our Indian Reservation project the end of November. (We buy the school supplies while they are on sale - usually around the 24th of July - we learned the sale doesn't start until tomorrow!) Then we went up Little Cottonwood Canyon for a donut run. We wanted to go to Lisa falls, but road construction deterred us, and we decided not to mess with the wait, and just stopped by the river at about the red gates. We shared donuts, threw rocks in the river, and I watched my beautiful kids together! Brad took pictures, clicking quickly trying to preserve the memory of this together time! We called everyone together, and linked hands, forming a family circle that I pray can be reunited in just two years! Then we all put our hands in the center and did a "Smile-Adventures" cheer together! Wish I had a picture of those beautiful hands all there! They all had to be in, and we didn't take any out to snap the photo. We returned to the fox hunt house, completed the last few projects and packing, cleaned the house quickly and scooted out the door. Elder Harr was to be at the MTC at 1:00 p.m. We wanted a few minutes to take pictures at the temple and MTC, we didn't save many minutes!
Because Jed wasn't able to fix the problem with the jeep, we decided to pull it back to St. George with us, so Brad had to load the trailer again. Jed was busy with his final items in his suitcases. It was a rush to get out the door. We only had about 15 minutes at the temple to snap pictures. That was plenty! I cried buckets all the way there! When we climbed into the car, Brad started singing:
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
The choices, the changes are all yours to make.
The mold of your life is in your hands to break.
The greatest adventure is there if you're bold.
The choices are there for you to take hold,
To learn all their meaning, you must not delay,
To share them with others, for that is our way.
The one who's a dreamer and never believes
Who watches the world, won't roll up his sleeves,
Will never know pleasure, will never know pain.
The joys of success are all yours to gain.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
Today and tomorrow are yet to be said.
The choices, the changes are all yours to make.
The mold of your life is in your hands to brake.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
This was the song that Jed learned from dear Kendall B. at On-Belay a number of years ago! We loved the message of this song then, and today it was totally appropriate! We sang songs most of the way to the MTC, or at least some did, I mostly cried. Elder Harr sat in the front seat next to me, and sent farewell text messages to his friends. I want to transcribe some of those tomorrow. They brought us all to tears!
Reaching the Provo temple grounds, we pulled (with the jeep and trailer in tow) up to the top, stopped to take pictures, :). Then we jumped in, and drove down to the MTC. Because we had the trailer, they weren't anxious to let us in the parking lot! They had us flip and head straight out the same exit, and said they would send missionaries to come help him. They did. We pulled up to the curb and an Elder Radmall came right over, and before I could get out of the car, he was asking in the window, aren't you from St. George. Elder Harr got out, unloaded his bags, and immediately began introducing himself and reacquainting himself with Elder Radmall. They played on the same basketball team like in 6th grade. He was so busy that I tried to simply give him a fist - rock - to say good-bye because I had already cried and hugged, kissed his soft cheek and cried more. He paused for just a moment with a big grin on his face, and then returned the gesture to both Brad and I, and then said that he had everything, including his copy of passport and immunization record in hand, and off they went. Elder Radmall pulled a suitcase, and another Elder helped with another, and away they went. We climbed back into the car, and sobbing, pulled out. Wow! A few blocks down the road, we found the BYU Creamery, and decided that we should all stop crying, (now several were crying) and go to get ice cream. So we found a way to park this big rig, and went for ice cream. Sorry Elder Harr! I am sure dinner was welcome tonight since I am not sure you even got a donut this morning because Brad was so busy snapping your picture! We finally got on the road, and were just about to Nephi when one of the little girls had turned around to look in the back of the car, to see his scriptures! We covered them with leather this morning, and they look awesome, but because we were still working on them, his bags got loaded, and they didn't get zipped inside. We decided to turn around and go back to deliver his scriptures! It was nearly a two hour detour, but I am sure he is grateful tonight to have them. Of course we didn't see him again, Brad took them to the main entrance, and they promised to find him, and get them in his hands.
We finally arrived home after 7:30 p.m. to be locked out! The power at our home was off, and we couldn't get in. Finally we were able to lift Brinley in the Kitchen window! I had to be the District Representative at an Eagle Court of Honor at 8. I was late, but grateful to make it at all! Brad called the power company, and they came and fixed the power, we are grateful to have an air conditioner tonight! Grateful we came home tonight before the freezers were defrosted, fridges hot, mess! Tender Mercies! So many today!
As we left the MTC the first time, the sky was totally blue, but it rained enough we had to turn on the windshield wipers for a bit. Tears from heaven, confirming that my Heavenly Father knows that today wasn't an easy day for me, but that it was the right thing! I am so grateful for the blue sky and the short little show of emotion that said it was ok, but that I didn't need to wallow in grief! Really not a reason to have grief today! This was a celebration...Not that he is leaving and my nest is getting empty, but rather than he is worthy, willing, and going to Serve the Lord! Thank you Father for 19 years with that amazing young man in my home! Please watch over, protect, direct, and hug our little Elder Harr for both of us! xoxoxo
