Travis has entered the MTC

Well, I have just returned from taking Travis to the MTC. He and I flew from Seattle to Salt Lake City on Monday afternoon. We spent Tuesday visiting the sites around Temple Square. Our events for the day included attending the Salt Lake City Temple, watching the Joseph Smith movie, touring the Conference Center, and spending time together talking, reminiscing, etc. It was some of the best time I have ever spent with Travis...which made the pending curbside drop-off at the MTC even more difficult.

I am not trying to be dramatic, but it was the hardest thing I have ever done. Wayne and I have

remarked how Seth and Travis are looking forward, imagining the future for themselves, while we are looking back into the past. We are wishing for more time, more memories, more experiences, more joy. All of these emotions and thoughts are what made Wednesday's experience so hard. I have cried tears of joy and tears of sorrow...however I know that the work Travis is doing is tremendous. He is so excited, so overjoyed, and ready to begin his "Best Two Years". I would summarize the

experience by saying that I was truly caught off guard at how "unprepared" I was to let him go,

how much I wanted to hang on to him forever, how much I love him. One's children mean so much to them, and it is times like this, times when we

must let them go that we remember how much they

mean to us and how much they have made our life experiences what they are.

So, from this point on I am trying to look forward myself. I am trying to build memories with what I have. I am seeking patience, understanding and long suffering for my family. We will work harder to appreciate each other, and the time we have together. Sadly, they do grow up too fast, and although that statement has not been much more than a cliche to me in the past, it has new meaning today!

Only 729 days until Travis returns

home! I will be giving him a long overdue hug. By the way, Seth leaves us in 13 days. I am trying to prepare once again for a teary-eyed good bye.

Thank you to everyone who attended Travis' open house. The turnout was tremendous, he and I both felt very loved by our ward family. Thank you so much for your support, it means the world to our entire family!

Travis, "God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again!"

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