Hmmmm...

It is the end of day five for Colby in Oklahoma.  I wonder what he is doing, and where he is.  We haven't heard from him since he arrived at the Mission Home in Tulsa, so we don't know where he has been assigned.  The Oklahoma Mission covers parts of four states...Oklahoma (of course =), Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.  He could be anywhere by now =)  we are hoping that tomorrow is his p-day (preparation day, when they can do laundry, relax, exercise, grocery shop, etc)  so he can WRITE A LETTER TO HIS FAMILY!!  We are dying to know what he's been up to since he arrived.  I'll post it as soon as we get one =)  until then...

photo of the week...

Rian so enjoys getting letters from Colby.  She gets all excited and can't wait to get them open.  She colors him pictures all the time to mail to him, and when you visit her one of the first things she will tell you is that "Colby on a mission.  He be back two years."  It's so cute.  So when I saw this picture I had to post it.  I love, love, love it!

Three Weeks

Has it really only been three weeks since Colby entered the MTC?

I will be totally honest... it seems so much longer =(  It was great to talk to him today, and he sounds so sure of himself and so wonderful.  There is a definite change in him in the last three weeks.  He is so ready to serve, and I'm excited he is finally in the field.

I got an email from my sister Nancy today (she lives in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission, but don't tell anyone...)  One of the Elders in her area went home today, so there is a possibility that Colby could be assigned there!  With my luck it won't happen, but it would be so nice for me to know that someone he knows is close by for his first few weeks.

Since Colby left life hasn't been too exciting for us, until two days ago.  Ashlee and Steven welcomed cute little Ella Rainn into their hearts, home, and lives, and we are so excited to have her safely here.  She is simply beautiful!  Next week Austyn has high school soccer tryouts, a fourth year overnighter and hike, and things get exponentially busier after that.  That's good I guess... it will keep my mind busy and not worrying about Colby.  Not that there is anything to worry about, he will be fine, and do fine, and get along fine.  It's all me.  Hopefully the next 101 weeks won't be as long as the last three weeks =)  I promise that as time goes on, I will handle this better...

Phone Call!

Yesterday we learned that Colby would be able to call us this morning before he headed out to Oklahoma, needless to say we were excited!  I was a little nervous, wondering if I could say goodbye all over again, and worried that I wouldn't hear the phone ring this morning (our only phone is downstairs, and it's hard to hear it when it rings.)  We thought he would be calling before 6:00 am.  He had to be at the travel office at 3:00 am to get to the airport to make his 5:55 am flight to Denver.  So I expected an early phone call.  I woke up at 5:50, and panicked!  Did the phone ring, and I didn't hear it?  Is he going to even call?  Needless to say I spent the next little while straining to hear the phone, and "sleep" at the same time.  I have one ear, that since my tumor removal last summer, still doesn't hear very well, so I layed on my back, and propped up my pillows so my ears were both available to hear any noise at all.  Pathetic, I know, but I didn't want to miss it!  I must have dozed periodically, because each time I looked at the clock about half an hour had passed.  Finally at 8:00 the phone rang!

I lept (don't you love that word?) from my bed, ran down the stairs, and grabbed the phone and it was COLBY!!  It was SO good to hear his voice!  He sounded truly wonderful!  He was in Denver, with a few other Elders and two Sisters who are all headed to Oklahoma.  He has a layover there for a few hours, after which more missionaries will join them, and they will ALL head to the Oklahoma Mission together.  (As I type this he is on his next flight from Denver to Tulsa)  His whole district at the MTC is headed to the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission.  Pretty cool, if you ask me =)  I thought he might end up flying by himself.

He had a funny story about packing his luggage, and an encounter he had at the security check... I had his luggage all packed correctly when he left home, one suitcase for the MTC, the other he wouldn't have to touch until he got out in the field.  I even had his backpack all packed as his carry on so he would have what he needed for the mission home stay, and still be able to get through airport security (small bottle of shampoo, body wash, etc, in the ziplock bag) anyway, in his panic to get packed and keep his luggage under 50 lbs, he ended up carrying on his first aid kit that I had packed in one of his suitcases.  (The mission home one, which he didn't even need to get into, grrr...) =)  He didn't think about it until he got to security and tried to get through with a rather large bottle of peroxide =)  He was so embarrassed!  The security lady just laughed and said, "Sorry Elder, I've got to take this..."  good thing peroxide is cheap.  AND after all that stressing over how much the luggage weighed, the airlines didn't even weigh it!  He was a little ticked, that he could have shoved his first aid kit in and not worried about it, instead of dragging it with him all day today...  oh well, at least he's prepared for any emergency =)

While we were talking on the phone I asked him if the other missionaries were on the other phones around him also calling their families... he told me there was only one phone, and that while they were waiting for their turn (they each got 20 minutes.  we talked for 20 minutes 23 seconds =) they were talking to investigators!  He looked at the cover of the pamphlet they were showing to someone, and said "yup, that's the pamphlet on the Atonement!  They found an investigator!"  Too funny!  They didn't waste any time at all getting down to business. 

He lands in Tulsa about 12:30 our time, and will probably spend today, and possible tomorrow there.  We are so excited he's finally on his way.  He is an exceptional young man, and we are so very proud of him.  We love you, Elder Haymond!

And he's...off!

 Our stop in the MTC drop off line.  My favorite number!

 - - - - -

We started our day with a Doc's Pizza buffet.  Colby's choice =)  Britanee, Brian & girls joined us there.  Colby must have had a nervous stomach, because he only ate two pieces from the buffet!  I could tell he was anxious to get going, he kept looking at his watch.  We wanted to take pictures up at the Provo Temple before we dropped him off, so we headed that direction.  We got some great family photographs there (Christmas card style) and even met a gentleman who served in Colby's mission.  We wanted a picture of all of us, so we kindly asked this gentleman across the fountain (whose daughter was going in today) if he could help us.  He was very sweet, and took several of us sitting on a bench in front of the temple.  Britanee in turn, took a picture of their family.  He shared with Colby how wonderful his mission was, and how he loved the area.

(i love this picture...)

It was approaching 1:00, Colby's check-in time, so we headed back to the car to say our good byes.  Colby & Rian walked hand in hand, and it was so dang cute.  she was talking up a storm with him.  I hope she can remember him and welcome him home with the same wonderful enthusiasm.

We all said our goodbyes at the car, so that the drop off would be quick.  I am going to miss his hugs.  He hugs with everything that he has!  It felt so wonderful to be in his arms, and remind him of my love and admiration for him.  I can't express in words how much he means to me.

Colby and I made a deal: 
I promised Colby that I wouldn't get out of the car and make a scene when we dropped him off, and he promised me in return, that he would gather his "greeters" so I could snap a quick picture of them.

When we pulled up to the drop off, the sweet elders that greeted us invited me to get out of the car and say my goodbyes!  I was surprised, I thought they were trying to stream-line things!  I told them I had made a deal with Colby...and true to his word, after getting his bags from the car, he gathered the three elders there for a picture.  They all looked at me and smiled, I took the picture, then received this message on my phone:  "Memory is full. This picture will not be saved."  SERIOUSLY?   THE most important picture I have ever needed to take, and it wasn't going to be saved.  Needless to say, I didn't have time to go through and delete older pictures so that I could take a new one, so Grandma H. and linzi saved me.

Our missionary!

(and his three cute "hosts" who are headed to mexico city)

They each took pictures, but the FOUR elders are not looking at their camera, because they were looking at ME!  I was truly bummed, but Colby made up for it... as he was walking away, he turned around and smiled, the sweetest smile I think I've ever seen on his face. I told him I loved him, and he was off!  My heart hurts knowing I will be without him for the next two years, but my heart is also filled with such love for a wonderful son, who is a shining example to all that he comes in contact with.  He will serve with honor, and I couldn't ask for more than that.  We love you Elder Haymond!

Setting Apart

What a beautiful evening!

We had a lovely family gathering in our living room...our family, Britanee, Brian & girls, Ashlee & Steven, Grandma Haymond, Grandpa Haymond & Janis, Bishop Lee, and President Bowen.  President Bowen talked with us a little about some of the promised blessings given to those who serve missions valiantly, he had Colby read those to us from a talk by President Hinckley, I believe, in 1995.  He then set Colby apart as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to serve in the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission, and then pronounced upon Colby a beautiful blessing.  He encouraged us to remember the things mentioned in the blessing, and to write them down afterwards.  He blessed Colby with health and strength, with protection - that NO harm or accident would befall him while he served.  He blessed him to take the "high road" with his companions, and to be a peacemaker.  So many wonderful things, that i can't even recall.  We did come up with a list as we nibbled on our ice cream, which we wrote down and will send with Colby.  President Bowen has a wonderful spirit about him, and we are so grateful we were able to meet together in our home.

After the setting apart, President Bowen excused himself, then turned the time over to anyone who would care to share their testimony and/or thoughts and feelings with Colby.  It was nice to sit and listen to family testimonies, those shared by grandparents, brother-in-laws, and David and I.  I was proud of myself, I held it together pretty well.  Colby stood, and shared his testimony with us as well...he also has a sweet spirit about him.  He thought this day would never come, and now here it is!  He remembered being an insignificant deacon, who wasn't sure how to pass the sacrament, and now he's an elder, ready to share the gospel.  He's ready.  President Bowen mentioned that, too.  He's seen many a young man in his office, and Colby is one of the few that are truly ready to serve.

Colby left with me last night his "last will and testament" along with all his usernames & passwords.  I have instructions on how he would like to expand his city in Cityville on Facebook.  He bequeathed his laptop to Britanee, his cell phone to Austyn, and his iphone as an ipod to Linzi.  She's already filled it with games.  He'll be thrilled when he gets home =)  Now to get through tomorrow...

ps. his drivers license arrived today, so we won't have to worry about sending that out to him.  whew! One less thing...

Colby's favorite holiday...

We started off the day with the Provo Freedom Fest Parade... thiss year I actually got a chair!  every other year i've been sitting on the ground with the little kids, but this year I was able to nab a chair with a great view.  Colby sat a couple of chairs down from me next to Taylor.  They've (Colby & Taylor) been able to spend some time this weekend together, Colby spending the night at the Elison's and going golfing with Taylor, Grandpa & Chandler Saturday morning.  They are good friends, and by the time Colby returns, Taylor will be heading out.  We hope for a little time in between so they can reconnect.  Guess we will see if that works out. 

after the parade we drove to the Elison's house for a yummy feast of bbq beef sandwiches, salads, and desserts.  the kids played with water balloons and have a great time.  We left about 2:30 so we could catch a matinee showing of "Mr. Popper's Penguins" at the theater down the street.  Colby's last Jim Carrey movie for a while.  It was cute.  After that we came home, and David and the kids went out for a bite to eat.  I wasn't hungry and my stomach wasn't cooperating, so i stayed behind and labeled Colby's belongings so we could pack them.  We will hopefully finish that tomorrow.  I'm not looking forward to it, and have asked for special help from above to keep myself focused and emotions under control while we do this.  So far, so good.  Tomorrow is his setting apart...