7/29/2014
So.... Hunter is off and on his way!  I thought I would share a few photos and some thoughts!! This last week with Hunter has just been amazing and sooooooooooo hard!  Having another kid leave for a mission is just hard!  Of course I wouldn't want them anywhere else but it is still sad and hard!  It made me think about how important each persons role is in their family and how much each individual brings to the family and that, of course, is why they are missed so much... there is actually a gap that only they can fill!!
Hunter's travel plans barely made it in time and that was a true test of patience!  His book said that his travel plans would arrive 3-10 days before he was to leave and as that time got closer with no word nerves set in!  I decide maybe I should call ... on Thursday July 24th.... Pioneer Day and well nothing to do with the church was open :) So Friday morning I called and they had literally just received Hunter visa and were getting ready to FEDEX it when fr a Monday delivery when I explained we lived in Alaska and if they looked at his flight info they would probably see he would be leaving Monday.... I was right :) and she sent it with a Saturday delivery!  That Friday morning knowing when he was leaving really made what I had been trying to ignore for 6 months very real... He was going to leave :(
We had a fun weekend planned that include Halibut fishing for Heath, Hunter and Kade!  They had an amazing time and very fitting Hunter reeled in the biggest at 60llbs!!
Sunday Hunter gave his farewell talk that was nothing short of perfect (from a moms perspective)... he shared some examples of preparation from his cousins that had served and wrote letters to him while they were on their missions!  He had some really great examples... thank you Rhet, Paden, Ransom and every other missionary cousin!! He just stood up there looking like a missionary, ready to serve, a little nervous but relying on the spirit... a missionary!  After church we had the opportunity to Skype with Autumn for about 30 minutes and that was a bawl fest but so much fun!! She gave her brother such good advise and I can't tell you how comforting it is as a parent to just see their faces and know they are ok!! We then headed off to the Stake Center for Hunter to get set apart as a missionary!  What a great experience that is... It was hard to believe that we had just been there 6 months earlier with Autumn!! President Metcalf is such a great guy! He gave Hunter a beautiful blessing after setting him apart, there is no doubt Hunter will serve well the people of Colombia and that if he lives worthy Heavenly Father has great things in store for him on his mission!
We then came home and had an amazing little farwell party for Hunter here at the house!  Can I just say we love our Alaskan family (aka our ward)... they just are so supportive and treat us just like family!!
Monday was such a somber day... kind of a reality kick... We just helped Hunter pack up his final things and Heath made him cinnamon rolls :) We ran to the store for a couple last minute things and came home and had a fish fry... we had to cook the halibut!! It was great!! And then off to the airport!  Which turned out to be a side show or more like a soap opera or something where people stand around and bawl dramatically... We stood and hugged and bawled and hugged and bawled some more!  We stood at security and watched and bawled and waved and bawled.... He moved so quickly through the line and at the end the last we saw was his hand go up and wave and he was off... We bawled like idiots even more..... Hunter had hoped he would fly through Houston TX and as it turned out he did!  He was able to see my sister Bekki and her husband! They met him at the airport with lunch and got to visit, which was great because he had not seen them in over 2 years!!
Now he is in Colombia.... for 2 years he will serve and share what he knows to be true and bring families together for eternity!  It is what this life is all about... family and eternity!!