Departure Day July 29, 2015

After his breakfast and saying goodbye to Leo we piled in the car and drove about 5 minutes to the airport.  Yes, it is pretty convenient, especially if you want your friends to say goodbye.

Cody's friend Andrew actually and had nightmare that he got to the airport late and missed seeing Cody.  So when he actually woke up- he was in a panic and drove like crazy to the airport.  Not seeing anyone's car that he recognized he bolted in arms flying every which way fearing he actually missed Cody's send off. Fortunately, he was early. I love Andrew!  Such a good friend to care that much!  It will be strange seeing Cody's friends and not Cody.  He has developed great friendships over the years.

If his friends are reading this and want to send me some pictures….I would love to add them here!
Or just keep for memory sake.

                                        Here is everyone enjoying Andrew telling his story.

Started at the left of circle : Anna Rupert, Kleinman, Austin Van Britson,  Jessica, Hope Lukar,       Andrew McVey and Ella, Cody and Sam

Austin Van Britson, Cody, and Andrew McVey

Classic memories with Austin wearing a  state Business Professionals of America shirt and Andrew with the travel soccer shirt.  Those three have had a lot of fun and successes over the years.

last  man hug

                                                                    Our family!

                                                             Handshake from Bishop Farr

                                                 Proper Elder handshake to Maddy Rogers
                                                     Perfect demonstration-cracks me up!

FYI : During these two years as a missionary Cody will be focused on preaching the gospel so..there will NOT be any movies, radio music, dating, sleeping in or going to bed late, TV, computer surfing….ect.  Hence the silly face with this handshake.  What a good Elder!

Then there's Noah Raleigh's hand jive….

and hug!

 Noah will being turning in his mission papers soon after this.  (He has been called to serve in Brazil and  has left right before Thanksgiving.)

                                                              Than there was four.
 
While we were waiting for Cody's plane to depart Jacob talked with the kids about now that Cody is gone, "Ella is in charge.  You'll have to do whatever she says."  You would think there would be some kind of rebuttal but they were too sober to say anything.

Kids talking about college plans and speculating what Cody will be doing these next few years and how he will act when he gets back. 

 Since we are a small airport we could see Cody walk out to the airplane.  I am not sure if he could see us but we all saw him give his warm silly wave.  I almost cried then.  I probably cried a bit more when he went through security and just stood there!!!!! like 15 feet away!  I didn't know how the kids would react when he left but I knew that if I saw my kids cry I would be done for!  Sure enough one look at Ella and I was in trouble of losing it.

 Off he goes to the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah.  He will be trained as a missionary.  The standards, dress code, lessons, the Kiribati language ect.  He will be there for 6 weeks.  I will probably hear from him on his preparation day.  That is the day missionaries take care of housekeeping and grocery shopping and laundry and a couple hours of free time like sports or writing letters to their mothers! Which I do not worry about not getting letters from Cody since he is just a good writer.

                                            Here is Hope Lukar and her best friend, Jessica.
I am curious to hear how his friends are developing as adults as they head off to college soon.  All these kids and more have helped Cody become who he is.  This picture reminds me of Cody even if he isn't in it.

That's it!

We headed home.  I had already told the kids that after the airport and am going back to bed.  They could do the same or whatever they wanted.  It's hard work to send off my first born.  Months of busy work and emotional suppression.  So I gave myself time to wake up..literally, to the fact I am starting a new season in my life.  I might want to cry it out.  Interestingly enough I didn't.  Like I mentioned earlier the night before was so rewarding to pray for him and express everything I could.  I am at peace with all of it.  I wouldn't want him to be any where else in the world.  Seriously!  Even on an island he is definitely safer doing the Lord's work than…college for sure!  I know he will grow so much!  He will be a man when he returns.  I am excited to hear his developments with his relationship with God, and our Savior Jesus Christ.  I want him to really understand the Holy Ghost and work with Him as he learns how to teach the people in the Kiribati Islands.  It's going to be great!

So I slept….for hours.  Wow. that is unlike me.  I turned to look at the clock and the first thing I see it this.

This is a shared journal I gave Cody when he graduated from Highland Elementary School.  As he started middle school I wanted to keep our communication strong so I gave him this book so he would always have an avenue to  share anything he wanted with me.  Ideally, he would write and put it on my pillow.  I would then write back and put it on his pillow.  It would be kept private just between the two of us.  Ideally, we would talk about later.  I knew that life gets busy and I might not pay attention when someone is trying to tell something that is really important to them.  So I thought this would work.  For years I have written love stuff, or encouragement or praise and put it on his pillow.  But he never put it on mine.  That's ok.  At least I am taking time to make sure I am letting him know I love him and am proud of him.  Also, to counteract the large amount of reprimanding that I do.  (He turned out ok, right?)  Well, it wasn't until 10 th or 11th grade when he came back from a placing at State BPA that I wrote in it and left another surprise in his car at the school parking lot that he actually READ IT FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!!!  He said that he kept seeing it on his pillow but he never opened it up.  He just kept putting back onto his shelf.  Cody!!!!!!!!!                  After that he began writing and it is very precious to me.  So when I woke up later this morning and saw our love journal I took a deep breathe and started to read.  Pages and pages.  I just love him !  He is going to do such great things.  He has definitely prepared for years for this special time to be totally selfless and put in all his efforts into sharing God's plan, helping others come unto Christ.  I am really happy for him.    Ok---time to take care the kids.  Onward!