Elder Erickson

We took Cole to the MTC today.  Lots of emotion and joy.

We stopped for lunch at Winger’s first, and the manager was nice enough to come talk to us, ask where Cole was going, and to comp his meal.

We had heard that the Provo temple grounds was THE place to take pictures and say our goodbyes BEFORE we got to the MTC, so we did just that.  We got a little goofy with the picture taking, but that helped us not to get too SAD with the picture taking.

Mom had warned the kids before that they could be checked out and come with us ONLY if they promised to not make fun of her if she cried.

When we drove up to the MTC, (a few minutes BEFORE our time, I might add), the guy said we would have 3 and a half minutes to say goodbye at the curb.  I thought that was nice.  You can do a lot of hugging and saying I love you in 3 and a half minutes.

So we pulled up to our assigned spot, got his heavy luggage (only one of them was heavy.  I think the big one weighed 65 and the small one only weighed 19 pounds), and we still had time for hugs.  The nice Elder who was our host even took a picture for us, which I had heard they wouldn’t do.  Maybe they are trying to be a tiny bit more accommodating as they make you shove your loved ones out the door.

And then he was walking away in a sea of missionaries.

One sister saw me wipe my eyes and said, “Don’t worry, it’s a nice place.”

I know it’s a nice place.  We both do.  We remember how much we learned and how much fun we had there at the MTC and on our missions, but it’s still difficult to drop off our first born and send him out into the unknown.

Now we can join the ranks of parents who have sent a missionary to the MTC.  It’s an ever growing, not so exclusive group.

And we will wait not so patiently for his first letter.

I leave for the MTC in less than four days now.  When people ask how I’m feeling, I honestly can’t say anything more than “stunned”.  I’m not certain how I feel, it still hasn’t hit me that I’m actually going.

People tell me that I’ll do well, and that I’m ready.  I don’t know how accurate that is, it’s hard to feel ready when you still can’t wrap your mind around actually going.

My Mom will be posting my letters here as I write them back to her.  It’s a brilliant idea I got from an old friend, and I think it will serve our family well.  I’ll also be shamelessly stealing all my friend’s good ideas, and using his choice of WordPress theme as well.  Obviously this is a success for me, because I have awesome friends who don’t mind me plundering all their good ideas.