Dropped off at the MTC

Well, we dropped Cathryn Soeur Williams off at the Missionary Training Center in Provo a few days ago (Wednesday, January 22nd at 1:50 PM to be precise), and we already miss her plenty.  Particularly since we haven't heard a peep from her since then.  We're not sure when her preparation day will be, when she will be able to send us e-mails, but hopefully it's soon!

We had a "last supper" of take-out Thai food the Tuesday night before, then the stake presidency and bishopric came over to set her apart. We had an awesome little meeting in our living room where the stake president, then me, then Sandi, then the bishop and the two stake counselors all bore testimony.  After that all the Melchizedek Priesthood holders stood in a circle around the seated Cathryn with our hands on her head while President Cook set her apart to serve as a full-time missionary in the France-Paris Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After that, Cathryn bore her sweet sincere testimony of the church and her desires to serve the Lord.  It was a wonderful, special evening.

The next day we had a going-away lunch for her at Famous Daves, with Ribs and burnt ends and all sorts of tasty barbecue.  We took the two younger girls out of school, and began the long journey to Provo.  We got there plenty early, so we took a break at the University Mall to pick up a bunch of chocolate at Kara Chocolates at half price (store closing sale).  The chocolates were good enough to remind me of chocolates we'd had in Belgium, and got me thinking a lot about where my baby would be in 6 weeks!

We made it to the MTC with a few minutes to spare (we were supposed to be there at 1:45, got there at 1:40), so we went across to the MTC park there and took a few photos as a family.  Cathryn was worried because we were now a few minutes late, but when we got there at 1:50, there were a bunch of missionaries waving us in, a couple with a lot of style, enjoying their job.  We were told we had 2 minutes to park, unload, take a picture, hug, and get out of the way! We unloaded Cathryn, took a few pictures, and tried to leave, but Sandi wouldn't let go of Cathryn in her hug, so we had to pry her apart.  Then we left my baby in the able care of a nice sister missionary who took some of her luggage (she was packed to the maximum limits!) and off we went. :(  But I felt enough joy and excitement at what Cathryn has to look forward to, that the sadness wasn't too overwhelming.  I know she'll be a WONDERFUL missionary with her sweetness and sincerity, and come back an even better person for this service she is giving to our Heavenly Father.