Called to Serve!

All ready to go

 It's hard to believe that I am posting this exactly a month after Jadon left.  Some days I can't believe it's already been a month but most days it feels like he's been gone much longer.  The morning he left for the MTC was a pretty laid back morning.  He had to be at the MTC at 12:30.  I woke him up at 8:00 a.m. but he had a really hard time waking up and didn't get out of bed until 8:30 or so.  He came up on the couch and fell back to sleep while I made breakfast.  We talked about going out to breakfast on the way to the MTC but I decided that I didn't want to feel rushed.  We had chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.  After breakfast, Jadon fell back asleep on the couch.  I guess the last couple nights, where he didn't sleep much, were catching up to him.  While we were all getting ready to leave, Dale went and made a small copy of Jadon's patriarchal blessing so that he could keep it in his scriptures.  We left for the MTC around 11:00 am.

Elder Byers

Everyone told us to say our goodbyes at the provo temple, across the street from the MTC.  We got there around 11:45 and just sat in the shade and talked for a little while.  Jadon was still really tired and was frustrated that he was feeling that way.

Last family picture for two years

We walked around for a little while and took some pictures and then Jadon decided we better head over there.

I told Jadon that I got to get out of the van at the MTC so I wasn't saying goodbye until we got over there.

He gave each of his sibs a hug but that is too many pictures to post so I just did the big group hug one...

and, of coarse, Katie because he loves her so much.  He loves his other siblings too but Jadon and Katie have a special relationship that, unfortunately, will change over the next two years as she grows up

Jadon looks so much like Dale in this picture

My favorite quote that goes with this picture- Missionary: someone who leaves their family for a short time so that others may be with their families for eternity

When we got to the MTC, all of the kids stayed in the van while Dale and I got out to help him with his luggage and say goodbye.  When he hugged me, he finally lost it and started crying.  Having my 18 year old son, who never cries, cry like that was hard to take.  He hugged his Dad and then the missionary escort took him off to processing.

I told him beforehand that I wanted him to look back when he left.  I'm so glad he did because I love this picture.  I love that he gets such an amazing opportunity to share the gospel

Right before he left, he handed me a stack of envelopes.  He had written everyone in our family letters one night when he couldn't sleep.  When I got back in the van, after saying goodbye, it was silent.  I decided that it would be a good time to have everyone read their letters.  I didn't read mine because I hate to cry in front of people.  Kyson was sitting behind Dale so I could see him out of the corner of my eye, reading his letter.  He kept looking out the window and I could tell he was trying not to cry.  When he couldn't hold back anymore and started to cry, he was looking out the window and I could see his shoulders shaking.  I climbed back there and gave him a hug.  That's when he lost it.  He started sobbing.  It was so sad.  I looked to the back of the van and Katie was sad and Kierra was sobbing too.  I made the rounds of the van and hugged everyone.  The rest of the ride home we all just sat in silence.  Our original plan was to stop at the DMV on the way home so Kierra could get her license.  I asked her if she still wanted to do that (because her face was all red and puffy) and she said yes so that's what we did.  Several people told me that the hardest part of sending a missionary off was when they got set apart and that the goodbye at the MTC wasn't that bad.  They all lied!!!  It was so hard to let my boy go.  He's been my shadow for the last 18 years and I had no idea what I was going to do without him.  I couldn't stand the thought that I didn't know what he was doing or where he was every minute of the day.  The next 4 days were very hard.  Luckily, I was able to go to youth conference the next day so I had that distraction.  But he was constantly on my mind.  I had so much running through my head.  What was his companion like?  Was he sleeping?  What was he doing all day?  When we got his first letter on Sunday afternoon (it was in the mailbox on Saturday but the mail came really late so it wasn't there when we checked it) a huge relief came over me.  Even though the letter was short, I could tell that he was happy and was doing well.  The whole family sat around and read it together.  Each day that goes by is easier and getting his letters is AWESOME!  His stories are so funny.  Every Monday night we read his letter out loud at the dinner table.  I miss Jadon every day but I am so grateful for his willingness to serve and I know that his mission will change his life!  I love having a missionary!

The day before leaving

Jadon, Gladys, me and Dale

 The night of Jadon's farewell he was very quiet and seemed kind of down when he went to bed.  When I got up in the morning, I had to pick up a few more things for Jadon from the store.  Before I left, I asked Dale to chat with Jadon and figure out what he wanted to do.  Jadon was feeling the stress of everything that still needed to be done before he left and he also wanted to do something fun before he left.  So they made a list of all the things he needed to do and we decided that we would get all those things done on Monday so we could play on Tuesday, the day before he left.
Tuesday morning we got up early and went to the first session at the Oquirrah temple.  It was a great way to start the day.

Katie was so excited to ride with Jadon

 Before we left for the temple, we told the kids to be ready to go when we got home.  Dale had just found out that there was a new family that just moved into our ward.  They moved here from Venezuela.  He thought it would be a good idea to go visit them so we all headed over there.  They don't speak very much English but we could tell they are a super neat family.  After that we all headed up to Park City.  We were thrilled that Gladys was in town and was able to come with us! It was a beautiful day and not crowded at all.  We walked right on to the ski lift for the Alpine Slide and didn't have to wait too long for the coaster.  We had so much fun riding both of them.

 After we were done with the slide and the coaster we went out to lunch at the Mexican restaurant we have been too several times in Park City. 

Katie and Jadon in line to get tickets

Jaxon, Dale, Kyson and Jadon riding up to the Alpine Slide

Everyone walking to the slide

Everyone excited to go down

 We love being in Park City.  We try to go every summer.  We had such a good time together!

Jadon in his CMC tie that all the missionaries in our ward, for the last 2 years, have signed

 After lunch we came back down to our house and spent an hour or so at home before Jadon was going to be set apart.  He was getting some things down on the computer before he left.  At 7:00 we headed over to the stake center.

Jadon giving his Dad a hug right before we left for the Stake Center.  He knew he was giving up his phone right after so he was taking one last look.

Our missionary son, Elder Byers

The setting apart was very emotional.  The stake president started out by asking me to bare my testimony.  I had been told this would happen but I still wasn't prepared.  I was overcome with emotion.  The day Jadon was being set apart was also the one year anniversary of my mom's death so she was on my mind a lot that day.  It was very hard for me to talk and express myself.  I shared with my family how thankful I was for Jadon and his decision to serve a mission.  I talked about how he just came good.  He has always wanted to be obedient and do the right thing.  I also talked about how thankful I am that families can be together forever so that I will be able to see my mom again.  Dale followed me with a beautiful testimony.  He talked about how envious he is that Jadon gets to go serve the lord for two years and how happy he is that he gets to do that.  The Bishop and the Stake president said a few words and then they set him apart as a missionary. 

Jadon and his sisters

 After He was set apart, we decided to go to Macey's for an ice cream cone.  We just wanted to cram as much as we could into one day and didn't want it to end!

I'm coming too!

 When we got home, we packed his clothes.  Dale found a video online teaching a missionary the best way to pack his clothes.  We watched that and ended up having a lot of room left over.  We thought we might be missing something but went over the packing list several times and we had it all.

watching the packing video

Jadon was very quiet most of the time that we were packing.  Towards the end he started to get very cold.  He never gets cold.  I was worried that he was getting sick.  He took a shower and came up and layed down on the floor and fell asleep.  I felt so bad for him and really had no idea what was going through his head.  What a scary thing to leave home and know you won't be coming back for two years!

Payson Lake

 One of the last things we had planned to do as a family this summer was going camping at Payson Lake.  Because Jadon had gone through the temple the week before, I decided it would be a good idea to go to the Payson temple together.  We weren't able to go to the open house and I really wanted to see that temple.  I felt bad that Kyson and Katie weren't able to come in with us.  They sat in the waiting room in the temple with Kamryn and Jared.  We decided to do baptisms so that we could stay together in the temple.  Luckily, no one was there when we got there so we didn't have to wait at all.  Jadon did the baptizing of all of our family and Lisa and Taylor.  It was really neat to see that.

Jadon helping Katie roast starburst

 We went out to lunch after going to the temple and then headed up to camping.  After we got camp set up, we went down to the lake.  A few people got in and went on the paddle boards.  Everyone else walked around the lake.  The water was quite a bit lower than it was the last time we were there.  We were disappointed that the water wasn't deep enough to jump off the pier.

Everyone, except Dale, on a very short hike

Jadon and Taylor

Byers and Adams kids...such great friends!

 We went on  a very short hike that we had been on before.  When we went before there was a good size waterfall and water you could jump in at the top.  This time the water was all gone and the waterfall was very small.  We still had fun

Katie, the little swimmer

Katie and Kamryn trying to get warm after swimming

When we were having lunch, the table was in the sun so we ate under the tree

 I love this picture!  Their faces are priceless!  Jaxon is looking with such admiration at his big brother and Jadon is just smiling and listening to Jaxon.

Kamryn and Kyson being brave in the cold waterfall

Katie followed

 One of the times out on the lake Jadon and I decided we were going to try and stand up together on a paddle board.  We tried over and over and we finally did it but we were only able to stand up for 7 seconds.  Jadon and Jaxon decided to try it and they were much better at it.

They did it!

Kamryn and Katie playing in the lake together

The kids always have so much fun out on the water.  Everyone from my family, except me, is out there together

 Lisa forgot to bring her life jacket so we had to dig these orange ones out of the storage in the trailer.  Jaxon decided to try one on.  The problem was he couldn't get it off.  We had to try for a long time to get it off.  We were all laughing pretty hard.

 We made friends with a family that was camping near us.  They had these little kayaks that they were nice enough to let Katie use.  She loved it and she was pretty good at getting around the lake.

 Kierra asked me to do her hair which led into a little beauty parlor.  I did almost everyone's hair but only posted a few pictures.

My little nerd

We had such a great time camping together.  It will be really weird to go next summer without Jadon.  He always makes everyone laugh.  He's just fun to be around.

Boating at Jordanelle

Kierra and Kamryn on the tube

After Jadon graduated from high school, I asked him what he wanted to do for graduation.  He said go to Lake Powell.  I told him I didn't think I could pull that off but maybe we could do one day of boating.  I asked Lisa's family if they wanted to join us.  She was looking on KSL for boat rentals and found a guy who rents out his boat and he is the boat chauffer.  We thought that sounded like a pretty good idea so we booked it.  She also found some little cabins at Jordanelle that were right on the lake so we decided to stay over night and make it a day and a half trip.

Kamryn, Kyson and Jared on the tube

 When we woke up on Monday morning (the day we were suppose to leave) it was raining.  I was pretty bummed.  We checked the weather forecast and it said that it was suppose to be sunny in the afternoon.  By the time we got to the lake it was sunny but not super warm.  I'm not a huge fan of cold water so I wasn't planning on getting in until the next day.  The good thing about the weather was that there was hardly anyone on the lake.

We stopped the boat for a little while and just swam in our diaper life jackets

 We took turns going out on the boat.  Whoever wasn't in the boat, stayed at the beach (if you can call rocks with a little bit of sand a beach).  Lisa had rented two paddle boards that everyone took turns using.  They were really fun

Kiera on the knee board

 Jaxon and Jadon were the first to go out behind the boat.  Justin and Taylor said it was too cold so they let them go first.  Eventually Taylor and Arthur (Lisa's French student)  went out on the knee board.  Jaxon tried the wake board but wasn't able to get up.  Jadon got up on the wakeboard which he has done before.

Jaxon and Jadon love boating!

Jadon was also able to try surfing and he did great!  It was pretty cool because you use a short rope so he was really close to the boat.  It was so much fun to watch the kids have fun in the water.  I was able to go out on the knee board and had a blast! 

Jaxon trying to wakeboard

The cabins we had reserved were so cute.  I forgot to take a picture of them.  It was just one room with 2 queen size bunkbeds.  It also had a fridge, a microwave and a table and that's it.  It was perfect.  We spent most of the day on Tuesday boating and hanging out on the beach.  It was nice and sunny.  We had such a great time together.  I would love to make this a yearly tradition!


Kierra and Katie enjoying riding in the boat

Kyson's first time on the wakeboard.  He did great!

Cool boater boys

The kids were so excited when they saw the boat at the doc

Katie

Jaxon and Jadon had a blast on the tube together!

Jadon surfing

Taylor and Jadon on the tube.  Lisa said they were the most fun to watch

Justin and Dale on the tube

Jaxon and Arthur on the tube

When we were done boating on Monday night, we played some volleyball

Kamryn and Katie on the paddle board

Jake was so funny on the knee board.  He thought the handle was like a steering wheel