Going, Going, Gone

Yesterday was bittersweet - one of the most difficult experiences and yet one where our little family came together and the love I felt for each of them grew ten-fold.... I am now a Missionary Mom. My mum bought me a badge to prove it!

We had an e-mail earlier today from Ryan (aka Elder Summers) to say he had arrived safely at the MTC in Johannesburg, South Africa. We look forward to the correspondence we will receive over the next 24 months. I sent him my first e-mail as we left the airport. We have been overwhelmed by the love we have felt and had expressed to us through FaceBook messages, texts and phone calls. Nothing really prepares you for the feeling of bidding farewell to one of your children knowing you won't get to hug them for 2 years. We are a huggy family anyway but yesterday I wanted the hugs to last forever. The morning started with Ryan being set apart by our Stake President, Daniel Griffiths at the Stake Centre. What a wonderful experience to witness my husband, Colin and eldest son, Josh, assist Pres. G in setting Ryan apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As his parents we had the chance to bear our testimonies and later to hear Ryan bear his.

We had been joined by both grandmothers and Colin's sister, Rochelle. Many, many tears were shed. Afterwards we headed back home to - en route Rochelle's car got hit in the back. Never a dull moment in the life of the Summers... All in the car at the time were fine. We decided to grab some food before we left for Heathrow. We had a lovely time at The Foxlydiate Arms and felt well-nourished as we left.

With the car loaded with luggage and immediate family Ryan said his final farewells to Grandma, Nanny & Aunt. The journey to Heathrow was without incidence - we made it to Terminal 5 in good time. We spent time together - final phone calls were made to loved ones who hadn't been able to be with during the day - including Caroline, my sister who lives in Utah, and Chad - who had served as a missionary in our ward and lived there afterwards for many years - we love him dearly and are grateful for the wonderful example he has been to ur children. Got to love FaceTime!! The emotions were very strong as it came to say our final farewells - I feel them rushing to the front as I write this. To watch him pass behind the security screen knowing that was it for two years was hard! Im not going to lie - my heart felt like it had been pulled out of my chest - my throat ached and throbbed.

On the way home, one of my friends, Louise, who had been a Missionary Mum herself before called... I really appreciated her taking the time to phone - I didn't think I'd want to speak to anyone at that point as it was all to raw but she was just the right person. We were all completely emotionally drained from the rollercoaster of emotions we had gone through that I was thankful to get home and sink into my bed. I woke up early this morning and my first thoughts were to how he was getting on - I checked FlightTracker which showed his location on a map - this gave me a bit of reassurance and allowed me to eventually go back to sleep. As I look at the clock I automatically put it an hour forward in my head and try to picture what he's up to.... Right now it's 4:45pm - so he should have experienced his first SA meal.... can't wait to see how he adapts. He's tried really hard lately to become more open to other foods.... We joke as a family that Ryan is like one of the dwarves in The Hobbit who when presented with a banquet enquires "Have They Got Any Chips?"