IT WAS TIME...

Then it was time!

The drive from the temple and wait in the parking lot of the MTC only took about 7 minutes before we parked in our assigned spot and got the boys out and unloaded them.

 In those 7 minutes I pondered everything from;

Will he be okay, does he have enough warm clothes, will this be hard for him, will he enjoy the MTC, how will I work all my electronics at home without him, I will miss his laugh, I will miss him and Scott wrestling every night and goofing off, did I teach him to cook enough meals, will he remember how to do his laundry, will he remember to separate his whites from his darks or will he just be lazy and do them both together, will he be patient with his companions, will he clean his apartment, will he write in his journal, will he take pictures to send home, will he write letters longer than "I'm alive - don't worry"., did I forget to pack anything that he'll need, will his mission president love him as we do, does he have cash in his wallet, will he remember how to sew a button, will he remember to pray every night, will he willingly share his testimony with those he comes in contact with since he holds back at times because he is a tender heart, will the  members in Montana feed him well, will they welcome him into their homes during the holidays so that it's not so hard on him being away from us and our traditions, how I wish I could be a fly on the wall in the MTC, is he scared or nervous, don't cry because you'll make it harder on him, he was just a little boy scraping his knees and needing a band aid, did I do everything I could as a mom to prepare him for this day, I can't believe this day is here already - it came so fast, does he know we are proud of him, does he know we will miss him, Oh...how I love this young man and his willingness to serve, he is so unselfish, will he remember to polish his shoes and rotate his clothes, I'm glad he got to teach in primary and experience that, will he write thank you notes I'm so grateful for those teachers and leaders, and programs that he had in his life to help prepare him in ways I couldn't, will he remember our FHE lessons over the years, will he have a hard time getting up so early, will family and friends write to him, will he take advantage of this opportunity to grow his testimony in new ways and areas, will he remember to iron his clothes, do I leave his room exactly the same or clean it, what should I do with all his hunting and fishing stuff, does he know that he is planting seeds and that it's okay if he doesn't baptize anyone, will he like Montana, will he survive the winters there, will he write home every Monday, does he know we will be living for those letters, it seems like he just got baptized, just turned twelve, attended church dances, went on his first date, got his drivers license, got his first job, will he stay focused, will he set an example, will he be polite, I will miss his sense of humor, will these two years fly by, how bad am I going to cry on the way home, will he remember to pray with purpose, will he get the chance to go to the temple, I need to make sure to send a care package off as soon as I get home, what will happen on Thanksgiving in the MTC, will he remember to turn in his shot record, will he find our letters we wrote to him, will he re-read his patriarchal blessing often, will the dog live until he gets back...OH NO...it's time to get out of the car and give him one last hug.. don't embarrass him in front of all these Elders!

One last hug and an "I love you" - and he didn't look back...as the little boy I used to rock to sleep in my arms walked away from me and into the service of his Heavenly Father and a new adventure for the next two years!

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe my son.