The Adventure begins at the MTC!

So I have been kind of dreading this post just cuz it is bound to make me cry!  See Jed looked at this day as the first day of his big adventure and I looked at it as Dooms day! The interesting thing was that after the setting apart, it didn't seem like dooms day anymore.  The peace was so overwhelming to me as a Mother that I slept like a baby! 
We left with bags packed at 9 am!  This is what Jed saw as he left Farr West!  Way to go Ashley and Chalese!

The drive down was full of excitement and we met Mike and Melinda at Chili's for a little lunch before we dropped Jed off. 
The food was good but what was even better was watching Jed drink 5 or was it 6 cokes!!!  hahaha!

 

As 12:45 was creeping up on us, Jed's nerves began to kick in.  And he was anxious to get going.  Look at the license plate to a van that was parked at Chili's!  It was a sign!

At this point, I was a shaking mess- but this isn't about me!!! We parked across the street so we could take a few pictures... and what an amazing experience we had.  As we got out of the car, it was like everything was in slow motion.  There were missionaries everywhere we looked.  Some on their way to the Temple, others running to the field to play sports- it truely was an amazing site.  As I watched Jed take in this picture... he sighed, smiled and it was as if he recognized this place before.  As if he had come home.  I will never forget the peace and comfort that I felt.  It felt like time had stopped...there was no noise...it was just peace. Heavenly Father was not only comforting Jed in this time of change but the rest of us as well.  I am so grateful for this peace.  It is what I will continue to hold on to each day while he is gone.
We then snapped a few pictures of our good byes.  It was bittersweet!

It was difficult to watch the hugs!  Each for a different reason! But all because we would miss our Jed!
See right after everyone left from the setting apart both Jake and Ashley lost it.  It was the breaking point for them both.  Jake sat on my lap and cried.  He didn't think he would be able to say goodbye to Jed.  He talked with me about how Jed has always been good to him.  How he never said mean things to him.  How he just didn't think he could make it without Jed.  It took a good hour to get him to relax enough to go to bed.  What a tenderhearted little brother that will deeply miss his big bro!  About 15 minutes after I got Jake tucked into bed...here comes Ashley.  She simply crawled into bed with me and sobbed.  "Jed is always here when I get home from school", "he always asks how my day was".  "Now what am I gonna do she cried!"  And I simply held her and cried with her.

With Heavenly Father's help and comfort we made it to the MTC, and we simply pulled up to the curb where there were hundreds of missionaries lined up on the sidewalk and dropped him off.  There were a a couple of quick hugs from Dad and Mom and then he simply walked away with another missionary wheeling his luggage.  As we drove away,  the tears flowed and I had a difficult time wrapping my head around what had just happened.  It wasn't really real....right?  This was all just a dream...right?  He will be home in a week...right?  Oh man this was gonna be a test for me.  As we pulled away, I was so struck by all of the missionaries at the curb.  They were cheering and waving.  All happy and excited to meet the new missionaries who would be joining them.  It was truly like an Army of Missionaries... going out to battle- to teach the gospel.  To fight for what is right in this world. To share what they love.  Truly AMAZING!!!
My testimony of missionary work was just strengthened a hundred fold!  I look at it as such a blessing for Jed and for our family!  I am so grateful that the Church has such an amazing program for spreading the gospel!  And I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity that Jed has to search out and find people who want to know the truth.