Mark the Missionary

Mark got set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints last Monday night.  President Caldwell came over to the house and set him apart.  My mom and Bob came as did Grandma Grant and Sally.  The blessing he gave Mark was beautiful and comforting.  Of course I was a cry baby and leaked tears through the whole thing.  This is not an easy thing to do for a mother.  Mark is a good boy and I love him and will miss him very much for the next two years.  I know that once children graduate from high school they are not yours anymore but this is way different.  Jacob was having a hard time yesterday and today when he thought about not seeing Mark for two years. 

Jacob was actually sick with a stomach flu on Monday and Tuesday, so we had to keep the boys apart.  We surely didn't want Mark to start throwing up on the plane or have to cancel the flight.  So Jacob missed two and half days of school this week.  He may be missing more if this snow doesn't stop soon.  The middle school cancelled practice so that the kids could get home safely.

Back to Mark.  His flight plans to get to Provo went like this: Take an early morning flight to Denver from Cody, have a two and a half hour layover and then board a plane to SLC.  That got him there by 12:50.  Then retrieve his luggage and get on the shuttle that will take him to the MTC.  I am assuming he got there just fine because we haven't heard anything. :) We have heard that he will be spending 12 days there and then on out to Seattle but nothing for sure.

Just making sure he has everything he needs to board the plane.

On our way into the Cody Airport very early in the morning, about 5:45 a.m.

Looking quite handsome and maybe a little nervous.

Jacob loves his brother very much.

Ah. Dad and Spark. Makes me smile.

We were looking pretty tired here and I am may have had a few tears flowing by this point.

Going through security.

Yep, they thought he was a terrorist and wiped his hands for gun residue.