The Big Good-bye

What a week! Robert and I just got back from taking Kayla to the MTC (and spending a few days in the mountains - I'll post on that later). It was a wonderful experience, even if I did cry too much) Here are the photos....

On Monday, we drove to Manitou Springs, CO (in Kayla's tiny pink car - hey, 37 miles to the gallon! Every penny counts when you have a missionary!) We stayed with my brother and his wife. My favorite Aunt & Uncle were there as well. Don't know why I didn't take pictures there!!

We stayed in Heber, Ut with Grandma Zee and Tammy Law. It was absolutely beautiful - but a little chilly the morning we took Kayla to the MTC. Kayla was SO happy - and it was almost fun helping her get all the last things ready. Yes - my sweet, wonderful daughter hadn't noticed that the paperwork mentioned she needed a flu & meningitis shot before coming to the MTC. I panicked a little bit - but Kayla was fine with it. She was worried about bigger things, like if she should wear her shirt tucked in or out.

We are all in front of the MTC - there were literally hundreds of wonderful volunteers helping us get where we needed to go. Missionaries everywhere! It was a beautiful fall day in Provo, UT and there isn't any place I would have rather been! I am so proud of my wonderful daughter.

I love this picture. Kayla was so happy to go in this door (it said New Missionaries enter here). I wasn't feeling quite as happy, until the volunteer said I would meet up with her inside. I wasn't ready to let go yet!

Kayla had me put her name tag on... yes, I cried. But they were happy tears.

A note about Shea... She and Kayla are VERY close and Shea started crying Sunday night and was still crying Monday morning before we left. She even made a drawing of her "Grid of Tears" showing us that her tears were 40% happy and 60% sad. A year and a half seems like a long time for a 9 year old! But she and Kayla were able to talk a few times until Kayla went into the MTC on Wednesday. We will only be able to email and write from now on. Kayla can call home only on Christmas and Mother's Day. Shea misses her sister!!