He is Off!

 My little brother Michael had his mission farewell this week.  And his Court of Honor for his Eagle.  Living abroad so many years didn't give him many opportunities for Scouting and when he moved back to the US when he was fifteen he worked his tail off to be able to get his Eagle Scout award.  I would say a Court of Honor the night before you head to the MTC is cutting it pretty close. 

 The Eagle's Nest.  It was fun to see all four of my brothers and my hubby up there.  (My brother-in-law Brad is also an Eagle Scout, but he was traveling for work.)

After the Court of Honor, we had dinner at my parent's house and then headed to the Stake Center to see Michael set apart.  Everyone had such nice things to say to Michael.  He is a great, great kid.  It was awfully sad to see some of his nieces and nephews bawling, though.  He was in the unique position of getting set apart by his dad, who is also the Stake President.  It was so great to be with family and see our baby brother heading off into the mission field.  It was a laaaate night.  We had an hour drive home after the setting apart, I think we got home just before 11.  The kids were exhausted.  

Wednesday morning bright and early, Michael went and picked up his new retainers, having gotten his braces removed last week.  Again, cutting it pretty close.  :) 

 Tara pulled her kids out of school and we drove down to the Provo Temple to meet up with Michael and my parents in the parking lot for a final farewell.  The kids were totally over their sadness and all the tears (grown up ones as well) were gone and we were all so excited for him to get going.  He is ready.  As Matt said during the setting apart, he has known Michael since Michael was 5 and he was pretty much ready to go on his mission then :)

 Kate and Sydney being silly. 

 I think they were going for a dog pile. 

This is as low as Michael would go.  When Michael and my parents went to the car to drive across the street to the MTC, Tara and I walked all the kids down to the sidewalk directly across from the MTC to try and see Michael go in.  We were not sure if we saw him or not.  There were A LOT of missionaries going in.  It was so neat to see all the families from near and far gathered together to send their young men and women off into the mission field.  They all looked so young.  Really young, but also excited .  My dad said that it is expected that by January there will be about 100,000 missionaries serving throughout the world.  That is AMAZING.  We love you Elder Peterson!!  We can not wait to see you again, but in the mean time, share the joy you find in the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the sweet people in Buenos Aires!!