Send out a boy...

I recieved this text from my Dad this afternoon, shortly after we dropped off Derek at the MTC (he's new to the texting world)-


"How. Did it. Go?. Send. Out. A boy, get. Back. A. Man"


Well, I cried. Again. I didn't think it would be hard. Really, I have known for a long time that he's ready to serve the Lord for two years. I've known most of his life that he was born to do just that. But, today was hard.

All packed up!

The gang all loaded up to drive to the MTC!

Caitlin has her notes to study for a final exam she had to take right after we dropped him off.

In front of the MTC (Did you know they took down the sign that says Missionary Training Center?)

They had us drive into the MTC and turn left. All along the curb there are number signs for each car to park. We were lucky number 13 on the 13th of June.

Huggin my boy!

Jayce will be so big when he gets back...

These two are very close. 

This is one of the things I will miss the most.

Hug for Sister!

One last hug...

And he walks away...

For two years....

This is how we all felt as we drove away. 

Cody said, "Well... he's gone." 

We are really, really happy he is a missionary. We will just miss him. Even though he's been away at college for the past year, I could always text or call him and find out how he is. It's been about 24 hours since we dropped him off and I find myself wondering what he's doing right now...and right now...and right now. I know that will get better.

I know he will be watched over and protected.

I know he will be an instrument in the Lord's hands.

And, my dad was right- 

He is leaving a boy, and he will come back a man.

And We're Off!

Last night Derek was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He's ready.

 Missionary haircut

Missionary shirts, washed and ready to pack

Packing

Grandma and Grandpa came down for his setting apart.

Love these boys!

He will be watched over and protected because he is on the Lord's errand. Derek is His representative. 

We will just miss having him around. A lot.

Derek's Missionary Farewell Weekend!

Billy and Caitlin drove down from Provo. So fun to have them! And Kenny came straight from a business trip on his way home from China. We had him for two whole days! And Grandpa Barrow flew in for just Saturday and Sunday because Grandma had just had surgery and he couldn't leave her for long. And, lots of the Sutherland crew came!

On Sunday, before church. Kenny had to leave right after Sacrament meeting to catch a plane home.

 Grandpa Barrow, Kenny, and Derek!

 After church, we headed home for food and visiting. 

Grandpas!

 Some of the crew!

 And more...

 And more.

On Saturday, we found ourselves with some time to play! (Well, I stayed home and worked on food and school :)).

 Wow. Powerful boys. Who knew?

 Exploring La Jolla Cove caves.

 Seals, sunbathing. And people, watching them.

Caitlin even had time to get new running shoes at Road Runner sports. Love that place! 

(Except I spend way too much money there!)

We are grateful so much of our family was able to come support Derek! And we know others wanted to come but couldn't. It's all good! 

Derek gave a wonderful talk. He said, "I've been thinking about this talk since I was in Primary." 

Wow, so proud of our son. Our son has chosen to serve a mission. He will represent Jesus Christ and teach His Gospel for two years to the people of Kansas and Missouri. 

You can follow his journey here on our blog.

Cody at CIF!!

Cody is only a sophomore, and he earned a spot at the County Finals for pole vaulting. Way to go, Cody! It was a beautiful day, and Grandma and Grandpa Sutherland came all the way down to watch him compete. Gene and Michele came, too. Derek was able to make it after his baseball game, and we skipped Jayce's game. We had a huge cheering section.

He was extremely nervous. He'd been having a mental block, and he just couldn't make himself jump much that week.

I liked this one because of the thumb's up.

 Look at those muscles!

12' 9". His third and final attempt...

 It was a good solid take off...

 And good form...

 And he cleared it...

 But his shorts hit the bar...

 And that was it...

 So sad!

For every great moment in sports, for every win or record broken, there are thousands of these moments. 

And we're proud to be part of it. 

Great job, Cody! 

You have two more years of pole vaulting and you're gonna rock them!

Mother's Day

On a Mother's Day, years ago, I was out in the foyer (with a fussy baby or something) at church and noticed a friend sitting on the couch, crying. She was older than I was and had teenagers who were making painful choices in their lives. I think she was also struggling in her marriage (which is very common when you have tough teenagers). She told me she absolutely hates Mother's Day because it is a reminder of everything she isn't. Wow. I was so sad for her. Since then, I have spent a fair amount of Mother's Days crying because of Dallin, but I finally realized that his choices aren't my choices, and that was very freeing. I'm still very sensitive about Mother's Day because I think there are many people, like my friend, who feel emotion surrounding it. Maybe they haven't been able to have children, maybe they don't have a relationship with their own mother, etc.

This particular Mother's Day was a perfect one! I have a few favorite parts to Mother's Day (which are required, as far as I'm concerned!).

#1 Homemade gifts - Jayce made me the cutest card and a bookmark of himself!

Am I lucky to be this kid's mom, or what?

#2 Gifts of some kind...it's not about what it is, it's about being thought of. (This would go in my book entitled "Husband Training 101.") I had seen this breakfast cookbook at Williams Sonoma, actually we bought the book for Kenzie's shower gift, and I really wanted it. So, I told Mark, and he remembered. (He has responded well to training.)

#3 Being cooked for. You see, I cook all the time, ALL the time. I don't really mind except when I feel really unappreciated. I also sometimes think I have trained my boys to not eat unless I initiate feeding them...but I digress. On Mother's Day, I love that the boys and Mark cook for me. For most of our years together, it has meant breakfast in bed. The boys outdid themselves this year! Strawberries and whipped cream in separate bowls?! And they cut the flower from the yard.  (I love being served...but I never really like eating alone...)

Late that night, I received a phone call from Dallin. I've been mulling over a post to write for my other blog about it. I am grateful he called to wish me a happy Mother's Day. I am grateful for that. 


I am truly blessed. When I was young, more than anything I wanted a career. I don't know exactly why, if it was for the praise of men or because I truly love academic learning. But my career has been motherhood and it has been the hardest path I could've chosen. I had no idea. My sister in law and I were talking once about how much harder motherhood is than we had ever imagined and she said, "Maybe we should tell them...to stop the madness...and not have children" (referring to our own children). But then we concluded that we want them to learn what we've learned, and we know that the joys are worth the sorrows.


I am grateful for a family who honored me on Mother's Day. More than that, I am grateful for the way my children choose to live their lives, because that is the greatest honor a mother could have.