MTC
Well...we dropped Richard off at the MTC on July 5th. What a great, yet painful experience that was. We had a good time on our road trip from California, but it was very strange coming home without him. Since we had his farewell and then the open house and then several goodbyes to his closest friends, the night before we went to the MTC, he told me he had had enough...that all these goodbyes were just too much and he really couldn't wait to get on with it already.
We are so proud of him. You should have seen the look on his face as he turned and waved just as he walked throught the exit door of the orientation room. It was a look of "I'm still young and I'm not really sure what I'm getting into, but I'm putting my faith in the Lord and going for it."
Just before that he hugged his mother and brother and told them he loves them. I hugged him goodbye and said "I love you kid", to which he replied that he did too. Them I told him to "take care of yourself out there", and he replied that he would and turned to go. Just then he turned back and said,"thanks for getting me here, Dad". I said that it had been my pleasure and he turned away and walked toward the door. He took one look back and I gave him a wave, and then I saw him go out the door. It was such a bittersweet experience.
This is how you hope your children will turn out, but it is so hard to let them go. Now it has only been two days since we left him in Provo and everywhere I look I see him. His presence is felt around our house so strongly. I keep fighting the urge to pick up the phone and call him and see what he's doing, and when he'll be home for dinner. We are so close and he used to just call to say hi and I really miss that already. I had to clean out his truck so we can sell it, and that was very difficult as well. So is putting things away in his room. But, as time goes by it will get easier and less painful, but I take solace in the fact that he is on the Lord's errand and that angels are watching over him and that this will be the greatest experience of his life.
Since he took the digital camera with him, I took MTC pictures with the other camera, so as soon as I get the film developed, I'll post some pics of our trip to the MTC and pictures of Richard as he went in.
We are so proud of him. You should have seen the look on his face as he turned and waved just as he walked throught the exit door of the orientation room. It was a look of "I'm still young and I'm not really sure what I'm getting into, but I'm putting my faith in the Lord and going for it."
Just before that he hugged his mother and brother and told them he loves them. I hugged him goodbye and said "I love you kid", to which he replied that he did too. Them I told him to "take care of yourself out there", and he replied that he would and turned to go. Just then he turned back and said,"thanks for getting me here, Dad". I said that it had been my pleasure and he turned away and walked toward the door. He took one look back and I gave him a wave, and then I saw him go out the door. It was such a bittersweet experience.
This is how you hope your children will turn out, but it is so hard to let them go. Now it has only been two days since we left him in Provo and everywhere I look I see him. His presence is felt around our house so strongly. I keep fighting the urge to pick up the phone and call him and see what he's doing, and when he'll be home for dinner. We are so close and he used to just call to say hi and I really miss that already. I had to clean out his truck so we can sell it, and that was very difficult as well. So is putting things away in his room. But, as time goes by it will get easier and less painful, but I take solace in the fact that he is on the Lord's errand and that angels are watching over him and that this will be the greatest experience of his life.
Since he took the digital camera with him, I took MTC pictures with the other camera, so as soon as I get the film developed, I'll post some pics of our trip to the MTC and pictures of Richard as he went in.
posted by Richards dad at 9:36 AM
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