1st Day of His Mission

Our day started at 6:30 this morning because that is when missionaries are supposed to get up. Kade, our youngest son, was the first one awake. He was like a kid on Christmas morning. All of our kids had planned on being up with Gage to support him in his new missionary calling, and they wanted to go work out with him for the last time before he left on his mission. Cole got to be his first companion which only seems fitting since these two have been inseparable since Gage's birth.

Gage's bags were packed the night before with help from Grandma Kris and Aunt Cindy. Hopefully he can get everything back in them when he does it on his own :) Everyone got ready for the day, and we were off to IHOP in Orem to meet some other family  members for breakfast.

The view as we were driving to Orem made me think that Heaven was shining down on us!

L: Jen, Hannah, Cole, Kylee, Kade, Pat, Kelsie

R: Aaron, Gage, Kris, Kimball, Tabitha, Ronald

Jen took another picture so I could be in one too!

Elder Davis even ordered waffles and fried chicken for breakfast in honor of his new mission.

Gage said his goodbyes to his grandparents, aunts and uncle. Our immediate family and Hannah (our photographer for the day) headed to the Provo Temple to say our goodbyes.

Last good family pic for a while...this temple is where our eternal family started 22 yrs ago.

Kade and Gage

Cole and Gage

Kylee and Gage

Proud dad and mom!

We had a few minutes to spend with each other and luckily there was a soccer ball in the car...what else would you expect :)

Then came the hard part of our day...saying goodbye for the next two years. It is a difficult moment to explain because you feel overwhelming joy in his decision and sorrow in knowing he won't physically be with us for the next two years. There were many smiles and many tears shed (let's be honest, I did most of the crying). 

Trying to be happy for the camera...

This hug has to last for the next 2 years...glad you are seeing his smiling face and not my puffy, teary eyes.

Elder Davis has started his new adventure getting his training to serve the people of North Carolina! They are so lucky to get him for the next two years, okay so maybe I am a little biased. Watching him walk away was not easy, but I know that he is right where he should be right now! Looking forward to that first letter...