Great to hear Elder Davis' voice!

The best thing about 6:15 on a Monday morning was a 15 min phone call from Elder Gage Davis! He was getting ready to fly to North Carolina, and had a few minutes before boarding his flight. For some reason I was thinking that if he was up at 3:30 am to head to the airport (from the MTC) for a 7:10 am flight, that I would have gotten to talk to him longer than 15 min. It might have been that he was traveling with 15 other missionaries that were all going to North Carolina. He sounded a bit exhausted for some reason, but he has never been much of a morning person, and that coupled with the cold that he has had this past week, might have been why he sounded that way :)  He will arrive in Raleigh later this afternoon, after one hour layover in Atlanta. Hopefully the flight will be on time so that all of them can get to their connecting flight on time.

Aaron, Kylee, and Kade popped out of bed without difficulty this morning for a chance to talk to Gage. It had only been 12 days since we last spoke, but feels like it has been much, much, much longer. (We now have 7 weeks & 4 days until we get to hear his voice again, but who's counting? That is also your countdown to Christmas Day!) Everyone got to have a short conversation and update Gage on the events of the past couple of weeks. He mentioned how much he has loved all the packages and letters! He was able to share with lots of the other missionaries. He has been slowly adjusting to the early morning wake up time, like I said, he is not a morning guy. He was ready to be out of the MTC and was grateful he wasn't learning a language that would have required a much longer stay there. He is nervous, but excited to be heading to North Carolina!

I asked him what his favorite scripture was so that we could have it printed on his mission plaque that will be displayed in the foyer at the church. He told me it was Alma 37:6-7

     6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.    7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

This is the picture that I have chosen for the plaque.

I have a strong testimony of this Gospel of Happiness or I could not let my son leave us for 2 years to share this message with others. I am grateful to all of you for the love and support that you give him and the rest of our family! We are so very blessed to have such incredible friends and family!!!

HE ARRIVED IN NORTH CAROLINA SAFELY!!! THANK YOU TO SISTER JAMES FOR SENDING US A PICTURE OF OUR MISSIONARY!