So much has happened since my last post in August.

Since the beginning of Sept. so much has happened. I had so many pictures I wanted to share, so I put them into collages. Just click on them and they will enlarge and you can see each picture up close and in better detail.

 

Bryce and Lara bought their first home and moved in. Adam turned 17 on Sept. 16th. Michael turned 19 and Autumn turned 27 on Oct. 1st. Thanks for letting me share a few of our events in pictures!!!

Sunday, Sept. 20th, 2009

These pictures are the beginning of the two weeks leading up to Michael leaving on his mission.

 

Many friends and family came to hear Michael speak in church. After wards we had a luncheon with the family... saying goodbye to Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles, and cousins who had traveled to support him. Thanks for coming!!!

Sunday, Oct. 4th Michael said goodbye to some wonderful friends and family.

 

Monday, Oct. 5th....He is officially now Elder Michael Norton Thurber!

 

The top picture is of Michael with Bishop Standage and President Speakman. What a special time to be together. We really missed Autumn and Melanie and Dan and the children.

Pictures with siblings....

 

After wards we took these pictures of everyone...The cute young man with Michael on the bottom left is Sam... he is one of our family!

Tuesday, Oct. 6th in Salt Lake

 

Early Tuesday morning we flew to Salt Lake. The picture of Michael at the top asleep was while waiting for our flight. We got into Salt Lake around 11:00 and went and checked into our hotel. Then after getting a quick bite to eat there with my cousin, Lee, we went through a session in the Temple. Afterwards we walked around the grounds and then went up to the top of the Joseph Smith building. After wards we went into the Conference Center where we were aloud to go all the way down to the front. It was amazing and special to be there where conference had just taken place two days before.

Passing Time

 

So when we got up on Wednesday morning we had a big breakfast at the hotel and got ready for the day. It was only 10:00 and he did not report until 1:30 but he just wanted to go. So we headed down to Provo. It ended up being really nice. When we first got to Provo we walked a little around the Temple and the first person we passed by was the Elder in the picture in the bottom left. He was going to the same mission as Michael so we had to take a picture. It was a beautiful day and the Temple was so peaceful. Michael had called a few friends attending BYU to say good-bye and one of them, Jason was free so he went to the BYU Creamery with us for a treat. It was a good way to pass the final half hour. We then took Jason back to his class and all of a sudden it was time to go.

Letting go~

 

Well as you can see from these pictures he was ready to go. The picture on the top right is what it looked like at the entrance to the MTC. Lots of cars dropping off their missionaries. The one on the top left was at the parking lot across from the MTC where we were allowed all the time we wanted to say our goodbyes and take pictures. The one on the bottom left was me needing one more picture of us together and the one on the bottom right is my favorite. As he was being wisked away by the greeting Elders, I called out to him and he turned and I snapped this picture. He is so happy in it and it made it ok to leave him. As I drove off by myself... yes, very difficult thing to do alone and in tears, I was so proud of him and so grateful to have him there where he so badly wants to be. I love this guy!