Good-bye, Bracken, for Two Years!

When a young man chooses to serve the Lord for two years of his life, this is truly such a payday for parents!  All of those years of parents' teaching and guiding certainly shone through Bracken this day!

 Bracken will be leaving on Wednesday, January 22nd, for a few weeks in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, prior to leaving to serve in the Australia Sydney North Mission, Mandarin Speaking.  Seeing this picture with his family just brings tears to my eyes!  Prior to leaving, the missionaries are asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  Bracken gave such a beautiful talk, after which he bore his testimony in Chinese.  It was just such a spiritual experience to be there!

We will all certainly miss him while he is gone, but we know he will be doing the Lord's work.  A Mormon mission includes writing letters or e-mails just once a week, calling home only twice a year--Mother's Day and Christmas, absolutely no dating, and keeping a schedule of daily activities which includes studying the scriptures, teaching the gospel, and serving others.  It is such a fantastic experience for young missionaries and literally changes their lives in so many positive ways!

 Bracken with his Copeland aunt and uncles who were able to share this special day with him:  Amy, Kent, Cameron, Kyle, Kevin, and of course, his mom.

 I don't know who shot this picture, but I thought it was pretty funny.  Trying to get everyone lined up for a group shot was pretty difficult, but Natalie was trying her best.

I don't think we were ever told that the pictures were being taken.  Natalie and I were still trying to tell everyone that we couldn't see certain people, but the guy kept shooting.

I'm sorry to say this was the best the guy got!  You can barely see George's eyes and you can't see Amy at all (she's right behind Bracken), but by this time, everyone was so squirmy and I wasn't down below to see what was happening.  Oh, well, we tried!

 This is Ron Barker, who also spoke with Bracken.  He is the Wilde's home teacher and Bracken really thinks a lot of him.  He is very involved in sports since he is the Assoc. Commissioner of Governance and Enforcement for the Pac 12.  His daughter just left on a mission not too long ago to Barcelona, Spain.  That's where Amy's husband, Jeff, also served his mission a few years ago! 

This is the Luangrath family.  Bracken's family knew them in Shanghai, and they have been friends ever since.  

 

 After we got home, I'm so glad we got a picture of Amy with Bracken by herself.  They have always been very close.  As a matter of fact, she was one of the speakers at Bracken's baptism when he was eight years old.

Bracken has such a loving heart, and it has always been hard for him to say good-byes.

Amy had made Bracken such a beautiful plaque about his mission and given it to him the day before.

 After we came home from church, Kevin and Kyle's families started getting their cars packed up again for the 11-hour trip back to Utah.  But first, Alison had fixed a wonderful lunch for everyone.

The beautiful cake of the Australian flag where Bracken will be serving.

 
Bracken, with his cousin Taylor, who has already served his two-year mission to the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Spanish Speaking Mission.  His girlfriend waited the two years for him to come home, they are now married, and he is working and going to school while she works as a designer in a shop in Draper, Utah.   
 

 Bracken, we all love you so much and are so proud of the example you are to your younger brothers and cousins.  You are going to be such an outstanding missionary!

  Bracken's Farewell was definitely the highlight of the entire trip to San Francisco.  We were so glad this brought us all together for some wonderful times during the days leading up to it.  For the guys, besides touring with the family, they enjoyed watching some ballgames together.

Since Roscoe is a guy dog, he felt welcome there, too!

For the girls, it definitely was the mingling!

Sometimes it was just listening to all the joking around taking place--especially Kent and Alison!  They could be a stand-up comedy team!

 And what movie did we absolutely have to watch together?  "What's Up, Doc?" of course!  That is one of our favorite family movies.  I think certain family members have every line memorized!  And since it all took place in San Francisco, it was fun seeing all the places we had just seen the day before. 

 One night, John and Alison had a yummy barbecue for us which we all enjoyed so much.

Bracken with Connor who will be the next missionary in our family.  He will soon be putting his papers in and finding out where he'll be going as soon as he graduates in June.
 

John had tried warming the pool for three days prior to get it warm enough for the kids to swim in, but the nights always turned off so cool, it wasn't quite as warm as he would have liked it for them, but they still had so much fun, and the hot-tub felt great!

One day, we took all the kids to the jump and bounce place.  They had such a great time!

I would have to say the favorite spot seemed to be the dodge ball area.

And here was little Preston playing right along side the big kids!  He was usually one of the last to be out because he was so quick!  He was having a great time until one of the big kids (not a family member!) on the other side drilled him in the face!  After a few tears, he was right back playing again!

This beautiful necklace was given to me by John and Alison, and will forever remind me of these past few weeks with my family.  I absolutely love being a grandma!  In addition, I love the fact that we can be a "forever family" through our faith.  And lastly, how every single boy and girl in the family is so important.  What a great reminder!  Thanks so much for this treasure, Alison!

Next post:  Final days in San Francisco