Garrett's Mission Call and Temple Trip

We finally submitted Garrett's mission papers in September! I was happy for him but also very nervous. He has his heart condition and anxiety. I just had a feeling that if they sent him anywhere, even in the states, that he might get anxiety and have to come right back home. Well, our stake president asked to visit with him and us on Sunday afternoon on September 21st. At this point, Curtis and I were both thinking that they're probably going to have him do a service mission. We went in there and that's exactly what happened. I told Garrett beforehand that I didn't know what the stake president wanted to visit with us about, but I'm sure it was mission related. He got excited. Then when we were in there, after visiting for a few minutes, the stake president asked him if he would be willing to do a service mission and that this is coming straight from an apostle of the Lord. 

Garrett didn't say anything. I could tell that that's not what he was hoping to hear. He had his heart set on hoping to go to Japan. Curtis and I both knew that wouldn't happen, but you could tell Garrett was still hoping and this was a big letdown for him. The stake president talked a little bit about service missions, which are relatively new, and said that there is a couple that is in charge of the service missionaries in our area, and they could come visit us and give more information about it. He said that Garrett could think about it and let him know later what his decision would be. While Garrett and I drove home after that meeting, the only thing I said was "that wasn't what you were hoping to hear was it?". He shook his head and then cried. I decided it would be best to give him some time to think about it and soak it in. He immediately went to his room and cried some more when we got home.

A little while later, after Curtis got home (he stayed to talk to the stake president), Curtis went in to talk to him. I didn't learn this until later, but I guess Garrett told Curtis that he didn't have to go to Japan. That he could go on a proselyting mission anywhere. Curtis talked to him about the pros of serving a service mission and finally Garrett warmed up to the idea. By the end of the night, the service mission advisers, the Mortensen's, called and scheduled to come visit with us the next evening and Garrett was getting a little excited about it. The Mortensen's came over Monday evening. They showed us a video and gave us folders with printed out information about different service opportunities that he'll get to choose from to do in our area. There was also a sample schedule in there and other info. After they left, he texted the stake president that he was ready to meet with him again. The stake president came over Tuesday evening, where Garrett talked to him privately and told him that he would accept the call. The stake president then let the office in Salt Lake know Garrett's decision and by Wednesday afternoon, he received an email letting him know that his official mission call was in his mission portal. They do this in a way that you don't accidentally see the call if you want it to be a surprise for a gathering. Well, I viewed it a little before printing just to make sure it was going to say service mission on it, ha ha. I printed it and then sealed it in a big envelope, so that he could open it just like any other missionary would, even though he already knew what the call was.

At the end of August, Garrett was anxious to get his endowments out at the temple so that he could volunteer before his mission. Our little temple was closed for two weeks in September, and we ultimately decided it would be better to do it at the Meridian, Idaho temple so that more family could be there. My dad and stepmom are also temple workers at the Meridian temple on Saturday mornings. We were able to arrange it to be at 10am and that Dad and Laverne were the officiators for the session, which was scheduled for Saturday the 27th of September. Everything just seemed to work out for that weekend to go to Idaho. The kids didn't have school that Friday, so we could leave earlier. It was also Garrett's birthday weekend and he had to opportunity to go to the BSU game with Stillman and Michelle and cousin Jayden. Not to mention, now that he had his official mission call, it was a perfect time to open it with family while in Idaho. We had a good turnout for his temple session and got some pictures afterwards. He was so excited beforehand and after. 

The weather was beautiful that day!

We had Casey, Gaya, Steve, Tamara, Dad, Stillman, Aunt Diane, Uncle Jess, Laverne, Jenna, Grandma Norton and Great Aunt Joyce. (Aunt Joyce passed away just a couple weeks later at age 97, so it makes this so much more special that she was there with us for Garrett's special day.)

Then we had our friends step in for a picture with the family. Aaron and Allison Chan and Tracy and Heather Ballantyne.

Picture with the grandparents.

Our bishop and his wife (Aaron and Allison Chan) made the trip over to Idaho just to come be with Garrett at the temple. They are so awesome!

After we finished at the temple, we went back to Grandma's house so we could change and have people come over for some pizza and to open Garrett's mission call. We ordered Papa Murphy's that time but next time I think we should just order from somewhere that precooks the pizza for that big of a crowd. We had some issues with the oven, and the pizza was taking a long time to get baked. We needed to hurry because our bishop needed to get back to Kennewick for a ward activity and the group going to the BSU game needed to get going, including Garrett. Finally, we got our bellies filled and then it was mission call time!

I wrote it in pencil, so it's hard to see but it says "Garrett's Mission Call".

The map with everyone's guesses.

Pointing to the Kennewick, Washington mission. Apparently, Curtis had said something to Stillman that basically gave it away earlier that week, so Stillman's guess was Kennewick. Ha ha

After the mission call opening, we sang happy birthday to Garrett and had some cake. The next thing you know, Garrett takes off with Stillman to head to the BSU game and we can relax a little.

BSU buddies - cousin Jayden and Uncle Stillman

With Great Grandma "GG"

With Grandma Vernie and Grandma Butterfield

Garrett at the game, with his friend Trey in the background who was the drum major for Boise State's marching band, Blue Thunder.

We watched the BSU game from Grandma's house but the girls had the opportunity to go visit their friends. Alice visited Sydney and Charlotte visited Ellie.

What made the weekend even more special was that was the same weekend that our niece, Ellie, was blessing her new baby.  Like I said, everything was working out for us to be in Idaho that weekend. It was our first time meeting Evelyn and getting to see Melissa's finished house, as they had a little brunch after church. We packed our bags before going over so that we could head straight home to Kennewick from their house. 

Alice was super excited to see Evelyn and held her several times. She can't wait to go back and see her again.

We matched!

Unfortunately, we heard the news Sunday morning that our dear prophet, Russell M. Nelson, passed away the evening before, which was the same day Garrett got his endowments out. It surprised us, but at the same time it didn't because he was 101 years old. I'm going to miss him though. He was a great man and just showed so much love for everyone. You could hear the love in his voice when he spoke. 

Sunday morning was also the same morning of the tragedy that happened in a Michigan LDS church building where a man rammed his truck into the church, started shooting people and set the building on fire. Several lost their lives and others were injured. That was shocking and so incredibly sad. The miracle that came from this is that the members of the church in that area started an online donation to the family of the shooter. The shooter was killed by police and left his wife and son. It wasn't their fault what he did and so it changed their life as well. There were fundraisers already set up for the family of the victims. What a great lesson for all of us. Instead of getting angry and throwing out more hate, these church members did what the Savior would do and helped the family of the shooter. Love is always better than hate!