Argentina, here we come!

Loaded with luggage at the airport

We are on our way to Argentina! The past two weeks have been a great emotional roller coaster. We started out with great joy and anticipation as we were set apart two weeks ago. Our time in the MTC was wonderful and inspiring, with lots of learning and insight and occasional doses of reality about the challenges we will face.

But through this time, we have enjoyed being at home during the evenings and weekends. It's been especially fun to interact with our son and daughter-in-law's family as they moved into our home. We truly loved that part. During this time, we continued to gather our mission supplies and set aside all the clothing in preparation for eventual packing.

The reality of the mission hit us pretty hard as we completed our time in the MTC on Thursday. Suddenly we fully realized that we were about to leave home, and the anxiety mounted rapidly! We managed to squeeze in a last few Amazon orders for "essentials." The thoughts about that to take and what to leave were agonizing; not fully understanding the climate, the shopping resources, etc. made those choices hard.

And then we had to think about leaving our home for 18 months!  So much to try to anticipate. What should we pack up? What should we move? What should be resolved or prepared before we left?

The weekend was full of family time as we listened together to the announcements and teachings of general conference. Newly baptized Madison accompanied her mother, grandmother, and aunt to the general women's meeting and was there for the fascinating changes to the Young Women program, as well as the announcement of a temple to be built in our little hometown of Orem, Utah!!  What an excitement that was.

After Sunday dinner was completed, the kitchen cleaned and the visitors gone home, it got REALLY serious. Bonnie and I tried to get to bed early in anticipation of our "body clock" switches to Argentina time. But our minds were racing.

I woke up early on Monday and did the final packing and weighing. We could check two suitcases weighing up to 50 pounds each, and then our carry-on that had size but not weight limits. Bonnie and I were both quite pleased that with just a little juggling, we managed to hit the weight limits pretty easily, and fit all the rest into our carry-on bags! So it IS possible to live for 18 months with 100+ pounds of supplies....

We still had one major roller coaster swing to experience—the one we have been dreading. Saying goodbye for a year and a half is brutal. We started with Brian Sunday evening, then Matt early in the morning and Jenna and her kids as we left for the airport about 11. Adam and Alessandra were so kind to take time off to shuttle us and all our luggage. Sarah and her family met us at the airport, and we had some fun time before the tears started. Talk about melting hearts. We have such a wonderful family, and will think of them and pray for them constantly during the next 18 months.

The countdown clock on my phone shockingly hit ZERO again. So one more reset... and this one is a big one!