Pre MTC

On February 7th, we drove down to the MTC right after Church to take photos by the infamous sign. I've seen it before on Wednesdays and know that the lines are long and the faces not very happy. Those that know me well know that I'm a photo freak and those memories are too precious to take a chance. So with grumblings coming from the fam, we packed in the car and off we went.


Jordan as an Elder (19) . . . . . . . . . Jordan as a Deacon (12)

Jordan's antics never cease to run out. "Guatemala Here I Come" was the name of this one. I know he'll mature and change in so many ways which will be great, but I hope his silly ways never leave him.

It's hard to believe that my boys are this big. These two have had their ups and downs but their brotherly love and respect for each other is so deep. I know Jordan's mission will bring them even closer togethe. Jake has said multiple times, "I wish I could go on my mission right now too!" Hold on little guy, this mom can only handle one at a time.

And now for my all time favorite picture ever! I tried to kiss Jordan and he straightened up really tall just to bug me and I couldn't reach him. I tried pulling him down and of course didn't have the strength to even make him budge. Then he picked me up, but pulled his head back so I still couldn't reach. We were all cracking up and I gave up.

He let his guard down while laughing, I kissed him on the cheek and this face of his is just priceless to me. So typical of Jordan's faces. I'm going to miss these so much!!!

Elder to Elder

Through this incredible Missionary Mom Email group I have met so many fun moms with Missionaries serving in Guatemala and El Salvador. They have become dear friends even though I haven't met any of them face to face.

Eileen Swenson's son Shawn came home the first week of January from Guatemala City North and they live less than 30 minutes away from us. We arranged for our sons to meet the Saturday before Jordan left. What a great day....to see Elder Swenson so excited from his service and the love for the people there still so fresh in his heart and Jordan so excited to go there and start his own mission. We spent several hours looking at photos and souvenirs that he and his mom brought over. He answered so many of our questions and set our minds at ease of some of the fears. We are so thankful for this new friendship that we were able to receive in our lives. We were blessed with an excitement unlike any we had ever felt for this upcoming mission experience.

Elder Jordan Smith's Farewell

All these years of hearing, "Before you know it, it will be Jordan's farewell" has finally come true. It was a very joyous day at our house. Not sad or tearful, but a true celebration of this momentous occasion in Jordan's life.

He gave a very beautiful talk on the Apostasy of the gospel and the pitfalls of Personal Apostasy in one's life. I was so impressed with his use of the scriptures and his organization of his thoughts. I remember helping him with talks and papers his whole life, but after spending most of the week working on it, he did this one all on his own. My boy has definitely grown up!

What a blessing it was to have so many of his friends and family travel from near and far to support him. The pictures above are just a few of his BYU roommates and friends.

A very proud momma and her missionary son!

As I pondered my feelings of the day, I must say that I was truly sustained by the prayers of all my family and friends. I thought I'd be a blubbering baby all day, but I felt so happy and calm. I am so thankful for the sweet spirit that I felt starting in sacrament meeting. A few things too sacred to share on a public blog, but truly a day I will never forget for so many reasons.

We had a packed house to say the least. We estimate that we had over 150 people come. Somehow we were able to squeeze them all in our house and we had plenty of food for all. I'm so thankful for all my family and friends who so graciously helped with the food. I couldn't have done it without them. I am especially thankful for my mom for helping me with everything for weeks! She worked tirelessly in the kitchen all day, despite it being her birthday. I love you Moms!! Brendan and I spent most of Saturday moving things around to accommodate our family and friends. It's kind of amazing how many people we were able to fit once we de junked a few rooms and had people spread ALL over our main floor and basement.

I love these fun pictures below. The first one is of "Coach Smith" with two of his little 6th grade football stars, Josh and Max. He helped Coach their football team this past year and it was a highlight of his summer! He only wishes he could major in football coaching at BYU because it's become a love in his life. The second photo is of Coach Smith with two wannabe football stars, aka Ocho and Justin. They have been great friends and a source of a lot of fun for Jordan. Three Amigos forever!

This is the only photo that I took of Jordan and Nicole the whole day. I was kind of bummed. It was so crazy and busy, but I think it has a tender feel to it.

Brendan spent a good part of the week before putting this video of Jordan's life to play during the farewell brunch/party. I'm so thankful for all of the hard work that he put into it. It's a treasure that I know I'll be playing over and over during the next two years. It's almost 10 minutes long so it's for Jordan die hard fans only. It was actually 13 minutes long, but You Tube has a 10 min. max. so I had to cut a few things to make it fit.

Jordan is ready. He's prepared.

He's almost all packed.

He's anxious. He's excited.

It's time.

We couldn't be prouder of our missionary son!

Snow in Guatemala

We have the advantage and privilege to have some of my mom's cousins that live in Guatemala City. Jordan hasn't met them. They are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We pray that maybe they live within the mission boundaries and he will be able to visit with them and share his message with them. We will have to wait and see.

In the meantime, she (Jordan's grandma) keeps in touch with them through weekly emails. We learned just this week that Guatemala had snow fall for the first time that anyone can remember. It's not normal there and the homes don't have heaters. The people don't have warm coats and we worry about all the missionaries who may not have much more than their suit coat to keep them warm. Her cousins sent a few photos of a hiking trip that their friends took to the top of a volcano called Tajumulco. It's located in the mountains of San Marcos in the north part of Guatemala near Peten (so I'm told). This is part of Jordan's mission, though I'm not sure the actual area in the photos is a place where the missionaries would be. I though it was so interesting to see the tropical plants covered in snow. It looks like these hikers were a little prepared for the weather, but I know that many of the people there have very meager shelter. Just one more thing to add to my list of worries as a missionary mom, but also just one more thing to trust in the Lord.

The House of the Lord

How blessed and grateful we feel to have a handsome young man who has prepared himself to enter The House of The Lord and to dedicate his life for the next two years to preach His gospel. It seems like yesterday that Brendan and I got married and I went through the temple for the first time. How is it possible that our son is old enough to go for himself?

Jordan picked the JORDAN River Temple in West JORDAN for a big reason. In addition, when he was born at Alta View hospital in Sandy, I remember looking out my hospital window and having a perfect view of this beautiful temple. So fitting that he would choose to go through this temple for his first time.

It was a day that we will never forget. It was so neat to hear everyone call him Elder Smith as we were guided through. It was such a sight to behold to see my oldest son dressed all in white surrounded by so many of our family members. Being the oldest cousin, Jordan's aunts and uncles have been more like his cousins and have all been so instrumental in his growing up. Their examples, love, and support as well as that of his grandparents have all played such a key part in his life.

After the temple Jordan decided that he wanted to go to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Everyone had to get home to babysitters so it was just his Grandma and Grandpa Sanches that were able to join us for dinner, but we had a great time.

Jordan found a special name written on the restaurant brick wall....

Spanish Attempt

Jordan's grandma Angie included a Christmas card she wrote entirely in spanish with his set of new scriptures and a spanish hymnbook. I've heard to record lots of video before your missionary leaves because it's his voice that you'll miss the most. I took this one of Jordan reading his card. His crazy antics never cease.

His grandma and I marvel at how well he can pronounce all the words without much of an accent, but his comprehension is not quite there yet. She has been talking to him a little bit here and there and if she does it really slow, he seems to be able to understand most of it, but of course answers in english. For now he seems to think that if he says an english word really slow and with a spanish accent, it's "spanish enough" to be understood. Cuckoo!! It will be fun to see his spanish skills improve over the next two years, but his crazy ways will never change. I don't know where he comes up with his faces and his silly ways, but his goofiness around the house is what I think I'll miss the most. Here is the video in true "Jordan" fashion. . .