Elder Blake Robert Halvorsen

Blake is officially an Elder, and I'm officially the mom of two missionaries!! It's an exciting time for our family as Blake went into the MTC on Dec. 8th, 2010!

Blake was set apart as an Elder by President Frank Rodarte, Jr. on Friday, Dec. 3rd, at the home of Frank Sr. and Shirley Rodarte, his mom and dad, whom he was setting apart later that evening for THEIR mission to Buckley!! We love the Rodarte family!

We (Blake and Mom) left Dec. 4th and flew to Salt Lake were we met some folks for a session at the Salt Lake Temple! (I had lost my wallet in between getting the rental car and driving to the temple, but it all ended up well!) The session was great and so many wonderful people came to support Blake. Two former elders who had served in our ward, Chris Luke and Nathaneal Read, Helen Babcock-Bingham, Darcy (Smith) Papenfuss, and Rachae Read (Elder Reads mom). It was so beautiful. I had forgotten how amazing the SL Temple was! Temple Square was all lit up for Christmas and we stopped to take a few pictures!

Darcy Papenfuss, Helen Babcock-Bingham, Mom, Elder Blake Halvorsen, Nathaneal Read

Nathaneal Read, Elder Blake Halvorsen

We all went to dinner at Sawadee's in Salt Lake, a great Thai restaurant, where Greg Allen (another former elder who served in our ward) met us and the rest of Darcy's family! It was a great night.

Mac and Rachae Read

Helen Babcock-Bingham and Elder Blake Halvorsen

Chris Luke, Elder Blake Halvorsen, Greg Allen

The Papenfuss Family: Tim, Darcy, Colby and Jordan

We dropped Helen off to her place in Murray and visited with Helen and Loke Bingham and had a wonderful time there! Elder Blake Halvorsen, Helen and Loke Bingham

We then headed to Draper to stay with Brad and Gaylene Halvorsen. Went to church with them the next morning and took some pictures by the Draper Temple!

Elder Blake Halvorsen and Mom

Next, we were off to Orem that afternoon. Stopped to visit another recently returned missionary who had served with Cameron in the Ivory Coast, and then headed to Ron and Denieces for the evening and overnight.

Monday found Blake and I doing some last minute shopping at the Missionary Mall in Orem, going to Wienerschnitzel for a hot dog and heading to Ace and Marilyns for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday, Blake woke up with a queazy stomach and fever. Needless to say, he spent the entire in bed with the flu. Finally around 5, we got the car loaded and headed to Provo to stay with Dave and Denise, where some friends of Blakes from Buckley came over to say a final good-bye. We ordered pizza and they had great time talking.

Wednesday, still feeling a little dizzy and light-headed, Blake managed to get a shower in and get his belongings securely packed in his suitcases. We headed to the Olive Garden with Ron, Dave and Denise, for his last lunch with family and then a 1:00pm report time to the MTC!

We took pictures, talked and then it was time for the "drop-off". I could see the excitement in Blake's eyes and knew he was as ready as he'd ever be for this new journey in his life!! It made me excited for him and easier to say "good-bye" because I knew he was willing and ready to do this! I will miss him, but I know he's in good hands!

I'm excited to get our first email from him! Hopefully sometime today.