The first letter...

I am assuming Loren wrote this on his P-Day, which is Thursday. His letter started out with"Dear My Loving Mother"- he goes on to say that he is safe and sound, that the MTC is amazing and that the day(wednesday, his first day) flew by. He said he is happy and has a good companion. He is in a District with some other missionaries going to Houston as well as to Des Moines Iowa. Loren wanted to make sure to tell my Dad that the food there was the best cafeteria food he had ever tasted. He closed by saying that he was not Homesick(thank goodness) and that he loved his family, The Savior and the Gospel.
A short sweet letter.

The MTC

Loren went into the MTC on Wednesday May 13. So my little family-Josh, Rainy, Stellar and I with my My Parents, Lexie and Loren all caravan-ed down to Utah to drop Loren off. We left on Tuesday Morning. After we arrived some of our family friends in Utah watched Stellar, Rainy and Lexie while the adults went to the temple. We went to the Jordan River temple. It was so nice. I loved being in the temple with everybody there. We had a really nice time. So thank you Brian and Candy for watching our children for us. We appreciated it!
Then Wednesday morning came. We all headed down to Provo. Josh and I Josh dropped our kids off at his Aunt Lauri and Uncle Paul's house. They live about 5 minutes away from the MTC. The kids had a great time with them and we were so glad they had a place to go. The children that were at the MTC that morning really seemed to be an interruption. So we were glad we didnt have to worry about that.So Thank thank thank you to them.
The MTC had such a great, upbeat and positive feeling there. Everybody was so happy there. When we arrived Loren dropped off his luggage then we went to go take the usual pictures by the MTC sign and took lots of pictures as we walked around the grounds. Then we headed in the front door where the missionaries go in one side and the family in the other. This is when Loren recieved his tag. Because of Swine flu they wanted to limit the physical contact between everybody. So they limited handshakes and such. At this point we gave hugs and and said our good byes and then we headed to a big room where there was some speakers and a video on the MTC . Then that was it, all the missionaries headed out their designated doors. We all gave a quick hug to Loren before he left, although we probably weren't suppoosed to. The Man who spoke to us was a member of the Presidency of the MTC, he told us to make our goodbyes with our missionary like removing a bandaid-quick. So that is what we did. I was so proud of our family, we had a lot more control over our emotions then I thought we would.Although I wasn't with my parents or Lexie on the ride home. But I have heard of Mother's holding on to the pant leg of their elder as they were leaving, and I know none of us did that, so that is good. I feel bad that I dont have much to say. But it was so short and sweet I that I just don't have much.

The farewell...

Sunday May 10th was Loren's Farewell, and Mother's day, yep a double doozy. But, we all did good. Minimal tears from a family of complete bawl babies. Loren commented on how he took a public speaking class this last semester at school, and I think it really helped. Loren did AWESOME on his talk! I was so proud of him. He spoke on reverence and respect. He shared a few life experiences, one from when he was a deacon and had been goofing off with the other deacons in the ward during the preparation and the passing of the sacrament for a couple of weeks. Until one day when the priests from the ward pulled the deacons aside and told them to pulled together and stressed the importance and sacredness of the sacrament. It had taught him about reverence and respect.As Loren was sharing this story, I couldn't believe that my little brother, my little immature, deacon brother ,was a man now. A man going on a mission.

Loren and I at the party, We look so old.

Immediately afterwards he was set apart as a full time missionary. As he was being set apart the Stake Pres. in the blessing said some really neat things.It was a cool experience, minus Stellar screaming in my ear the whole time.

Loren with his Build-A-Bear missionary, one of his friends in Utah works there and made it for him.

After this we all went to my parents house for a Open House. We had yummy food, and lots of family and friends there. It was really nice to have everybody there, their love and support was definitely felt for Loren. I can't help but mention how neat it was to have my Dad's two best friends there. Randy Braden and Matt Brewster. These men mean a lot to me. They are both great friends to my Dad, both honorable priesthood holders and have been great examples to him, as well as support. In return my Dad has been a tremendous example to my brother, and myself.With my Dad being a convert to the church it is nice to have friends who are there to support him during these special times in our lives.

Randy Braden, My Dad, Matt brewster("Brewster")
Loren and his friend Jake, Jake and Loren went to High School together. Jake drove up to see him, which was very sweet and we were all thankful that he did.(He is going to school to be a massage therapist and gives a great neck rub!;)