Dropping Kinsie off at the MTC....

We met Mark and Courtney in Provo for lunch first.  Then we all drove over together to the MTC.  Dropped her off at the curb and sneeked in a couple of pictures before they kicked us out and moved us on.  They run a tight ship over there.  I couldn't believe how busy it was with all of these worthy and faithful young men and young women.  Since the change in the missionary ages, the day Kinsie reported, had been the largest ever.  The Lord truly saved the most Valiant for these latter days!

I LOVE this picture!  I call it her "hurry up and kiss me so I can go be a missionary!" face.

Kinsie's "Setting Apart" for her mission

Bro. Gomez (from our bishopric), Pres. Johnson (counselor in the Stake Presidency and a member of our ward), Bishop Watts (Kinsie's Bishop from her YSA Ward), Kinsie, her daddy, President McKay (our Stake President), President Harris (counselor in the Stake Presidency)

President McKay met with Kinsie first to "try to talk her out of this", but I told him good luck! :) He was just teasing....  President McKay set Kinsie apart to be a sister missionary and gave her a sweet blessing.  Afterward, he gave her some great advice, but the one thing that stood out the most in my mind was to be Obedient.  He said that no matter what, even if you think it's a dumb rule or it doesn't make sense to you, just be Obedient!  You will be blessed if you do this. This is one amazing young lady standing among the best men around!

The "Fam" minus Caslyn.  As usual, she had to work.  We're so proud of this girl and grateful for her example.

Logan got asked to the Sweetheart Dance. Cassidee is the daughter of one of Rick's Trooper buddies. We had their family over for dinner one night. Logan and Cassidee hit it off. They started texting and talking on the phone. She asked him by dropping off a puzzle with the sign attached. He started putting it together and it was on our kitchen table for days, so I had to finish it. It's a picture of lots of different fishes in 3D and her name was on the back..

Kinsie's Farewell - January 20th

As you can tell, we had a full house.  Kinsie's farewell talk (putting on the whole armor of God) was awesome and she had a huge support group from friends and family!  She even had roomies from USU, co-workers and friends from high school come and show their support:)

There was no room at the "Inn" so David and Shels had to eat on the floor in the hall.

Soups, salads and desserts!  All delish, thanks to my sweet sisters and my dear friends!

The Bethers

The Evans

My sweet sisters!  I couldn't have pulled this off without them.  They played hostess' while I "relaxed"

The 2 "Besties", Kins and Danielle:)

The Wards

The Turners

Rick actually looks like he's having a great time.  This was before he decided he had too much stimulation and went in the bedroom to hybernate:)

The Garretts

I love my girl!  Hopefully, it's not too obvious that I just had major surgery 10 days ago.

The Mannings

Kinsie's friend, Alex.  They were high school buddies.  What would we do without our friends?

Kins and her"Bestie", Danielle.  Danielle got her mission call to Dominican Republic, spanish speaking.  Leaves in June.

Kinsie, Marissa, McKenzie and Stacy.  Marissa and McKenzie were Kinsie's good friends in High School.  McKenzie and Kin also roomed together at Utah State.  That is where they met Stacy.  She was another one of their roomies.  Stacy went into the MYC the week after Kins.  (She's going to Texas).  They saw each other for a brief moment.  McKenzie got her call to Michigan, Detroit.  Leaves in May or June?  What a bunch of great girls!

The Montgomerys.  We missed getting a picture of them at the openhouse, so we grabbed a pic of them with Kins the next time we were together....at Ashlee's.  Kins wanted her Uncle Trav's smoked brisket one last time before she left.  He's an ol' softy and did it for her:)

New Year's Day - 2013

What happened to the "good 'ol days when cousins played and talked with each other?"  This is what ALL the boys did all day.....cell phones, Ipod, DS, etc.....

Kinsie played the piano while the 3 princesses danced.

Starring.....Reagan, Mylee and Jessica!

For some strange reason that no one in the family has figured out yet, all the little girls LOVE their Uncle Rick.  They are usually found sitting on his lap or as close as they could possibly get.  This time it was Reagan that claimed "the spot."

Robert's family came out for New Year's.  It was great to see them and to spend a little bit of time with them.  They usually stay pretty busy when they come out.  I'm glad they fit us into their agenda!  The Montgomery's passed them along the way somewhere....they went to So. Cal for New Year's.

New Year's Eve

Rick had to work, so it was just the kids and I.  We played games, munched, had our traditional Banana Splits.  Geoff showed up just in time to bring in the New Year with a toast of Martinelli's.

Our newly called missionary.....Sister Kinsie LaRae Shrader

Kinsie and I went to the Bountiful Temple together on Friday mornings.  This morning it was a beautiful day.  Cold and wintery, but beautiful, so we decided to take some missionary pictures around the Temple grounds.