Final goodbyes at the MTC.

I think one never really knows what it's like to send off a missionary until they have actually experienced it. I thought I knew what it would be like, but I was not prepared fully for all the feelings I felt.

I want to back up though for a minute. Mickey got up at about 8 am this morning. Got ready, looked gorgeous as always, was singing Hymns beautifully for everyone in the house to hear and packed her bags for the final time before we left. She is so responsible and I really appreciate that quality about her. Mickey's aunt Julie described Mickey last night as capable - and she absolutely is. She has always been a very independent person which has served her well in the circumstances she grew up with. Like us all, the Lord knew what she would go through in life and gave her the qualities and abilities to get through everything she needed to.  She is too! What an example she is to me. To us all.

Cousins: Brae, Mickey, Kai'son, 

Ashlynn, Cam, Jaylie

Gma Wright, Mickey, Gpa Wright

Uncle Spence and Mickey

Aunt Jess, Mickey, Uncle Brad

Anyone who really knows Mickey - knows she LOVES Chick-Fil-A.  So, on our way to the MTC, we stopped for lunch. (actually, we stopped at two. *Note: never go to the Chick-Fil-A in Sandy around lunch time! Holy cow, they had SO many people! They actually had two lanes of cars waiting to get in with probably close to 20 cars deep in each lane! Yikes! We didn't have time to wait for that so we kept heading towards Provo and ended up stopping at the American Fork store. They were SO organized and together, we all commented on how great of service they had - go there instead!)

...anyway...

After getting lunch, we continued our journey to the MTC. It's funny because last night and of this morning, Mickey kept saying, "No tears". I'm not going to cry, my makeup is good."  Well, as soon as we pulled up to the MTC and she saw all the people there, she lost it. Tears started flowing and that is the moment it became "real" for Mickey. To me, it felt like every feeling she felt at that moment was transferred over into my heart. I just wanted to hold her and never let go.  I wanted to be brave for her and take the tears away, but I couldn't. I could maybe comfort her though. Lucky for me, the Lord gave me a tender mercy. There was a small moment where I knew we were on sacred ground. I could feel it and I knew this place I was about to send Mickey into would take care of her. Teach her. Love her. ...even the same as I would.  At the same time, my aunt/momma feelings kicked into high gear and I wanted to put her back in the car and speed off. Of course I couldn't or wouldn't do that, and that's when Mickey grabbed hold of me and gave me one of the tightest hugs I have ever felt from her. As tears streamed down both of our faces, I took in the moment. All of it. I felt like we hugged for 20 minutes. (of course it wasn't!) She gave the same long, tight hug to Uncle Brad and then came back to me for another. I wish I had her "I love you" recorded so I could listen to it everyday, but my mental recording will also do. We met the sister missionary who would escort her into the MTC, took some pictures and hugged some more. I am pretty sure there was a part of Mickey and me that didn't want to part from one another. At the same time, this was the moment we had worked towards for the past year so we knew we would eventually have to walk away from one another. On our final hug, I told her she would be ok and that I was proud of her. Very proud of her and that she would do an amazing job. With that, we hugged a little tighter and then she turned around and walked away. To this moment, I still feel the emotion. I will never forget the look on her face as she hugged me for the last time. Part of me wishes I had never seen that look because that look of concern is the last picture I have of her in my mind. But, I know she will be ok. I felt it and I know the Lord blessed me with that so I wouldn't worry so much. I will - because that's what we do as aunts/moms, right?  I am truly amazed at the amount of sacrifice one makes to be a missionary! Despite the tears, I am extremely happy for Mickey. I have NO reservations or doubt at all that Sister Wright will be an amazing missionary who will use her own experiences to help bring others into the fold. Her faith will get her through the night and any other tough times she may have. At the same time, I am confident that when I see her again in 18 months, this one hard day will have all been worth it. I know because I have also felt the confirmation that she is doing exactly what the Lord wants her to be doing and I feel privileged to have been a witness to the change that has taken place in her own heart so she could do what she did today: willingly walk away from all that she knows and loves in order to serve the Lord who loves her more than anyone. The God that gave her all she has. In gratitude for that, Sister Wright gets to show him just how appreciative she is for ALL of her blessings by giving back to Him. How? By sharing the gospel message and bringing others unto Christ. That is the bravest thing she could do. For those of us that love and will miss her, we are showing our love and unselfishness to the Lord by letting her go. That's the reason I didn't put her back into the car and speed off. It's all about Him. And it's all about her.