Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Opening the envelopes!

My husband has twin little brothers, named Preston and Tanner. When I started dating Paul, these little bros were 8 years old and had just gotten baptized. Well, today, some life-changing envelopes came from Salt Lake City. These envelopes contained special letters signed by the Prophet himself, President Thomas S. Monson. We all gathered together at Mom and Dad's tonight to watch them open their mission calls. This is how Rhyll set up the envelopes. She's good at making things look extra special! This is a statue of two missionaries riding bikes, though it's hard to see in the picture.

We had to wait around for a while until everyone got there. We're usually waiting for someone around this family... and often, it's Dad! It was Dad again tonight. I've never actually been with someone when they've opened their mission call, so I was tingling with excitement. Preston went first. He'll be serving in the Sao Paolo North mission in Brazil, speaking Portuguese (of course). Here's a picture of him with his call. I love that Canon is peeking around his shoulder. Canon will be 8 years old when P & T get back home and will have just gotten baptized. CRAZY!!!

Then Tanner opened his, and after pulling out every single paper in the big envelope, he finally found the actual letter. He will be serving in the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil mission, also speaking Portuguese. Both he and Preston will be leaving on July 8th, flying straight to the Mission Training Center in Brazil. I think it's great that they will both be serving in the same country, speaking the same language, flying away on the same flight to enter the MTC together. Here's Tanner with his call... I think he was talking to his cousin Ethan at the time.

I'm very proud of these two young men. They give me hope for being able to raise righteous young men in today's world. I can't believe I've been part of the family long enough to watch them grow up this much. Andy is going to be 8 this summer, the same age the twins were when I met them. It's making me tear up just a bit in thinking how fast my own boys are going to grow up and fly away! It's amazing and terrifying at the same time.

Congratulations Pres & Tan. We're very excited for you both.

7 comments:

andrea said...

i just got the texts! how exciting! i have to admit...i am going to feel like such a loner this summer. all the boys will be gone!! but i think it is so neat that the Lord has placed them in the same general area. they truly are joined at the hip :) how exciting!!!!!!!!

Tara McCausland said...

Thanks for posting that Diana. I was sad to miss the party last night. YW's responsibilities called though. Very exciting stuff.

CP-HENRIE said...

Wow! I have enjoyed reading all your posts. I have to tell you Darren and I taught primary together and Preston and Tanner were both in our class. I am excieted for both of them what a wonderful call. Time does fly by way to fast. Take care

Molly said...

Yay for missionaries! My baby brother just got home a few weeks ago! My oldest Bro. went to Brazil too, and Kory's bro too.

Loralee Choate said...

Holy cow. They were EIGHT when we married into the family! Gah!!! I cannot believe the twins have gotten that old already.

Dude.

I feel ancient.

Mandy said...

Send congrats from all of us. It is crazy to think that that much time has passed.....I am so excited for them! Such fun!!!

Rachelle@atticgals.blogspot.com said...

How great. I often wonder what it will be like to have my twins both go on missions at the same time. How exciting that they are both going to the same country and speaking the same language. I hope my twins get their calls at the same time so they can open them together.