Elder Maxwell

We got back from our Idaho trip on Saturday, and the following day Miles was set apart as a missionary. 

That's President Yost towering behind the Maxwells. :) The tag looks good on Miles! 

The next day, Monday, Miles started his home-MTC experience. It was awesome for Miles - he really loved it. He was happy and engaged. My only critique: he had class from 6-9pm every evening. Boohoo. I was expecting to at least have the evenings to do things with him, but no. So I was pretty bummed about that. But Miles never complained and was just engaged with it all!

In his few minutes of free time here and there, Miles did some painting. He painted two awesome tiny canvas magnets - this one for Melody. She is going to Japan on her mission and is on the same timing as Miles - well starting off at the same time. He made another one, this time with a Mexican theme, for his friend Aiden. Finally, he painted an awesome picture of Brigham for Lucy's birthday present. So cool.

The following Sunday was Miles' "farewell." Both he and Ben spoke and both did an excellent job.

My parents were able to make it out and we had a good time with them here in Montrose - it's been awhile since they've been here! Jim and Diana were able to watch the meeting via Zoom, that was great they were able to catch it, too!

Miles was originally going to go to the Mexico MTC, but due to his Visa not coming in, he was reassigned to the Provo MTC. No hard feelings as Provo is so iconic and just awesome. Plus, Melody was going to be there and so maybe, must maybe, he could hand-deliver his painting (spoiler: he does!).

So Tuesday was his day to fly from Montrose to Denver to SLC. The four of us took him to the airport...

Yep, that's kind of how we all felt. Sadness. But joy, too!

Nice Miles. Our last goodbyes and hugs were pretty rough. Miles held it together, but the rest of us couldn't speak - we were too choked up. Oh it was sad. Tears still fell as we drove away, but now it's all good. Honestly, I think it was harder for me when we dropped him off at college. That was our first, big separation and it was rough. This time was a little easier. I am still sad and miss him and would love him home, but there is no other place I want him to be right now than on a mission serving God. 

I got to Facetime him via Facebook on my lunch break this past Friday. He was doing well and was happy. One of the first people he saw on Wednesday was .... Melody! Crazy. Crazy because there were like 600 new missionaries there that day. Every missionary got to meet with someone from the MTC presidency and Miles lucked out in getting the president's wife, Sister Calderwood. She is from Montrose (which we knew) and so Miles told her where he was from of course, and she was all excited. In a "Get to Know Us" presentation to all the new missionaries, I guess she stated that she was from Montrose, "just like Elder Maxwell." So that was cool!

Miles sent me two pictures:

Godspeed Miles!