Goodbye Elder Landon Evans

Landon has waited his whole life for the day he would leave on his mission.  It's very bitter sweet for his family as we will miss him and Mason dearly but are so excited for their service opprotunity.  

Last weekend as family we let Landon choose all the activities and food we would eat.  He was very thoughtful in the activities he choose. They were activities we have always enjoyed doing together as a family.  Some of the things included hiking, eating hamburgers, going to the temple and attending Stadium of Fire.  

On Tuesday morning he was scheduled to be set apart.  It happened to be the 4th of July and our dear stake president came over in the morning and gave him a beautiful setting apart.  It was a sweet moment for our family as the spirit was strong and Landon officially became Elder Evans. 

After the setting apart we headed towards SLC.  

We had been in a little dilemma the last few days as we were almost finished with the Book of Mormon as a family.  The day before we found we were only 15 chapters left so we decided to have a reading marathon.  With the demands of life we still had 3 chapters to finish when it was time to leave for the airport.  We decide we could still read in the car together and finish on the way to the airport.  What an awesome experience to finish reading the Book of Mormon as a family together right before Landon left for Chile.  

Grandpa Evans has had some health issues lately and was unable to make it down to say good bye to Landon and Mason.  Unfortunately he was admitted to the hospital the night before so we stopped and spent a little bit of time with him and Landon and Mason were able to say good bye!  

It had been a sobering morning for Landon and despite the fact that we were having one of his favorite foods for breakfast he couldn't eat anything.  We had told him he could pick anywhere to go for lunch but he said he wouldn't be able to eat.  I (mom) suggested a smoothie and he liked that idea.  He also wanted to visit Temple Square one last time.  They have two new movies about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon at the visitors center and he had been wanting to see them.   Watching the movie was the perfect nerve calming medicine for Landon and all of us.  It was another testament of the truthfulness of that book and reminded us of all the sacrifices made for this most important book.   

Sure going to miss seeing these two together! 

When we arrived at the airport it was hopping, which surprised us since it happened to the the 4th of July.  There weren't many people leaving but there were sure a lot of missionaries coming home from their 2 years of service.  So the airport was packed of families, posters, and balloons.   We felt a little envy as the reality of the Landon leaving was setting in.  

After checking his bags in we just savored our last few minutes together.
Trying to explain to Gracie where Landon was going was tender.  She sure adores Landon and his sweet, humble demander.

Taking pictures when you have been crying off and on all day isn't very fun when 

you have a child leaving on a mission. 

One of the biggest comforts of sending Landon off was sending him off with two other Elders going to the MTC together and the Chile Santiago East mission.   Elder Myers, Elder Lyold and Elder Evans walked off together for their 17 hour trip down to Santiago.  Instant friends ready to share an adventure together.   Can't wait to hear of their experiences in 

Chile and have them return together in 2 years.   

Go Forth and Serve!