GOOD BYE for 18 months!

Why are Good Bye's so hard!

Today started out bright and early at our home. Lauren will be away from the home she grew up in for the next 18 months. Why does that seem so long! We ate breakfast together; creamed eggs, a family favorite. Of course Lauren's food was served on the "You are Special Today" plate as we always do on a special day in our home. Traditions are big in the Neeleman home.

This morning was a little exciting, scary and very stressful.  As we were walking out the door for the airport Lauren couldn't find her new Cole Han/Nike Air mission shoes.  I researched the types of shoes that are the best for comfort and durability, these were the best. I sucked it up, paid the price and bought them. She has worn them the last couple of weeks and agreed these were amazing. Unfortunately, they never turned up! Hopefully they will! At this point we just had to leave for the airport! Let's face it she has some other shoes in her bag, just not the BEST ones. She may roll into the MTC and be mistaken by Imilda Marcos as it is!!

We drove to the SLC airport everyone with a lump in our throats! We tried to offer any words of encouragement, but we all were feeling like we could burst into tears at any point!

 Rachel went online and ordered these "Eternity Bands" for all the sisters to wear to remind them of each other while Lauren is gone! She is so thoughtful.

Good Bye Lauren! Brazil is lucky to have you! But they don't get you for 1 minute longer than 18 months! We love you, we will miss you and we will always pray for you; for your safety, success and hour happiness!

THE BEST PART OF TODAY!!!!
Last night in the middle of the night I woke Steve up and told him to go to Walmart and buy a phone card to send Lauren with. He thought I was crazy but said he would do it in the morning. When Lauren got to Atlanta I received a call from a random Atlanta phone number! It was "Sister Lauren"!

She said, "mom, I just had the best flight of my life! I sat next to a lady from Hong Kong." Lauren and a lot of things to talk about and in common with this lady since Lauren had been to Hong Kong. The lady said to Lauren, You look so happy, you are just glowing. Where are you going and why? How long? This opened a whole conversation about the church and why she would leave her family she loved and not even be home for Christmas. The lady was shocked. She said to Lauren, "I need to hear more about your Church. How can that happen." Lauren reached into her bag and pulled out a pass-a-long card that I threw in there at the last minute. She circled the phone number on the card and handed the card to the lady. She told her that they would send her a FREE book of Mormon and a Video and someone would come to her house to teach her! The lady was thrilled and told her she was going to add Lauren to facebook. Her parting words as she got off the flight was, "I have a layover here in Atlanta and I am going to go call this number."

LET THE MISSION WORK BEGIN!!!!

OFF TO BRAZIL….