IT"S OFFICIAL!!!  He's in the MTC!

Jake was set apart as a missionary last night at our home by our Stake President, Pres. Nielson.  It was a very tender time and Robert, Bob and Alan were all in the circle with Pres. Nielson.  We talked about our missions and how we felt and the Spirit in our home was good.

Today, we dropped him off at the MTC at 1:00.  Bob jumped in our car before we entered the gate and we were guided to a spot at the curb to drop him off.  It really wasn't as bad as we had heard.  There missionaries everywhere, all helping the new guys get their luggage and guide them to where they needed to go.  It was wonderful.  We had a chance to hug and to say a couple of "I love you's" and then he was on his way.  He was a little scared, but he was ready.  I love this picture of him.  It makes my heart feel good.

I really don't know how I feel right now.  I have a mixture of sadness because I'm going to miss the heck out of him, but most of all I feel peace.  I know he's in the right place for him and for all of us, for that matter.  He is leaving our home for two years to serve the Lord.  What more could you want for your son?
I mentioned last night that I feel that it's fitting that he leaves during the Christmas season.  He and I both love Christmas, but for me, it's my only son and I feel kind of like I'm giving him to the Lord. This is going to be one of my favorite Christmas' because having a son serve a mission puts things in to perspective.  I'm reminded what the true meaning of Christmas really is.  
Jake is a pure and tender young man whom I know will return to us having learned the things that will turn him into a man.  He is prepared mentally and physically and emotionally.  He is ready.  The rest of us maybe not so much!
I know Jessi has had a really tough time today, Kayci wants to have free access to the Xbox.  (No, I think she is going to miss him in her own little way!)  Regardless, Jake knows that he is loved, and that all of us are thinking of him and praying for him and we are excited for the countdown to December of 2012!
Until then, I know that he is in God's hands and that is a wonderful place to be.

... and off he goes... Elder Monster Man, I mean, Elder Lynam!

December 13, 2010

What an amazing weekend this has been! Saturday, the 11th, Jessi and Alan got their letter so it's official... we can set a date now! That night was one of the best days of my life. Jessi took out her own endowments and Jake was able to be there. I'll never forget being there with my children... all dressed in white. What a wonderful day! My family was able to be there and so was Bob's along with Alan's sisters and Mom and Grandma Thomas. It was perfect.

The next day was Jake's farewell. He did a great job on his talk. I had no idea what he was speaking on, and I'll be honest, I was a bit nervous. He spoke on overcoming trials, and I was so proud of him. The most wonderful thing about the weekend was how many people came to support him. Besides amazing family who traveled a really long way to be here (Race and Shelly got stuck in a snow storm and had to turn back), friends that have been a part of Jake's life for years came to support him. Robert's family is always so good to be there for my kids; Carolee Tate, Steve and Tara Sansom, his trek Ma and Pa; his young men's leaders, his friends from Layton, and on and on. Jake remarked on how "awesome" it was to have everyone right there, under the same roof. I couldn't have agreed more.




After Sacrament meeting, we had a luncheon at the house. It was packed! There was really, standing room only. I love it like that! It was so fun to visit with everyone! It did catch me a little off guard, though, to have that many people all at the same time. Luckily Sheri took over and got things out and started doing all the things that needed to be done. Thank heaven for family!

Today we spent ironing white shirts... ALOT! Jake would iron one and give it to me to pass the "Mom test"! I'd either fold it and put it in his luggage or give it back to try another attempt. We watched "The Best Two Years" and talked about missionary work... and packed. We packed socks into every corner of luggage and books to make the weight even out. We talked about passports and medication and journal writing and penmanship and thank you notes and any other bit of "mom advice" I may have forgotten in the last 19 years. We bought gym shoes and he paid off his truck, "Mater". and then we packed some more... and I reminded him to brush his teeth every night and morning... and to write home once a week. We found camera chargers and P day clothes (Oh dear...) and then patched the jeans that he "really" likes. We talked about the Book of Mormon and testimonies and the importance of working hard, even if your companion doesn't want to. We talked about faith and the importance of the Spirit in your life... and Q tips. We practiced hanging up nice slacks and laundry... and giving your shoes a chance to dry out. We packed flip flops to wear in the shower at the MTC and a shaving kit, with 3 whole razors! (That'll last him awhile!) We talked about weighing your luggage and mailing stuff home. We made sure all of his clothes are marked with "RJL" and we hugged each other for no reason.

It was a really good day.

December 1, 2010:  THE "TIE ON PARTY" at Young Mens!

Jake had his "tie on party" tonight.  That's where everyone gives him a tie and, hence the name, ties it on him!  He had a great time and he has some really great friends and leaders!  I don't think he'll be bringing all the ties he got out in the field... a few were kind of scarey!  It was a great going away party... and I'm sure we'll find good use for the ties left behind!

November 30, 2010

Tomorrow is December... and Wednesday.  Two weeks until Jake leaves.  14 days.  I know this is why we raise our children in the gospel.  I'm so grateful for the decisions that he is making.  I just had no idea how hard this would be.  And it's Christmas... what better way to celebrate the birth of our Savior than to send a son on a mission, and for Jake to serve Him.  I'm trying to be strong, but my heart just hurts.

I'm not loving Thanksgiving this year.  It marks the 21 days until Jake leaves.  Three weeks from today.  It really hit me as I was cleaning house this morning and as soon as he came in the kitchen I gave him a huge hug.  I showed him the count down on the calendar and he said, "Sweet!"

I'm trying to be positive and upbeat and all the other "sunshine stuff" you're supposed to do as a mom.  But for now, my heart hurts.  I know so many people who have done this, and so many more yet to come, but today it's me, and I'm sad.  I'm just a tad selfish here as well.  I will miss Jake's sense of humor.  He always makes us laugh.  He says the funniest, off the wall things and makes the craziest off the wall noises and gestures.  The house is really going to be quiet.

It will be hard sharing him for two years with the people of Washington, but they will be better for having known my son.  He is a gift.  And for that I really am thankful.

November 23, 2010

Good news:  Bob and Jake were trying to get a session in at the St. George temple Monday. 
Bad news:  The biggest snowstorm of the year so far!

Long story short:  they spent the night in Richfield because the roads were closed, then they drove by the St. George temple, took a picture and headed back home.  I think Jake gets an "A" for effort on this one!  Bob, too!

November 10, 2010
Jake was Ryley's escort to the Oquirrh Mountain temple!  Talk about great moments in your child's life!  Jake was so excited that Elder Ry Ry asked him to be his escort to take out his own endowments.  They both did great and it was a wonderful night.  Ryley's cousin is going to South Carolina two weeks after Jake goes into the MTC so he was there as well.
Maybe all those late night talks in between "halo parties" with friends have paid off!  I guess some of what we teach our kids really does stick there somewhere in their brains.
I'm still not sure how to take a comment about a certain person being, "hot".  I guess the church is true... otherwise there is no way in the world we could send our boys out for two years and have them return as men.  (well, as much as boys ever become "men"!!!)  It was another great night in the mission prep life of Elder Jake Man!

This time... VERNAL!  Last Thursday Jake went to the Vernal temple.  Robert and Jessi did sales calls while Jake got a session in.  He said it was a "cool" temple, remodeled and full of history.  We did learn to call ahead and check for times that the sessions start! 

November 3, 2010
Another temple!  YEAH!  This one was great Jake and I went to the Salt Lake Temple today!
We got there a little late for the 2:00 session so we had lunch at the cafeteria and went to the 3:00.  I'd forgotten how beautiful the temple was, so much attention to detail. 
On the way out of the Celestial Room, we stopped and talked to a couple... they were the temple President and Matron.  Jake asked him some questions and introduced himself.  It was really fun.  I can't believe that we have "ran" into temple presidents like we have with Jake.  I can't remember ever meeting the president of the temple, except for Victor L. Brown. 

After the session, we went to the visitors center and walked around.   It was so interesting to see the diorama of the Salt Lake Temple after we had just been inside.  I thought the Celestial Room was higher up than it is... I had no idea that entire assembly room was above us.  It was great for Jake to point out what rooms were what and he recognized them all.  It was alot of fun.

I'm super proud of my missionary son... this "temple trek" idea has been a bigger undertaking than I had anticipated, but it's been a great time for all of us to help Jake out.  Tomorrow he's off to Vernal with Robert and Jessica.  They are going to drop him off while they go do sales calls.  (Darn, I guess I'll miss that one!)

By the way, Jake... How far away is that bride?   ABOUT 3 YEARS!!!!!

October 30, 2010
Happy Halloween from Elder "Chick Magnet" Lynam!

October 29, 2010

Happy 19th birthday Jake!

He started out his birthday in a great way by going to a session at the Manti temple with his dad.  Jake said it's his favorite so far and he loved the different rooms.
It really is a beautiful temple and it's so fun for him to be able to visit such a wonderful landmark.

October 27, 2010
We're checking off the "to do's" for sure now!  Yesterday was full of dentist appts, Dr. appts, a trip to the DMV for a drving record and a renewal of the passport.  Whew!  (Cha-Ching)
It's been fun to spend time with Jake doing all of this, but I really can't believe how much has to go into it!

Today I'm getting some rest by being at work!

I had to put this picture in here because I made up a medicine information sheet for him.  It's kind of lame, but it shows what to take for what and how much.  He just never gets sick, or has a headache... so hopefully he doesn't over-dose on Tylenol or something while he's out there!  Actually, I'm sure the mission mom will help him with stuff like that, but I'm hoping he is able to do alot of stuff on his own.  (With a bit of "mom training"!)

October 22, 2010

Jake and I have decided to visit every temple in the State of Utah before he leaves!  We thought it sounded fun and I didn't think much of it until we found this "temple passport" at Deseret Book.  I picked one up and we started looking through it.  WOW!  We've got some trips ahead of us!  Jake thinks Bob might want to visit a couple of them with him and maybe Ryley and him can visit a couple as well!

By the way... Ryley got his call!  He's going to Brisbane Australia!  We're so excited for him.  Jake and I got to be there when he opened his call!  He was so cute... I'll miss my Elder Ry Ry.

 

The temple of the day was Jordan River!  We ran down there after work and when we got into the temple we were one of the very few people who weren't Tongan.  We got to sit in the chapel and listen to Tongan hymns and then we did the session with head phones in English.  It was so cool.  Jake and I talked in the Celestial room about the Church being so diverse and world-wide even in our own area.  It was great for Jake to be able to see how other languages are offered in the temple.  It was a "very awesome adventure"!

Jordan River temple!  October 22, 2010

October 19, 2010

Our checklist continues... today was immunizations!  WOW!  What a slacker mom I am in the immunization department.  After a multitude of shots, he is now free to jump around on rusty nails, breathe deeply in the faces of runny nosed children and other free-coughing individuals. 

The pediatrician was great about telling Jake how to take good care of himself and to begin his life as an adult.  It was a great discussion and I was very impressed.  I have a "first aid" kit in mind, but I think I'll throw in a little tutorial about what to take for the stuff like, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fever.

I think the best thing about the day for Jake was that this was the LAST day he would ever have to have medical care in a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs room!

We actually started the day really great.  Jake and I got up and did a session at the OMT.  We were the witness couple and it was so nice.  Jake was a little worried that people would think he was married to an old lady, but I think he managed OK.  He did really good having it be only the second time he has been to the temple and we ran into the lady that helped me with initiatories as well as quite a few people who found out he was going to Everett Washington.  Claudia Lignell was there and I talked to her for awhile about working once a week after I lose a couple of kid this fall.  We're looking into Kayci being able to volunteer there as well.

 Here's a couple more of Jake in front of "His" temple.  The view is beautiful and we're super spoiled with having a temple closer than our Stake Center and the fact that we can see 3 others from the front of this one!

October 16, 2010

Today Jake took out his endowments at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  Bob was Jake's escort and we got there at 5:45p.m.  I did initiatories while Bob and Jake met with the temple president, President Christiansen.  It was a wonderful meeting.  Pres. Christiansen pulled Jake up to him and sat knee to knee. He told Jake that he had been a mission president before and had a true gift of discernment.  He said he felt inspired to tell Jake that he very rarely meets an Elder who is as pure as Jake, with a heart of goodness.  He promised Jake that if he would obey the rules, that he would return home safely.  He told Jake that if he were to have come to his mission, that he would have made him an Assistant to the President right then.
Bob told him later thanks for the kind words, and President Christiansen said, "Those weren't kind words."  He had told Jake some very inspired truths.

October 18, 2010

Well here we go... it's official!  Jake was called to serve in the Washington Everett Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  He got his call on the 13th and we went to the temple on the 16th.  It's been a whirlwind week, but we're all very excited.

The day that he got his call, we knew he would probably be getting it.  The Bishop had e-mailed us and let us know that it was on it's way and "the word on the street" is that calls come on Wednesdays.  So, Wednesday morning we called the post office.  Sure enough, it was there.  We drove down there and they had held it for us.  I swear that thing was burning a hole in our pockets until we could meet at Robert's office to open it.

So, we all meet at the office... Robert, me, Bob, Jessi, Alan, Kayci and Jake.  After a quick lesson on letter openers... EVERETT WASHINGTON...  GET A MAP!

The rest of the day was really fun.  Jake and I got in the car and drove to Provo... thinking we were going to go the the "Missionary Emporium".  (I guess they don't have those anymore.)  We went to The Missionary Mall and our sales guy had gone to Ireland on his mission.  Jake told him that was where he wanted to go.  The guy told Jake that he didn't get to teach even one discussion on his mission.  That really changed Jake's mind about Europe.  He started thinking that Washington wasn't that bad after all.  (Not that he ever thought it was bad... the first thing he said to me was, "I want to go wherever the Lord needs me to serve." ... he's such a stud!)

The next thing we did was drive to the MTC.  Since the whole H1N1 thing, missionaries familes aren't allowed in the MTC to drop them off.  They just kind of "tuck and roll" at the curb while you slow down.  We had a chance to go into the reception area and we talked about where you eat and where the dorms are.  I told him which building I was in and where the lessons are taught and stuff like that.  We saw some missionaries walking by and we had a chance to talk about districts and how that works.  It was a great time at the MTC!

I'm not sure how I'm feeling right now.  It's kind of a mixture of excitement, sadness, happiness, worry and proudness... all at the same time.  I find myself crying at little things while laughing and smiling at others.  My heart is so full that words really aren't working very well for me.

We talked for a long time about testimonies and teaching the gospel.  I told him how I felt like an Amway saleman on some sick Ground Hog Day while I was on my mission at times.  We talked about mission rules and obedience with exactness.  I told him that I felt so lost and alone at times on my mission... times when I had my companion right there with me, but still felt alone.  Although my heart aches to think of him going through those experiences, I know that he will be a better man because of them.

My mind kept going to the floor in front of the refrigerator in the "pink house" in Layton.  I would have a picture of a Book of Mormon person on the fridge.  I would try to talk about that person as much as I could for a month.  I'm not even sure if the kids remember that, but I thought about sitting on the floor and talking to Jake about the Stripling Warriors.  As a mother, I feel those women are kindred spirits, sending out your son with only the knowledge of what they have been taught by you.  Have I done enough?  Was I the type of mother that I should have been?  Can my son truly say that he was "taught by his mother"?

What I can say with all of my heart is that my children know they were loved.  I know with a surety that Jake can say that he was loved... always.  Since he was old enough to walk, he would take me by the hand in the morning and, without saying a word, he would walk me into his room and to the rocking chair.  And we would rock...  When he came home from school, he would find me and then go out and play.  He did that every day until he graduated from high school.

I'm so grateful for that time.  It just seems such a small moment in time, and I suppose in the great realm of things, it is.

For now, we're preparing for him to greet the people of Washington state.  There are shots to get and things to buy, but there is a new spirit in our home... and the promise I have that wherever he goes, we will always be looking at the same moon.