Pure Joy!

Yesterday was a huge day in the life of Elder Ryan Spencer Otis. Elder Otis entered the MTC in Provo surrounded by his cousins and my dear friend and fellow missionary mom, Nancy.

It wasn't easy for his dad and I to put him on the plane alone without us. This is what he wanted months ago when he received his mission call. I knew that eventually he would regret that decision. We had to respect his wishes and did so as bravely as parents separating from a child for two years could. It was really tough.

I knew that we had done the right thing though when he called us from Temple Square in Salt Lake City. Nancy and her dear family had taken him out to lunch in a famous resturant at the top of a building in the city. I'm sure the view of the city was breathtaking. Then the were off to temple square where he called me from. His first breathless words were full of warm fuzzy emotions.

He said, "Mom! We're really here! All the sister missionaries knew I was going to be a missionary tomorrow! It was fun!"

I asked, "So, I was right about Nancy, right? She's a real sweetie!"

"Yeah Mom, she's awesome!"

I could hear his tone soften as he mentioned my dear friends name. All his nervousness had fled about going to a family whom he had no prior relationship with. Just his mom being a missionary mom friends with her. Which he had been sarcastic about on occasion. Now, he was happy to be with them. So happy!

That night her family had a buffet for all who wished to say goodbye to Ryan. His cousins showed up and family called him all evening. Gosh I'm so grateful for dear friends!

Then on Wednesday he was surrounded by his cousins and eternal family once again as he entered the MTC. His sweet married and expecting cousin Nikki Shea pinned his name tag on and gave him a motherly hug that she later told me, was from his mom. How sweet and so thoughtful for her to do this.

Nancy had arranged for Ryan to be presented two letters while he was in the MTC. One was from myself and the other from his father. Two letters telling him how much we love him and how pleased we were for him to be so willing to serve the Lord.

So now we have three missionaries serving the Lord full time. There are no words to describe how full my heart is this week. The only words that comes to mind is Pure JOY!