Farewell, Christian

Amy started a new blog for Christian documenting his mission, and is doing a beautiful job. She has great posts, and you can check it out at http://www.elderloveridge.blogspot.com/.

I had a few things to add. We spend a lot of time together as a family. At least some of us are together probably 4 or 5 days a week. But with Christian leaving on his mission, I think I at least saw him every single day for the last three or more weeks. Crazy! We are really going to miss him.

This is just before he was set apart with his Stake Presidency and bishop. I could hardly believe what a BEAUTIFUL blessing he received as he was set apart. It was specific and custom-made for him. It was an amazing experience to be there.

With the new MTC drop-off rule, you can only have ONE car drop him off at the curb, and NO family goes inside the MTC. So, we had a breakfast buffet at Tiffany's home in the morning, and then those who could drove to Provo, and we met at a nearby church parking lot so we could see him off once again.

As my parents drove him the last two blocks to the MTC, we all stood in a long line and waved goodbye, and just as Christian drove past, he stuck his head out the window, threw his fist in the air, and yelled, "Hurrah for Israel!" What a cool brother!

As we waited for Mom and Dad to come back and report, I asked the kids what they were going to miss most about Christian. Andrew said, "playing games, like Sardines." Ashley said, "leadership." Adam said, "him just being there." They LOVE their Uncle Christian!




Mom and Dad said the MTC was short and HARD, and sweet. They pulled up and a couple of dozen missionaries greeted them as they unloaded his luggage. Mom described them as just "BEAMING." Dad said he was glad that they didn't have to go inside because that would have torn him apart. He said it was hard enough as it was.

Later that afternoon, we went to Brick Oven for lunch, and as I sat there with Dad, he said he was thinking that if Christian had been born sooner after the other children (he's 8 years after my youngest sister) that he would be graduating from graduate school about now. I said, "yeah, but isn't it sweet to have this experience of sending a missionary off this late in your life?" He then got a bit emotional, and said, "Christian is like an encore. You go to the performance, and you think it's over, and then, they play an encore, and it's like they saved the best for last." Coming from a musician, I thought that was a beautiful analogy. He really is like a wonderful "addendum" to our family, and we simply wouldn't be complete without him. LOVE YOU CHRISTIAN!!!
Bethany waves goodbye: