1st P-day = 1st Email

We received our first email today from Scott! 

 We are so happy to hear he's doing so well!  

"Hey!

Everything is SUPER GREAT here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm loving it and I'm having a ton of fun!!!!!!!!!!! I'm actually starting to learn the language pretty well which is super exciting!!!!!! Yesterday Elder Seegmiller and I had a 30 minute long conversation all in Spanish!!!! We had to look up a few words but 95% of it was in Spanish!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've also already taught 3 lessons in Spanish to our Investigator Jeff. The first one was rough but the second one got better and we actually felt the spirit. But the one we taught yesterday morning was so good!!!!!!! We actually understood what Jeff was saying back to us and we actually answered his questions and he understood us!!!!!!  and it lasted 30 minutes!!!!!! And the spirit was so strong!!!!!!!!! It was cool because it made me realize how amazing nuestro padre celestial (our father in heaven) is. He can understand any language and the spirit can reside in anyone that allows it too and is living a good life trying to do better!!!!!!! 

I went to the temple this morning and did Inititories. It was cool I've never done that before except for my own. It was really cool to hear all the blessings of the temple over and over again it was a good reassurance of the importance of the Temple and how amazing the blessings are from living a good life and keeping the temple covenants. Hopefully everything is going good at home and remember that this Gospel is an amazing gospel and it brings so much joy and happiness to everyone's lives!!!!!!! And I love you all so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And even though you're only 10 minutes away I miss you all so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 -Scott"

First Letter Home....

We were so excited to receive a letter today in the mail! 

We weren't sure when Scott would be able to contact us and we thought we'd get an email but instead got a letter which was such a surprise!

Here's what our Elder had to say...

June 23, 2012

"!Hola!                                                                                                                      

       Hey everybody!!!! Sorry I normally can't write letters until Thursday (my p-day) but my branch president told us to write you so you know we're not dead. Well, I'm alive!!! But I don't have much time so I'll answer all the rest of your questions on Thursday.  

      Anyways, mi companero es Elder Tukia (ha ha!  See I'm already starting to learn Spanish!!).  He's originally from Tonga but he's lived in Spanish Fork the past 2 years.  He's pretty cool!!! And he's pretty dang funny!!! My district consists of 12 people (6 companionships). They're all SUPER COOL!!! 5 of us are going to Panama -- Elder Tukia included!!! Yeah, my friend from SUU (Elder Seegmiller) is in my district.  He's actually one of my roommates!!! Man, it's pretty packed in our room.  We have 6 elders in there but it is fun!!!

       So anyways, I haven't met or seen President Monson yet but I know he's here. {They are having a mission presidents conference right now at the MTC so the First Presidency and some of the general authorities are rumored to be there. :)} I'm 90% sure he's speaking on Sunday so that's pretty dang crazy!!!!!!!!!!! 

       I've seen a bunch of people I know here!!! My roommates from SUU, other friends from SUU, my friends from high school (Ethan was actually the first person I saw!!!! I saw him like 5 minutes after I got here!!!) and I saw Brandon.  Oh and I know like half of the workers here.  It's pretty nuts!!! Elder Tukia always tells me I know too many people. :)  

       Well, I hope everything is going well back at home!!!  Oh wait, I almost forgot!!!  We had to teach our first lesson in Spanish this morning!!! it was super hard but really cool because even though I've only been here 2 1/2 days, I can kind of teach a lesson in Spanish!!!!! Aw man, it's super fun here and I'm having a great time learning Spanish, learning more of the gospel, and meeting new people!!! 

       Anyways, hopefully you guys are doing well!!!!! I miss you already but just remember la iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los Ultimos dias es verdadero y bendize familias mucho!!! Yo se que Dios es reloj mi y mi familia! Yo Ama usted y todos! En el nombre de Jesucristo, amen. {Translated: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and families are blessed much! I know God is watching over me and my family! I Love you all! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."}

Love you!!!"

Till We Meet Again...

For those who don't know, when you take your missionary to the MTC, you unload the car and a missionary is there to help take his luggage in and show him where to go.  

You don't go with him.  

You say goodbye, see you later, bye-bye at the curb!

I pictured in my mind that this would be an overly emotional awful experience.  

Luckily, it wasn't.

This is taken on the corner of the MTC.  If you look at the street signs, it says, "MTC Entrance".  They no longer have the sign on the wall outside so this was the only "sign" we could get a picture with.

The day Scott reported, there were about 570 new missionaries reporting that day.  There are normally about 250.  Normally families get to spend about 10 minutes saying their goodbyes but because of the amount of new missionaries coming that day,

we had a whole 2 1/2 minutes!  

This is why I was SO thankful we spend so much time together earlier in the day!

Basically, we drove up and were directed to where we needed to go, got out together, gave Scott one last hug, and he walked away into the MTC ready to get started on his mission.

And that was that.

It was hard to see him go but he was so ready so that made it a little easier.

Don't get me wrong, there were tears (and lots of them!) but we were all happy.

It's hard to explain.

It's kinda like when you rip a bandaid off.

It hurts but it's quick.

We were sad to see him go but we all knew he was doing what he needed to do.

I know for me, it was an incredible experience knowing that my son was going to be doing a great work and he was so willing to do it.  

I felt a peace come over me and I just knew.

Tears still come and I'm sure they will often throughout these next two years, but

  I do know he's where he needs to be.

Till we meet again...

We love you Elder Houghton!!!

Family Time Before Reporting

I will be forever grateful that we took some time the last few days before Scott had to report to the MTC for some family time.  

Sunday night after everything calmed down, we went outside to just spend some quiet time together. 

Cole played the guitar, Max played the ukulele, and the kids sang and laughed together.

It was perfect!

I'm grateful for evenings like this!  

Monday evening, we were able to escape up Provo Canyon to Canyon View Park for an uninterrupted evening free of phones, t.v., and people.  We had a great time just being together.

The things these four talk about!  Yeah, Cole's face sums it up!  Hilarious!

We witnessed a miracle...Jake brought his dog, Oskar, and Emma actually walked him AND pet him!  I know, right?  And she even had a smile on her face!

Good times!

Tuesday evening, after Scott was set apart as a full-time missionary, he had to follow missionary rules (he couldn't be alone, no t.v., etc.)  so after dinner (we had Scott's favorites -- chicken casserole and lime yogurt pie) the kids decided to play the Guessing Game.

The first round was Book of Mormon names, then they used Church leaders, and the third round was hymns.  I'm always amazed that children of so many different age groups can get along so well.  They always have fun together.  I love it!

Scott chose a doozy for Jake...In case you can't read it, it says, "Strippling Warrior #1067!"  Good one, Scott!  :)

Wednesday morning, we took our time and had a big breakfast together.  Then we got ready and just enjoyed each other until it was time to leave for the MTC.

Scott polished off the last piece of yogurt pie.

There was a lot of this...

and some of this...

And this was awesome! (I finally got Jake playing the piano and you can even kinda hear him sing! Actually, that might be Cole singing.)

We then packed up the car and headed over to walk around the Provo Temple grounds.

This was a good thing to be able to spend this last bit of time together!

I am so thankful that we were able to relax and spend quiet, uninterrupted time together before actually taking him to the MTC!

Officially a Full-time Missionary

On the evening of Tuesday, June 19th, we (Scott's immediate family and grandparents) met at the Stake Center to set Scott apart as a full-time missionary.  

It was a spiritual and emotional night.  

We are so blessed to have such an amazing Stake Presidency!  They shared a few words with us and explained the importance of full-time missionaries. President Bell told us that the stake has been keeping track of all the full-time missions served in the stake by putting a pin on a big map in the Stake offices.  They've been doing this for about 15 years and Scott is the first missionary in our stake that has been called to Panama.  That was kind of a neat thing. 

Then President Bell, Bishop Allen, Lee, Jake, and Papa Peterson set him apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It was a beautiful evening!

President Bell, Elder Houghton, and Bishop Allen

One last family picture for two years...

Packing

How does one go about packing for two years?

I have to admit, I kept having this nagging feeling that we are forgetting something.

(I hate that feeling!)

One comforting feeling is that he is going to the MTC just across town before he heads to Panama so if we did forget something, it would be easy to get it to him.

I can't believe it all fit into two suitcases and a carry-on 

with room to spare! 

We started laying things out on the table and it multiplied to double what you see!  (Except the True Jackson VP book.  Those are Emma's. :)  )

White shirts washed and ironed.

Getting the suit cases ready.

Yeah, we got a little crazy towards the end of the evening!

Family Sunday Get-together

After Scott's talk in Sacrament Meeting, he said his goodbye's to friends at the church then he came home to a family get-together.

Just about everyone in his extended families were there so it was a good time to visit with them.

Without his family, it would have been difficult to go on his mission. 

 Their love and support was incredible and we are so thankful for all they have done for him!

Scott when he got to the house after Sacrament Meeting.  It was a difficult day for him.  It was all becoming "real" to him once he said goodbye to his friends.  He was excited to serve a mission but sad to have to say goodbye. 

Emma.  :)

Afterwards we finally managed to get a family picture.  Emma and Max had already changed and Emma doesn't look too happy!

"Farewell" Talk

Scott gave his "farewell" talk in church on Father's Day  -- June 17th.

He asked Bishop Purcell to speak with him and the Bishopric asked Soli Purcell Jr. to be the youth speaker.

  All the talks were perfect!

  It was such a great Sacrament Meeting and the spirit was so strong. 

Listening to Scott give his talk confirmed my thought that he would be a great missionary.

 His personality shined through and he gave an excellent talk on faith.  

The people of Panama are going to be drawn to him because of his strong spirit and fun-loving personality.  Bishop Purcell mentioned in his talk that Scott's smile would draw people to him.  I couldn't agree more! 

 He's going to love the people and

I know the people will love him!

Below is a lot of pictures taken after Sacrament meeting with mostly his friends.  Thank you to Alexis Bosco and Bronte Campbell for the pictures.  (I kinda stole them off their facebook!)

Scott with friends

Scott with his high school girl friends and Allen's thumb covering Cole.

Scott with some of his high school friends.

Scott with some of his SUU friends

Scott and Kyla 

Wahoos a.k.a. Allen, Cole and Scott. Don't ask.

Scott with friend, Bronte

Scott with friend, Alexis