The day before you fly...August 4, 2021

Luggage heading out...

Wednesday, August 4, 2021 started out like most days around here. I got up and went for a walk, Tyler was busy working, and Brooklyn was still asleep. Elder Garcia brought his suitcases upstairs so we could go through them and just make sure that everything was accounted for and what bonus items he could make happen. It will be two whole years afterall and I am not sure what he will have as options when he is in Africa. 

It was wild doing this all over again. I swear we just did it. And I guess technically we did. Sister Garcia has been out now for 6 months and that really is not a long time ago. But as we went through and added a few things (some jeans, extra tee shirts, some extra shoes and Pday shorts) and took away some things (extra journals, books, etc) I found myself a little overwhelmed. I had such a twinge in my heart knowing just how REAL this is all quickly happening. I knew that this time tomorrow he would be on a plane with his final destination of Africa. But...I didn't have time to dwell on me and my Mom madness. We actually ended up needing to run to the local Kohl's to grab a bigger suitcase for item #2 to check. The one we had originally ordered didn't actually work out so off to the races. When we got to Kohl's there was literally just one hard sided suitcase left so we grabbed it and headed back to finish up. 

Luggage was packed, messenger bag was finalized, we ran to the bank, took care of a few things as far as what he needed printed off, and then Elder Garcia headed downstairs to finish working on his room and getting things boxed up. He has a queen size bed and I didn't want to downsize him but it just doesn't really fit well in the room he is in so my hope is that I can find it in me to want to re-do the room he has while he is gone and get a bed that fits (probably just a full size one) and make it feel more comfortable rather than so squished. I will keep his bed and dresser for him so he has one when he comes home and moves out but it just doesn't work in the room he is in. 

We decided to do one final American night out for dinner down at the local Wingers. Brooklyn has been avoiding being around home most of today and I know she is just trying to protect her heart. As much as she loves being with her friends I know today has been tricky for her. 

Wingers is always a 'win' if you ask me. You start out with a bowl of popcorn on the table and your server for the most part is always rather on top of your drinks. Brooklyn and Elder Garcia were happy to sit side by side and there wasn't even any sort of bickering like they normally have when we go out to eat. These two are, and always have been, like oil and water. They are polar opposites and clash on just about everything. Brooklyn is open, upfront, and will call you out on just about anything and everything. Elder Garcia is quiet, closed off, and would rather just walk away than get into any sort of confrontation or argument. But tonight, they got along and even smiled when I took out my phone for a picture. I think we all took longer to eat tonight than normal too because we weren't quite ready to go home and have the heavy of the reality sink in that this was really our very last night with Elder Garcia in our home for two years. Heck, in AMERICA for two years! So we sat and we visited, we watched some of the Olympics happening on the various television sets in the restaurant and just soaked in as much time as we could together.

Once we got home, Elder Garcia worked on getting a final load of laundry done, finished packing up a few last items, and then got ready for bed. He and I had a little bit of time to sit and visit outside of my bedroom on the deck and just talk. We were able to talk about how he was feeling and some of his thoughts overall about what was happening. I was able to share a little of my testimony with him and let him know how proud I am of him and the choice he has made to be a missionary. I shared some of my concerns and my apprehensions. I let him know how scared I was to know that he would be outside of our home and the USA for two years. (It is hard as a Mom to say those things when you know that you have zero control on what choices your adult children make!) I also begged him to please put the focus of the next two years on the Lord and not on the worldy things such as this girl he is so concerned about. I tried to convey that I k now with every ounce of who I am, that the Lord has amazing blessings in store for him and that He is waiting to know that He can trust Elder Garcia to grant those. Just as he was ready to reply, we were interrupted by the sweet pounding of feet from the Miller family. :) And that was okay too. Maybe it was just what needed to happen so that the last words he would remember is his Mom letting him know that he has potential to be the greatest missionary to ever go to Africa and that I am so dang proud of him!

Elder Garcia, McKynlee, Dresden, Jurni, and Boston

The Millers are such great friends and have really become more of family than anything. They have always been in our corner and have been such huge supporters of all the things that happen inside the walls of our home. These kids have become like siblings to Brooklyn which in turn has made them wiggle their way right into the hearts of the rest of us. As I took this picture tonight I couldn't help but wonder what it will look like when Elder Garcia is home. We will definitely need to re-create this. I imagine the legs of the littles will grow, the faces will mature, teeth will grow back (Dresden), and I wonder if the smiles will be as big? I'm looking forward to the day that I will get to hold them side by side for sure.
 

Jason and Akaela Miller

Jason ran the kids home to shower and get ready for bed and as Tyler and I talked to Elder Garcia about what to expect as he traveled and when he arrived in Africa, there was a knock on the door. Jason and Akaela were there! Akaela wasn't able to come up with the kids (they had extra littles they were taking care of) but she wanted to be sure she was able to come see Elder Garcia off and wish him well. 

Having this visit and getting ready for bed really set in just how REAL tomorrow is. Tomorrow we take this young man to the airport. And tomorrow this young man gets on an airplane and flies to freaking AFRICA!!! I always knew that the day would come that I would have to do this but when he opened up his call in February it felt like forever away. But for now,  I am going to climb into bed and I am going to do what I can to sleep and not worry. I am going to prepare for the biggest day of his life thus far. My heart aches and yet in the same breath, I am so excited for him I cannot simply stand it!

Here's to one last night at home. I love you Elder Garcia,

Mom