Countdown to takeoff...

A new chapter is beginning in the Roddy household.  After 19 years of doing your best to raise children in a way pleasing to God and themselves, the boys have decided to serve missions. While it was something we had always imagined would happen, we made it clear this was a choice they needed to make on their own. And while it was something we hoped they would choose to do, it was by no means required.  Nothing could be worse than a child who is on the path to adulthood, choosing to do something only because they felt pushed, expected, or would disappoint if they did not do it.  How sweet though it was to hear them both talk about the excitement they have to serve, the desire to do good in the world, and the hope to return a bit better.  

So the next step was to get them through the temple. Due to Covid, the boys were only able to select a handful of people to join them inside.  On their own they each came up with the people they wanted to go through with them.  Most of them were leaders who had made the biggest impact on them during their high school years.  This included Bishop Cole, Brother Gooch, and Brother Munns. Brother Williams was wonderful in teaching them about the temple and we were so grateful he was able to join too.  Noah was the only friend able to join them since he was the only one that had previously been through already. And of course Grandma and Grandpa and Grandma Roddy weren't going to miss it.

The Orlando temple!

Entertaining the grandparents while they are in town for the festivities!

Ty educating the two grandmas and grandpa on shower bombs...haha!  Basin was the perfect place for Ty to work, as he got to do it with his best friend Will, he only had to work 2-3 days a week, and there was never a shortage of pretty girls that he had to talk to...haha!   It was the perfect gig for Ty!

Enjoying one last time on the lake with our sweet boys.

Ty's last skimboard run...How I'm going to miss him yelling to me to take him out on the "glass"...

Farewell talks at church:  I loved that some of their high school/swim friends came out to support them too.

One of the last family photos for a while.  Once again my wish to have a professional photo taken in time for the holidays isn't going to happen.  Mark my word the first thing we will be doing once they return home is getting a professional photo taken...

Mexico and Chile are in for a treat! Of course Chile will have to wait a few months before they see Elder Ty Roddy who will be making a quick stop in California as he waits for the boarder of Chile to open.

They are official...Set apart as elders one week apart!  Let the learning of spanish begin.

Under normal circumstances, the day after being set apart, these two boys would be jumping on a plane to their assigned MTC which for both of them was in Mexico City since they are both in Spanish speaking missions.  But unfortunately due to Covid, most MTCs around the world were closed. So instead their MTC experience was home based.  They were still assigned a companion and put into districts but their learning took place over zoom for 8-10 hours a day...definitely not an easy way to learn a foreign language. Admittedly, at first I was really sad for them.  But I knew how much I was going to miss them so knowing I had them home with me for 6 more weeks actually was good for my soul.  Connor really enjoyed his  MTC experience.  He loved his teachers and companion, and his district seemed to really get close. His ability to speak as well as he did by the end was just amazing.  While Ty also loved his companion, his learning experience wasn't quite as good as he found his district a bit less engaged and classes to be a bit more boring which unfortunately affected his ability to learn the language as well.  Of course both of them will do most of their learning in the countries themselves.  We laughed though when we would peek in the office to find Ty with his feet up on the desk and bags of candy and cups of snacks surrounding him.  A sure way to keep himself awake I guess...ha!

A few weeks after the boys started their home MTC, Will and Cade began.  I can hardly wait for the reunion when they all return.

Of course it wouldn't be a true farewell without a party to celebrate.  

And the clock starts now...