Middle aged plus one. Happy 51 to me...

Well it went as quick as it came...that is my 50th year in this world.  Officially I feel like I am truly on the downhill path which is scary and sad at the same time.  It's no secret my 2nd greatest fear is dying.  (My first being losing a family member.)  I don't know if it's because I worry how it will happen or because I can't imagine being without my family, even if it is just temporary.  I do know that each year is going by faster than the prior and I don't like that one bit.  

In keeping with a tradition...well, maybe not a tradition since this is only our second year doing it, Jack and I decided to spend my birthday exploring somewhere closer to home. Last year we did the Florida Keys and Miami and this year we did Naples.  This trip was a quicker trip because Jack had to be on a flight back to Utah on Sunday for meetings but we made the best of the time we had!

While Jack had been to Naples a long time ago for business, I had never been.  I can see why people love it and I can see why it would be such a great place to retire.  It has all the amenities of any big city but within a few short blocks it also has the charm of a very exclusive community with a city center with higher end stores and restaurants in addition to beautiful beaches a few short blocks away.  What I was especially drawn to were the beautiful homes that were conveniently located around the upscale shopping and yet were also steps away from the beautiful beaches.  We saw everything from massive estates to modern bungalows but all displayed beautifully manicured yards and while they were not hidden within gated communities, they felt safe and had a feel of being away from it all.  It reminded me of some of the neighborhoods we've seen around Beverly Hills.  

So here are a few highlights! 

The Naples Pier

Thai for dinner!  

We literally booked our hotel 10 minutes before arrival.  I wasn't sure where we'd want to be and after seeing that the Ritz was going for $1,000 a night I couldn't help but think of all the better ways to use that money so we ended up at the Naples Grande Beach Resort.  By beach resort we learned after checking in it meant taking that long boardwalk above to the beach...haha. But the room was large, clean, and contemporary and we always love a room with a view!

The next day we returned to the pier as it was a much sunnier day which always makes for prettier water.  We also enjoyed strolling down 5th ave and peaking in some of the nice art galleries.

As we made our way home we followed the coast up to Sanibel Island. It was fun driving through some of the beach communities. Along the highway just outside Ft. Meyers we saw all these cars parked.  There were so many we had to pull off to see what could possibly draw such a crowd.  After a five minute walk through the Florida jungle, it became very clear why there were so many cars.  It was a dog beach!  Dogs were everywhere. It was so cute to see all these happy dogs of all types and sizes playing in the water with other dogs and their owners.  We for sure want to bring Nova back to Bonita Beach dog park!  This photo doesn't do it justice as to how big the beach was and how many dogs were there!  So goodbye fifty...hello fifty-one!

Happy Anniversary to these two love birds!

September 1st marked fifty-four years for these two!  So blessed to have them as my parents.  And how nice Jack was their to capture this cute photo of the two of them.

S is for Sophmore!

Can hardly believe this beautiful girl is a 10th grader!  Here she is on her first day of her sophomore school year at Windermere High, which also turned out to be her first day of seminary as indicated from the fact it's still dark outside!  Let's just say I'll be very excited when the day comes that she can drive herself at 5:20 am... haha!

Airport Goodbyes...

More bitter...less sweet. And is it terrible that I'm already counting down until their safe return?!?  Connor left first on July 20, 2021. After we said our goodbyes Jack got the smart idea to go up to the mezzanine level where we could watch Connor from above as he went through security.  He had no idea we were watching him because we were unable to get his attention but it gave us just a few more minutes to quietly watch him from above. 

His itinerary had him traveling to Atlanta first before arriving in Mexico City where he would be able to meet up with a couple other elders from his MTC district including Elder Carbajal who would also be continuing on to Oaxaca with him and Elder Earl his MTC companion who would be traveling onto a different mission in Mexico.  I was so glad I had sent him with his phone even though he wouldn't be able to keep it once he arrived in the mission because at least I was able to keep in contact with him as he made his way to Mexico.  Yes, I'm that mom...

Watching these two embrace about did me in.  I think the longest they've been apart from each other is one night.  

Meeting up with others from his district!

Ty followed the following week on July 27, 2021. While saying goodbye to Ty was equally as difficult, I found some comfort knowing that since he had been temporarily reassigned to the Santa Rosa, California mission,  life wouldn't be so different for him the way it would be for Connor.  Remaining on American soil meant clean drinking water, hot showers, air conditioning, food he was use to, a car...  All things that many of us take for granted and Connor would not have.

Since Ty flew out of a different terminal we were unable to go to the upper mezzanine to watch him as he went through security, but I loved watching him every 10 ft. or turn around to look for us and throw both of his fists up in the air like he was Rocky.  He continued to do it until he was completely out of our sight.

I honestly don't know how I'm going to make it until June of 2023...I'm sure going to miss these boys.

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...