Elder Mason Paxman is Off to Chile . . .

We drove from Missouri to Utah to spend time with Mason before he left for his mission and then drove him up to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.  It was a sad and happy day.  Honestly, I think it was a whole lot more sad than happy for me.  I was so worried about sending him on a mission to a place I knew nothing about.  New language, new culture, new foods, new climate.  It was all so very overwhelming for me and also appeared to be overwhelming for Mason which made it even more difficult.  I was strong because he was strong.  I am so blessed to be his mom and oftentimes wonder why I was so lucky.  Mason had some fantastic friends who all attended his farewell.  Most of them sat on the first two rows of the chapel, and many more were scattered throughout.  Even his baseball coaches showed up to support him.  What a tremendous amount of love was in the room.  My mom and dad were able to come down from Bountiful.  That was so nice to have them show their support for Mason.  The Strehlow's who have been a second family to him since we moved to St. George in 2001 agreed to open up their home in order to have an Open House after his farewell.  I am so grateful for the love and support they have shown to him for the past 12 years and for their willingness to help us out by letting us use their home.  

After we took Mason to the MTC, we took Juan through Phoenix to visit his mom.  He spent the night with her.  They went to a movie and to dinner and shopped for a few clothing items for him.  He was also able to spend time with his brother, Eric.  He enjoyed seeing them, but he was sad to go.  He worries so much for his mom and saw that her diabetes is truly taking a toll on her.  It was a trip full of happy times and sad times and hellos and good-byes.  We spent 6 days of the 9 driving which was very difficult for us and later took a toll on Dave as he developed blood clots which spread to his lungs in April.  We almost lost him.  That was a scary time.  We are so happy that he is doing well now and for modern technology/medicine that kept him alive.  He had to be life flighted from the Rolla, MO hospital to a hospital in St. Louis.  He stayed in that hospital for three days.  When he returned from the hospital, Tanner came to him with a card that he signed and then proceeded to sign for me, Zack and Juan.  He said that he signed it for me because I was with him at the hospital, and that he signed for Zack and Juan because he knew they wouldn't but that he knew they loved him.  Then he gave Dave a huge hug and said, "I'm so glad you're home, Dad.  I didn't want to miss you like I miss Duke".  Sweetest thing ever!!!!  Are you kidding me!!!!  (Duke is our dog whom we had to put to sleep about a year and a half ago.  He was Tanner's best friend). 

Hotel Room in Denver, Colorado!  Halfway there!

Huge springtime snow storm in Colorado which required us to purchase chains and made Dave very cold putting them on.  Even still, they shut down a portion of I-70 which added about four hours to our trip.  We were determined to get to Utah so that we could see Mason.  No turning back!!!

Open house after Mason's farewell in the Strehlow's garage with all of his fantastic friends!

Mom and Mason

Mom, Mason and Dad

Ciera and Seth

Grandpa Cable and Ciera

Qualyn, Kiersten and Ayden

Casey and Zack.  Best Friends happy to be together again!

Sheryl, Tyler and Ammon Strehlow with Mason

Mason and Tyler - best friends for 12 years!

Bonus Dad, Mason and Mom

Mason and Tayler Strehlow

We got to spend time with our daughter, Cashaye and this beautiful granddaughter at Vernon Worthen Park

The boys got to go swimming at the SHAC in St. George  (Juan)

Tanner

Casey, Zack, Juan, Tanner

Mason and Zack spent the night together one last time . . . Mason is Zack's hero.

More fun times - Miniature Golf at Fiesta Fun (Tanner)

Juan

Dave

Me - (Chantel)

They delayed having Mason set apart as an Elder because the ward basketball team made it to the final game in Regionals.  Mason really wanted to play, and the team really needed him.  As a gift to him before he went on his mission, they pulled it off!!!  Such a fun and exciting game!!  Mason was so happy.

Another fantastic friend - Brody Adams.  Brody was very emotional saying good-bye to Mason

Bishop Godfrey and Mason

Mason gets a little sleep on the way to the Missionary Training Center

Lunch at the Brick Oven in Provo before we drop off Mason at the MTC

Mason's step-sister, Makayla got to go to lunch with us.

Even Grandpa Cable got to come up to see Mason off

Saying good-byes at the Provo Temple before we drop Mason off at our designated time at the MTC

The two girls who will miss him the most and write him the most

This is it . . . Missionary Training Center. 

I did not want to let go!!!!

Hasta Luego, Mijo!! Vaya con Dios!

Dave got to celebrate his birthday in Utah.  56 years young!  He gets more handsome every day.

Zack swimming in the pool at the Sheraton in Phoenix, AZ

A little catch time with a new friend we met at the pool at the Sheraton in Phoenix, AZ

Handsome Dave watching the boys play catch

Cabo and Chantel (me) at the Sheraton in Phoenix, AZ.  A dog friendly hotel!!!  Yea!!!!

Amarillo, TX  Getting closer to home

Things really are bigger in Texas

Almost home!!