https://www.dropbox.com/sc/yg5wcxpg10mm6mf/CyPrIL6KrsThe "day" was finally here...the letter was here!
What a great feeling as a parent!  Seeing the excitement of your child, and also the apprehension...knowing that this is supposed to be right where the Lord wants you to be.  Am I going to be leaving the U.S.?  Will I be speaking a foreign language...will I be somewhere with hot and running water!  Lol

 Jake's girlfriend at the time, Natalie Felix was there when he opened the call.  It was interesting to see her try and be just as excited as Jacob, knowing that he was going to be leaving.  She looked like I felt on the inside...I was already missing him!

Well, I couldn't decide, since Jacob's been gone since July 10th, if I should start at the beginning, blogging 5 months into this journey... or just start from where he is now.  I decided that I just wanted to share everything with you, but I will probably try and do current things and work my way back when I can, as this has been one of the best experiences of my life, too.  Sending Jacob out to serve was soooo much harder than I thought it would be.  I've truly missed him a great deal.  But, as I read his letters and look at his pictures, I can see the change and the growth and I know how much Heavenly Father is blessing him.

Now that Jacob knew where he was going and how long he had til he needed to report to the MTC (July 10th), things could keep rolling along.  So, while Jacob prepared to leave, he finished up his 2nd Semester of classes @ Utah Valley University (he had a scholarship there).  He spent time with family and friends in all types of situations...One of my favorites, however, was an outing Jacob took with Doug on the golf course.

And, there was the 4th of July when we got to see Kelly Clarkson, live, in concert at the Stadium of Fire.