Cole and Mindy Smith: They're GONE!

That's it! The 3 years has officially started! We spent a week and a half in Utah sending of my parents on their long awaited 3 year stint as mission presidents! We are SO proud of them. Seriously. I could not be more proud of them. They are so wonderful, and are going to be so amazing. They are in the Germany, Alpine- German speaking mission. The mission home is located in Munich, Germany and their mission covers the western part of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. They are going to be so busy, and we are so excited for them to finally get started so that they can get home already! ;) We had a great week and a half with them. Well, they weren't with us for all that time, but we were able to spend some time. We got to Utah on Wednesday night late- and Court and Rock had just finished unloading all of their trucks earlier because they have moved into the big house for the 3 years! We're so glad for them. They are perfect to take care of everything while my parents are gone.
   So Thursday, we unpacked the house and tried to get some of the rest of my parents stuff packed up! We worked extra hard trying to get everything done because we were supposed to have people over for dinner that night! Well, needless to say, that didn't happen. There was FAR to much to do to make it looking remotely presentable to have people over- so we abandoned the plan of having people over that night! We got lots done though. The reason we were having people over was because my baby sister Rachel went through the temple to receive her endowment! We were SO proud of her, and are so grateful that we were able to be there with her on this special day. She did wonderfully and we are grateful that she made such a marvelous decision to do such. It was amazing to be there in the temple with my whole family! What a pay day for my parents to be there with all 5 of their children! It goes to show what amazing mission presidents they will be. They are amazing parents, so they will be wonderful examples to all of their lucky missionaries. Anyways....after the temple, we were able to go to Robintino's (a family favorite- well, at least a favorite of my dad's!) and have dinner. It was lots of fun.
    Friday a great friend of our family- Hannah Davidson- was married to her sweetheart and it was wonderful to be able to go to that. We did the reception that night, and in-between everything, unpacked and unpacked and unpacked some more! We were busy little beavers- I tell you what!
       Saturday, we were able to go golfing with all of the extended Miles family for the annual Miles Family Golf Tournament! We had SOOOOO much fun! Seriously. I was able to golf on a team with Cole, Tyler, my mom (who unfortunately had a hurt foot so she couldn't golf) and both my Grandma and Grandpa! I was alright with the fact that I was the worst golfer on the team. At least I can admit it right?! We had an absolute blast. It was so much fun to be with everyone. My wonderful cousin Melissa watched almost all of the kids for us while we golfed, and the kids had a great time at her house! Thanks Meliss so much for doing that for us! We owe you one...for sure! After the golf tourney (which by the way we did NOT win...BOO) we headed over to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a big BBQ! This was the first time in I can't remember HOW long that almost all of the Miles family has been together! Even Mike and Sandy Perry (my aunt and uncle that live in Colorado) were able to come up and my cousin Alli and her family and Justin and his family came too! It was SOOO much fun to be together. We were only missing my cousin Adi (who lives in Seattle) and my cousin Mike that is on his mission in Arizona! It was so much fun. We all had so much fun. It was wonderful to be together.
    Sunday was the big day! Farewell Day. My uncle and aunt Rich and Gloria Irion have also been called to serve as mission presidents in the Knoxville Tennessee mission and they had their farewell at 10:50 that morning so we went to that and they did a FABULOUS job! We are so excited for them. As soon as they finished, we jetted out of there to head up to my parents whose meeting started at 1:00 p.m. By the time we arrived at their church, it was raining harder than I had EVER seen it rain in my entire life! Seriously! It was SO crazy! So, everyone that was running into the church looked like drowned rats! But we all got in there, and my parents gave the most amazing talks ever! They are so wonderful, and are going to be amazing. After the farewells, everyone (well, certainly not EVERYONE! I have NEVER seen so many people in my life at a church building at once! Someone that came in said it perfectly..."Woah, is it stake conference? How come there are so many people here?!") Anyways...after the meeting, people headed up to my parents house and it was SO jam packed! Again, there were so many people there! Not only were there people in the front rooms, but it seemed like there were people in EVERY room in the house! It was nice to see everyone, and see how many people love my parents. WE certainly do!
   We had a fun Nelson Family birthday party on monday filled with Lots of tears all around with all of the saying goodbye. My parents, the Irions and also the Ringwoods (Mike is in the 1st quorum of the 70 and has been called to preside over an area in Japan for the next few years) all are leaving for various areas of the world and so everyone was giving their last goodbyes. It was so sad. It would be SUPER SUPER hard to say goodbye to everyone if we didn't know and believe in the cause for which they have been called away. The church really is amazing, and I am so grateful to be a part of it!
   Tuesday was filled with more packing, and partying and then Wednesday, my parents packed their bags and headed for the MTC where they spent the next 5 days learning all they need to know (right!) about being mission presidents. They met some amazing people, and learned some amazing things (we hear!) and were SO ready to get going! They were able to come home on Sunday night, and we had a wonderful "last supper" together. Court and I cooked the meal, but it just wasn't the same as when my mom cooks it. :( Our timing was ALL sorts of off, but luckily we had her there to give us subtle and gentle reminders of when things needed to be started, finished, etc. My Grandma and Grandpa Miles were able to come up and visit for a while too- which was so nice. That was SO hard to watch them say goodbye to their son for 3 years. But it's because of the wonderful parents that they are that my Dad is even ON a mission right now. They are amazing as well.
Wednesday finally came. The dreaded day. We spend all of the day packing and talking and getting ready to send them off. Around 1 hit, and we were starting to get a bit frenzied! My parents bags weren't fully packed yet, and they needed to leave in just a few short hours! So, we all hustled and bustled around the house and got them all ready- including Rachel who left on the same plane as them to go to France to study music for a whole month! Lucky girl. Anyways...we got them all ready to go, and said our sad goodbyes at the house. It sure is hard to say goodbye to someone that is so important to you for 3 whole years! At least it's not like a normal mission where you can't communicate at all! We've already heard from them a few times and chatted with them on gChat once. That was fun! So, it's not like they are out of our lives. We still love to hear from them, and are growing closer to them all the time. We love them and are so glad that they are serving a mission. They are the best examples ever to our children and we can't wait to hear more of their experiences as they have them.
It was a very emotional trip. It was hard, fun, exciting, sad, emotional, terrible, wonderful, great all at the same time. So...let the good times roll! The 3 years have officially started!

The line of Carts on the way to the first hole!

Sorry...these are out of order, but this is the Miles parents (my grandma and grandpa) and their 4 children and spouses.

They are seriously all the best...this is my favorite picture EVER! Even Grandpa is smiling!

The whole clan- minus just a few that weren't there! It's been a LONG time!

The entire golfin crew.

Cutest Grandma and Grandpa

My cutest ever sissies:)

Broseph B=money

The extreme tournament puter-together-er. Way to go T! We had SO much fun! Here he is relaxin after everythign went off without a hitch!

Chels and Millie were the designated picture takers/drink ladies ! They were too scared to golf thinking that we were all amazing golfers! After the tournament, they changed their minds and decided that they can for SURE golf next year! ;)

Unca Clowk

My cute dad and his beautiful sister Marsh

Best team E V E R! Seriously. I feel bad for all those not on our team.

In her 80's- still rockin the course. She seriously is awesome! And she ROCKS at putting!

Mother-Son??? Uhh...yeah. I think so.

I even got to ride in the same cart as my sweetheart! I love him. :)

Pre-game stretchin out. Every time.

I absolutely LOVE this picture! It was taken at our family party. My dad adores his grandkids, and it's going to be hard for him to be gone from them for 3 years. My mother adores them too- of course!

Here are all 7 grandkids minutes before my parents walked out the door to go to the MTC. It was a Christmas MIRACLE that they all sat and were not only all looking at the camera, but they are all SMILING! The church is true.