Austins Farewell

To continue with our intense weekend, the next day at 9 am was Austins mission farewell.  I was geared up for very little crying, and nearly accomplished it by holding my great niece through most of the sacrament meeting.  Distraction is the best cure for crying, that and laughing, which would have been inappropriate considering we were in a quiet meeting.  Austin did great with his talk.  He tried not to look at me because for some silly reason that made him cry, so he looked to the right and to the left and I played with cute little Joselyn.  It didn't work well, but we made it through.  Austin spoke about service, and how he anticipates doing a lot of service on his mission.  He related the story of his Dads accident when people gave us so much to help us through, even someone who gave us $5000 cash so that we could pay our bills.  He also spoke of using your talents and skills to give service and told of the experience he had when he and Ephriam saved the kids life that wrecked on his motorcycle.  It was such a great talk!  No wonder he had so many tears, he related such tender experiences, but it was very effective in bringing the spirit. 
After Sacrament meeting we all came home and filled our house to capacity.  Our family was the first to eat because most of them had to travel back up to Idaho and we all visited, ate, and wrote down encouragement and wishes for Austin before they all hit the road.  ALL of Austins friends came over after sacrament meeting and we had a great time with them too.  We had hoagie sandwiches and salads and I just kept refilling everything until about six o'clock that night when friends started to slow down and we could sit quietly again.  It was a wonderful day, and I was completely exhausted, but happy. 

I made these cute little missionary cookies for his farewell luncheon and forgot
to put them out, so I sent them to all the missionaries in the MTC that I knew.  Ha ha ha!! 

Austin is in his happy place, for sure. 

Lots of friends,

and family,

and both sets of Grandparents,

and more friends,

and cousin Kora.

Even the downstairs was full! 

Tanner Jones and KC Gubler,

Three of the four brothers doing what they do best,   (What a great shot of
Doug and his brothers!)

Cousins, and siblings, big and little. 

A final farewell to Grandma and Grandpa Beutler as they were leaving to go home. 

Catrina Terry and Meg Hutchings for one last shot. 

(R to L)  Tanner Jones, Kora, Uncle Troy, Aunt Vickie, Uncle Chet, Aunt Bernie,
and the infamous JOHN JONES!  (We just love that guy!)  ha ha!

Baby Joselyn, who saved me during sacrament meeting. 

Austin with Uncle Kerry (the youngest brother)  and Aunt Joylyn.