A Mission Call

Yesterday was a happy day in our family!  This little boy:

 got his mission call!  Elder Alex James McBride is reporting on May 16th to the Argentina Buenos Aires West Mission!!!  We were all so surprised.  For some reason, we were just sure that he would go somewhere in the States (I would have been totally happy with that).  South America wasn't even on my radar.  The majority of his friends are either gone or already have their calls and they are all really exotic.  So we thought it was probably time for someone to go close to home.

We are thrilled with his call and he is so happy.  We did some studying yesterday and learned that Buenos Aires is more like a European city than a South American City.  It is filled with descendants from Spain, Italy and Germany.  They call it the "Paris of South America".  Alex is really excited because he really wanted to get called to a big city.  We have a lot of stuff ahead of us to do to get him ready to go, but we have 4 months.

We are so proud of Alex.  He is such a loving, sweet spirit.  He will be a great missionary!

Mission Accomplished!

We proudly announce that Elder Taylor McBride has faithfully completed his missionary service and has been released by his Stake President. We are so proud of him and the mission that he served. While there is a bittersweet element to the way his mission was cut short, we are celebrating his success and dedication.

A dear friend of ours told us he looks at Taylor's return much as when a wounded soldier comes home from war. They are celebrated as heroes, given a Purple Heart, and discharged honorably. We feel the same way about Taylor. We know he served with all his heart, might, mind, and strength.

This afternoon he had the opportunity to visit on the phone with his Mission President, who thanked him for his hard work and dedication. Taylor's main concern was that someone should take care of the baptismal dates he had set up for the rest of the month.

Chrissie, and I were privileged to participate with Taylor and President Barker in a bedside mission report and testimony meeting yesterday afternoon. It was a sweet experience to hear Taylor's thoughts on his service, and his witness of the truthfulness of the Gospel. After we closed, President Barker told Taylor that he felt prompted to release Taylor from missionary service, and to begin looking forward to the next phase of his life.

Taylor does feel much sadness that he was unable to finish the way he had planned, and to say goodbye to the people he had served and loved. He left in such a hurry, all he brought home was a backpack with a few of his personal belongings.

We don't really know at this time what the recovery will be like. How long, how difficult, how restrictive. Eventually those things will be determined. Until then, we ask for your continued prayers and faith on Taylor's behalf. We know that through the power of the priesthood, and the prayers and faith of our friends and loved ones, miracles have already occurred. We have hope and great faith that Taylor will make a complete recovery. In fact, we expect it.

Taylor is happy to have visitors. He is still in the ICU, so please call first: Brad 602-418-3135, Chrissie 480-235-5325. (He would still love to get letters - 2869 E. Page Ct., Gilbert, AZ 85234 - or emails to taylormcbride18@gmail.com)

We are proud of our son, and are glad to have him back from the Lord's errand.

Hump Day - One Down & One to Go!

 This is the last time I saw my boy exactly a year ago today.  I can't believe it has been a year.  It is so weird, because in many ways, time as crept so slowly.  It seems like FOREVER since I have seen him.  But then, sometimes I'm thinking - wow, I can't believe it's been a year!  I miss him soooo much, but am so thankful that he is on a mission.  The people of the Dominican Republic are so lucky to have him!  He has been an awesome missionary.  He has been very obedient and focused on what the Lord would have him do.  Brad and I couldn't be any more proud of him than we are!  Taylor is currently serving in the Bávaro/Punta Cana area.  His new companion is Elder Jordan Sunderhaus and Taylor is so excited about that.  He is from Mesa/Red Mountain High School and they have a bunch of friends in common!  Taylor has had a GREAT year and I know that he will have an even better 2nd year.  Our family has been so blessed by his service.  We love and miss you Elder McBride :)

Happy 20th Elder McBride!

Me and Taylor at Fred's Lake in Pinetop

Elder Timmreck & Elder McBride

Taylor's Home/Church in Bávaro/Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Well, this was our first official birthday without our boy :(  Taylor is 20 now!  How weird that I have 2 children in their 20's now.  I sent Taylor a great package and was so glad to hear that he got it!  It was mostly things that are hard for him to get in the DR like a cake mix and frosting, candles, plates - all the birthday fixin's.  I also send candy and a little kit to make animal balloons.  He loved that and said that he is going to make animal balloons for the little kids!  He said that he had a great day.  He has a new companion that is from Mesa.  His name is Jordan Sunderhaus and he went to Red Mountain High School and knows a bunch of Taylor's friends from volleyball.  They are excited to be together and Taylor thinks that they will work well together.

Happy Birthday son!  I still remember so clearly the night you were born.  You weighed almost 10 pounds!  Me and Dad and Emily were so excited to add a little boy to our family. :)  You have been a joy all of your life and I appreciate what a good boy you are.  We love you!

He's Gone

Well, here it is Wednesday, September 23, 2009 and Taylor is gone - he is officially a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the next 2 years! Emily and I (along with Brad on speakerphone) dropped him off at 1:15. It was crazy. We drove in and they directed us to the curb where there were TONS of others being dropped off too. We had a good spot right in front and there were 4 cute little missionaries there to help us. They got out Taylor's bags and talked to us for a few minutes. We hugged him and told him we loved him, took a couple of pictures and then he was gone. I couldn't help crying - and cried more than I had wanted too. The missionaries were really sweet and told us that all of the moms do and that they would take good care of him. It was soooo much harder than I expected. I know that what he is doing is right and I am so incredibly proud of him, but it is very hard to know that I won't see him for 2 whole years. He will be such a fabulous missionary. He is so well-prepared and is so easy-going and likable. I hope he has a wonderful time and I hope that he feels that it is the best 2 years of his life. I have a strong testimony of this gospel and know that he will be taken care of and watched over. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH TAYLOR!

p.s. I am in the motel on Emily's work computer which is a Dell. When I get home, I will edit this post and put all the pictures on. We really got some great ones. I just wanted to jot this all down while it is so fresh in my memory.

These two pictures were taken Monday night after Taylor was set apart to be a missionary.

Saying good bye at the airport

We had fun taking pictures in the morning before we dropped him off!

Saying good bye for 2 whole years :(

I Hope They Call Me on a Mission . . . They Just Did!

On Thursday, June 25, Taylor's mission call came! He was so cute - we were planning on calling family and a few friends when it came, to come over that night so he could open it. However, when I called him at work to tell him it was here, he couldn't stand it. He said he couldn't wait and wanted to open it "right now"! So, we called Emily at work so she could listen on speaker phone. I can't believe how nerve-racking it is. We all guessed places it would be . . . Taylor guessed the Southwestern United States!

and . . .

it's somewhere foreign . . .

somewhere in the Caribbean . . .

Taylor was called to serve in the Dominican Republic Santo Domingo East (Spanish speaking) mission! Wow!!!

Of course we had to start learning everything we could about it! It is the 2nd largest island in the Caribbean and shares an island with Haiti. Santo Domingo is where Christopher Columbus first landed - how cool is that! Also, his mission president is from a tiny town in Chile that Brad served at. They are close in age - I wonder if they were there at the same time.

Isn't it beautiful? Taylor Bradley McBride will report to the MTC on September 23, 2009 - just 5 days after he turnes 19! He will spend 3 weeks training there and then will fly to the D.R. and spend 6 weeks in the MTC in Santo Domingo.

We are all so thrilled for him and are prouder of him than you can imagine!

Missionary Matt

We got to go over to the Mooney's for Matt to open his mission call! There were a lot of people there and a lot of anticipation. He is going to Santiago, Chile and will report on August 5th! We are all so excited because Brad went to Vina del Mar, Chile, and Susie went to Concepcion, Chile! Another thing to remember is that our relative Parley P. Pratt opened up Chile to missionary work. We are so proud of Matt and can't wait until Taylor gets his mission call. They are 6 months apart but Taylor will be able to put his papers in sometime in June. We are all very excited and can't believe that the time has already come for these boys to serve missions!

Welcome Home!

This is my cute niece Jessica Patterson.  She just returned from serving a mission in Chile.  We missed her smiling face and enjoyed reading her inspiring letters while she was gone.  Welcome home Jessica - we love you!