Happy Birthday!!

My sweet Missionary had his "19th" birthday on July 4th in Michigan this year.  I was a wreck on this day!  Is he having a good birthday? Is he happy?  Is he safe?  A mother's worries!!  When we got our email from him he said they had a pretty good day.  He went to a parade & they were supposed to see fireworks that night but they were too late shooting off.  Canada & Michigan have competitions every year who has the best fireworks.  But a missionary has to be in at a certain time.  McKay did say he had a guy throw a fire cracker at him & burned one of his shirts.  WHAT???  no mom it was good!!!  Well if you say so!!  Glad my sweet boy had a good birthday away from home.  I thought of him all day during our 4th of July celebrations.  

I can't believe that he is 19 & he is serving a mission in Michigan.  I am so very proud of this boy of mine!! 

Happy Birthday McKay (Elder Turley)

My Missionary is off to serve!

June 17, 2015

I think this may be the hardest or one of the hardest days of my life.  We headed up to Utah on Monday of that week to take McKay to the MTC.  Rick told me I was crazy wanting to do this.  He just wanted to put him on a plane.  I wanted this for me!

We stayed with Rick's brother Scott & his sweet family.  It was a little hairy with McKay & trying to keep him busy & mind off things.  The 1st night there Rick was like I need to tell you something, uh what???  McKay is having a hard time.  Is he re-thinking this??? No not at all.  We got McKay in our room & he somewhat broke down.  He said he's just nervous for the unexpected of the MTC.  We said remember the Temple & the feelings you had?  He said Dang you Satan leave me alone!!! I knew Satan was powerful but dang!  Poor McKay.  Well the next night he just layed on the stairs & was like "i feel like a girl! why am I so emotional?"  Well the day came & needed to get him to the MTC so he got pictures with the Turley's & us.  (Cute side note.  Jace & Ty made all kinds of paper hearts swords ninja stars you name it all for McKay to remember them by!  Such sweet little boys!)

Off to the MTC.  I'm not gonna lie!  That was a hard drive for me.  I had seen how worried McKay was & knew this was it.  So I opted for the back seat to hide the tears from him leaving.  What a special drive this was though.   When we got through those gates of the MTC I could honestly feel the spirit in the car.  A spirit of a special missionary heading to do the work he has waited almost 19 years to do.  We get to the drop off & McKay jumps out of the car gets his suit coat on & says "Come on mom give me my hug I gotta go!!"  Wait a minute I need some time hugging you!!!  The Elder helping was so sweet & said "take your time & let me take some pictures of your family if you would like"  Nope not McKay he was ready to go!!  Satan was left outside those gates for sure!!

Yes this was a hard day for sure.  But seeing what feelings McKay had leading up to heading to the MTC I know he is where he is supposed to be!!  I will miss this kid! 

One day me & McKay took my mom to the valley & McKay is super funny with what we listened to on the radio.  This song came on & I'm like ugh!!! this song uhg!!  But then I listened to some of the words.

This is how I feel:

 It's been a long day without you, my friend

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began

Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again

I will see you again!!  I can't wait to hear all the fun stories or even that hard times you have.  I love my sweet missionary!! 

Michigan is lucky to have you!!

Farewell & setting apart

The day came for the farewell & getting set apart.  It was a great day but an emotional day for sure.  McKay's farewell was so good.  He gave a great talk for sure.  Not just because I'm the mom haha i know he did great.  After the farewell we had family & friends to the house for a luncheon.  That was alot of fun.  Lot's of family & some good friends of McKay's came to support him.  I didn't get picutres of everyone but here is what I did get.

McKay thinks the world of these boys.  He can't wait to see in 2 years how different they look.

 Kayla wanted in the picture too haha

McKay & his good friend Gabe (won't see each other for 3 years) 

 Smith Family!  I stole this from Meagan's Instagram.  She wrote "Michigan is lucky to get McKay!"  That is so sweet!!  Cute family!!

 Yes this was super duper hard to have to pack this kid up.  Between the luncheon & setting apart we HAD to pack :(

 Great examples right here for sure.  Nothing better than awesome grandparents that support a missionary!

 Not just cousins but great friends for sure.  Jaden left on July 29th for Texas Houston Mission.   Great missionaries right here!!

After McKay was set apart Barr thought it would be funny to get a hug from Jessica.  Barr told McKay that he would "take care of her!" haha McKay didn't think that was too funny!!

 This picture is way too funny!!  Before & after hahaha

I truly dreaded the night he would be set apart.  I knew I had to talk then I see how many people came! UHG!  I just told McKay that like the poem says

"Missionary (noun)

someone who leaves their families for a short time, so others may be with their families for eternity!"

I know it will be hard for him to leave but I wouldn't want him anywhere else!  I told him how proud not just us but his Heavenly Father are so proud of him.  I will miss this kid of mine but it's only 2 years.  

Family time!

Before McKay was to go into the MTC we decided to have a day of fun!  We borrowed these kayaks from Wendy & headed up to Willow Springs.  Wowee when we got there it was PACKED!  So then Rick & Cache have to start griping hahaha "too many people, this is dumb plus it's raining"  Dang men!!  We decided why not just stay to have some fun.  McKay invited Jessica & them & Barr headed out on the kayaks to play.  We didn't stay very long cause it started lightning so we told the kids to get out of the water.  It's always fun to make memories no matter what we do :) 

Enjoyed my family!

 Is he just the cutest!! (Rick is cute too haha) Talking about that sweet baby!!

AZ Rattlers

Oh my heck if you want to have a good time go to a Rattlers game!

We told McKay for his graduation present he could either go to a Diamondbacks game or we even said try a Rattlers game we hear they are fun.  Well he doesn't like baseball & he's been to a Diamondbacks game before.  He was like i think I want to try the Rattlers.  We told him he could take Jessica but had to have a double date! (Turley rules) no going alone!  Barr couldn't find a date & Tessa (Jessica's sister) couldn't find a date.  McKay was getting frustrated so i just offered that me & Rick would go with them.  He was like fine but you can't sit by us hahahaha.  We got us some tickets & headed down.

This arena football is the most fun I think I have had in a LONG time!! It was WILD!!  They are shooting of fireworks & all kinds of pyrotechnics at the beginning!!  Scared me at 1st but then I got used to it (until they do it every time the Rattlers scored)  At the beginning they have a guy on a Harley ride in & the Suns Gorilla in a Rattlers uniform come in.  The fans are hilarious, they really get into this football.  It is a fast moving game for sure!  McKay & Jessica had awesome seats.  They were supposed to be on the end where the players run in but a man & a young boy took their seats & McKay didn't want to be a jerk & say those aren't your seats.  He said all the people around them were so funny.  When the other team would get ready for kick off the fans would yell "you suck" so the players would turn around & act all cocky haha.  

Glad that we were the double date that night :)

Happy Birthday

This boy turned 17 on June 11th

WHAT???  Where has the time gone! I can't believe that in 2 years this kid will be on a mission & leaving me an empty nester :(

This boy has been a light in our family!  He's a quiet boy but he's starting to open back up.

When Barr was little he was a character!!  My family would always ask, "where did you get this kid?"

Barr was a super funny kid.  He had an imaginary friend, his name was "Boy" he went to pre-pre school at Grandpa & Grandma Willis' house.  It wasn't fair that Alyssa & McKay got to go to school & not him.  His school consisted of him his "Boy" & the man teacher (Grandpa).  He would get his backpack on every morning & head on over.  There he would have breakfast (toaster strudel) then he would watch cartoons & then come home.  One day he said "mom my boy got me in trouble & the man teacher put me in timeout"  What?  So I called over there.  My dad was like no hahahaha he was a perfect kid today.  Barr & his imagination!!!

He has always been a fun kid to be around!!  Glad I am your mom!

Happy Birthday!!

OUCH!!

Yes this is GROSS!!!  I freaked out the morning this happened.  Glad that Rick was at home and not at work.  I couldn't have helped Barr with this!! He was at work one morning & Myers was cutting some roofing & told Barr this blade is sharp. Next thing that happens is Barr is holding his fingers in his mouth.  Yes this all happened around 6 AM!!  Barr comes in my room with his hand all wrapped up in a shirt, "mom wake up I need to go to a Dr.  I may need stitches"  Ya right go away & go back to work. haha

Let me go back a few weeks:

McKay needed to take my mom to the valley so I went with him (needing some time before the mission)  One thing we forgot is to tell Barr I went with McKay OOPS!!!!  Barr calls me, "where are you?"  Oh ya I forgot to tell you that I decided to go with McKay!!!  So Barr decided to say, well I'm on my way to the ER!!  WHAT?????? I'm freaking out right now!  Why? What happened?  Well I had my hand on a wall while nailing & nail went through my hand!  No!!!! You can't go tot he ER without me.  Barr goes on well Sam has me in his truck on our way!!!  Wait a minute you are at the house you sound like you are in the kitchen you jerk!!!

Yes he got me so that's why I thought he was kidding when he had his hand all wrapped up!

Rick got up & got some peroxide on his fingers we found some super glue & Rick turned into Dr. Turley!  It was a scary morning for sure!  Glad we didn't have to go get stitches! whew!!