Friday, February 11, 2011

Are You Ready for the Big Reveal?

This was supposed to be posted yesterday. Our internet was down. I was sad. Hope you missed me.

What an emotional week this has been.  Last night (Wednesday night) was . . . . unforgettable.

Tucker called about 10:30 am.  The mailman had brought him a large white envelope from Salt Lake City.

We rallied the troops.  Called Grandma and Grandpa.  Called Heidi and Sam.  Arranged a time.  Time was set. 7 pm.

I could hardly concentrate all day.

I cleaned house.  I made chocolate chip cookies.  I tried to work on my lesson.

6:45 pm--Brad set up Skype to Provo.  Friends and family assembled, ate cookies, and made small talk.
6:55 pm--Grandma and Grandpa were on the land line. Heidi and Sam were on my cell phone. Both phones found homes in front of the computer's speakers.

7:01 pm--Tucker's face appeared on the computer screen.  Family and friends in Mesa, Provo, Twin Falls and Rexburg all waited while he tore open the large white envelope.

"Elder Denton," it began.
Then some other words that I don't remember.

Then, ". . . called to labor in the New York New York City South mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints"

. . . some more words I don't remember . . .
. . . then "reporting to the Provo MTC on May 18,"

. . . then some more words not committed to memory, then, ". . . in the Spanish language."
After the excitement died down, when the house was emptier and quieter, the phone rang.

"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, Tuck.  What do you think?"
"It just feels right."

That's all I needed.


New York City.
Long Island, Staten Island, Bermuda.
Spanish.
May 18th

And so the new adventure begins.

I'm still in shock.

blog
Jenny Matlock

50 comments:

  1. this made me cry. Wish I could have been there Wednesday night and now to have a good chat. The pictures were almost as good. I'm so glad it felt right, that confirmation is so important. I think he's going to be amazing, and it seems like a great place for him!

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  2. Congrats! and a fun post to tell about it!

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  3. Congratulations to Tucker and to you, and to all of you! Isn't it wonderful to have the confirmation that it feels RIGHT!

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  4. ps-of course I went online and found the mission president's blog-so handy! We were amazed at the variety of languages spoken-we saw Korean, Chinese, Spanish, and more I don't remember! What an adventure he will have.

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  5. Awesome! We'll be in NYC this summer so we'll have to stop and say hi...

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  6. Oh Jenny! That is so exciting!

    I live in NY -- not the city though. NYC is amazing. Your son will do great things there!

    Congratulation :):)

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  7. woot woot

    congratulations to all of you

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  8. I don't even know you but I'm a mormon mom of 6. My oldest set to head out on his mission in 6 short years. :)
    The pictures of you is what made me cry.
    Congratulations!!!

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  9. Oh, Jenny, this made me cry - maybe because we are on a mission right now and working with these wonderful young men (aka: "Angels in mortal clothing"). How wonderful that it feel just right to him - yes you are in for a wonderful adventure. Having a son on a mission is almost as good as being on one yourself!!! Thank you for having an uplifting blog to read - it helps me keep connected to Mesa.

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  10. I am so excited for Tucker and for your family. There is NOTHING like the effect a missionary has on his family. I am thrilled for you all.

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  11. I can just feel how excited you all are in your pictures! Thanks for sharing!

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  12. YAY!! I'm so happy for EVERYONE ... how wonderful it must feel as his mom to have it all feel so "right" for him ... phew! Love the photos, I can really feel the anticipation and the joy - congratulations!!

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  13. So on Wednesday Greg and I were having a late night at the library and I finished a little before him. So then the thought just happened to cross my mind that Tucker was going to get his mission call, or maybe already had, I wasn't sure. So I got on facebook to check (I never get on fb) and what do you know? It does seem to fit him. How wonderful! I'm feeling a bit of sisterly pride. :)

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  14. kept checking in and waiting for the announcement! So excited for Tucker and your family!! Look out NYC!

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  15. I love this. We sat here and waited and got a nice call from him. I am glad you had such a fun and loving gathering at your home. He will be amazing. I have no doubts about it:)

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  16. Close enough to send packages, but still a different country- mostly. How exciting!

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  17. Good for him. That is awesome that he gets to stay in the US and learn another language. All the best.

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  18. It's hard to let them go. But it looks like you have raised up a good boy who like you said , will return a good man. Blessings to you and your family!~Ames

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  19. While I'm not familiar with the missionary work or its place in a young person's life, your post was alive with the pride and excitement for your son. Congratulations to the whole family!

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  20. That is REALLY exciting!! Sending that first missionary out makes emotions jump all over the place!!!

    This will be so neat not only for Tucker but for all of you!!

    Neat Mission!!!

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  21. That was quite a powow you had! Good luck on the journey!

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  22. congrats to ELDER DENTON!!!!!
    what a phenomenal time he'll have.
    and i think that the "hi mom" phone call that came later is THE best part! congrats mama, you've raised him well. ::hugs::
    luv u guys. :)

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  23. Isn't amazing that as soon as you know where they're going, you feel an immediate LOVE for the people there??
    I felt that way when my oldest two got their calls...I never loved the people of Montreal and New Jersey more than at those times!!
    So happy for your family!

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  24. Oh hey! that's my head covered by the small screen in the bottom :) Still get all antsy just thinking about it. After we hung up on Skype, he handed the letter and envelope to me to put back in because his hands were shaking so bad. But I wasn't much more successful. Markie was laughing at me because I was so shaky. It does just feel right though, doesn't it? So happy. He'll be awesome. :)

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  25. I have to tell you I'm in tears! I felt like I was there! And I loved that someone else photographed it and not you because it was so awesome seeing your expressions...Best of luck to Tucker!!

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  26. It's really great how your entire family and all your friends gathered together to cheer Tucker on :) It must be so amazing to be loved so much like that!

    I'm not familiar with missionary work or the significance of it but it must be really important to you and your family. Congratulations to Tucker and I wish him safe journey on his mission!

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  27. Wonderful! Congrats! I love the last picture of you, the happiness and joy on your face is priceless.

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  28. Yay! That is so exciting. Congrats to him. He is going to love it! Of course!!

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  29. That is so AWESOME!!!!! I think his MP is from Rexburg!

    That is quite the gathering! So great to have that kind of support and love.

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  30. How exciting! He's off to a new adventure! Sounds like a very blessed yound man with a wonderful supportive family.

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  31. Congrats to Tucker!
    I love how excited and eager everyone looks!
    Thanks for letting us all be a part!
    NYC! Spanish! "Feels right"! All great!

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  32. I got goose bumps looking at this.

    Then I started crying.

    What a wonderful mission that will be!

    =)

    PS. Still crying. Sheesh.

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  33. Congratulations!
    What a special moment.

    I can't believe my little 6 year old is going to be a missionary some day, and I will be the one sitting there excited about what the future is going to hold.

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  34. So exciting, and so scary. Oh, the adventures you are all going to be having...

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  35. wow!! thank you so much for sharing this...i love all the excitement..and NYC!!! so amazing!!!

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  36. So excited for you! My husband actually guessed NY, his best friends (yes 2 of them) served in NY and said he didn't know your son, but thought it seemed to fit. Ha! Too funny!

    Have fun in this new chapter with your son, Elder Denton!

    Jackie

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  37. Congrats! That sounds great. Thanks for sharing this with us!

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  38. How exciting Jen! What a huge chain of experiences he has waiting for him. You'll miss him a lot, but somehow the time still flies, and the wonderful things he'll accomplish and gain on his mission could not be achieved any other way. Congratulations Tucker, and to the whole family. I'm very excited for you.

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  39. Aaaand... the comment from Katie was really from me. Sorry - didn't realiize that Katie had taken over my computer when I wasn't looking!

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  40. I'm so excited for him. I can't think of a better mission. Wow. Spanish. What a wonderful blessing to learn a new language while serving the Lord. I'm so happy he's staying in the states.

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  41. It's so exciting when things come together like this. I don't know anything about this mission, but I hope the experience will be great for him.

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  42. I am visiting a little late Jen. I was touched by the true sense of family you always seem to share with us. The worlds he will see. How wonderful. My mother lived in Bermuda for three years as a young woman, and then my husbands sister lived their also for a few years. We have been a few times. It is a special place. Isn't Skype a blessing. How did mothers manage before it? Best wishes to Tucker and your whole family.
    Dana

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  43. WOW... I am late in getting the news, but this made me cry too! I have 6 kids, 5 of which are sons. Oldest is 13 and it still seems like a mission is still so far away! But I know it's going to come before I know it. I LOVED how you did this and it really touched my heart. So happy for your family!

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  44. (Just looked at this again and had the same reaction. I think I will use this for my permanent "happy cry" inducer.)

    ;)

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  45. i had written you a really long email telling you how wonderful that post was...then deleted it...

    it sounded like a emotional new mom! haha

    just wanted to say thanks for sharing about tucker...we may not share the same faith but that doesn't matter in friendship...i knew the joy and overwhelming pride of that moment! ok i'm crying again!

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  46. Playing catch up in blogland....and oh my goodness was this moving! What an amazing sequence of events to have documented...your expressions are priceless. How very excitig for all of you. Keep us posted!!

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  47. Jen! I can see the pride on everyone's face there!

    What a landmark this will be for you all.

    Thanks for letting us share in your good news on this little stop for Alphabe-Thursday's letter "R".

    This was really interesting!

    A+

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  48. That's awesome! I really love how you rallied the troops so everyone could be there to listen to the great news =D

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