Delta flight 557. Departing Detroit at 8:32 a.m., arriving Mexico City at 12:32 p.m. John is flying to Pittsburgh today, so he got to go through security with her and walk her to her gate, while I stayed at the front of security, crying my eyes out.
She's ready. She's so ready. She's wanted to do this for as long as I can remember. And between her patriarchal blessing, and her setting apart, and her father's blessing from John last night, she will have a life-changing experience. She will learn Spanish. She will change the lives of people who are waiting for her to teach them.
I will never forget when Gloria came out of her patriarchal blessing. The patriarch turned to us and said that he couldn't remember any specifics of what he had said in the blessing, but he had the strongest feeling that Heavenly Father was pleased with the choices Glo had made so far in her life. That she was on the right path.
As much as I don't want her to leave, I know that this is another stop along her life's path. That once again, she is making a good choice.
When each of my children was born, my first prayer after returning home from the hospital became one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. In each prayer, I would thank God for this new Spirit that he was entrusting to me, and in return, I dedicated their life to Him. Each time, I told Him that I would make them servants of Him, and that they would know He is their Father in Heaven. I literally gave their lives back to Him, because He gave them to me.
Seeing her leave today was a terrible, horrible experience, but how can I feel badly or complain at all that she has chosen to do what she is doing? I asked for this so many years ago. She belongs to Heavenly Father--I'm just here to guide her along the way.
May God be with her for the next year and a half.
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| I have consistency forgotten to get a picture of Glo with her mission flag. So, I set an alarm for when I knew I would be getting out of the car at the airport (that's 6:15 A.M.) |
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| I was so worried about the weight of her luggage that I sent John up to check in her two bags. Her big bag was 53 pounds, and the smaller bag (loaded with books and other "heavies") was 43. Phew.... |
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| I seriously got out of the car without the flag. Thank goodness Glo grabbed it. #WhatWillIDoWithoutHer |
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| Glo has traveled more miles than any other child of mine. I had no worries about her going through security. She is a travel professional, for sure. |
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In true Kennedy fashion, we had "the last wave". I stood outside security crying, and Glo turned around and waved until we couldn't see each other anymore.
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| Like I said, lucky John! |
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| Getting up at 4:15, Glo wasn't really feeling breakfast. Thankfully, John bought her her favorite Starbucks drink (caramel apple spice) and a croissant. |
On Facebook this morning, after posting her final pictures, Jere Cross (one of John's closest friends) posted, "All 4 kids serving missions. You should be proud. Not many can say that. Congratulations. I know she'll do as good as your other 3."
Amen.
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