Family Picture FUN Time....

Before Cameron left on his mission, we decided to get a family picture taken....after all it would be 2 years before we could get another one with EVERYONE in it. We took the afternoon and evening and met with our photographer, Sharli Fitzgerald (who is AMAZING) for some individual and group shots. We don't have them yet, but as soon as I get them...I will post some for all to see. While we were hanging out, I took a few fun shots of the kids and grandkids...

A lot were of Cameron with other people in it...I have wondered since if he was just sucking in all the memories he could because when he gets back in 2 years....EVERYTHING will be different. The people, the places, the experiences...its all going to be a change, so glad the memories remain!

Cameron and Erik having "guy time" before pictures started....

 Cameron with Kim and Kenron...I like this one because you can see Cameron studying

Kenron...almost as if he is trying to capture every moment with him. 

This is one of the most precious pictures...Uncle Jack and Kenron. 

Jack was helping Kenron jump and it made him so happy...I don't know

who had the most fun, Jack or Kenron.

Little Kayson, always has a smile on his his face and LOVES to be held, talked to

and to have someone play with him...it just does my heart good to see him so happy!

Jack and Dayna...always bring happiness to a crowd!

Cameron playing with Kayson...its a happy day

It was dinner time and EVERYONE pitched in to pull it off...

Everyone helped cook, set up, eat and clean up...those are the best meals ever!

Kenron isn't very fond of eating...but he loves to have his picture taken~

The family at meal time...FULL and ready for dessert...

PS...I'm loving Cam and Erik's faces..a photo bomb!

This girl is going to miss her brother, probably almost as much

as he will miss her. They are 2 years apart and are each others "side kick"...

Two happy little peas in a pod!

Everybody looks up to their older sister...Cameron is no exception. 

He adores his big sis!

Cameron and Dad...one of my favorite pictures of the two of them together!

 I can't help but smile when I see these last two pictures...a happy Cameron!

Family pictures were really fun...my kids always make getting our pictures

taken a FUN experience. They laugh, crack jokes and make the awkwardness of smiling for 

a camera, a heck of a lot more fun than I think MOST families get to have!

When I die and pass on to the next life...these are the things that

I'm going to remember most...happy, fun, together times!

I can't wait to see the BIG REVEAL of our FAMILY PICTURES!

A VERY LONG awaited DAY...IT's FINALLY HERE!!

On a very special Wednesday, back in June, we received a phone call

from the post office that Cameron had a LARGE envelope in the mail.

(our postman is amazing like this...when a young man/ young woman gets

their mission papers, he calls them early to see if they want to come 

and get it...its a very exciting, long awaited, time for them...so most of the time

they RUSH down to get it)

Cameron jumped from his bed (really...he meandered, but I like to pretend that he jump) and

went to the post office to pick up the long awaited for package.

He invited friends and family over to watch him open his call and see

where he was going to be serving his mission. 

Dad and Ryan, couldn't control their excitement for him...two people whom he loves very much!

Cameron was called to serve in the Mexico, Mexico City East Mission, 

to report to the Missionary Training Center on October 2, 2013

THE DAY finally came....after months of waiting, gathering missionary clothes, 

getting passports, visa's and a new set of scriptures...months of preparation, 

HE IS READY TO go out in the world and serve for 2 years. 

On the way to the MTC, we took him to the restaurant of his choice for lunch...

you guessed it, it was a MEXICAN restaurant...one of our favorites!

Elder Wilkerson invited his best friend Xela, to come along...they have 

been pals since they were babies and she has been his "rock" for many

years, as is her sweet family. They all have a special place in his heart.

Every time we go to "Los Hermano's" we take a picture in this spot...it only

seemed appropriate to do that again!

After lunch we got to go to a grassy area just above the MTC where

we could say our final good-byes...have our last minute chats and shed as many

tears as we wanted...IN OUR CASE, that was many. We also

took a lot of pictures and Cameron took a little "siesta" on the grass before entering 

the MTC.  

Deron and I have waited for many years to experience Cameron

leaving on a mission and NOW as the day has finally arrived and we had to 

prepare ourselves to say "see you later"...it wasn't as much fun as it sounded 19 years

ago...it was a tough day...VERY BITTER SWEET. 

As the time drew near where we had to take our "Elder Wilkerson" to the 

doors of the MTC, we each got a final hug...I shed many tears and really just didn't want to

let go. As happy as I was/am...its hard to say good-bye for 2 years!!

We took a "final" little family picture before heading down to the MTC...It will be a journey

for the entire family...one that we will all benefit from...a life changing, wonderful experience!

(BUT dang its HARD)

 

At 1:45pm on October 2nd, we dropped Elder Wilkerson off at the curb of the MTC.

We unloaded his luggage, gave him one last QUICK hug and said "good-bye"...

one of the hardest, but happiest days of my life. 

We watched him walk off with the other Elders as he began this new journey

that will grow this young boy up...coming back as a strong, courageous, valiant MAN!

People ask me if it was such a long awaited day, and we wanted him to go so bad...

....then why was it so hard, and why cry about it!? 

TO THESE people I say...

I would NOT want Cameron to be in any other place, doing anything else

at this time in his life...I would be so much sadder if he was home and I would cry a lot more...

BUT saying good-bye to a child for 2 years is tough. 

Mom's and their children have a special relationship 

and when a son finally goes out into the big world to become a man...

its not easy to let them go...even when its the 

right thing, and the best thing, and the happiest time in a mother's life...its still HARD! 

BUT YES, I WANT him WHERE he is...I want him serving a mission,

I want him to experience the joys of serving the Lord, and it IS a HAPPY DAY

(just a little bitter sweet is all)

Cameron will be an amazing missionary, I have no doubt! He was excited, ready and anxious 

to begin a journey that will take him to another country, speaking another language and 

meeting people that he will grow to love more than anything. 

TTFN (ta ta for now, as Winnie the Pooh would say)

Elder Wilkerson...

Can't wait to see you in 2 years...no longer a boy, but a MAN!

I love you always and forever!

*To read more about Elder Wilkerson's experiences over the next 2 years

you can follow/read my "missionary" blog at:

eldercameronmwilkerson.blogspot.com

I will try to update 1-2x a week

Summer Project 101

Our 2 week summer project turned into a very LONG 5+  month project...BUT

I have to say, its been a great family experience. Everyone in the ENTIRE family 

has put time and effort into finishing the deck...It was not just a "one man " accomplishment,

but the entire Wilkerson crew, in-law's and all, that pulled this off. 

We absolutely ADORE IT! 

Before it turned off cold, I ate breakfast out on the deck every morning...and we often

ate dinner out there too. I spent most evenings sitting out there, enjoying the sun go down

(can't see the "sun set" from this side of the house, but I can see that its getting darker), spent

Sundays (after church) out there reading a book or talking to family on the phone. 

Its my favorite place to be!!

NOW that its turned off cold, I rarely go out there...but 

I AM LOOKING forward to spending next spring and summer

planted out there...in my "peaceful" spot!

It started out with just a few "simple boards" and nails....

Cameron designed it and was the mastermind behind the entire deck~

The railing is a beautiful accent to the gorgeous deck...don't you think?!

We are still in the process of finishing the ramp...it needs another coat of deck

paint and the railing and then it will be complete...I don't know if it will all

transpire before the snow falls or if it will be nexts springs project...either way...we are

SOOOOOOOOOOO close to being done! 

I'm so grateful for helping hands and hearts of all those who put their time

and talent into getting this done...many hands make light work!!

Mountain Girls~

During the summer, Dayna came out to spend a few days with us.

Living in the country, there isn't a TON of entertainment at your fingertips...so we create our own.

We decided to head to the mountains for a hike, a picnic lunch and enjoy

the great outdoors. There is a nice hiking trail that I like to go to 

every year so we headed up to Moon Lake for the day. 

It was beautiful...the foliage was lush and green and everything smelled so fresh

and clean!

We found wild raspberries along the way...and YES, we stopped

and picked some to eat. Honestly, there were SOOOOO many that I half expected

to see a bear somewhere near by...I was glad we didn't!

We hiked for several miles around the lake. It was a FUN, FUN day!!

....and THEN THIS UGLY BIG BLACK CLOUD moved over our way...and

it started to RAIN, and thunder, and the rain got heavier. We hunted for some

thick spot in the trees to hunker down and wait out the storm, but there just 

wasn't any spot that wasn't getting wet...so we did the next best thing....

WE RAN!! We turned around and called our "fun hike" OVER and started 

running back to the camp ground. 

We ran until we were almost to the end of the trail...where the sun came out and the

rain stopped! We were wet, and tired...but laughing...the rain didn't 

put a damper on our day, it just added to the fun we were having!

Everything we green and crisp after the short thunderstorm...

it was gorgeous!

It was a perfect day in the mountains!

One of my very favorites this summer!!