The Mission Interview...

(March 1st 5:50pm headed out to meet with the Bishop... just a little bit excited)

After 10 wonderful days in Seattle to visit family, Jacob (and Mom) returned home to Caldwell and finally the day arrived for Jacob's much anticipated interview with Bishop Snow to begin is mission application paperwork (120 days before his 19th birthday).

When he arrived home and signed up on the website, but was not given access, little did I realize that would only be the begining of the torturous next 3 days.  He concluded that either his calculations were wrong and it was actually 123 days, or the Bishop would have to sign in and give him access.  So he waited the 3 days before calling Bishop back, and on the 3rd day received an email from Brother Hilton, ward clerk, that he had finished the process to gain him access and to try and sign onto the site.... he was in!

So the process begins.
... 

Mom was VERY determined to sit on her hands and not do anything for him... he would need to figure it out himself and in that process she was sure it would help her come to a peaceful place in her heart that he was indeed ready to leave the nest.  

Jacob - shouting out from the kitchen "Hey Mom, I am already finished with the first section, now I am onto the medical stuff"

Mom "what was in the first section?"

Jacob "the basic stuff name, address, mothers maiden name etc."

Mom "what did you put for my maiden name?"

Jacob "it's spelled with two t's right"

Mom "yes" and sits down in the chair watching him from the next room, hand on the dog petting gently, in somewhat disbelief that he remembered her maiden name without asking, thinking maybe he has been paying attention.

...

3 minutes later...

...

Jacob - "Mom have I had any broken bones?"

Mom - "Do you remember having any broken bones?"

Jacob - "Well it says that my answers would be between me and the Lord to be as honest and accurate as possible, so I didn't really break a bone, but I did have a hairline fracture... how do I put that?"

Mom - Humbled and has a sense that he will continue to do the right thing.

...

Jacob - walking into the bathroom where Mom is cleaning with his laptop in his hands "there is a whole list of diseases that I don't even know what they are, can I read them to you and see if I have had any of them?"

Mom - giggles "sure"

Jacob reads, Mom doesn't know what some of them are, but is able to reassure him that he hasn't had them :)

(lesson one:  never let them see you sweat)

...

Jacob - "Mom one of the questions is do you have a passport, I need to stop and go get that now"

Mom - remembering the past 3 months that she had tried to encourage him to do that "okay, look up where you need to go and what you need to have with you, and I have some errands to run, I can go with you if you want"

Jacob - "thanks Mom, I am really excited!"

Mom - turns away smiling, and then the tears come pouring out.