We Have a Missionary

It's official!  Brinley was set apart a week ago on Tuesday, July 14th.  She is doing her MTC (Missionary Training Center) experience from home, via Zoom.  

I love the state of Idaho more than ever already.  I can't wait for all of the opportunities Brinley will have to serve, learn and grow there.

Bryn with our wonderful family mission flag display.  Grandpa Gwilliam made me this for Christmas one year because I loved the one at his house so much.  We have mission flags representing the missions our children's cousins, grandparents and parents served in.  We could add their uncles' flags, but I want to leave plenty of spaces for the 18+ cousins they have on both sides.

The Gwilliam fam.  We sure love our girl! Brian, Aubrey (13), Parker (17), Tanner (15), and Erin (me).

Adam (Bryn's cousin) with Lincoln, Brinley, Megan with Christian

Gram and Grandpa Vore  They were cute and brought over cake and ice cream to share after the setting apart.  (This Corona thing is the pits.  We missed having Grandma and Grandpa Gwilliam here for this special week.)

Our good bishop and his daughter.  Bishop Matthew Ormsby and Trinity  When our wards split it decimated our Young Women's program.  Brinley and Trinity were the two active girls.  We had a couple of more that were hit and miss.  Brinley was a Laurel (16 years old) and Trinity was a Beehive (12 years old).  They took good care of each other.

The Bird cousins and their parents.  Back row: Adam, Brit, Brinley, Braddock  Front row: Hudson, Ella and Char

Vore cousins!  President Vore (aka Uncle Chris), Charity, Angelique, Bryn and Lauron.  It was nice of them to come our way to do the setting apart.

I served a mission to the Arcadia California mission back in the day.  I am so grateful for that opportunity, and it makes me especially excited for all Brinley has to look forward to the next 18 months.  Missions are tough.  They are also rewarding and life changing on so many levels.  

My dad asked Chris and I the other day if we could have only served a mission or gone to college, which would we have chosen.  We both said we would have chosen the mission.  It's a life lesson that lays a foundation for life: a foundation of the gospel, of relationships, or serving, of trials, of love, of heartbreak, of families, of blessings, of scriptures, of callings, of prayer, of miracles, working hard and so much more.

President Vore speaking to the group about her calling.  (The group was our family and our bishop and his daughter.)  Because she has been set apart, we are now supposed to refer to her as Sister Gwilliam.  Aubrey is definitely doing the best in that area.  It's tough to remember.

Enjoying visiting and the cake afterward.  The boys also got a little ping pong in with the bishop.  Apparently Bishop puts a mean spin on the ball.  

Before they left, Ella and Char came up and said, "Goodbye Sister Gwilliam" and gave her a big hug.  

Isn't she adorable? She just glows, and I love her so much.  Good luck Sister Gwilliam.