Overdue post.

Sorry this post is so late everyone... My excuse: I'm in mourning.  No no, not for DP being gone... :)  I had a great idea for the post I was going to do right after he left & it was going to be filled with some of the cutest pics ever taken of his last night with the family.  Then after his setting apart, I put my camera on top of the car while I was putting my son in his carseat- left it there as we drove away...  So I was in mourning for my lost camera & the numerous pics of D & the family that night:(  I wish there was some way I could download my mental pictures for you all to see because they were something special...  I wish I had pics of that whole last week actually! 

The Monday before he left, we did family pics since our family technically won't be whole again for 2 years between David AND Jenessa being gone... For kicks & giggles, here are some of those pictures so we have at least one to post:)

The whole Gang

Just the boys.....
This one will go down probably as one of my personal all-time FAVORITES.  Love the bruddas in the back:)

Dad, DP & Mom

Then we had about 30+ of DP's closest friends over.  They all went out for a last hurrah dinner with the man & came back to play some mean games of Dance Central:)  That was..... INTERESTING to watch;)  But fun, of course.  We miss you guys almost as much as we miss D!

On Tuesday, we spent a lot of time together as family.  We had our "last meal," as DP was calling it, at the Olive Garden.  Then we left for the stake center & he was set apart officially as an Elder by Pres. Riggs. I think it's safe to speak for my whole family when I say that was such a special & amazing experience for our family to have together.  I also need to note, because DP said it needed to be put on record, that we were ON TIME to that.  Pres. Riggs has a fabulous memory of which Elders are later to their setting apart, which supposedly affects how quickly they're released when they come home. My husband, who was 15 minutes late to his setting apart, was released about 7 hours after he got off the plane... So... all of you reading this are our witnesses that DP was there on time:)

The next morning, he set off bright & early for the great state of Utah!:)  A couple of our RM cousins picked him up at the airport, which I think gave him a bit of comfort being with the guys who have gone through the same thing before.  They then took him to Provo & dropped him off at the Missionary Training Center.  And that's where his has been for the last 2 weeks. From what we've heard from him, he is LOVING it!  He has sent a couple letters & emails saying how wonderful everything is- the training, the food, his companion & district... etc.  And the overall feeling there he says is amazing!  He says the Spirit is incredibly strong there & he is learning so much!

It's interesting, as his sister (as I'm sure it is to the rest of our family) to hear & see the change already in him- a GOOD change!  More spiritual & more mature...... in some ways.  Don't worry, he's still that funny DP we all know & love.  For instance, I hope she doesn't mind me sharing, but in his email/letter to Mom, he writes, "Mom. Momma. Kelli. Keeeelli.  Kerry." - all of the names he calls her. And he signs his letters now "Bringer of the true word."  Haha That's DP for ya.  But with him sharing his experiences so far and seeing those good changes, we can't wait to see what happens after 2 years if he's already like this after 2 weeks!  We sure do miss him & having him gone is bitter sweet.  But this is definitely where he should & wants to be.

He did ask for addresses from all of his family & friends.  SO... Hopefully, we have a few of you reading this:)  I will be making an address book to send him so if you would, please send me an email.  My address is shaneNlonna@gmail.com.  Put your name, address & I will make sure you are added to the book!

Also, you can send DP letters (which he requested & would love!!!)  His address for now (until probably next week) is:

Elder David A. Pedersen
MTC mailbox #213
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Another good way to get letters to him faster than the "snail-mail" is by going to http://www.dearelder.com/, click on the 'write a letter' tab at the top, then look for the Provo MTC out of the lists of missions.  It'll take you to a page where you will still need the address from above, but you can write him a letter from there, & it will be mailed & possibly delivered on the same day:)  AAAAND it's free.  (A fair warning:  DP doesn't have a ton of time to dedicate to responding to everyone's letters, so don't be annoyed with him or take it personally if you don't receive a speedy/lengthy response.)  You writing to him would mean more than you know to him & we all thank you in advanced:)

That's pretty much all for now.  As soon as we have his new address when he arrives in Washington next week, we will post it on here (and I promise I will be better!)  Remember to get those addresses to me & write DP!!!:)  Until next time...