January 23, 2008--Adam Arrives at the MTC!

All packed and ready to go!
(This is new luggage that we bought in a panic the night before Adam was to leave. We had inspected the old luggage a few weeks earlier and thought all was well, but when we went to pack, there was a tear by one of the zippers. Mom was simply not going to send her missionary off with a damaged suitcase, so Dad offered to run to good ol' Mr. Mac's and buy a new set. This was right before he became deathly ill--more on this later!)

Take a deep breath, Elder Swan. Here we go!

Our goodbye entourage had been unexpectedly reduced to Mom and Michael. Stephanie and Mike were at the hospital with darling one-day old Ethan and Dad was sick in bed (I took a picture but mercifully decided not to post it here!). Dad was sad that he didn't get to give Adam one more hug at the MTC, but he really could barely stand up, and we also thought it best not to risk spreading germs to our new missionary. Michael and Mom felt privileged to be their own little exclusive MTC group, and afterwards we drowned our sorrows at Brick Oven and turned our frowns into smiles as we visited and held Baby Ethan at the hospital.

Now I'm really official--I've got my name tag!