Rachel's mission farewell

Rachel didn't know this (per se), but she was in charge of the FHE lesson on Sunday night (which is when we do FHE now, I guess) because that's when she was scheduled to give her farewell talk!

Phoebe was so excited to see Rachel on the stand. She waved and waved and waved and waved and then said, "Why won't Rachel wave back to me?"

"Because she can't see us," I explained. "We can see her but she can't see us."

"Oh, fine!" Phoebe huffed, throwing herself backwards against the couch to pout.

She's not a long-pouter, though, so she soon recovered and was her cheerful little self again.

Here's a video of Rachel's talk, which...I'm honestly not sure what the rules are about distributing. But since our family is scattered across the globe (and since I didn't take this video), I figure we're in the clear to share here:

It was a good talk, and Rachel was well supported! She had friends from many different stages of life come to support her. 

Naturally, she had many family members come: my parents, Auntie Josie, Aunt Linda, Auntie Judy and Uncle Wally...

Our friends the Lewises (from Cairo) surprised us by showing up as well. I knew Rachel had sent an invitation to Sam, who is at UVU post-mission (we went to his homecoming in Georgia just before we moved), but I didn't know Kevan and Sara were going to be in town! Mags came along as well.

Brother Colton from our ward in Georgia was there as well! Apparently he's dating someone in my mom's ward and was just as surprised to see Rachel up on the stand as she was to see him when he came up to say hello after the meeting was over. 

She had roommates and classmates and friends and coworkers and...everyone from my mom's ward. 

And then, of course, we were watching from Doha, Grandpa and Darla were watching from Abu Dhabi, Uncle Patrick watched from Vienna, Rosie watched from Tennessee, Auntie K watched from Atlanta (where she's currently driving a tour bus)...

Like I said, very well supported!

She's very happy to have the talk behind her and is even happier to be ever closer to entering the actual MTC (mission training center) so she can start her countdown until she leaves for Vietnam!

(Which is like this whole other country)