Elder David Coke

 This was David's 19th birthday. His last birthday with us for 2 years!  He had received his mission call just about 3 weeks before this and said it is worse then senioritis.  So to make this birthday a memorable one he decided to do what he did for his first birthday and put his face in the cake!

                                      Good news is I was able to forgive him (now that he's gone)! 

On October 21st a lot of the family came to join David while he opened his Mission call.  I was in D.C. the week it was suppose to come so put a hold on the mail, knew the boy wouldn't be able to wait.  When I got home Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Skip, Aunt Jill, Uncle Phillip, Aunt Diana, Cousins Seth, Amanda, Drake, Alex, Becca, Isaac, Bella, Daniel, Porter& Kenley were here.  Along with of course Mom, Dad, Krystal, Laura and Haley.  (hope I'm not forgetting anyone) We were so excited and couldn't wait to here where David was going to serve.  Just before he opened the letter we were all guessing and Laura guessed Pennsylvania!  Well....guess what she was right!  David was called to serve in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Mission.  This would be the same area that his cousin Seth served when  he was on his mission. 

David was called to enter the MTC on December 19 .  It was a busy

December with weddings, birthdays and traveling but on

December 15 he was able to go to the Denver Temple for the first time. 

His farewell talk was on December 16 and we had a lot of family and friends come to celebrate with us. Early the next morning we left for Utah.  David was so excited to see the leaving Colorado sign that he wanted to take a picture there.  It is still one of my favorite memories from the trip. 

 We spent a couple of days in Utah visiting with family and friends.  It was very surreal and the morning he was suppose to leave for the MTC I couldn't get enough of looking at him.  Here is was packing up his suits and getting ready to leave.

The new rule at the MTC is basically kiss and drop.  They encourage family to take pictures and say their goodbyes before entering the MTC grounds.  After his last meal of In and Out we  were able to take some pictures at the Provo Temple.  If you know David he doesn't like to take pictures but he humored us and it was FREEZING!  But glad we were able to get this one picture of all three of us. 

 This picture you can see how cold it still was and we were in the church parking lot next to the MTC.  Just wanted a picture of David by the MTC. 

It was so quick when we dropped him off that the picture I thought the greeter Elder took had all three of us but Dad wasn't even on the curb yet.  They were grabbing Davids luggage from the car and almost grabbed ours too.  We got in some quick hugs and off he went with his greeter missionary.  He is the tall one with the gray backpack!  That's pretty much when the tears started.  2 years seems like an awfully long time when it's day one.

After 19 days in the MTC (missionary training center) he made it to Pittsburgh, PA with President and Sister Topham.  This is the night he arrived...it was a long day of traveling and he had to be in the travel office by 4 am to leave for the SLC Airport.  The best part about it was that he was able to call from the airport before he left Utah and also during his layover in Minneapolis.  (this was great because missionaries don't get to call home on Christmas and Mothers day from the MTC)

                                                                     The district

Elder Coke and Elder Cooper!  Elder Cooper is his trainer and they have made it through one transfer together.  Elder Cooper is a Marine Reservist so it is kind of fitting since David wanted to go into the Marines.  They are serving in downtown Pittsburgh in an area that isn't the safest but they are pressing on and working hard.  His letters home are amazing and he already sounds like he is growing so much.  We miss him so much but know there isn't another place we would rather him be.  So from a boy putting his face in a cake to serving the Lord.  We are very proud of Elder Coke and the decision he made to serve a mission.   www.mormon.org

Washington DC-October 2012

 In October I was lucky enough to be able to attend the NARPM National Convention.  Mike was wonderful and held down the fort for the days I was in DC.  This was a dream trip for me and a place I have wanted to go since middle school.  While there we had a chance to do some sight seeing.

 The Washington Memorial above is not in the water although it looks like it.  We all decided that Hollywood is totally deceiving since it looked like Jenny ran through the water and the Washington Monument actually looks like it's in the middle of the lake.  It isn't but my picture looks like it too.  The picture was take from the stairs at the Lincoln Memorial. 

 Matt, Danielle, Porsche, Misty, me and Alex

 As we were walking past the White House we saw the first dog.  We didn't expect to have his keeper let him outside of the gates.  But he did and I got to pet him.  He is very soft and I'm sure he spends more on grooming than I do. 

 This is a picture right before I pet him and right before the officer ordered me to, "step away from the dog".  I didn't hear him the first time....my friends thought I was going to be arrested!  Did you know if you get arrested in DC it's a felony?  Well....I stepped away and didn't get arrested!
 

 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (did you know there are two)?  One older one further away from the Civil War

 Korean War Memorial

 I have had an Uncle who was a POW during WWII and a couple Uncles who served in the Korean War.  Being at all the War Memorials was amazing and so glad that I was able to see this one.

 During the tour of the Capital there was amazing history including this statue of President Reagan.  The little stones around the base are from the Berlin Wall.

Being at the Pentagon was surreal. When we came off the subway the police were there with fireman because there was a small fire.  There was a run that morning and tons of people around.  We were able to come up but they do not mess around with security.  Bomb sniffing dogs and officers with machine guns.  It was freaky but glad to know how quickly they sprung into action.  The benches at this 9/11 memorial was so big and peaceful. 

 Lovely memorial in memory of all the people of all ages lost.

 

So grateful that Mike was able to keep everyone on track while I was gone and have so much fun (I mean learning) with the group and with my roommate Misty.  We were the "boring" girls because we went to bed early every night while the others visited.  It was exactly what I needed to get a little break and appreciate my family when I got home. 

 

 



David's 19th birthday

 

 

 

 

David on his third birthday

 

 

 David was able to pick his cake and what it said.  He was pretty excited to get a big cake that said Happy Birthday Davey!  What we didn't expect was that as the kids were posing for the "annual traditional picture" David would put his face in the cake. 

We weren't excited about the mess but Jack sure was happy.  He likes to linger around so he can be the first at clean up to see if anyone dropped anything during dinner.  So when he came up Jack jumped up trying to lick the frosting. 

 The night before David's birthday we went out to 3 Margaritas for Grandma Tam and David's birthday dinner.  The funny thing about this too small hat is that a couple of weeks ago when we went David played a prank and told the restaurant it was my birthday.  They all came out with a big sombrero and David and Krystal were outside the window of the restaurant video taping it.  It made this birthday song with the "new" hat even better!

This was a hard birthday for me because David will be leaving home for a 2 year mission to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area.  I know it is the right choice and will be good for him.  But I sure will miss the boy who leaves a trail of things wherever he has walked in the house.  We look forward to the man that will return when he gets home.  Love you David and so proud to call you our son!

Krystal's senior pictures