Before he was Elder C. ~enjoying the jokes and laughter







Elder Covington has been at the MTC for 2 weeks. His first letter there was hand written instead of the normal email system because the system was down. We were thrilled he took the time to write at all :)He tells us the Spanish has come right back to where it was when he left last Fall. His teacher tell he and his fellow elders that they will be fluent in Spanish before they go into the field. His companion comes from a military background with his father being in the army for 40 years and the elder served in the navy for 3 before entering the mission field. Elder Covington says his comp. tells him there is no time for joking and laughter at the MTC but we are confident our elder will change his comps way of thinking before too long:). Elder C reports he has never been more tired and will find himself waking up in the middle of class without realizing that he even fell asleep. Elder C. has enjoyed all the letters and packages he has recieved and tells us they help make the time go by faster. He says he feel like he has been there for a long time. This is good. He will be even more excited to head for Texas when it is time. We love our Elder and are very proud of him. We know he will be the best missionary (especially when he has the ability to stay awake)!

WE LOVE OUR ELDER!

Trace has been back at the MTC for 24 hours now. He was set apart as a Missionary on the 6th with his family present. After a brief goodbye to some of his family members he returned home to finish packing and spend a little more time with his friends. On the morning of July 7, 2010 Tim and Misty took Trace to the airport at 4:30am. No tears this time (although eyes might have been a little damp with pride) Trace was a tired Elder but excited to get back to the MTC. He's been ready to go for some time now. Some of his last statements on the ride to the airport were "you can start letter writing" and "I'll look forward to those packages". Not wanting to disappoint we went home and had a care package of cookies sent that same day through dearelder.com. We love that company. Makes letter writing and sending care packages easy and quick.

So, we'll do our best to keep every posted weekly with updates and photos that he sends us. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers.

Photo from the past:

I chill ... I will... I am...















On November 17th Trace flew home from the MTC. While he was there he had not only learned Spanish but how to recognize the Spirit and follow the promptings. After being at the MTC for a few weeks Trace began to feel that he needed to come home to finish some things and prepare more to be a missionary. He will be home for six to nine months before returning to the MTC and completeing his mission in Texas. We thank everyone for supporting Trace thus far and hope that you will continue to do so over the next few months while he works toward returning to the field. We know he is doing the right thing and are proud of his decision to come home for a season in order to be the best missionary he can be.

Photo from the past: Check out my ride...I'm trading up for a bike...






Another week has passed by. Trace tells us that he loves all the letters and encourages us to continue with the care packages. He loves them and they're great for "bragging rights". Spanish is coming along. He says that he's learned more in the past two weeks than he did in the two years he took it in high school. Amazing what one can do with the Spirit and person study! As he is learning the language he is also learning about the mission in his area from return missionaries teaching him. Come to find out...missionaries are not able to drive at night, after dark, because of the methods that gangs initiate new members. The "new member" to be drives around at night with out their lights on until some other unsuspecting driver brights him (to tell him to turn them on) then the gang initiatee follows that car and shoots the driver. Trace thought this story would be fun to share...we are glad the missionaries in this area ride bikes:).

MTC Week One

Photo from the past: Trace, never to shy to star in a picture, asks the photographer if he's ever seen a baby quite as handsome as himself.



Trace has been at the MTC for one week. He tells us that the days are flying by and the Spanish is going well. Confessing that classes are more challenging because they teach them in Spanish but he's hanging in there. Thinking himself rather clever he gave us a few lines of his testimony in Spanish for us to interprete. We managed and love that he wrote us this way. We are now inspired to learn Spanish ourselves. This may or may not be a surprise to anyone but Trace is having a bit of an adjustment to the MTC food. He welcomes any food packages anyone may feel inclined to send his way:) And true to form...Trace looks forward to gym time and playing basketball. He shared a funny story, well funny to him but not the other elder, who sprained an ankle playing basketball and as he was leaving the health center area a basketball, intended for Trace, was hurled through the air, Trace misses it and the speeding ball is stopped successfully by the limping elders head - cut to elder dropping to the ground. Bad day for the elder. A funny memory for Trace. Both will never forget it.

First Letter Home

Picture from the past: Trace in one of his earliest adventures...the STAIRS.





So Trace has been in the MTC for a little less than a week. His Preparation Day or P day is on Thursday so this will be the day that does his laundry (yes it is now a scheduled event) and is able to have a little free time doing missionary appropriate activities like playing a little basketball or writing letters to family. He has already sent us one short letter. He shares that it is more difficult than he expected but still fun. He is there with one of his best friends who is going to Japan and in a room close to his. He also said that letters would be great! This is new because before he left he said he wasn't much of a letter kind of guy :) While he is in the MTC others are able to write him letters using the website http://www.dearelder.com/. They will hand deliver the letters for free every day to missionaries at the MTC. They also have carepackages that may be purchased and sent that same day or the next while he is in the MTC. Trace said he'd love to hear from us!

The last week home

It's been busy these past couple of weeks. We've continued getting items and tasks completed before Trace leaves. In true Trace-Face form, he waited until the last minute to get things done (just in case the list changed and he didn't want to do things twice). On the 17th Trace entered the Sacramento Temple to take out his endowments. It was the first of many spiritual experiences to happen this week. It was great because one of his older sisters, Tamber, was in town and able to attend. Great experience and we were to honored to be able to witness such an important step in his life.

(A familiar sight when on family vacations. The three kids sharing the back seat. Last time for the next two years.)

The following Tuesday Trace received his Patriarical Blessing. His 3 parents, 2 siblings, and 1 grandparent were in attendance. It was wonderful to hear of the love that our Heavenly Father has for Trace and the blessings that are awaiting him as he choses a righteous life. It's hard to put to words the feelings that come from such an experience but I think gratitude will do for now.

On Thursday evening Trace was to be set apart as a missionary. Before hand we took he and his brother and sister to an indoor miniature golf place that has a halloween theme year round. It was fun to see them get along and enjoy themselves. The place used black light so all of our whites glowed. After he was set apart his mom took him, the kids, and some of Trace's friends to dinner. Trace said it was weird because now that he was an Elder...he was not able to be out late and ended up going to bed before midnight (a first in a very very very long time).

Goodbyes were said on Friday morning to Trace's mom, Tashly and Tevin. We headed out to Utah about 10 in the morning. The trip was pretty uneventful and we were glad to arrive at Uncle Shaw's house safely. We could feel the temperature change immediately. Utah was great. We had a get together with the Covington side of the family. Although not members, they are so incredibly supportive of Trace serving a mission. Sure is a family with lots of love. We went to Utah 4 days earlier than we needed to so that we could finish purchasing clothes and items that were required of Trace before he entered the MTC. We managed to have just enough time for that and for a little fun too. Of course it rained and snowed (to the chagrin of Trace) which was a reminder of how much we love California although it's nice to remember how pretty it is when the snow falls.

(Dad chasing Trace...a regular activity growing up...during Ultimate Frisbee game)

(Cake that Tamber made for Utah get together)

(Trace with his big sisters- now he's taller than them)

(Trace showing his nephew how to set up the toy set that use to be his. He had a little bit of a hard time letting go :) )

(Monday night we went to Temple Square in SLC and walked around the visiter center. Great view from the ground. Better from inside)

Wednesday was the big day. Trace was packed and ready at 9:00am, we drove to Provo and met his older sisters, niece, and nephew for lunch before dropping him off. In recent months the MTC stopped having a family goodbye meeting due to the swine flu being spread so ramped. Now it is a curbside drop off. Literally, we have time to get the luggage and the missionary out of the car, take a couple of photos, a quick hug and off he goes. I suppose it was nice to have it quick like that...no need to pull that "goodbye band aide" off any slower than it was. We said our goodbyes than jumped back into the warm car with our eye a little misty with tears. They were good tear and short lived as we talk of how proud we were and excited for this next stage in his life. He's sure grown up fast.

(Our goodbye photo)

(Watching Trace walk towards the MTC doors with an escort pulling his bags - It's official - He's a missionary!)

Until next time ...