Elder Austin Keith Murphy

one of the major benefits of being here in santa monica for the summer is being close to my family, particularly for this momentous weekend. the first murphy missionary just entered the mtc today! this memorial day weekend was pretty much a celebration of everything austin, from eating at his favorite restaurants to listening to him speaking in church to having all of his friends coming over to say good-bye to him before he left for the next two years. he did an AMAZING job on his farewell talk (go here if you are in any way interested) and i even got to see him off at the airport. 

in the couple of days before his farewell, we did a lot of fun stuff, like playing scattergories,

doing just dance! on the wii,

and having a picnic and family ultimate frisbee game at the park.

we made sure to take a few family pictures because the family is going to have at least one additional member by the time he gets home. since dallin is two years younger than austin, we might not all be together for a family picture for four years. if that is the case, i bet the family will look drastically different by then! cole will be towering over the rest of us, at the very least. 

austin and baby austin (as austin insisted on calling him) bonded.

and, the good-bye walk at the airport.

whoops, tommy had to work and camille and brandon had already gone back to idaho. but these are the siblings who were at the airport.

bethany ACTUALLY GIVING SOMEBODY A HUG! it really WAS a momentous occasion--usually she's just a leaner more than a hugger. it WAS also her fourteenth birthday--what a way to celebrate.

and, he's off!

he insisted that this canada flag hang up outside our house for the next two years, at which point we'll replace it with the flag of whatever country or state dallin goes to, i'm sure. 

there's not much else to say except that we're all really confident that austin is going to be a great missionary. he is the world's most determined (stubborn) person, and he's already gone a long way in turning that determination (stubbornness) towards learning the gospel, becoming a better person, and preparing for a mission. he will definitely be a major force for good in montreal.


now that tommy and i each have a brother on a mission, kurt and austin, we are determined to be better letter writers. we have sadly neglected kurt with all the craziness of this year. but we will be better! at least once a week, right? it can't be that hard...