off into the sunset

this was the last picture i took with my younger brother, {Elder} Seth Wood.

after many tears and hugs and smiles, we took him to the MTC and watched him walk away.

my mom said she knew my dad was walking with Seth.

i knew he was too.

as if the day was not emotional enough, we had to say goodbye once again as they took me to the airport, not two hours after we left Seth in Provo.

i honestly couldn't handle it.

so i cried.

all day. i didn't care who saw me. i didn't care who didn't.

as one of my mother's first grade students said, "my body was so sad".

i got on the plane and sat down in my window seat,

 looking towards my house and my family who couldn't see me.

the sun was setting as we took off, yet as we flew west, we followed that sunset.

it seemed the sun would never actaully set,

like the day didn't want to end.

the clouds were trying to hold on to the last rays of orange and red.

they were successful for almost an hour.

as i watched the sunset and big dipper simultaneously from the sky,

i realized this day was symbolizing my feelings.

i didn't want the day to end.

i didn't want to say goodbye to Seth or the rest of my family.

but the end had to come.

and it's not really the end--it's the beginning.

best of luck to my missionary brother.

you will be missed like crazy.

love you 40.