Our first email from Elder Bourne!!

Yesterday we said good bye to Tyson, he flew all day (got up at 3am our time to get to the airport on time and then arrived in England around 1am our time. I have never worried this much about anything before, i was on pins and needles worrying about him catching his flights ok etc.
Here is the email we woke up to this morning! We were so excited to get one!!Knowing he is there safe and sound and on time makes me relax a bit now.

 Top 2 pictures are of Toronto, last Canadian soil he saw.

Germany from the plane.

Tracking his plane as he flew from Lethbridge to Calgary to Toronto to Frankfurt Germany to Manchester England!


Tyson's Email he sent letting us know he arrived ok, just without luggage.


 I got to the MTC

fine, but my bags got lost on the way over. Just my luck right? I'm so

done with flying it's not even funny. I absolutely hate it. 26 hours

is too long to be flying. Tell dad I got pictures of Germany, and it's

gross haha. Hated it. I have an iPad here at the MTC that we get to

use. I don't know my companion yet, but I feel like it's a guy going

to my mission from Utah. We're both on iPads. It smells weird here.

Kinda like a pig pen. I don't like it haha. Mix that with smoke and

it's awesome..! Oh and I flew alone the whole way and at Toronto had

to run across the airport to get to my next gate. So tell dad e was

wrong about that. Tell Kaden I only have 729 days left before he sees

me again haha. I'm doing fine just tired. I need to go exercise so

I'll email soon. Idk when my P day is. Anyways have fun sleeping and

write me when you wake up!

Elder Bourne

He's Gone.

As I write this, I am on my laptop tracking Tyson's flights online.What a hard thing to do as a parent! Sending your son off on a mission is probably the hardest thing I have ever done! The past few days have been tough on all of us. He had to say goodbye to Bethany yesterday before he went to get set apart as a missionary. That was hard for them both to do. My heart was breaking for them both. Then we went to the church to meet with President Maxwell. My mom and dad & Mark and robyn were there with all of our family. Kaden has been having a really hard time dealing with the fact that Tyson will be gone for 2 whole years. When we got to the church, Pres.Maxwell took Tyson in for one last quick interview. Then he talked to us all and then he gave Tyson an amazing blessing and set him apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that he will be a terrific missionary and will work hard and do so much good! We are so proud of the young man he has become and the example he shows to the rest of us and to everyone around him. I know We will miss him terribly but in the long run, it wont really be that long. This time will be a time of growth for both him and all of us at home. Right now as Im writing this he is sitting in the Toronto airport waiting for his connecting flight to Frankfurt Germany. I have been praying all day and all day yesterday so hard for him so that he will get on the right flights, with all of his belongings, especially his passport, letter for customs for his visa, his wallet and carry-on bag. I have also prayed hard for his safety, for him to be watched over and protected, for him to have peace and comfort as he travels there, possibly alone the whole way! At the Lethbridge airport, there was no other missionaries leaving from there so we are really hoping that he will meet up with another missionary along the way. As hard as it is to send him off today, there is no other place that I would want him to be and no other work I would want him to be doing! I am so thankful for the Gospel and the joy it brings to me and my family, for a loving Heavenly Father who is mindful of all of us and loves each one of us. I know with all my hear that Tyson will do amazing in England and Love his mission and the people over there. My heart aches to hold him again and to see and talk to him again, but we are one day closer to having him home with us!!

Tyson's farewell

Today was Tyson's mission Farewell. This day was a day I thought would not come as soon as it did. Everything seems to be happening at lightening speed and as much as I try to hold onto each and every moment it slips faster thru my fingers! Tyson was assigned to speak on Obedience. He did an amazing job writing his talk and making it thru over 15 minutes of speaking. He was the first speaker, second was Darren Hubbard of the High Council, who also gave a great talk on lifting others up and helping them become better members of the Church. So many of Tyson's friends were at church to hear him speak, even a non member friend Dallas Houghton came! From my family there was mark and Robyn's family, Mandy and Shawn's family, Matt and Kristi's family, my mom and dad, Grandma Norma and even my uncle Doug came. That really meant a lot to us that he came considering he hasnt been to church in years! From Brents side there was his parents, Addy and Lois, Monte and Alyson and Mark and Logan and Jim and Barb Depew. Bethany's family came, her parents and brother carson and sister Aubrey, grandma and grandpa Baril, grandpa and grandma Hardy, her cousins Ava and Mia and Mckaya.

After church we came home and had a dinner and had a good visit with everyone. Josh Judd, Teddy Cahoon, Rylan Ratky, and jamie Cook came over to visit. Josh had a hard time saying good bye to Tyson, they are pretty tight close friends. It was a good day, and busy day and we really appreciate everything that everyone has done for us and especially for Tyson.  

Only a WEEK left with my boy!

As I sit here writing I am overwhelmed with emotion, both happy and sad, worried and proud. I only have one more week, 7 days left with Tyson home before he leaves on his mission. How has this time come so quickly? How do I hold on to the last few moments I have with him? I can't help but think about when he was a small child. He was such a sweet and adorable little boy! He was a mama's boy and I loved that he was! And still is, maybe not to the extent now, but I think we have a close bond. I am so proud of the young man he has become and
the leader I know he is. I have had so many people say what a great missionary he will be because he is a leader. He has shown that in the various sports he has played and in every aspect of his life. He has never been a follower, if someone was doing something he knew was wrong, he told them and never became of part of it. He has shown his gentle heart many times and knows how to work hard at the same time. I feel like I am rambling on about him. This Sunday is his Farewell. I have to admit I am so glad that the church has changed their sacrament meetings regarding missionary farewells, I would hate to have to give a talk and look like a fool up there crying. I look forward to hearing his talk.  Some days all I have to do is think about him leaving, hear a song, and it triggers the tears. I know he is doing the Lords work and there is no other place I would want him to be. I am so excited to see the growth in him and hear about the experiences he will have and the people he will teach. I know that he will be looked after and that if he works hard and obeys they mission rules he will be protected. I am just going to miss him so much! Miss having him here every day, miss talking to him, and most of all his hugs! He has always just out of the blue walked up and given me a hug when he feels like it! And I love that he does! I will miss them.

On July 28th, 2016 Tyson went thru the Cardston Alberta Temple to take out his endowments. What a proud moment that was for me! Watching your children grow and stay strong in the gospel is such a rewarding feeling, one that you will never forget. My dad took him thru as his escort. My mom, Brent's parents, Cynthia and Rob all went thru with him. He said it was a great experience. I am so thankful for his girlfriend Bethany! She is such a great example to Tyson and she has such a strong testimony of the gospel. I know she will miss him so much but I am proud of her decision to serve a mission too.

Tyson flies out of Lethbridge at 5:20am on August 16th. I treasure the time we have with him this week but also look forward to the many amazing experiences he will have serving the people of the England London Mission!

40 Days!

I can believe there is only 40 days left until Tyson will be in the MTC! Time just keeps slipping by way too fast! Tyson has been busy working for Easton Chipman doing electrical work this summer, which keeps him busy and earning money to help pay for his mission too. A few sundays ago he was set apart as an Elder, and received the Melchizedek Priesthood. That was a great experience and a proud moment as a mother. His Grandpa Bourne gave his that blessing and in the circle were my dad, brents dad, Robbie, Ricks Smith, Our Bishop, and President Low. Its so exciting to see Tyson becoming the person he is and how his testimony is growing.


We have been working on getting everything ready and have accomplished quite a bit already. His passport and Visa are ready, which makes us so relieved. That was a stressful time for us. We just need to get the last little big bought and put together. He needs to go thru the temple and plan when his farewell will be now. We received his travel plans and that alone makes me scared and worried! He flies out of Lethbridge at 5:20 am on August 16th. From there he will fly to Calgary, to Toronto, to Frankfurt Germany, then on to Manchester England. Thats a lot of stops and a long travel time! I am already having a hard time somedays thinking about him being gone for so long. I know he will be where he should be and that he is doing the Lord's work and will be watched over. But I am going to miss my sweet boy!! Some days I can't even listen to a church song without getting teary eyed thinking about him being gone. Its going to be the hardest thing to let him go, but so worth it.  

Visa Appointment

Today Tyson and Brent made the long drive to Edmonton to get his visa papers done and also his biometric finger prints done. What a stressful time! Getting everything ready to take up there and make sure its all done! Saturday I took Tyson to get passport style pictures done to use with his visa  application. He was to wear Missionary attire, so he wore a white shirt and tie. We got to Costco and they said you cant wear a white shirt for a passport picture, to which i replied its for visa papers not passport. So they took the pictures and that was that. Well I got worried about not doing the pictures how the passport needed them and thought maybe they should take up a white shirt and tie and suit jacket just incase they had time to get new pictures taken before the appointment time. They didn't take them. Being the tricksters they are and knowing I was stressed about everything and being stuck at work not being able to go with them, they told me they couldn't be sent in because they didn't accept the picture with a white shirt! I was so upset, I was texting them as I was working with the home ec teacher. She knew about the appointment and so I told her what had happened. She could tell I was upset and then they told me it was all sent in and everything went fine.  GRRRR i was not impressed but so relieve that it was all good.

As of today, Tyson has 57 days until he arrives at the MTC! Its going way too fast and I know as soon as his grad is over this weekend its going to go by even faster! In a way Im glad that he doesn't have much time to wait but on the other hand I'm wishing I could enjoy every minute with him home! Saturday we found out the Kaden Wood  got his call to the England London Mission too. He doesn't leave until after Tyson will be out of the MTC. So far Tyson's friends that have been called on missions are : Adam Bullock - Brisbane Australia, Tevin Hall - Philippines, Keaton Miller - Philippines.

Yesterday, Sunday June 19th, Tyson was made an Elder. He received the Melchizedek Priesthood from his grandpa Bourne. It was such a great experience for all of us but another step closer to him leaving. The hardest will be when he gets set apart as a missionary and then leaves the next day! I am super excited for him to go on his mission because he will be doing what the Lord wants him to do as well as what we know he should be doing. But its going to be hard to say goodbye. We are all going to miss him so much!  

IT"S HERE!!

Its here, its finally here! Tyson has been checking the mail on a regular basis, somedays he checked up to 3 times a day! Each trip to the post office would lead to disappointment and we would all wonder where it was. Today after I got home from school I asked Tyson, who was outside mowing the lawn, if he had checked the mail, he said no. I came inside and noticed that there was a voice mail on the phone, I quickly checked the caller ID and noticed the post office had called! I then started listening to the voice mail and it said"this message is for Tyson, today is a good day to get the mail!' I ran outside and told Tyson. He was shocked and said, No. So I said lets go. We drove up and he ran in and got it. I think he was still shocked that it had finally come. He told Brent that he wasn't going to even look today and see if it had come. Well It worked. It was there. When he opened it we were pleasantly surprised to where it was to. England London Mission! I do have to admit, Im scared about him going so far, and so close to the crazy things that have been going on over in that neck of the woods. But I know that its where the Lord wants him to go. Im scared to let him go, Im sad to have him going for 2 years. Im not sure Im ready for all this but Im going to have to get over that soon enough. August 17th will come all too soon. Im so proud of his decision to serve a mission, and of the young man he has grown to be. This will be an exciting time for our family.