A new generation of missionaries . . .

In one month last spring a dozen or so of Willie's friends received their mission calls.  With the change in age requirements from 19 to 18 for boys and 21 to 19 for girls has had a huge impact on this newest generation of young adults.  The whole thing caught me off guard.  It wasn't until Willie came home from school and announced that Kendall Taylor had his mission call to Mexico; and he was due to leave two weeks after high school graduation that it hit me -- Willie is old enough to serve a mission!

The calls continued to come -- Quinn Parker to Mexico; Alexandro to Mexico; Stephan to Tacoma, WA; Paxon to Oklahoma City, OK; Cody to Cleveland, OH; Paula to Lyon, France; Travis to Indianapolis, IN; Steven to Ukraine; Josh to Mesa, AZ; Cory to Asuncion, Paraguay; and more . . .

Then it really hit me - Tanner got his mission call to Riverside, CA and Austin to Las Vegas, NV.  Willie and Tanner have been friends since 2nd grade and basketball teammates since 4th grade.  Austin entered the scene in 5th grade -- he and Willie played their first year of little league football together and he, too, became a good friend.

Fast forward 7-8 years and the three friends are grown-up and moving on.  This photo was taken in Tanner's carport after his mission sacrament meeting.  They are good boys!

Austin, Tanner, Willie