Wednesday May 25
Zach and I decided to be crazy and go to SunSplash to start off our final week together. I hadn't been to SunSplash in at least 5 years, and there were tons of new rides. Zach had never been, so it was a party. The great thing about water parks is that you can't have your phone with you so you just have to be in the moment and enjoy the party. It was a wonderful good time.
After spending the afternoon there, we went with the fam to Slickables (an ice cream sandwich place in Mesa and probably other places that I don't know about). I didn't even get an ice cream sandwich, I just got a mango ice cream cone, but it was still delicious. Afterward, we all went to Zach's to play games, because even though I am all gamed out... I could never really be all gamed out.
Thursday May 26
My mom left for Canada in the morning, and all the other members of my family had to work, so I was on Avery duty. Zach joined in on Avery duty to make it a party. We went to chipotle and to bahama bucks, and then later Pam treated us to some thrifty ice cream. We got Avery all sugared up for my Dad after he got off work.
I'm going to start a collection of all the photos of me photo bombing a photo while eating some sort of dessert item [you can see another from Bahama Bucks in my last blog post]
Friday May 27
Friday night was Ashlyn's bachelorette party that I was helping Sadie plan! The night started with dinner at Liberty Market (so delicious), then moved over to the Walton's house (seriously you guys are the best for letting us use your house) for some interesting and fun games, then there was dessert, and of course karaoke. I feel like what happens at a bachelorette party stays at the bachelorette party, so I am not going into too much detail. But here are a few photos from the night that people won't kill me for posting:
It was quite the party, Sadie rocked it! Now it's time for Ashlyn to get married!!!
Oh and here is a picture of Zach wearing the crown/veil we got for Ashlyn for the party:
Saturday May 28
Avery and I went swimming at the Walton household in the morning. It was the first time that Avery was brave enough to swim without floaties with me, so it was a blast. Avery is so entertained by Zach's brothers, so it makes my Avery duty time a little bit easier.
Later Zach and I went to lunch with his brothers and then went with his family to do some last minute shopping things. Thane, Zach and I were very successful and found some good sales. We also talked to so many strangers, it was so random, but kinda cool.
Later in the evening, Zach and I went to Native, played some trivia, and watched Game 6... well the last 5 minutes of game 6. I have no shame in only watching the Finals, and for cheering for Golden State because of my love for Riley Curry (also Steph and Steve Kerr though).
Sunday May 29
I went with Ej to Meridian ward. That was good, I made it through 2 1/2 hours.
Then it was mostly a relaxing Sunday, took a nap, ate some dinner at the Walton's.
And then I picked my mom up from the airport. And the best part of her going to Canada is that she brings back Canadian candy bars! They never stop being good.
We also had a very long Dutch Blitz tournament at my house, which was fun but went on forever.
Monday May 30
I couldn't even be next to him, pure torture
Monday was a big Walton party fun time day. We went and did some geocaching in the morning. We failed on the first one, but were successful with all our other findings.
After some fun scavenging we went to one of Zach's favorite restaurants Old Spaghetti Factory, for one last family meal out. Going out with the Walton's is always a hoot, you never know what's going to happen.
If it wasn't obvious, we are posing like spaghetti
Then Zach and I went to my house to watch Game 7. I got overwhelmed with some work things so I wasn't able to watch most of the game, but nonetheless I am very excited that the Warriors won.
After the game we went to Bahama Bucks with Zach's family and a couple of Jonah's friends. Kenzie was working so it was a party fun time.
I also received my very last goodnight text from Zach Monday night.... that ripped my heart into a million pieces.
Tuesday May 31
My very last day with Zach as a normal human being. We did some fun Syd & Zach things like going to Jamba Juice, watching Netflix, swinging on swings, playing games, eating food and some other spontaneous things like going to Peter Piper Pizza with his brothers.
It was a last day well spent, even though I never wanted it to end.
In the evening Zach was set apart as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints... and boy was I a wreck. No more hugging... no more kissing.... nothing, I couldn't even look at him without wanting to cry. Don't worry I did get one last long hug from him right before the setting apart.
He had his family, the fam, his Bishop and the Stake President at the setting apart and it was so special and so perfect and comforting and sad and fabulous and heart wrenching all at the same time. He was promised so many great things that I know he will receive through his hard work and diligence.
I couldn't touch him... but him leaving still wasn't real to me. I was crying, he was crying, his family was crying... but it wasn't real.
Whenever I tried to keep myself from crying in front of Zach for the past week or so I always stick my tongue out. I don't know why, it just happens. So this is me, sticking my tongue out because I can't even handle taking a picture with him.
Everyone stayed at his house for a little while helping to sort through his suit case and help decide what should be brought and what could be taken out. I just sat quietly, looking at my phone to try and avoid crying too much.
Zach didn't drive me home that night as he has for the past 2 1/2 years when I've been in Mesa. Talk about a lonely drive. I was composing myself pretty well. And I can usually compose myself well... that is until someone talks to me.... and then nothing can be held back. I walked into my house and my mom just simply asks how I was doing and I just break down... and she breaks down... and I seriously thought I was going to run out of tears.... but they just kept coming.
I kept looking at my phone expecting a goodnight text out of habit.... even though I knew it wasn't coming.
But it still wasn't real.
Side note: Thank you to everyone who sent me nice texts of messages after he got set apart. All your messages made me want to cry more, but all your support makes this just a little bit easier. I seriously can't thank you all enough. Even people I'm not even close with (or know at all) were messaging me. You all are angels.
Wednesday, June 1
I don't know how it's possible to encourage someone to go on a mission for 2 1/2 years and then dread the day that person leaves. June 1 was always so far off in the distance. He opened his call 103 days before June 1. 103 days, that's freaking forever. But somehow forever sped up on me real fast and June 1 came.
I woke up at 4 am. Not crying, composing myself well. I woke McKenzie up at 4:30 am. We drove over to the Walton's to meet up with the fam for their goodbyes. Zach hands me letters he wrote for me, and I can't even look at him in the eyes without bawling.
The fam wasn't coming to the airport so we took our last picture as the fam as it was, and then Kenzie and I were off to the airport.
We beat the other two Walton cars to the airport, went down to check-in and counted all the other missionaries that were in line. It was really comforting knowing Zach wouldn't be the only missionary on the plane (even though I never thought he would be... I mean he's going to Provo... from Arizona... on a Wednesday).
Eventually the Walton's arrived and we walked through check-in. I was composing myself quite well, only tearing up a few times.
Then we walk up to security of terminal 3 (the worst terminal in my opinion, not enough space), and it was time to say goodbye. We took some pictures and I was doing pretty good. But then it was time that I actually had to say goodbye. And let me tell you, a handshake is the WORST way to say goodbye to someone you love. HOW THE FREAKING HECK DO YOU SAY GOODBYE TO SOMEONE FOR TWO YEARS WITH A FREAKING HAND SHAKE?
I was the first one to lose it and then it was just a ripple effect to the rest of the company.
And then he had to walk away, and get in line through security. He turned around and waved every 15 seconds... and I cried every single time. We waited there until we couldn't see him any longer. And then I just had to leave, I really couldn't take it anymore.
I am really not a pretty crier, but I figured this will help you all visualize my sadness
I am still extremely sad and partly in denial that this happened. But now that the goodbyes are over, I think I am more excited for him now. I just know he's going to be such an amazing missionary. He has blessed my life in so many ways, and I know he will be able to bless so many more in Trinidad.
I don't know what I am going to do without him.
Good thing I have the best sister and the best best friend to help me make it through my first day.
McKenzie took me to go get my hair dyed, and we went to lunch with my family (avoiding the topic of Zach leaving for most of the time because as you learned earlier, if you talk to me about it, I will cry).
Sadie took me to get some Soda Rush (even though we both call it Sodalicious time and time again) and distracted me by letting me help her plan her wedding. Pro tip: planning your best friends weddings are a good distraction to your boyfriend leaving. We snuck some Panda Express into a theatre and saw Miracles From Heaven, and I cried... mostly thinking about Zach... but also the movie. It's a really dramatic movie, but very powerful and moving.
So here's to almost making it through my first day without Zach. Now I just have to make it through a week, then a month, then a year... and then it's over right?
PS This still isn't even real
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