The day finally came! Elly started early. We met her at the MEPS, Military Enlistment Processing Station. Elly's grandparents and Gary and I went to the swearing in process.

Elly was sworn in along with a young man, Zach, who was also heading to Texas today. The other three men were going into the Army. The man who swore them in talked to the new recruits about the value of education and other benefits of the military. He also commented on the positive value of family and how nice it was to see so many family members present - of course this made all the mothers in the room smile.

Here is one final picture from the official room today before she left.

We got a call at 9:35 p.m. tonight. She was on a bus from the airport to Lackland Air Force Base. She sounds very positive and excited about her new experience. She texted me today that she is "ready to be yelled at". Here is how she spent some of the time waiting in the airport.