Halliday Family Blog

This morning, we got up early and Sarah went and reported her mission to the High Council at the Stake Center.  It was fun to be a part of that.  Angela got to speak a little bit from the mom perspective as well.

Sacrament Meeting was a treat at church today!  We had 2 returned missionaries speak!  Sarah went first, and then Andrew Bartholio (son of one of the counselors in the Bishopric) spoke.  He just got back from Italy.  We had all kinds of friends and family there to support Sarah, and she did a WONDERFUL job speaking.  It’s really fun to hear missionaries speak when they leave, and then listen to them again when they come back home.  What a difference in the level of spiritual insight they have!

After church, we had a joint homecoming open house for both Sarah and Andrew at our home.  We must have had 150 people in there at one point in time.  Not much room to walk around, but we sure did have a fun time talking to everyone.  It was great for those who came who were not of our faith to get to know a little more about what Sarah did and what we believe in.  🙂

What a great time!  We had people coming in and out non-stop from about 6-9pm!  🙂  We are exhausted, but happy!

Today was the BIG day!  Sarah came home from serving her honorable full-time mission!  We were so excited we couldn’t wait to get to the airport and pick her up!  Angela found a screaming deal on a vinyl banner, so we put one together and had it shipped to us for this day.  We all got to the airport plenty early and waited.  We had the sign all unrolled…

It seemed like forever until she came up the escalator from the airport train!  It was SO great to see her!  She couldn’t stop crying as she hugged all of us.  Most was happy to see us, some was the overwhelming realization that her mission was over.  What a GREAT Hermana!

Most of the pictures we have of her in the main welcome area are of her on the phone with Brittany or the Grandmas and Grandpas!  🙂

We went and got her luggage and then went out to the car and drove home.  Sarah was excited too because we got her a phone and had it all activated and ready to go at the airport.  🙂

It is SO great to have her home, but I know exactly how she feels.  She misses being out there serving but is very happy to be home with family again.  🙂

Tonight we went over to President Lindsey’s tonight and had a wonderful visit with him.  Sarah talked about her mission, what she’d learned, and the spirit she felt there.  Angela and I had a hard time not tearing up listening to her.  He then took her into his office, had a further chat, and then officially released her from her mission.  Bittersweet experience for her.  She was one of the first missionaries that he sent out after he was called, and it was fun to reminisce about time going so fast.  It seems like yesterday when he set her apart.

Great job on an honorable full-time mission!  We love you and are proud of you!

Busy busy Saturday, but really, what’s new!  🙂  This morning, Ben played in his basketball game, and had a lot of fun.  He’s getting better by the game, and really loves the team he plays on.  His coach is great!

After the basketball game, we ran Zach over for his Soccer game.  I think he had his best one yet.  They didn’t win, but he played hard and had some good plays.

After the game, we got a slight break to get ready to go over to the Trunk or Treat activity at the church.  Kirstyn had to work, so she wasn’t able to be there, but the boys had a blast!  They got all dressed up in their costumes and we all went to the church for some great food and fun!  They had a costume judging contest, doughnut eating contest, and lots of other stuff.

We did our best after the trunk or treat part of going around to the cars and getting candy not to let the boys eat too much!  Our attempts were futile, and after telling them not to eat too much junk, Zach did, ended up getting sick, and was up part of the night toilet or treating in the bathroom.  🙁  It’s hard to get the boys to understand that if you eat too much, you’ll get sick!