Church

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!

Today, our nephew Wyatt was baptized in Salmon.  It was a great experience for him and we were able to Skype in Mom and Dad from the Philippines to watch.  How cool is technology nowadays!  🙂  After the baptism, we went over to Carla’s and Scott’s house for an afternoon of eating and relaxing.  We had a great time visiting with family and friends.

Today we had a busy day and it seemed even more busy without Angela with us!  🙂  She’s having a great time over there, despite the oppressive heat and humidity.

Today was General Conference and we were excited for that.  Turns out that Zach’s soccer coach’s (Jason Robbins) dad is a General Authority (member of the Seventy) and he gave a talk during the morning session.  It was really great!  After the morning session, we went to Zach’s soccer game.  I had a chance to talk to Jason about his dad’s talk and that was enjoyable.  🙂

Zach did a great job playing today.  He’s getting better and better every week.  He’s not the star of the team, but he really enjoys playing and doing this is helping him become more active and agressive which is great for him!  🙂

The game was out of town in Westminster and so it took us about 90 minutes to drive up there.  After the game, we dropped by Sam’s Club up there, picked up some groceries and ate hot dogs and then came home and watched the recorded second session of General Conference.  The boys and I then watched the Priesthood session together at home.  I was surprised that they sat and watched the whole thing with me even though they didn’t have to.  What good boys!

Today was a hugely busy and VERY long day!  This morning, Julia Liddell and Mark Daniel were sealed in the temple.  It was wonderful to be there!  Luck would have it that our home teacher and the Stake Patriarch (who is also a sealer in the temple) performed the ceremony.  🙂  Julia had asked me to take pictures as well of all the events, so I shot a ton (along with the other photographer that was there).  She was the official one so I hope I didn’t get in her way.

After the sealing ceremony at the temple, we all went down to our church building in Castle Rock for the wedding breakfast.  They had asked me take a bunch of photos there as well so I did.  We really enjoyed the time there and both Terry and Mark really set the bar for all the guys there by both singing to Julia.  🙂

After the luncheon, we went home and got ready for the reception.  Brittany was asked to make the wedding cake and she did an AWESOME job on it.  It was big and weighed about 80 pounds!  We went to the reception and had to hurry through it because we had an all-night drive ahead of us…

As a last act before we left to take Brittany to college, she was the one who caught the bouquet of flowers!  🙂  I hope that doesn’t mean anything!  🙂  We took off from Castle Rock with Brittany, all of her stuff, Ally Tanner, and Angela and I at about 7pm.  We drove all night long to get to Rexburg by 6am so Brittany could get checked in, unpacked, and participate in the events of the day.  Angela and I got to the point where we were driving for an hour, then jumping out, changing, and driving again!  We are exhausted!

Tonight, we went to the temple with Julia Liddell and her family.  She received her Endowment and it was so awesome to see her there.  It’s hard to believe that time is moving so fast.  Just yesterday Julia was with our girls in Young Women and now she’s getting married tomorrow.  Jennifer Braithwaite and her kids also came (used to be in our ward in Naperville as well).  She drove in from Nebraska where they live now.  They are staying with us and will be going to the wedding and reception tomorrow.

Today we fed the missionaries.  Elder Schilling is the son of a couple that got engaged right before us at BYU and were in our ward.  🙂  Small world.

We really enjoy feeding them and we like to take pictures of them to post or send to their parents!  🙂  We love it when people in Sarah’s mission to that for us.  🙂