Welcome Home, Austin!

 My friend, Marji Winder surprised us with a big sign on the garage when Riley came home with yellow ribbons on the trees.  So I knew just what to do to welcome Austin home.  When she said she wanted to do it again - I said how about we do it together.  I had already enlisted Macey's help and we had the supplies.

 Marji brought her son, Kyle to add some help & height to aid us in hanging the sign and Macey had her friend, Janiel Prime over.  The more the merrier.  Can you tell from Parker's shirt why we chose the colors for our sign.

We know Austin likes Capt. America and so that prompted our color choice.  However, it fit perfectly with the fact that he is our very own Super Hero!

 Our neighbors asked if we had someone returning from the military.  Maybe the sign, maybe the ribbons or maybe the red, white & blue.  No - but returning from some place just as great and even better.  He was not just returning from serving his country but from serving his Savior, Jesus Christ.

 The custom of tying a yellow ribbon around a tree to symbolize waiting love seems to go back at least as far as the days of Nero. A recently unearthed villa (thought to be that of Nero's wife) in Pompeii and covered by the Mt Vesuvius eruption of AD 79 contains a mural depicting a man standing at a tree with a yellow ribbon tied 'round it.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_ribbon

How fitting to have the yellow ribbons, tied around the "old oak tree."  I grew up knowing, singing and coming to love old songs such as these from my dad.  We sang songs such as these around the piano for family time more times than I can count.  Good memories.  Thankful memories.

Tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
It's been two long years
Do you still want me?
If I don't see a ribbon round the old oak tree
I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree.

p.s.  These pictures in no way display how hot is has been.  We are all smiles!  We all needed showers by the time we were done.  Welcome soon to Florida, Austin.

Almost Time! Almost Home!

 

 From 1st year at BYU, to mission clothes shopping with the backdrop of the Rockies in Provo, UT -

 Back home to Naples, FL, a visit to the Orlando temple, saying goodbye to old friends -

 

 Back to Provo, UT to enter the MTC -

 

 

 Final farewell to family for two years -

 

 To the beauty of the Northwest to the Seattle Washington Mission -

 

 To an old rock he use to climb on and over as a youth -

 Back to the very door where we used to live in Issaquah, WA when Austin was 2-5yrs. old -

 Giving credit where credit is due - thank you!

 One of the benefits of the northwest -

 The amazing people he was able to meet and come to know -

 

 

 

 

 Birthdays away from home by moms who know how to take care of someone else's son -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What an amazing two years it has been!  These are but a few glimpses into only a few of the days in the life of our wonderful missionary - who is almost home!  Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 9:19pm into SW Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, FL!  See you soon, son!!!