Thanks Where Thanks is Due

Not all the pictures of our travels are all in one place, so check back for more on our travels.

We couldn't have made the trip cross country without our 2nd trusty driver - our all grown up son - Austin.  Thank you for all your help packing, loading, driving,driving & driving, unloading and so much more.  Particularly the HOTTEST days ever with a faulty air conditioner in the truck.

Thursday July 19, 2012 – Kansas City Weather Forecast

Friday – Partly cloudy. High: 100

Saturday – Mostly sunny. High: 104

Sunday – Mostly sunny. High: 106

Monday – Mostly sunny. High: 107

"June weather records are in, and the nation's unprecedented warm spell continues, making this the warmest first half of the year and the warmest 12-month period since record-keeping began for the continental U.S. in 1895."

And most of all thank you for putting up with the rest of us!

But oh, the places we've been and the things we've seen - together.

(Riley we know you were eager to participate if we had planned better and you had been able to leave work there in Provo to assist us - next time.)

From Sea to Shining Sea!

I know it's about time for an update.  I always find an excuse not to.  Maybe because I have to think about what I want to say or how to say something somewhat intelligent and interesting.

We have gone through a BIG change over the past couple of months.  The BIG change of moving from one end of the country to another.  It is a LONG drive, had a few challenges but was also able to take some time and see some amazing, interesting and memorable things along the way.

We bade farewell to Naples, Florida . . .

And said hello to Salem, Oregon . . .

We shed tears and the Florida skies wept with us as we headed out of town and finally arrived in Oregon to warm welcome rays of sunshine and cool breezes to comfort and refresh us.

We spent time seeing sites such as . . . Andersonville Prison Cival War Site; St. Louis; Nauvoo, IL; Carthage, IL; to mention a few.  Pictures of all those to come.

We stayed in Idaho for almost 2 weeks for a family reunion.  We relaxed, took turns preparing meals, had some hilarious activities, did some kids crafts, canoed, played ultimate, rode 4-wheelers & motorcycles, hiked, went swimming, played basketball and attended the home ward for church where all of us grew up and the men and boys shot handguns & shotguns while the girls crafted .

It had been several years since we had been back to my mom's.  She has made some wonderful changes to her home, deck and yard that we all love.  Two years ago our reunion was in Texas, so we didn't get there then.  The next year was our turn to visit John's family in Washington, so we didn't go then either.  

The kids also got to ride horses.  One was thrilled, one was not. 

And even I got to ride. 

We made a stop at Multnomah Falls just before dark as we were on our last push or leg of our LONG drive.  It is beautiful here in the Northwest.

We were able to spend a few days with John's family . . . enjoying more of the outdoors.

We did finally find our way to our new home . . .

unloaded with extra help that we were sooo grateful for . . .

We are settling in slowly but surely and getting ready for our new adventures here.

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!!!