Life goes on after mission...

The yellow ribbons, bows, and balloons are still

a happy sight that welcomed us home

on March 12, 2010 from

our 18-month mission to the

South America South Area.

The "welcome home" bouquet is still beautiful.

Here are just a few of our goings and comings...

Yes, life goes on after each mission.

We went to a funeral for Albert Holyoak on Saturday morning.

Well, it went from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Nice...but long.

Elden Wood told us Sunday at Church:

"I told Picola if my funeral goes over an hour,

I will come back to haunt her."

It's been wonderful seeing family and friends.

We introduced Walt's brother, Dale,

to our darling friend, Connie Hess,

in 2002 after he had tragically lost his
darling wife, Vicki, in Aug 2000, to

a sudden heart attack at the young age of 55.

Connie's homemade apple pie, said "We love you."

Walt's brother Dale, and his wife Connie had

us come to lunch on Saturday, March 20.

The chicken casserole was delicious,

and Connie sent some home for our Sunday dinner,

along with homemade bread and apple pie.

Thank you so much! Our brother-in-law, Dale Bunn, is just home

from the Boise Hospital having had a subderal

hematoma drained caused from a fall on the ice

in January. He had his 81st birthday on March 12. How nice to see Walt's sister Phyllis. Although she

is not in the best of health...Karen told us she

still keeps quilting. We saw our dear friend, Murk Lancaster, at his sister

Velma Willard's burial...she was 94.

In fact, we saw 26 dear old Wendell friends on Wed, Mar. 17.

(I lost the photo of Murk...will put in a later blog.)

The Relief Society Presidency and committee for this

Relief Society celebration did a great job.

L to R: Emily Garrard, chairman.

Wendy Weeks, president; Sis. Craner, secretary;

Sister Kemp; Sister Nielsen, counselor, and

Sister Jennifer, counselor.

The decorations were beautiful and the soups were delicious.

The birthday cake at our table, decorated

by Chris Kemp, was too pretty to cut.

I enjoyed a nice Relief Society birthday dinner
Tuesday evening, March 16 with friends.

We had lunch with my sister Janice

at Appleby's before heading home.

We needed to discuss our 90-y-o mother's

health and care facility needs.

Kimble and Carter ready for school Tuesday morning

before we left for Dr. Middleton's office in SLC.

because of elevated PSA, Walt got a prostate biopsy.

Results are benign...great news!

(Lost photo of Kimble & Carter with Steve...add later.)

We enjoyed FHE with Steve & Natalie, Cortney,

Kimble, and Carter at their home in Saratoga Springs,

on our first Monday back.

We had driven to Utah

for Walt's prostate biopsy appt the next morning.

Walt figures he had about 1400 hours flying time

since he got his pilot's license in 1967.

He misses flying.

Mostly we flew to medical meetings across the United States.

The furtherst was flying to a medical meeting in Guadalajara

In Oct. 1972...but that was in the twin engine Aztec.

Walt had to check out our "former" Cessna 206 turbo-charged airplane.

We were 1/3 owners until we sold our share just before

we left for the South America South Area Mission.

Maddie having a piece of Julie's favorite chocolate cake from Stokes.

Why would they laugh at the things I carried home in my purse?

Walt said to son Steve: "Now you see why I'm afraid to put my hand down into her purse!"

We have been released, reported to the Stake Presidency and High Council.Yellow ribbons and yellow balloons adorned our front yard and home...

Bright and early Sunday morning

(even an hour earlier with daylight savings starting)

we were asked to be there at 6a.m. to

give a 5-min each report of our mission

to the Stake Presidency

and High Council.

(I hope I had my eyes open when I gave

my report in English, then testimony in Spanish...

as requested by President Sagers.

Opps....I see my camera has gone waco on the printed date....again.

The date should read: 03/14/2010 or 03/15/2010 on all these photos.

Steve and his boys caravaned with us from SLC to Burley Friday night.

Carter got a tummy ache Saturday evening, so is lying by his Dad.

Janie & Shawn had come last weekend and helped put all our

family photos back up plus helping Julie & John get

our home ready for us to just "move back in."

It was wonderful to have everything in place.

And we like their arrangement of family photos

spread throughout the rooms.

"Thank you" --

small words

BIG MEANING!!!

Some more family time...

Jen, don't worry, you wouldn't

have enjoyed any of the lively conversations.

(Just teasing.)

Julie & John came up three weekends in a row to

help get our home ready for us.

We really appreciate it! Thanks a million!

(The photo of Julie & John walked away on it's own.

I'm getting paranoid about losing so many photos I upload

in and then they vanish without a trace.

No, it couldn't be the chicken and potatoes' photo that vanished.)

Our dear neighbors, Ruth & Don Melling, brought in Saturday evening

supper for 25...chicken, potatoes & gravy, salad, and pies.

Other dear neighbors, Sherry & Steve Ormond, brought over hot scones and homemade bread.

And then other dear neighbors, Marilyn & Dave Gibbons brought brownies.

We thank each one of them -- it is so appreciated.

No wonder we love living here in Burley, IDAHO!

We woke to a couple inches of new snow Saturday morning, March 13. Yellow ribbons and balloons...withstood the snowstorm.

It's wonderful to be home...

Yes, we're home!

It's wonderful to be reunited with family!

For a better photo, go to Julie & John's blog.

(From lower right on our family blog addresses....

just scroll down past all the widgets.)

We arrived at the Salt Lake City airport

on Friday, March 12 about noon.

This is a blog in progress.

I'm going on a ride with Walt now (Sunday afternoon)

around the countryside of Burley. Janie, in the red, was here with Daniel, Katie,

Heidi, Sam, Ashley, and Michael. Shawn had to be at a

national ballroom meeting in Las Vegas.

Brian & Michelle on the left, came with their

four darling daughters. This is one of the new

grandbabies we had not seen: Elizabeth Brinn

born November 7, 2009.

(Elizabeth Jane was born November 2, 2009 and

we will see her when Jen flies in from

Rochester, MN on March 25 for

our speaking in Sacrament Meeting on March 28.)

Gary & Kathy were here with McKell, Abbey, Jacob, and Isaac.

Daniel is to the left. Steve & Natalie were there with Cortney, Kimble, and Carter.

Everyone wanted a photo of their first course.

David & Julie were there with Josh, Anna, Sam, and William.

William was born Oct. 26, 2008 - soon after we'd left.

Julie & John were there with Jacee, Jackson, and Maddie. Brian & Michelle drove from Evanston, Wyoming

with Emma, Taylor, Avery, and Elizabeth.

(this photo got lost....put back later)

Cortney and Katie turned 16 last month.

McKell and Heidi became teenagers during our mission.

(photo got lost of McKell and Heidi...I'll put back in later)

Jacee and Ashley wanted to ride with us

from the airport to lunch at Golden Corrall.

Our dear friends, Ross & Karen Taylor came to the airport to welcome us home.
And we made it okay with every suitcase.

One was over just 1/2 kilo, but they waved it thru okay.

Perhaps that was because one was only 18.5 kilos

and the limit is 23 kilos (50 lbs).

We're thankful for Elder y Hna. Wall driving us to the airport.

Thank you, Frank & Diane.

And we thank each of the other Sr. Missionary Couples we served with.

Eternal friends, for sure!

Winding down...

For our last event with the whole group of

Sr. Missionary couples here, we were

taught for 2 1/2 hours last night

about "The Apostasy and the need for

A Restoration" by Philippe Kradolfer.

"Wasn't that incredible!" Walt said as we left.

My husband doesn't use that word very much.

So you know it was really something.

The spirit, which was already very strong,

flooded the room when Philippe bore

testimony of The Restoration at the end.

Watch for his book, soon to be published.

I'll blog the name when it's translated into English.

The other couples treated us to a Chinese Supper

as a "going away" gift.

Philippe and Regula Kradolfer are an outstanding couple.

He was the DTA (Director of Temporal Affairs)

in Mexico City while we were serving

as president and wife of the

Mexico Merida Mission 1995-1998.

Now he's been the DTA here for

the South America South Area

during our time here on this mission.

They have lived in 9 countries, and each know

several languages. We love them a lot.

As we been working side by side this morning

getting our apartment ready

for our replacements to come

(April 1--interim physician and wife for 3 months;

then another interim physician and wife for 3 months

before a full-time area medical advisor can come)

I started to clean out the fridge.

"Here, I'll do that for you," Walt said.

What a guy!

Have I mentioned I love my husband...

my eternal sweetheart!We're goin' home we've done our time...