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!

Jen, for you and you other mothers with little children

'Song for a Fifth Child'
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
[Notes by Grama Mission: It could also be for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th child or more.]

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

[Concluding note from Grama Mission: Yes....it's true before the blink of an eye your little ones will grow up, graduate from high school, go to college, some go on missions, marry, have precious babies of their own. That is the Eternal Plan of a wise and loving Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother.]