They came...and they left

Ahh, a glorious weekend over. Mom & Dad went into the MTC this morning at 7:00 a.m. My brother, Jacob drove them down in Nels' truck. (His car is too small for all the luggage & people too.) He also took Gregory and dropped him off at school on the way home.

But the weekend was glorious. Nels & I picked them up at the airport on Friday and brought them home for dinner and a short visit with the kids and went off to bed. See their blog for their wild week in CA to visit Mom's mother (who had an accident just before they got there!) Anyway, Jacob & Ethen came down Friday night to stay the weekend with us. Saturday we visited and Dad, as usual, got busy helping with projects needing to be done around the house. It was on Nels' to-do list to install a fan in K's room...after much figuring and help from Dad, it was done! Thanks, Grandpa! Lots more visiting.

My cousin, Jessica Whitford arrived that afternoon, being dropped off by her best friend, Claudia. Jess stayed with us through Sacrament meeting the next day. It's always SO GOOD to see her. We wish Claudia could have stayed too, but family is first. My sister-in-law Sherlyn & her daughter Taylor arrived in time for dinner, and it was great. About the time Mom & Dad went to bed, Nels, Jacob, Jessica & Sherlyn got together a Cashflow game - fun as usual. Sherlyn & Tay had to go back to Sherlyn's parents in Toole that night. Goodbye, Grandma & Grandpa!

Church the next day was awesome. The kids were especially good during Sacrament Meeting, since there were so many visitors with us, none of them had to sit next to each other - ha ha! I got to sing in the Ward Choir. (Oh yeah, the closing song was the WORST song I've ever tried to interpret into ASL - it was an allegory from start to finish. Just you try to explain on the fly Oh Say What is Truth!) The Primary Presidency told me they'd take care of my rolls, and sent me off to RS with my Mom - I love going to Relief Society!

After church we visited with my Aunts & Uncles, Dad's siblings - Aunt Mary & Uncle James, (up from AZ, who came early enough to talk and still attend all of Church with us), Uncle Glen & Aunt Carol, and Aunt Elaine & Uncle George. (Glen & Carol's daughter, Gerilyn & her 19 year old twins Sarah & Spencer stopped by as well, on their way to drop off Sarah to Snow College.) Dad was telling stories of our mission in Kiribati, and some of the experiences there where he/we were obviously guided by the Lord. It was awesome! I even had to get out my scrapbooks to show them a picture of the house Dad built us there. Dinner-crockpot chicken cordon bleu & side dishes-was good too, but the company was awesome!

The Aunts & Uncles all left by 7:30, but before they did, the Melchizedek priesthood holders gave each Mom & Dad a blessing in preparation for their mission. Just the right touch.

After sending the kids to bed, Mom & Dad went to pack and Nels, Jacob & I played Phase 10. At some urging, Dad brought his computer down and we did some "Blog Training" so they'll be able to use their blog to the extent we'll all be longing for.

My sister Karen called later while they were finishing off their packing, and we put her on speaker phone. (She had some other good blogging tips to offer.) I was struck as we talked with her, how blessed I am to have such a wonderful sister. She is an incredible person! Then that thought spread to include each of my siblings, and of course, the two who started it all, Mom & Dad. It was a perfect ending for the weekend.

And now they are gone. But, since they are senior missionaries, I'm expecting that we may have an opportunity to steal them away some other weekend, at least for dinner, before they leave for Germany. Sigh.

(Sorry, only a couple of poor quality cell phone pics & one I stole off their blog - camera was out of batteries. Anybody want to donate a new camera? I'll have to wait for Mom & Dad to share their pics.)