It Was the Best of Times and It Was the Worst of Times . . .

My week, it started off badly . . . Paul left on high adventure and I wouldn’t see or hear from him for days.
But then (shortly after he left) . . .
Allie called from the airport.  Since Paul wasn’t home, I didn’t have to share any of the time with anyone.  Oh, it was wonderful to hear her voice!
That day, I took myself to the movies. . . .

we don’t go to the movies very often.
The next day, I went to check out some places I had never been to that Paul had no interest in going to . . .

My timing was great for the restaurant supply store.  . I didn’t know they had a once a year sale with really good prices!

And I made lemonade from scratch.  My arms ached after squeezing all those lemons!

The next day, I got to play some tennis with some better-than-me players.  I don’t know what go into me, but I chose NOT to move out of the way of an overhead and it hit me in the face.  *sob sob*  There was no one at home to console me.

But I felt good enough to try my hand at homemade spaghetti.  It’s always scared me to try but I did it!

I had an unsuccessful visit to a podiatrist for my toenail fungus.  I got a lecture on how “stupid” doctors are that think there is a cure for it.  That was a waste of time and money.

I finished my solo week with some more tennis (with no injuries this time) . . .

and new dishes!

While Paul might have been off having some “fun”, I think I had more fun. . . . I wonder what I will do next year for my “high” adventure!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

It was a great trip, but it was time to go home.

We had our choice of seats!

Southwest plied us with plane crackers.

There really is no place like home.  The very best part of any trip is returning home to your own bed and your own shower (before you have to face the real world!)
It was a neat experience to take David back to his mission.  It was obvious to us that he was sent to the right spot for him and how much he loved the people in Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire.  Those feelings were mutual.

Sunday in Maine . . . and New Hampshire

After attending a branch that David served in, we headed out.  David really wanted to visit a couple he met on his mission, but they had moved to Old Orchard Beach, Maine.  So we re-arranged our route to our next destination to make it happen.

We reached their apartment before they did, so we hung out at the beach . . . which was right outside their door!


David was thrilled to see them!  They had called a few times when he was on his mission to let us know what a great job he was doing.  Things like this bring joy to a missionary mom’s heart.

From there we drove to New Hampshire and stopped off at a family’s home.  While they are not members, they know how to take care of missionaries! 

One of the neat things about this trip was to see the relationships that our son formed with so many different people, members or not.

Lighthouse!

We decided upon a side trip on the way back to the hotel. 

We went through a little town called Stockton Springs to get to Fort Point Lighthouse.

We didn’t have enough cash on us to pay the day use fee so we took a quick peek (with enough time for a few photos!)


We drove by Perry’s Nut House so many times that we HAD to stop and check it out.

We did not leave empty-handed!

Later that day, we met up with a gal that David met on his mission.  She would play games with the missionaries at a game store on their p-days.

Praise to the Man. . .

David’s first area on his mission was in South Royalton, Vermont.  This area included Sharon which was Joseph Smith’s birthplace.


After looking around and visiting with the directors, we took a tour of the home and the grounds.



What outing is complete without a few cheesy pictures!


David did not serve in the visitor’s center, but in the surrounding area.  They were allowed to bring investigators to the site. 

It was so beautiful there.  We were so fortunate to visit in the fall with all the beautiful colors.  Because it was rainy, we did not explore some of the areas on the grounds that David told us about.
We are so grateful for all that Joseph Smith did.  He, as a 14 year old boy, asked Heavenly Father which church was the right one to join.  This act forever changed his life and many other peoples too.

Two Years and Five Days, But Whose Counting?

As much as you get excited for your missionary to leave. .. ,

nothing compares to the return home.  True, we did have five telephone conversations and seen a few photos, but that is not the same.
We headed to the airport and got there just in time for the plane to land.

We waited patiently for the passengers to deplane.


Did I say patiently?

It’s hard to see him, but he’s coming!!!!

(The above would have been better if I weren’t so darn excited and had a hard time focusing.)
Did he change?  You tell me:
Before

After:

It was a joyous occasion