Reunion Time

Well, I'm now the mom of a returned missionary (RM). The reunion at the airport was great. I got there an hour early with the younger boys and we waited there for Rick and Michael and the grandparents. We brought a couple of welcome signs that my friend, Leslie, made. Rick was annoyed that we were going to hold them up! But, out of all of the families that were there, ours was the most understated. One family had tons of people, a huge banner, balloons, and a big video camera on a tripod! Haha! People from the flight kept coming down the escalator and telling us that the missionaries were on their way... I guess a bathroom was the first order of business. So, Grant and his companions were almost the last to come down the escalator. Rick hid behind a pillar at the top of the escalator and saw Grant before we did.

There are no words to describe the feeling I had watching him come down that escalator. I felt such a huge relief. In the few days before he came home, I felt joy, because I was going to see him after such a long time. I was sad, because he was leaving a place and people that he loved so much (and it's not like he can just hop in the car and drive to see them!). I felt sad because it was so nice to have a missionary out serving, because our family was showered with so many blessings. But relief is what I felt when I saw him. There was such a feeling of completeness - our whole family is here again. I guess you don't realize how imcomplete you feel until they come back. It's almost like I held my breath for 2 years and I could finally breath again.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the reunion - he looks so great!