Heyyyy! He's home!!

This blog post was originally posted on the Call Family blog on June 22, 2015.

Monday, June 22, 2015

Heyyyy! He's home!!!

June 22, 2015

I can't believe he has been home officially for one month now!! What a fun month it has been! Erins graduation day was followed by Spencers return date. It was a busy Friday, cleaning, preparing, cooking, decorating and such for his return. (erin was asleep most of the day as she was out all night at Grad Night). We were all soooooooooooo excited and could hardly wait for that night! His plane was due to arrive at 11pm, so we were sure to head out at 9:30pm to be on time!

The whole town was getting ready for his return. Dutchmans had their sign ready, 

as did Bart and Deni Fisher.

 Time was just creeping by come 7pm ish, so Lex and I made a quick trip to Christensens

to pick up Jer some new shoes...and maybe a few other things..

 The Fishers decorated their house and we got our house all ready as well...

 Can you tell that Gramma Cindy made her own welcome home sign?? Aloha!!

 Freshly baked peanut butter cookies for the kid.

 Seriously this was one of the best nights ever!! He and Elder Reese came RUNNING off that

airplane (#2 and #3 passengers!) and ran right to their mama's for a GIGANTIC hug. 

It was purely amazing!! My friend has the video, I'm going to have to work on getting that! 

 It was just pure joy seeing him and hugging him! We had SO many neighborhood and ward family 

members there to welcome him home. Lex has that group photo, I'll have to get that one as well!

It was simply a day filled with joy and happiness and rejoicing!

One the way home he had one request - Taco Bell. Ha, so we hit up the drive through.

We placed a good sized order (midnight snack)...and after taking our entire order the sweet girl

told us, "I'm sorry we are out of meat", and proceeded to cancel our entire order - except

the one lone bean burrito. It was really funny!!
{you can head over here for some more great "Elder Calls HOME!" photos!}

 We got home and he unloaded treats and treasures and missionary things.

It was just so fun to have him home! He was teasing the kids and just like the Spenc 

we knew and loved! Still do!!

 The next morning he was released as a full time missionary. It was a very tender 

morning and especially tender as he took off his name tag. What a great missionary

he was and will always continue to be! When we got home we all made waffles together -

or as Ellie says, we made "cake". Mmmmm! Apparently batter is best!! 

 I can't even remember what we were all watching, but it was definitely funny and it was

fun to have everyone together laughing away!

 

 Saturday afternoon we all hiked Anasazi trail. It was fun to be together and 

enjoy being outside. Spenc was teasing up a storm and I know all the kids loved it. Haha!

 We hit up Cafe Rio for dinner and just enjoyed our visits!

 It was so fun having Gramma Cindy here with us for the week. 

What a great time welcoming Spenc home with all of us together!

 Spenc had to get in some quality Ellie time, since the first few days he was

home she called him "scary guy". Ha. Poor Spenc. But he did win

her over with the hose and the trampoline one morning before breakfast.  

We spent another day shopping to clothe this kid and boy was it a long day!

I think his wardrobe should last him a long time!! 

Thursday we decided to head over to Sand Hollow for the afternoon.

It was a gorgeous day and the red sand with the blue skies was priceless.

It was great to all be together and just relax! 

 Friday night we headed over to the new Red rock park over by Dixie Rock.

We had a great stroll around the park and then we enjoyed the swing together

and visited the night away. I love my family!!!

The first week having Spenc home was awesome!!

We are so thankful for his loving example, his dedicated service and

his faithfulness. It was hard to have him gone for 2 years, but so worth

it at the same time. WE LOVE YOU SPENCER CALL!!
WELCOME HOME!!!!

Please Pass the Kleenex

This blog post was originally posted on the Call family blog on Monday May 18, 2015, entitled Please Pass the Kleenex.

I don't usually have Kleenex around the house. Everyone just fends for themselves and uses t.p. Either I need to invest in a box or try not to use up all of the toilet paper this week.

I have been to a lot of missionary homecomings at the airport. Oh the joy to see the missionary hug his sweet mom and then the rest of his family. It always brings me such joy!! What a happy, wonderful reunion. What I didn't understand then is the huge tears that always came from these moms (and from other family members). I mean, this was a joyous occasion- they must be tears of joy having your sweet son or daughter home!!?

But as we get closer and closer to the arrival of Elder Call (four days from this very hour!), man alive I know for certain why these mama's were crying!!  My emotions are soooo tender right now and the spirit is so incredibly strong right now. MY SON IS COMING HOME!! After two years of not hugging him, he will be in my arms on Friday night!!! (yes, the tears are currently flowing)

I can only imagine this must be how our reunion in heaven must be like when we pass away and see our loved ones again and hug our sweet Heavenly Father again. Does He know of our time to come home like we know the arrival of Elder Call? Is He anxiously awaiting our return to hug us again, for it has been a long time since He has cradled us in His arms? Is His heart as tender knowing that He will see and hug us one day soon?

I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for the missionary program. If I didn't know of my Saviors love for me and my Heavenly Fathers love for me, there is NO WAY I could have sent our son away for two years. Instead, I did, because I knew I could. To share the gift of the gospel with others is a small token of my thanks as a mom to Heavenly Father for entrusting me with five of the sweetest, most valiant children ever.

So yes. On Friday night, I am going to cry. I am going to hug that boy with all I've got. I will never, ever regret sending him off on his mission, but I am going to enjoy his return - huge hug, tears and all.