10 September 2018 - Monday

10 September 2018 - Monday

Our wonderful weekend with Ali and Jared and Cody and Maddie and Landon and Kenzie came to an official close, this morning, as we parted company for a few more weeks.  It was time for them to return home to Rigby.  Mom and I had our correlation meeting at 8:30am at the Homestead.  

I did get a walk in with Cody and Maddie and Landon before we left this morning.  It was 34 degrees outside when we got up, and going, and checked the temperature.  That was about 5:00am this morning.  But as we took a walk, it had warmed up to the mid 40's, and the high today was in the upper 80's.  What a range of temperatures!

This is our secret rock finding trail!

We all found quite a few rocks that the kids took home

A farewell picture until we return home to Rigby for our big reunion!

We sure enjoyed having the family here with us for the weekend.  It was so much fun roughing up the grandchildren!  Mom and I got down to the correlation meeting at around 8:15am.  This was our P-day and the first of only five more.  

Our trips to Casper always begin right after correlation meeting.  And this correlation meeting was the beginning of at least eight couples heading home by September 21st.  Another two or three will be leaving by September 27th and that will leave us with our MTC group plus two other couples that came after us, along with the six winter couples.  

Gathering for correlation meeting

This mornings correlation took about thirty minutes longer than usual.  Those missionaries heading for home, who give the daily thoughts and prayers, tend to take a little longer saying good-bye.  In Nauvoo, as you may remember, we had a monthly breakfast, and those leaving before the next monthly breakfast would, traditionally, put of a skit, and then the remaining missionaries would sing a farewell song to them.  Well, we don't put on a skit here, but the farewells for many are just as emotional!

Mom and I did our Casper shopping, and got the car washed, before we met our district for a farewell luncheon at Pizza Ranch.  That was fun and certainly filling!  All those pictured in the next photo will be gone by September 20th, except for mom and me;

From l-r - Taylor,s, mom, Reese's and Gilliland's and Honey's - (photo by Grandpa)

The trip back home was pretty quiet, and our car worked so much better being clean!  We got back home and found some wonderful notes from our family!  What a blessing it has been to have family and friends here with us this summer!  I think serving a mission within a half day's drive has been one of the best decisions we have made!  

In our luncheon, this afternoon, we all shared tender moments and experiences that have shaped our service.  Who would have ever known how six months of serving together would have such a wonderful and positive impact on our lives!  Treasured memories not to be soon forgotten....