Homecoming and The End (wk ending 18 Jan 2015).

Monday, we left at 10:30 am for the Provo airport for Debbie to catch her flight home. We ran a few errands afterward. It snowed a little that night.

Wednesday they laid carpet at Kacey and Dave's so we went over that night to see it. Appliances came Thursday.

Thursday morning I had a home decorator come over to discuss paint and carpet. It was also Lindsey's birthday. Lee and Lindsey went to Costco and to pick up kids from school and then they came back to our house for a few minutes. I made homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner and Kacey made Rhodes rolls.

After dinner, baths, and scripture reading, Lee was looking for the TV remote
and it was no where to be found. We searched high and low for an hour only to find it in the drawer below the oven. Those girls!

Friday, Shelby and crew came down in the afternoon and Lee and I went to Red Robin that night with Lindsey's family to celebrate  her birthday.

Saturday morning was Brody's soccer game, then we ran to Costco for fruit and muffins for Sunday brunch after Sacrament meeting. I bought a phone cover and in the afternoon Kacey printed my talk.

Our mission report talks went fine. Sunday was fun since we had 5 senior missionaries and 10 young missionaries show up to support us. It was wonderful to see sisters Byler, Palmer, Berg, Lewis, Mansfield, Farr, and Elders Bingham, Hawkes, Brough, Nay. The Goodrichs, Judds, and Sister Salazar also came.

Old Molalla friends, the Nichols and the Magalei families, and Erin Mildenhall and her grandma also came to our homecoming as well as Elder Barnett's family from Highland, Utah. (he is still in Australia but his parents are friends with KC Cowan and her parents, the Conlees, so somehow we connected)

The Schulthies and Knights from our old 19th Ward were there too so we really felt loved and supported. We had a light brunch afterward at Lindsey's and we had a chance to chat and catch up with those mentioned above.

The Bluth's and Pops and I went to Logan's for Sunday late nachos lunch. That evening we went to see Blane Cozzens at home, who is recovering from knee surgery. We always enjoy being with them and it was fun to catch up.

We realized at the end of the sabbath day that the mission is really over. As stated in our talks, Australia was the perfect place for us to serve, English speaking but still a little bit foreign. We were thrilled to serve at this time, in that place, with those people! We wouldn't change a thing!

We thank our family and friends for the cards, letters, packages, pictures etc we received during the mission. We also thank our secretary, Shelby, for keeping the blog.

Reports, Friends, and Jet Lag...Part 3 (wk ending 11 Jan 2015).

Sunday we both woke up at 4:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep. We reported to the stake high council at 8:00 am along with Elder Jared Smith who returned Friday from serving in Washington DC for 2 years. We were each asked to speak for 5 minutes and bear our testimony. Questions followed, but were directed to the young Elder.

Church started at 9am, and it was fun to reconnect again with old friends. It was our ward conference so President Murray spoke on miracles and Bishop Lefgren spoke on contention.

Deb, Lee and I went to hear Logan speak in his sacrament meeting at 1:00 and came home to rest after. Deb stayed at Lindsey's this trip since our house is topsy turvey but she came back over for homemade soup Sunday night, along with 'welcome home' fresh bread from Elisa Ludwig and Kim Keppner.

We feel a bit lost because we are used to being busy every single day and now we aren't. I realize it's temporary and it won't take long to integrate back into "real" life.

I will post once more following our talks on Sunday 28 Jan 2015.

Planes, Hugs and Tillamook Cheese...Part 2 (wk ending 11 Jan 2015).

Wednesday night I got a text from Sammie that at 11:30 pm saying goodbye, they loved us, and will miss us. It made us smile and we had no trouble going happily back to sleep but I woke up again at 2:30. Since the clock was set for 2:50, I started getting ready and doing the last minute cleaning as we walked out the door. We left the flat at 3:45 am and dropped worn bedding and garbage at the dumpster before delivering my phone, keys, and the luggage scales to the office. Carters were already outside with the assistants to say goodbye and take pictures before the Carters drove us to the airport. After hugs and farewells, we started off across the large plaza and they yelled "ZAAM!" out the window as they drove away!

With the help of the baggage scales at the flat, we had no problem at airport check in. We were waiting at the gate when the Whites showed up at 5:00 am to sit and chat until boarding time. It was a very nice surprise and helped the time pass quickly. Travel was uneventful, but tortuous! I didn't sleep very much through the night so felt like a zombie! When we got to LA at 6:30 am and tried to get a boarding pass for the last leg...there was a problem but it was eventually resolved and we were thankful!

After many long hours of flying, waiting in lines, and sitting, we arrived in SLC! The whole family was waiting, including Lee's sister Debbie who came from Arizona to be with us, and we had a beautiful, joyful reunion! By now you've no doubt seen the picture, but here it is again:

We all headed to Lindsey's in 4 vans for a homemade Mexican food dinner with diced green chilis, soft corn tortillas, pinto beans, and Tillamook cheese, which we greatly missed!

President Bishop Murray (our old Bishop now the stake president) arrived at 6:00 pm and after greetings and hugs, invited everyone to sit down and Cory to open with prayer.  President proceeded to share a letter from President Carter, presented our release certificate, and gave us a personal letter from President Carter to open later. During the "meeting" President Murray was very complimentary to and about us and it was a beautiful ending to our 18 months of service.

Kacey and Dave's house isn't finished on schedule so we are living, highly unorganized downstairs in our basement for the moment. Once they move, we are painting and re carpeting as planned.

Friday we chased around a bit with Debbie to shop for cases and face protectors for our new phones. Shelby came down to Riverton around noon and we had Cafe Rio take out for dinner. We were in bed early.

Saturday we watched Brody play soccer, Riley play basketball, and then Carter and Collin played basketball in the late afternoon. That night we had our delayed traditional Christmas Eve meal back at home with the whole family with gifts etc. It was wild at times, but the kids seemed to like their didgery do, boomerangs, and checks. Everyone was gone by 8 and we were in bed by 9, still trying to catch up.

Last Week...Part 1 (wk ending 11 Jan 2015).

 Monday was hectic and crazy. I made my famous chocolate cake and frosting for pday and it was gone early. Training is stressful because there is much to cover and so little time left. Christmas and Boxing Day took focus and effort away from training, plus the personnel change midstream didn't help.

I worked hours over the weekend making the training/job description list President asked for, and Sister Smith copied it to the office computer and her home computer from the laptop/USB. Hopefully it will give her some comfort and I'm only a FaceTime call away until she gets on her feet.

Monday night Max picked us up at 6:00 pm and we met Sammie, Taylor, Christina, Joy, and Danny for dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant. Once Christina arrived, she ordered for the whole group in her native Mandarin language. Delivered to our table was a whole cooked duck, head and all, served thinly sliced on a small flour tortilla with leeks and a brown sauce. I enjoyed the duck but the squid, not so much. Other dishes served on the lazy susan in the middle of the table were honey chicken, beef brisket in a pot, steamed chicken, a green leafy vegetable, noodles, sweet and sour beef, and fried rice with shrimp for Lee. Dessert was a plate of sliced watermelon and oranges. It was a fun experience and very thoughtful of our Chinese friends to invite us.

They brought gifts as well. (Did I mention that Max brought us and Elders Bingham and Cook gifts Sunday morning? We received engraved chop sticks with our names and a they gave me a silver necklace). Taylor gave us a beautiful Chinese fan and Christina and Danny got Lee a bookmark and me a large piece of traditional silk fabric. She kept saying as I opened it, "You're going to love it!" It is gorgeous!

Tuesday we reviewed the training list and Sister Smith asked questions to clarify her understanding. We closed the office at 4:15 to make the "Going Away Dinner for the Whites and Sheffields" booking time of 5:00 pm with all of the senior couples and the Carters at TGIF in Marion. Lee had the ribs and he said they were divine and I had a chicken/mushroom pasta dish.

Both Monday and Tuesday I received calls from missionaries saying goodbye and thank you which was very thoughtful, kind, and appreciated. Stu in Sydney rang Lee also. We are thankful for Facebook to help us keep in touch with Australian friends across the miles.

Wednesday morning at 9:30 was our closing interview at the mission home with President Carter. Lee opened with prayer and President Carter closed afterward with a beautiful petition for our family and personal life "after the mission." He asked us what blessings our family had received from our service and how/if we have been blessed personally in our marriage. Also asked how our testimonies had changed. President Carter expressed his love and appreciation and in tears, assured us of Heavenly Father's approval of our devoted service in the ZAAM.

We spent the rest of the day cleaning and packing. The Jurgens called to say farewell from Mildura. Elders Cook and Rigby showed up in the afternoon with two bottles of chilled sparkling grape juice. All we had to go with it was chips and salsa but no one complained! They also brought a card with messages from everyone in the Firle Zone. We talked to several of the kids by FaceTime for the last time. Lee made a couple of trips to the office and I did last minute laundry throughout the day.

HIghs and Lows...Week 80 (wk ending 11 Jan 2015).

Lee's Low: 

Tortuous travel day 8 Jan 2015...long and tiring!

Lee's High: 

Our joyful family reunion!

Patty's Low: 

I tried to sleep on the plane, but couldn't.

Patty's High: 

Our joyful family reunion!

Last Arrivers and Leavers, Visitors and Happy New Year (wk ending 4 Jan 2015).

Transfer week was hectic and exciting as usual! Leavers were: Sisters Byler, Lewis, Moss, Famuliner, and Elders Duffus, Fala, Fungavaka, Fepulea'i, Baumgarten, Hatch, and Witehira, as well as the Sheffields leaving 8 Jan and the Whites leaving 15 Jan.

Leaver dinner was roast beef, baked potatoes with sour cream or gravy, green salad, green beans, rolls, and lovely pavlova dessert made by Sister White. We served dinner at the mission home and had testimony meeting afterward.

Wednesday there were 12 arrivers and the first one landed in Adelaide at 6:30 AM after traveling all night through Hong Kong from Manila. Elders Sheffield, Smith and White were already at the airport by that time since leavers and transfer travel happens the same day. Lee had 3 airport trips and Elder White had 2 trips Wednesday, and Lee had one trip Monday and one Thursday morning. The airline delivered two lost pieces of luggage Friday so that saved the van another airport run.

One arriving Elder had an over weight bag and no money to pay so he left it at the originating airport and President was made aware in their arrival interview that INSIDE the bag was medication which the Elder only needs once or twice per day....eeeeekkkkkkk! I called the church travel office in New Zealand. No answer. We sent an email  to the same office and was copied in a series of replies as the travel dept searched and found the luggage. It is on the way to our mission!

The located suitcase was a tender mercy, but another was when President instructed us to get a doctor's appointment for a script to replace the medication at 4:00 on New Years Eve! I'm thinking to myself, "Fat chance!" Sister Hannan overheard the conversation and said that she had an extra inhaler of the very same prescription! It was a miracle!

After the arrivers dinner of lasagna, salad, bread, jello, and ice cream bars we had the arrivers testmonies and meeting companions/trainers before Lee distributed bikes and bedding. I had to change a passenger for a flight the next day to Darwin and then we headed home pooped!

New Year's Day was a regular office work day. It started getting hot and by Friday, the high temperature was 43.4 C or 110 F. No wonder the air conditioner couldn't keep up! Lee spent all day at the computer writing his job description/training guide as requested by President Carter.

Saturday, we had arranged to meet Liana and Stephanie from Mount Gambier who were passing through Adelaide after YSA convention. We went to lunch and dropped them in Modbury afterward. They visited with the Smiths the night before who served one year in Mount Gambier before coming to replace us in the office. It was great to catch up with the girls and see that Stephanie is still strong in the gospel. Good on her!

We came home to clean the stove, fridge, and give the kitchen floor another go. It's as good as it gets and the carpets will be cleaned after we leave the 8th in preparation for the Hannans to move in the Saturday following.

Sunday was a beautiful fast and testimony meeting and sabbath day. Church meetings were bittersweet as our last in Firle Ward and we were invited to share our testimony with the congregation. We love Adelaide and feel thankful for the tender mercy and miracle this service opportunity has been for for us.

Sunday night was the Marion Stake Missionary fireside. We never tire of attending the monthly meeting and feeling the beautiful spirit of new members conversion experiences. They are inspiring, heartfelt, and touching! We love hearing about faith in Christ, repentance, change, prayer, the Book of Mormon, feeling the spirit, and other tangible blessings of living the gospel and how following Jesus Christ has enriched their life.

We are in awe watching young men and women missionaries in action! They conduct meetings, they sing, they play instruments, they testify, they pray, they bless, they sacrifice, they inspire, they teach, and we are blessed by their association and example!
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This is the secretary...I have no idea which elders and sisters are which, but I'm sure that Mimi and Papa know and love them.

Highs and Lows...Week 79 (wk ending 4 Jan 2015).

Lee's Low: 

Saying farewell to missionaries we love.

Lee's High: 

The spirit of transfer meeting!

Patty's Low: 

So much to cover in training, too little time!

Patty's High: 

The Marion Missionary Fireside! It was amazing!