Springville Shenanigans

Section Champs

The Runnin Devils traveled to Holbrook for the Sectional cross-country meet. We had a great day taking away a win, along with Bowen as the first place finisher. Way to go!

How Great Shall Be Your Joy!

In the three years that we lived in Amarillo, Texas, we made some very good friends that became like a second family to us. We were especially blessed to have wonderful young men and young men leaders that embraced Drake. As a surprise, our former bishop Kurt McElwain, his daughter Mara, and two of Drake's friends that are also returned missionaries now, Thomas and Winston all made the journey to Page for the weekend of Drake's report in church! These people helped Drake to get on a mission! They are so special to our family!

We were so grateful to everyone that supported us during these two years. It was awesome to celebrate over the weekend with so many of our family and friends. Drake gave a fantastic talk in sacrament meeting. He has grown so tremendously. Life is GOOD!

Mission Accomplished

He is HOME!! After two years of service to the Lord in the Washington, Tacoma mission, our son Drake has returned! My heart is absolutely bursting with JOY!

Drake was actually scheduled to fly from Seattle to San Francisco and then on to Phoenix and finally to Page. There were some delays along the way, but we thought he was okay to make it until he got to Phoenix. The layover there was less than an hour, and you have to change to a whole other terminal to get to the small planes that fly to Page. We were able to speak to Drake a couple of times on the phone as he made his way home, and late in the afternoon we got the call from him that he had missed his connection from Phoenix to Page. 

As the day had progressed, we thought this was a possibility, so Theo and I quickly jumped in the car to head south to collect our boy. While he waited, Theo's sister Bri was able to pick him up from the airport so he didn't have to wait there. I admit, it burst my little bubble of the scene I had imagined as we would no longer greet him getting off of a plane. Bri graciously drove Drake up to Anthem which saved us an extra 45 minutes one way. We reunited in a parking lot at an outlet mall at about 10:00pm. 

Drake looks wonderful! He actually wanted to drive us home to Page. It was nice to be able to spend the almost four hour drive home talking with him and soaking up being together. When we arrived at home, Bo and Rex had hung the banner we made, and they got out of bed to greet their brother in the wee hours of the morning. My happiness is beyond description. I am so proud of this missionary!

Getting Out, Counting Down

Corbin has been assigned to Springville as his first area. His trainer is Elder Maughan and he is actually from Drake's mission. Ha! They are living with the zone leaders temporarily, so Corbin is sleeping on the couch. He doesn't seem to mind, and is getting adjusted to mission life.

His very first day in the mission field, I got a Facebook message from one of my former Young Women from Page, Hannah Nez. She said, "you will never guess who is having dinner at my house right now!" I freaked! Of course, I made her send me picture proof. Her parents live in the area, and they were hosting the missionaries for dinner while their relative took the lessons. So crazy!

Drake is on the flip side as he is preparing to get home this week! He left a huge box of stuff at Skip's house that he plans to retrieve at a later date, and saying his goodbyes to his friends in Washington. It has been the fastest and slowest two years of my life! I am so excited to see him I can hardly wait! We have a room all ready for him, and we are so excited to see that handsome face in person! One month of having TWO missionaries was about all I could handle!

Photog Fun

Corbin has been great about sending us lots of pictures. He ran into a Page friend Grant Gardner just a couple days before leaving the MTC. He is learning a lot and having fun as he gets ready to head into the world as a missionary.

PHS Homecoming 2017

Bowen turned 16 this year which opens up the exciting world of dating for this dashing young man. He went with a group of friends to Homecoming including his date Danielle from Tuba City. Since the girls were coming from out of town, we offered to let them get ready at our house after the game. Instead they went to the house of a relative. Luckily, I know the family, and they were able to get a couple of pictures of the group. Looking good.