WALKER TALK: August 2010

Monday, August 2, 2010

DANIEL'S HOMECOMING

What a glorious day it was last Friday, it was better than Christmas morning! Daniel came home from his mission in Hawaii at 7:24 in the morning. It seemed like forever until we saw him turn the corner and start coming down the escalator. Everyone that was on the flight had come down and kept telling us that they were coming but that they were taking their time. The escalator seemed to crawl at the slowest pace possible as he was coming down it. I couldn't wait anymore and so I met him at the bottom of it instead of waiting for him to come to us. What a glorious feeling it is to hug your son and to feel of his sweet warm spirit again. What joy filled my heart as I welcomed my son home as he returned as man not a boy and he returned with honor.

Hugs were given all around and then we were able to meet one of his favorite mission companions, Elder Adams who was on a layover to Anchorage Alaska. Daniel's mission president, President Peterson who was released earlier in July was also there to greet all the missionaries returning. We also had the wonderful opportunity to meet the Furtado's a family from Hawaii that Daniel just loved. They were on their way back to Hawaii after leaving their son at the MTC earlier that week. What a wonderful family they are.

It was a beautiful homecoming shared by many people whom we love and admire.

ANOTHER PICTURE FROM BEAUTIFUL HAWAII

THANKFUL FOR MY IRISH ANCESTORS

I never knew how much Irish ancestry I had until my wonderful Aunt Carol wrote this awesome history about my Dad's ancestors. There are still 8 castles partially standing over in Ireland that belong to my ancestors. Most of them (14 of them) fought in the Revolutionary War so that I could enjoy what I have today. There is also some tie to Bunker's Hill and Breed's Hill.

St. Patrick's Day never used to mean much to me until I knew my ancestry. Now I take time to think about them a little bit more during that time. I am grateful to them for being so brave and courageous to leave so much of what they had to come to America and start new. I am somewhat what I am because of them. I can't wait to thank them in person some day.

THE TWO SIDES OF WINTER

Have you ever noticed that there are two sides to winter? There is the beautiful side. The sun shining on the snow on a crisp morning. The silent snow falling in the full moon. The quietness that a snowy night brings. I love so much about winter and the fun and beauty that it brings. But there is a sad and lonely side to winter. When we were coming back from the cabin the other night we rode through the desolate camp grounds. The picnic tables where barely poking their tops through the snow. Somehow it made me sad and lonely. I realized then that winter has two sides to it.