Elder Jensen's final leg on his trip home grew very long. He called collect from Dallas this morning before six. They had missed their connecting flight due to not enough time to make it through customs and security. (His luggage had made the flight, however, and was waiting for him in Phoenix.) He gave me the next possible time for a standby flight. Several collect calls later he finally boarded a flight after noon Dallas time. As you can see from the board, even that flight was delayed and Elder Jensen finally made an appearance at 1:20 PM.
This is my smile after "arrived" appeared next to his flight. The several hour wait was over.
Janae's son, Raymond, and I wonder if that is the plane we have been waiting for.
He and his traveling companion, Elder Fletcher, come up the walkway.
I thought that I would squeeze the stuffing out of him I was so glad to see him.
Nathan was all smiles as well and looked great even though he had been in transit for hours.
His sister welcomed him home with a smile and a new baby, Henry, whom he met for the first time.
That is Henry's proud father in the background. Nate's cousin, Sarah, is holding Henry. She will be leaving on a mission of her own in five weeks.
Brother David was also happy to see him again.
Sister-in-law Sally and daughter Ruby were thrilled to have him home.
Daughter Sadie also met Nathan for the first time.
And finally back at the office where brother Ryan had been holding down the fort, Nathan gives him a hug. Big brother Eric had been at the house just before, but I was busy preparing food and not snapping pictures.
Nathan poses by his welcome home sign which TJ, Toby, and Heather. They had helped me make the sign at our grandkids sleepover a week earlier. Nathan's delayed arrival time meant that they were not able to come to the airport.We then met with the stake president for his release (a very emotional time for Nate as well as his mom and dad) and still had time for a trip to the Beehive Clothing store before it closed. He's had many visitors come by the house and it feels soooo good to have him home again. While I blog, he is over meeting his new sister-in-law, Emilia. Perhaps she has fixed him something to eat Brazilian style after her 12 hours of work today. I might have gone along for the ride, but I knew the Portuguese would be flowing at Ryan and Emilia's house tonight.
3 comments:
Sorry - we didn't seem to have gotten the message that everyone was going to the airport. Oh well. We were happy to see Nate at the house. He looked great.
T.J. had a blast grossing the girls out at the swim meet with his rabbit foot. Heather was very sad when she realized she forgot her bracelet at your house. She thoroughly enjoyed the Samantha movie. Even the boys liked watching it, but don't tell T.J. I said that :) Thanks for giving it to her.
Welcome home, Nate! We're so glad you - finally! - made it, safe and sound.
I think that everyone coming to the airport evolved with the later and later arrival times. I thought that Eric might be bringing the older kids while Toby napped, but it turned out just fine, except for the power outage. That was an unexpected event! I found Heather's bracelet and put it in a safe place for her - now I just have to remember where that place is!!!!
Raymond liked the airport more than he liked seeing Uncle Nathan. He thought it was pretty cool.
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