Release and Return Home

We spent Friday and Saturday (March 27 - 28) cleaning our apartment and packing our belongings and car for our return trip home. Since Dave Herbold with whom I have worked while in the cabinet shop was gone home to Seattle, Washington for a visit my last week in Nauvoo, I didn't feel like I really had a chance to say goodbye.

Following Sacrament meeting on March 30 and having said our farewells to our missionary friends who we have learned to love, we met with acting President Chynoweth for our exit interview. He gave us our release papers to take to our stake president. We then returned to our apartment for a bite to eat and to finish loading our car. It was with real mixed emotions that we were leaving Nauvoo and those with whom we had served and loved.

Kelsey with us in Council Bluffs

At about 2:30 that afternoon, we left Nauvoo headed for Council Bluffs, Iowa. We planned to spend our first night there and to see our granddaughter Kelsey East who is attending Western Iowa College on a soccer scholarship.

It was after dark when we arrived in Council Bluffs. We got a motel then drove to Iowa Western to see Kelsey it was fun to spend some time with her.

Lynette & Lee Jones

Monday morning following breakfast, we drove to Denver, Colorado where we spent Monday night through Wednesday morning with Lee and Lynette Jones. Lynette is Fred's sister. It was fun to spend some time with them. While there, their son Ryan and his family came to spend some time with us. It was good to see them, too. Ryan is working with his dad in the semi trailer business.

We left Denver Wednesday morning and drove home to Layton, Utah. When we arrived home, there was a "Welcome Home" banner on the garage door.

Our kitchen with raised ceiling

 There were two surprises awaiting us when we entered our home. Kevin and his family were there and we noticed that we had a newly raised kitchen ceiling with cam lights. Kevin with the help of Justin had spent the last two weeks raising the ceiling and installing new LED lights. He had also changed all of the lights in the family and dinning area to the new LED lights as well. What a surprise it was. We've talked about making the change to the kitchen but hadn't gotten to it. Jodi and her family had been living in our home while we were gone. In order for Kevin and Justin to do the work, Jodi and her family had to move to her husbands mother's home for two weeks while the work was done.

It is great to be home. However, we miss Nauvoo and the many friends we made while there.