Welcome Home, Kay and Ken!

My sister, Kay, and her husband, Ken, accepted a mission call to spend 18 months in Tsuroka, Japan,

 spreading goodness.

And that is exactly what they did, by visiting the less actives, teaching English classes, 

doing service at the community center once a week and many other acts of service. 

They befriended and loved the Japanese people. 

They testified of and lived the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

They spread goodness.

Sunday, June 25, they reported their mission in their St. George ward's Sacrament meeting.

Many relatives and loved ones from both of their families came to St. George to reunion with them and hear their messages in what was a truly inspiring meeting. 

All of my siblings but Patty, and her husband, Hal (whose grandson was having his "farewell" for his LDS mission 

at the same time), were able to come and they stayed with Roger and I, 

and they arrived Friday afternoon. 

My brother, John, and his wife, Cindy, came from Caldwell, Idaho, and my sister, Joan, and her husband, Tom, came from Boise, and their son, Taylor, and their daughter, Whitney, also came.

We had a houseful, but Gabrielsens love to get together!

Friday night, before Kay and Ken's kids and Ken's siblings arrived, we met for dinner at Pizza Factory.

Saturday morning, the girls and Taylor slept in and I fixed a leisurely breakfast of raspberry muffins, 

candy bacon and berries with yogurt and granola on top; 

 The men grabbed muffins and met up with Ken at Sunbrook Golf Course for a 6:20 am tee time. 

There's a major heat wave going on, with temps hovering around 110 degrees for several consecutive days, 

so the earlier on the golf course the better!

They golfed 18 and we cheered them on when they passed the hole behind our house. 

Right after they returned from the golf course, Tom, Taylor, Whitney and Ken headed to Kanarraville, 

where they went on a beautiful hike through a slot canyon.

I had roasted a turkey breast before they came, and so Joan, Cindy, Kay, John and I 

had turkey and Swiss bagel sandwiches and some brownie cake I had previously made.

We girls helped Kay make food for the dinner she and Ken hosted after the Sunday meetings 

and we caught up a little, hearing beautiful stories of some of their experiences in Japan.

That evening, Kay and Ken went to dinner with the Hintons and we had some tasty Mexican food at Don Pedro's.

Sunday morning, Roger had to be at a 6:30 am high council meeting, 
then he delivered a talk in a ward in our stake ( a high council assignment) at their 9 am meeting. 
We had hard-boiled eggs with a Bobby Flay recipe for a tasty sauce to put on them and cinnamon toast the Right Way ( my kids and grandkids know what that means!). 

As I said, Kay and Ken's talks were inspiring and heart-felt on Sunday 

and they fed over 60 people at their home afterwards with delicious salads, sandwiches and goodies.

We loved getting to see and catch up with their beautiful daughters and their cute families!

How wonderful it was to have them back home and have such a good excuse to come together!
We missed you, Patty and Hal!

I think we survived the heat in a grand way and are so grateful for this part of our precious family!