Jake Is Home, Roger Is 75!

After serving two hard-working years in the Edmonton, Canada Mission, Elder Jake Young returned 

and Roger and I traveled to Mesa to welcome him home!

We arrived the day before he flew into the Phoenix airport, and the Youngs had the house in full regalia, 

inside and out, to welcome him home!

Rick landed at the airport about an hour before (Jodie stayed in SLC to welcome Josh home 

from his internship in Newport Beach), and he met Sydney and husband, Jake's 

little Charlie for the first time.

No one was more thrilled to see Jake than his mom. 

Their embrace lasted for a long time.

Jake had a very large fan club of relatives and friends to greet him!

Proud Mom and Dad

Happy family, together again!

Grandpa Roger, Grandma Pam, Grandma Sherry ad Grandpa Grit were so happy to see Jake, and so proud of him for serving an honorable mission.

That evening, we were invited, with the other grandparents and Tom and Stacy's family, 

to dinner at Jake's favorite place to eat out that he missed, The Outback Steak House.

It was so cute to watch the twins devour their steaks and mac 'n cheese, then get some of Jake's!

On Sunday, Jake spoke in their ward and we were impressed how heart-felt and sincere his words were 

and how much he has matured. 

Church missions are amazing things - they are an opportunity for the missionary to spread the message of hope, of faith and love, and, in the process, 

they usually greatly increase those qualities in themselves. 

Stacy put out an amazing spread in their home after the meeting 

and many friends and relatives came over.

(Not pictured, hot artichoke dip, a large variety of sodas and lots of cookies and other goodies)

 We are so proud of our two sons!

 Roger and I with our three oldest children

We had so much fun with Charlie during our stay. 

He is such a happy, full-of-life and loving little guy!

He doesn't just walk, but runs everywhere, and boy, can he dance!

We waited to give the twins their birthday present from us, knowing we were coming for Jake's return. 

On Monday, we took them to Target, as we have done each year we can make it work. 

We tell them how much they can spend and they're so cute figuring it out, then deciding on their gifts. 

Max is such a whiz with Legos and he had this Harry Potter one put together in about one half hour.

They have a special cupboard where they keep the assembled ones and he has quite a collection. 

Luke usually picks out sports related stuff.

Monday night after Stacy made a yummy chicken enchilada dinner, Jake gave us the first discussion, 

basically diagraming out how the Book of Mormon came to be. 

His enthusiasm and likability were contagious! 

We stayed an extra day so we could celebrate Roger's birthday with our kids. 

Roger, Stacy, Sydney and Charlie went for an early morning run in the Arizona sun.

Stacy sent a text with these pics to our other kids:

"Check out this birthday boy who ran 3 miles this morning and rocks everything he does! 

75 years old today! We are all so lucky to call him Papa Smurf! 

I love you Dad! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!"

Stace and I asked him what he wanted for his birthday breakfast, and he ordered an egg over easy, turkey bacon, 

toast and strawberry jam, peaches and cream and chocolate milk and orange juice.

We went to In n Out for lunch . . . 

. . . then Roger and I went to check out the new Apple Store in Fashion Square. 

For dinner, the adults went to dinner for great Mexican food at Gecko Grill, 

and then we went back to Stacy's for Key lime pie that I had made that morning.

We each took a turn saying one thing we liked about Roger and it was a special evening.

Roger felt so loved, and he said it sure is more fun to celebrate birthdays with family around!

Next morning we headed back to St. George, trading the temperature of 111 for 106!

Despite the fierce heat of Arizona, we loved our time spent there! In fact, we are returning next week 

to stay with the kids while Tom and Stacy celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary on a Viking River Cruise.