He's Home!!!

Just in case you missed it, Matthew is home!

Matthew arrived back home on Thursday, July 19, 2012. His plane was an hour late so we were a little anxious for the 2 hours that we were at the airport, just thankful it wasn't any later!

A special thanks to our friend Crystal Elliot who came to the airport with us and took pictures!!

To say we are excited to have him home is an understatement!

Getting ready to head to the airport

Waiting

Waiting ans napping

Matthew's plane has landed

Dale ready with the video camera

And we see him!!!

A hug for mom

A hug for dad

A hug for Jacob

A hug for Brittney

A hug for Makenzie

We took Matthew to the church to be released and Institute was going on. His friend, Daniel Wilkes saw him and ran out of the room and hugged him!

Matthew and his plaque

Matthew after he was released by President Allen

HOME

Reunited with Sammie

Reunited with Peach

Throwing the football with Jacob

Swimming with Daniel

He couldn't wait to go swimming!!

WELCOME HOME MATTHEW!!

Anxious and Sleep Deprived

So, Matthew really needs to get home so I can get some sleep. One night I had a dream that none of the clocks were on the same time and I had now idea what time it was, even all the TV stations had different times. When my alarm went off(in the real world) I went around the house making sure all the clocks were the same. Then two nights in a row I kept dreaming that I was painting around a door and I kept painting it over and over trying to get it right. I would wake up and dream this same dream over and over. Last night I had a dream where I couldn't get back to our house that we lived in in San Angelo. I would wake up and go back to sleep and be in the same place again trying to get to the house. I had a mild anxiety attack while vacuuming today. I can honestly say I am more anxious waiting for Matthew to return home than I was sending him off. It didn't help today when I got a short email from him today saying he is still trying to get over a stomach parasite he picked up a week ago. Keep him in your prayers so he can have a comfortable flight home.

What we have been up to....

Last Sunday started off with some not so good news. I found out that my mom had been rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night. She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. It was very sudden and didn't see that one coming on. She was eventually released from the hospital on Wednesday. My dad was having issues of his own. He was also very sick. He had gotten a severe kidney infection on top of some other ailments. I don't like this getting older stuff, it SUCKS!  Glad to report they are both feeling better, just not 100% yet.

Jacob and Makenzie spent their week at Strength and Conditioning Camp(SAC Camp) and on Friday they worked with their personal basketball trainer.

Brittney spent the week at an away Special Needs Camp, Camp Journey, as a volunteer. Even though she was 2 1/2 hours away she got rained on just like we did all last week.

I spent the week painting all the bathrooms in the house, and I have the callouses on my hands to prove it. With it being so raining that was a good indoor activity.

Dale had to go out of town for a day. The big bosses from work were suppose to come look at the facilities they have been working on, but with all the rain, they didn't come out.

On Wednesday, we got our last email from Matthew. And speaking of Matthew, we are mostly just counting down the days. I haven't slept well, but I do know each morning I get up I am one day closer to seeing him. Only 3 more days!! We are all very excited to see him! Come on Thursday, get here already!!

In the #1 spot now

Before Sacrament Meeting Matthew's missionary plaque was in the #2 spot
and then his friend Chris Frame's plaque came down.

After Chris Frame's plaque came down, Dale moved the plaques all over one spot.
He is in the #1 spot now!!

Yes, we are getting really excited!!
Who's counting!

Funny's from Matthew

Excerpts from Matthew's emails 

This is something he told Brittney in an email:

"So something funny, the other day I pulled out an Under Armour shirt that I have and my comp made the comment that he used to work in a factory that made shirts just like that so I decided to check the tag and sure enough it said made in the Dominican Republic."

"My comp worked in the sweatshop that makes our Under Armour shirts."


This is something he emailed Dale:

"Hey everyone wants me to convince you that we should have iPhones, so my argument is that every Apostle and Seventy that I have seen in my mission has had the new iPhone and we should follow their example. So love ya, enjoy the 4th and have a good week and vacation."

Fourth of July 2012

We started our 4th of July out by going to the church for a pancake breakfast. Dale worked hard at cooking pancakes and bacon. after we ate I went to the kitchen to clean a few bowls that had pancake batter in them only to find a bunch of dirty church dishes left behind from someone else. Brother Wilson and I decided to wash all the dishes, not just ours, at least there was air conditioning inside. The little kids had a bike/scooter parade while I was doing dishes.

We came home and relaxed for a little bit and decided to swim, but that was cut short by a Texas sized thunderstorm and down pour! I guess it was good to get some rain before everyone started to shoot off fireworks! Dale BBQ hamburgers and Jacob ate and went to hang out with a friend to watch the firework show. Later, the girls and I drove over to the high school and parked the car and walked around La Centerra(where the firework show was going to be) and then got our chairs and set up a place to watch the fireworks. Dale walked over and joined us. We forgot to bring repellent, so we got eaten alive by mosquito's. After the fireworks we walked back to the car and it took us a long time to get out of the parking lot. We should have walked home and came back and got the car. Jacob went to a friends house and shot off more fireworks.

Also we got our second to last email from Matthew yesterday. He is upbeat about his mission, but is ready to come home and we are ready to have him home!   

Brittney painted herself a pair of patriotic shorts

Makenzie and Brittney with our friend Liz and her daughter Brooke

Dale cooking away

My friends Liz and Melanie

Brittney and Makenzie waiting for fireworks to start

Brittney and Julia

USA

USA

Happy Fourth of July

My New Calling

I have been called to teach the 6 year olds in Primary. I love Primary!!

We meet in an old Bishop's office so there is still a table and lamp

 with a nice picture of Jesus on the wall.

They have put a long table in the room with big comfy chairs.

There aren't enough for every one so I took a hard chair to keep the peace,

 but we were missing two kids, so we will see how that works out.

Bragging Blog

Yesterday during our Ward's Fast and Testimony meeting, there were a few proud parents getting up and talking about their kids. Our kids looked at me and told me to go up and brag about them, I told them that is what my blog was for!

This is the month!!

This month is such a special one
It's the month that Matthew comes home....