A Trip to get our Missionary!!!

Who would've thought how quickly 2 years can fly by! We couldn't believe it was time again to go and get our missionary....Elder David Allred! But, it was, so off we went to head that way! The week before we were to pick him up, the family that the missionaries live with called to forewarn of of the cold/snowy weather that they were having and to make sure that we were planning on bringing chains and a vehicle that can handle snow! Fortunately, we already had the things in place! Plus, a bike ride to bring his bike home with him! The first day we drove to Redding, CA and spent the night, so the next day would be a shorter travel day. The next day we went to Portland, Oregon and we were able to visit with my sister, Linda and her husband, Jay. It is always fun to visit them! We went with them to their ward building and saw a "Creche" presentation. They had quite a few of them set up. All very amazing, but one was actually made out of aluminum cans. It truly was incredible! A fun night!

The next day, Sunday, we drove to Spokane, because we were invited to go to the mission home and have dinner that night, as well as hear the testimonies of the missionaries that were going home! My heart was full as I thought of seeing our son, who we hadn't seen for 2 years! As we drove, every so often, tears would well up in my eyes. I couldn't believe that it was finally time to go and see him, and the 2 years were over. It truly did go by so fast. We got to Spokane and checked into our hotel and then just had to wait for the time to pass to go and see "Elder Allred'.

When the time came to go to the Mission home, Scott and I dressed in church clothes. The drive to the Mission Home seemed to take a lot longer than we'd planned, but it really wasn't.

We arrived at the home and knocked on the door. Little did we know that David knew that it was us. He had the Mission President's wife come down to open the door. As soon as we were in, Elder Allred came down the stairs and gave us hugs!

Many of the other Elders that were going home, too, gave a big cheer!

It was pretty amazing! Even thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. What an exciting day! It was so great to see our "baby boy"! He looked great! He was happy and you could tell that he was torn between knowing the mission was over, yet also knowing it was time to go home. We were blessed with a wonderful dinner, and then we had the testimony meeting. The Spirit was so strong as each Elder and Sister bore their testimony of what they had been teaching for 18 months to 2 years. Their testimonies were strong. You could tell that they had grown and many lives were blessed because of the sacrifice that they had made in serving a mission. It was truly a wonderful experience.

We then loaded up "Elder Allred's" things and gave him a big hug good night, as he was spending the night with the missionaries at the MIssion home and we'd be back in the morning.!

Sleep wasn't the best that night, as I once again thought of how great it was to pick him up in the morning.

Anyway, we obviously picked him up and then went to visit a few people from his mission. The first family we met was the Conants.

What great people! They had a son on a mission that entered the MTC on the same day as David.....December 10, 2008! They were waiting for him to return home a couple of days later. You could feel their love for David and we really appreciated it. They even made hoer'dearves for him...goose wrapped in bacon...a treat they had made him before that he loved! (David has always been a finicky eater, so we were amazed how much he loved them! I have to admit they were really good!) We had a wonderful time visiting with them! Then we made a trip to Coeur D'Alene. We visited some more people, and then David was visited out, so we headed back to Portland to Aunt Linda's and Uncle Jay's! It was a RAINY, WINDY night! We were sure glad to make it there safely!

The next day, Tuesday, December 14th, we traveled back home! Elder Allred was dressed as a missionary, since he wasn't released yet, and you could tell he was looking forward to being out of his suit and the car, too! We stopped in Lakeport so he could meet with President Engstrom,

our Stake President, and then Elder Allred, was now just David. You could tell that he could feel the release of being a missionary, all that he had known for 2 years. I had seen the look before in his 2 brothers....the look of sadness that the time had come and the 2 years were over. We then drove home and he got to see his brother, STeven!

They have always had a great bond and it was so great to see their love for each other as they hugged! A wonderful thing!

I'm so grateful that our 3 boys, and their dad, too, were willing to give 2 years of their lives to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to Heavenly Father's children. I know that my life is so full because of the blessing that the gospel of Jesus Christ is in my life. I truly can't imagine life without it. I hope that the lives that changed, because of missionaries throughout the world, truly understand the great blessing that they have!