Full Throttle

We fly in to Utah from California for Seth's 39th b.day and Tom meets Penny for the first time!
Our family reunion of a couple of hours on Sunday July 29th! Our official release from our mission.  Along with our 'homecoming' talks at church and Juliette is blessed.
Colie goes into surgery for a tumor in her lung, reaction to medication, horrific pain, and the long road of recovery!  Babysitting Cora and Juliette while their mom recovers.  An overwhelming feeling of gratitude that the tumor appears to be benign.
Heber house renovations!  Decisions, shopping and picking out items, spending money like no other!
A fender bender in our 'new' car that we had for 6 days!
Tom celebrates another year of life:  today he is 67 years old!

Dan asked how 'civilian' life is going.  Full throttle ahead.  It's absolutely crazy!  As one friend put it:  What a re-entry!  We have to remind ourselves that we were on a full time mission just a few weeks ago, because it really does seem like a distant dream.  Tom will say, 'Did we serve a mission?'  And it  still feels like we are here in Utah on vacation.  In a few weeks we'll go 'home' and everything will slow down and go back to 'normal'.

This is the 'other' car.  I really nailed it.  Our car wasn't quite as bad, but it still suffers damage.  And only having had it for 6 days.  I can't tell you how bummed I am still feeling about it.

Heidi was in SLC so we met her at the park.  The boys had made b.day cards for Pop and Heidi bought 'Charleston Chew' for his gift.  Perfect!  

For Tom's birthday outing, we chose to go up to the Millcreek Canyon.  Neither of us had been there before.  We found the perfect place.  Loved hearing the leaves blowing in the aspens, the water in the river, the quiet of the mountain and breathing deeply of that fresh clean air!  Tom enjoyed getting a call/text from all the kids.  Thanks for remembering everybody.