On the 2nd we went to our last "Symphonic Band Concert" at Shasta College. We have totally enjoyed these concerts. The Conductor, Dr. Larry H. Grandy, is an amazing man: full of energy; very talented; and truly loved by his band members. It has been especially meaningful for us to attend because we know Alex Lowther (son of our Admin. Assist. Brook Lowther) who plays the Bass Clarinet.
The evening of the 2nd we attended one of our last "YSA Branch Bonfires." The bonfires have given the YSAs a way to invite non-members to come and see that LDS people are really not all that strange. The missionaries - either the Elders or Sisters or sometimes both - are always there. Members of the Branch Presidency attend too. After being told the YSAs were not allowed to build the bonfire in the sand volleyball court any longer, about a year ago the Branch bought a very nice portable stone fire pit. We never realized how enticing a bonfire is to young people. Between 10-20 come for the bonfires. What a great missionary tool.
We did our last Apartment Inspections on the 3rd starting in Red Bluff at 8:30 a.m. and finishing in Redding about 11:30. (We didn't get all the apartments up here in Redding so we'll be doing a few next week.) We have totally enjoyed doing the apartment inspections. The personal contact with the missionaries every 6 weeks has helped us feel more a part of the mission. Being assigned to teach at the Institute Monday-Thursday and than to prepare the luncheon each Friday limited our interaction with the young missionaries around us. We feel we have been truly blessed to be an integral part of the mission by serving in this capacity.
May 3rd, 2014 - Nan turned 65. To celebrate, after we finished apartment inspections, we went out to lunch at the Olive Garden. Lots of cards, letters, emails, and presents from family and friends made it a wonderful birthday.
Also on the 3rd, grandson Chandler Wade was baptized at 5:30 p.m. Being on a mission means one has to miss some very important family events. Our hearts where also in Washington, UT today.
Sunday the 4th was "Break the Fast" at the Branch. Flavor of the Month: German Food. We made Crock Pot Roast w/Red Cabbage. It was gone in the blink of an eye. We talked about the monthly "Break the Fast" meals we have prepared for all these past months, and we realized we probably would miss it - at least a little.
On the 5th we took Desiree Broomfield to dinner and then back to our apartment to visit and then on to the Institute building for FHE where the youngsters played Ultimate Frisbee.
On Tuesday, the 6th, we had our Exit Interview with President Weston. He renewed our Temple Recommends saying, "This is the only recommend you'll ever have that has only one signature." Another great memory from our mission.
the 7th: Wednesday morning, before going out to the Institute we inspected the apartment in Palo Cedro.
the 8th: Thursday after Institute we shopped form food for Friday Forum; we'll be serving hoagie sandwiches and fresh fruit salad.
the 9th: Friday before going to the Institute we inspected the 2nd Ward missionaries's apartment which is right on the way to the Institute. These fellows live in a detached garage. It's not too bad - not too good - but every missionary who has lived there seems to think it's just fine. Sarah Cumptom (one of the YSAs) is a very talented artist. She was having her premier "showing" this evening from 5-8 p.m. She does amazing work in colored pencil. Nan foolishly thought because Sarah is an unknown artist and this was her first showing we would be able to purchase one of her pieces. WRONG. Even the smallest work sold for over $500. Pat and Vivi McEuen also went to the showing and were disappointed that they too were unable to buy even a small canvas. We suppose our only reward for knowing Sarah will be when we can say "We knew her when ..."
Saturday the 10th - more apartment inspections in the Redding Zone. There was a convert baptism today (Niki). There was also a Branch Activity at 6p.m. - Hike to Mary's Lake. We didn't go. Nan can't breath well enough to go hiking up hill.
Monday the 12th - Nan gave her review for the Old Testament Final Exam. This was also the day we chose to start using the Santaquin Zip Code (84655) when we use our VISA at the gas station. Everything went smoothly; seems we're back in the system as Santaquin residents. For FHE at the Branch we watched the May CES Broadcast. Not many came for the viewing; FHEs aren't very well attended when we do something totally spiritual.
STARTING THE COUNTDOWN TO DEPARTURE DAY
10 - Tuesday the 13th
9 - Wednesday the 14th - Nan gave the Old Testament Final Exam. Students didn't do too badly. Everyone passed and will receive CES credit for Old Testament Studies. No more classes for Nan. Kent gives his Final Exam tomorrow (Thursday) and then his classes are done.
8 - Thursday the 15th - Kent called Carl Durney, Santaquin Stake Executive Secretary, to make an appointment for us to be released from our mission on May 25th. That evening President and Sister Weston invited us to dinner at The Olive Garden as a farewell and Thank You for our service.
7 - Friday the 16th - Our Last Friday Forum: hamburgers on the grill; David Phillips, Area Director of Institutes, is the guest speaker. There was Zone Conference at the Stake Center from 8:30a.m.-3:30p.m. but we weren't able to attend until after Friday Forum. President Weston presented us with a Roseville CA Mission decorative wall plate and a huge "signature board" where all the missionaries signed their names. That night we attended our LAST BONFIRE at the Institute building.
6 - Saturday the 17th - We went with the Branch for our LAST TEMPLE TRIP. We had a 1:30p.m. appointment at the Sacramento Temple. Tyler Wilds, one of the YSAs from the Branch, received his endowments. He has been called to the Canada Vancouver Mission.
5 - Sunday the 18th - Our LAST SUNDAY SERVICES at the YSA Branch. Cody Ohlau gave his farewell address. He has been called to the Tampa Florida Spanish Speaking Mission. He will receive his training at the Mexico City MTC.
4 - Monday the 19th - This was the final day for the Shasta Co. DA to determine if Kent was going to be needed as a witness in the trial of Shasta County v Teresa Bowman, a vehicular accident we witnessed coming home from Anderson last year. Since we didn't hear anything from the DA, we figure they don't need his testimony. We had our last FHE with the Branch tonight. The Presidency asked Kent to give a Spiritual Thought. When we arrived at the Institute building we were surprised with a wonderful "Going Away Party." They really didn't need Kent to give a spiritual thought, that was just a precaution to make sure we went to FHE that evening. We received several gifts that would remind us of Redding, CA. The framed pictures we received of the Sundial Bridge were particularly touching. There were two cakes, lots of cookies, veggies and dip, and ice cream. About 40 YSAs attended along with the Branch Presidency and their wives.
3 - Tuesday the 20th - Mitch and Brook (our Office Assistant) Lowther and their son Alex took us to a "Farewell Dinner" at the Cottonwood Eatery. They gave us the book by Tad R. Callister, The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration. I had mentioned one time that I would like to have that book. Brook was always on her toes, knowing just what Kent and I needed or wanted.
2 - Wednesday the 21st - We attended the Branch Temple Fireside at Pat and Vivi's. She served a light dinner and then we watched the fireside in their great room.
1 - Thursday the 22nd - We continued to pack and get ready for the car ride home. THEN - SURPRISE!!! Scott, Tricia, Stacey, Pam (and baby Kayla), and Tyson arrived at our apartment at 5:30p.m. Because of a previous professional convention Brad had to attend, he wasn't able to join in the fun. Tyson had suggested to his siblings back at the beginning of the year that he thought it would be fun for all of them to drive out to CA to "escort" us home. All the children - and their spouses - set aside their lives for the next four days in order to do this wonderful thing for us. It's a funny story of how they finally caught up with us. They were on the road from Utah very early this morning with Tyson driving his 6-passenger van. They drove straight through to Redding. As they were coming into Redding, Pam messaged to tell us her boys wanted to "Facetime" us. We told her we were just finishing dinner at Olive Garden and since we had already packed our computer system we would drive over to the Institute building as soon as we were done eating and would Facetime using the computer system there. Because we weren't home and we had already eaten, they had to go to Plan B - they went to dinner at Applebee's. After a bit, Pam called and said it wasn't going to work for the boys to Facetime and we should go home. THEN - IT HAPPENED!!! We hadn't been home very long when they showed up at our door. When the doorbell rang, Nan was already in her PJs so she ran into the bedroom. She thought our visitor might be Vivi coming to help us pack. Kent answered the door. WOW! Such excitement - great hugs - tears of joy. We surely do have great children! They had reservations at a hotel there in Redding and after a few hours of visiting they headed to the hotel to get some much needed sleep.
DEPARTURE DAY - Friday the 23rd - After we all had breakfast together, the "Barlow Moving Company" checked out of the hotel and we all went over to the Institute building to say some final farewells to several of the YSAs. It was fun to introduce our children to our "YSA children" we had loved and mentored for the past 23 months. It was a teary farewell as we drove out of the Institute parking lot for the last time as we headed to Medford, OR. One of the YSAs we had gotten very close to, Elizabeth Tavalero, was receiving her Endowments today at 5p.m. in the Medford Temple prior to her sealing/marriage tomorrow. Kent and I were invited to attend both the Endowment and Sealing. Because we had informed all our children of our travel plans, including our stop-over in Medford, they knew we had made reservations at the Quality Inn there. So, unbeknownst to us, they made reservations at the Quality Inn too.
Saturday the 24th - The Ledysman/Tavalero sealing was at 9:45a.m. (Interesting story: Elizabeth met Elder Ledysman when he was serving his full-time mission in Mt. Shasta, the town where Elizabeth grew up. They corresponded after he was transferred from Mt. Shasta and at the completion of his mission they reconnected.) By 11a.m. The Barlow Moving Company was eastward bound. Again, the children knew we had booked a room at the Super 8 in Battle Mountain, NV for our second night - so they did too.
What a wonderful time we all had during our road trip home. Lots of brother/sister uninterrupted interaction with each other. Lots of laughter during meals together. We are still amazed that they all came to get us. We surely do have great children.
Sunday the 25th - Arrived in Santaquin mid-afternoon. Prior to leaving Santaquin, Pam had arranged for our friends to write their names on yellow ribbons that she tied to the trees. She had made a huge Welcome Home banner that hung over the garage door. When we were getting off the freeway into Santaquin, someone made the call that alerted everyone at the house that we would be coming up the street shortly. Most of our family was there waiting to greet us.
At 4p.m. we went to the Stake Center and President Steven Wood released us from an honorable mission of 23 months.
THE END
