The big event of the week was the arrival of Daniel home from his mission. He flew into Rochester on Wednesday evening. What made the event even bigger was that Sarah, Tosh, and Miriam arrived from Detroit and Kurt and Julie flew in from California just before he landed. We all waited as the passengers from Daniel’s flight came down the concourse. “Is that him?” we said every time someone in suit appeared. At last we saw someone approaching in a sarape and a cowboy hat and we knew it was him. It was a joyous reunion. After we left the airport we went to the Outback Steak House for dinner. Then most the party headed for home while Stacey, Josiah and I took Daniel to meet with the Stake President to get him officially released. Then we went home too.
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| Waiting for Daniel. |
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| Here he comes! |
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| Stacey and Daniel. |
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| Dinner at the Outback. |
It’s wonderful to have Daniel home again. We love to hear his stories about his mission and the people he met and learned to love.
And it’s wonderful to have the house full of family. Rachel, Tabor, and Hazel arrived on Friday afternoon and the house got even happier. The only thing that could have made it better is if Geoffrey and his family could have been here.
So we’ve been talking, laughing, singing, playing games, watching movies, and eating excellent food together.
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| Friday night pizza. |
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| Games. |
On Saturday we spent the morning cleaning the Raymond Cemetery, a job our family does every fall.
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| Hazel helping gather flags at the cemetery. |
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| The cemetery work crew. |
After that we picked all the remaining apples in our orchard and took them to the Amish cider mill to have them pressed.
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| Picking the last of the apples. |
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| Shaking down apples. |
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| Hazel. |
On our way to the cider mill we stopped at the North Bingham Cemetery.
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| At the North Bingham Cemetery. |
Our seven buckets of apples yielded thirteen gallons of cider.
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| At the cider mill. |
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| The apple grinder. |
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| Thirteen gallons. |
Later that day Sarah made donuts to go with the cider. She has also made us a glazed bundt cake, and her own delicious version of a crunch wrap supreme.
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| Sarah and Stacey making donuts. |
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| Donuts and games. |
Today in church our whole family had the program. Sarah played the piano. Stacey directed the singing. Sarah spoke. We all sang a special musical number, “The Family Is of God.” Then Daniel gave his homecoming talk. It was great.
Now we’re home, waiting for dinner. Just enjoying being together. Tonight we’re going over to Shillig’s for our Sabbath Soiree. I wish it was like this all the time.
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| Hazel home from church. |
