MAYLIN2007

Austin came home on Jan. 15 at 1:08 P.M.! We got there about 20 minutes early with our welcome home signs prepared. We were so nervous and excited as we waited. His flight came in about 10 minutes early which was awesome! The people off his plane started to come down and a few said to all the families that were waiting (there were tons, about 7 missionaries were coming from his mission and 8 others on a flight 5 minutes later from PA) that the missionaries were coming. We all got so excited, but then we waited SOME MORE. Finally, a huge group of missionaries started down the escalators. He was one of the last and you could tell on his face he was bewildered. It took him a few minutes to figure out where we were and who we were. Maylin quickly ran under the ropes (mom, was a bit nervous security would grab her, but all was okay) and gave the first hug!! Her hug went on forever. Kenzie was next, then Alex and then me. Jay was last. It was so wonderful to watch each person get their hug...

This is the Concepcion Mission. It was built in 1731. It was considered the most attractive mission and has had the least renovation done to it. Inside you can see the original paintings. It was pretty cold and rainy but the kids still had fun.   This is one of the remaining original art works. Worship services still happen here. Finally, Jay felt tall! More original art work. One of the outside wells. It was so cold and rainy at the San Francisco de la Espada that the girls waited in the car. They were cold and tired. This one was my particular favorite. A lot of the out buildings were ruins, but the main church was so darling. I loved this part of it! It was so quaint. This is a large aqueduct they built to irrigate the missions with. It was pretty cool. In one spot, they made it so the water would run the wrong way.  Obviously, it doesn't get used now....

Tonight as we all gathered in Kenzie's room to read a few scriptures from the Book of Mormon, I stopped after the first verse. I suddenly had a thought that brought a smile to my face and a butterflies in my stomach. I realized that at that very moment, just one week away, my boy Austin would be home having scripture study with us! He will be home! He will be right there next to me. He will be participating. He will be enjoying his siblings for the first time in 2 years. I will be able to kneel next to him in prayer. I will be able to kiss him good-night. I can tuck him in. Okay, so he will be 21, but he is getting it anyway.....even just for that first night home. I deserve it. He has worked hard. He is tired. He has said he is physically spent. He, however, is a spiritual giant with a grand knowledge of the scriptures, of our Savior, of His atonement, and filled with a desire to love everyone. We have all sacrificed. I gave him up for two years. I talked to him 4 times. I haven...

We decided to really get into the history of Texas. We made a plan to see all 5 of the missions in San Antonio. We had already seen the Alamo, so we wanted to see more. A mission is what Spain set up to help them settle the American Continents. The would send Friers over to talk to the Indians who lived here, convince them to live in the mission, and they would teach them their customs and religion. It became a community, or a little city. Often there were 300-400 people living in a mission. There were housing, cooking spaces, storage and of course a church. Spain being so small, knew this was really the only way they could compete with big time countries that were vying for the new land and people. Mission San Jose was our first stop. It is the largest of the missions. Kenzie had just met a cute boy at home named Jose so this was her favorite one. It was so COLD! However, we had a great time with all the phone ops.  Known as the "Queen of the Missions", it was almos...