WELCOME HOME-COMING!

 McKay's Homecoming!

The chapel was packed with family and friends.  It was full.  

(Mom writing this)

McKay did an A M A Z I N G  job!  It was one of the best homecoming talks I have heard.  Man, he is so grown up and speaks so articulately.  He was funny, interesting, spiritual, cute, and just did a great job. I was so proud of him.  And hearing him speak in Russian always gives me chills.  I have no idea how he ever learned that language. He is such a fun and cute kid.  I had so many people come up and tell me how good looking he is and how he has truly become a man.  I couldn't have been more proud of him.  It was so fun to talk to all the people that came to hear him speak.  The Connolly's, the Parsons, several missionary moms who boys are serving in Russia (now in the US).  And several of his Russian companions.  Elder Brower (MTC comp), Elder Lyman (trainer), Elder Bodily (from our city), Elder Crabbe (comp), Elder Parry (just assigned as very last comp when learned they were dissolving the mission), and Sister....I forgot her name.

I told them to do a serious pose for Elder De Sandre (still in Russia) but McKay and Elder Lyman could NOT keep a straight face for even a second.  These guys sure do have a lot of fun together.  They were talking for almost an hour after the meeting.  It did my heart good.  I tried to get them to come over even though McKay had to stay for the block, but they didn't.  They were so fun to watch.  McKay was laughing so hard.  He loves them and they love him.  

 The guest of honor

Best picture EVER! ↓ (with Grammy and Grampy)

 Some of his stuff on display...

The dinner...

WELCOME HOME MCKAY!!!

 With the grandparents

Weston is holding a stick photo of Taylor!

 BROS

What a great day!  And man!

Missionary Homecoming Photos

 We took these photos for his Homecoming photo for the local paper.

Why put on your suit pants if the only thing showing in the photo will be your head? LOL

 Unless your mom snaps this!???

Russian Treasures

A few of the things McKay brought back from Russia.

Sadly, most were bought in the airport due to him having NO debit card for the past six months. Long story.  He got several nesting dolls and even a head form of Putin.  haha  He brought home a fox skin!  Umm..... Yeah.  

Mr. Cat loves it. He thinks it's his new buddy. 

 Nesting dolls

 And of course, we need a statue of Putin. ;)

 Hand carved chess set

 Russian and Korean coins

The bottom left is Russian CHOCOLATE!  Such a good boy to bring his Mama some chocolate!  Lots of Shopkas, flags, books, DVD, hats, etc.

Most of his stuff

View from the balcony

Mr. Cat stalking the fox

BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL!!!

(Written by Mom)

He's really coming home!!!

One of the mom's posted this on Facebook.  Not sure who took it and posted it but these are the Vlad 14 at the airport in Korea!!!  They are getting closer!

While we waited we had fun talking to other parents. There were four Elders arriving together.  10 others came with them that were being reassigned to other missions in the U.S.A. but we didn't see them.  

Elder Brower's fam with pix they enlarged from the MTC of the four Elders that are returning.

We had a large crowd of family.  Weston had Taylor on Face-time from Hawaii. Aubrey brought some friends to take photos and video it.  That was such a huge blessing because I hadn't even thought of it. I didn't have time, this all happened so fast! 

Holding the photos of the Elders in the MTC that Elder Brower's mom brought.

(Not so) patiently waiting!

Taylor all the way from Hawaii!

It's them!!!  I see him! He's almost here!

We had to wait quite a while for him to actually make his entrance.  Lots of people that came off before them told us the missionaries were at the back of the plane.  It seemed like FOREVER!  But then...  there he was!!!!!  OH MY GOSH!  He's actually HOME!  THERE ARE NO WORDS!!!  It is the most amazing feeling in the world to see your son after two long years!  Seriously, no words.  But somehow, I'll manage to use some anyway.  ☺ 

He is so cute and looks SO GOOD!  And he is taller! I didn't want to let him go from my tight hug I had waited two whole years for!  Did I mention two years is a dang LONG time!

I went back for a second hug

Missing Taylor, but he is smiling from Hawaii on McKay's shoulder

SO happy he's back!

Cousins

Grandparents

Now, if only Taylor were here in person instead of joining in via Facetime. But I am SO glad for technology because it felt like he was there.  It's time for some kind of technology from heaven so Tyson could join us too!

It was fun watching his reunion with everyone.  He had on a cool suit with a purple lining that one of the other missionaries (we can actually call him a missionary now in stead of a volunteer!) gifted him before he left. He said his suits were bad and the pants looked like work pants they were so worn.  He had no access to money thanks to his dysfunctional debit card and so he had planned on buying a new suit but was unable to.  Amazingly this one fit's him like it was made for him.  A miracle McKay said. 

PURPLE lined suit!  Good job McKay!

Blessings!  SO grateful for his safe return!

We took some photos with the other Elder's parents.  We have had the unique experience of being a close knit group due to the unique small numbers of his very large mission with the majority of "volunteers" being from Utah.  We have a Facebook page and everyone is friends and we have gone to lunch a few times.  We also didn't get to know any of the members in Russia like I did with my other two sons because they don't communicate with us thanks to the strict Russian laws.  We got a group photo with the boys and their mamas.  And then with the dads.

Elder Barr, Elder Parry, Elder Wilding, and Elder Brower with their dads.

These missionaries/volunteers/now friends,  have been through a lot together the past two years!

 A couple of the MTC photos

After the family photos, we headed out to load him up.  We then went to Nielson's Frozen Custard on the way home because he wasn't hungry enough for Panda Express.  Yum.  

The drive home was so fun listening to him talk about his mission. Interesting stuff. We stopped at Big O for a photo.  It is so awesome to have him home!

Then we dropped the boys off and headed to the church so he could be released (by his own dad). We were there late. I have to say that was the highlight for me sitting there listening to him talk to his Dad about his experiences over there and how it felt to be a volunteer and then hearing him bear such a powerful testimony of the gospel, the people of Russian, the other missionaries, his Mission President, etc.  It brought me to tears to see the sincerity in his voice and heart.  All I could think of over and over was what a valiant young man he is and what a man he has become and how blessed and fortunate I am to be his mother  I sat there in awe of this amazing boy that I sent out and listening to the man he has now become.  It gave me chills. I could not hold back the tears.  He got a little teary as well.  He bore his testimony in Russian and I could feel his conviction, faith, and strength even with the language barrier.  It was one of those moments in time I will always remember. It was a bit of heaven on earth.  The spirit was there in abundance. Coolest thing ever. I wish I could bottle what he said. So spiritual. His future is bright. What an amazing young man I can tell he was one great missionary. He loves Russia and the people.  He truly loves his MP.  He truly loved the whole experience. He has grown in so many ways. The best part was when Dave told him that he had a big brother who would have wanted to serve a mission as well and he had a hunch he was there with them. That was the moment I couldn't hold back the tears. It really choked up McKay as well. Him and Tyson were very close and best buds. 

It was after midnight when we got home but the boys were still up.  We all gathered in his room and chatted for a long time.  We got to bed after 2.  

                                               Wow!  He's home....  What a blessing!

I am including this little excerpt from a letter Dave wrote to Taylor because he sums it up so well.  

 It was a week ago today that I was at the clinic when I received the message that a certain young man would be released from his mission.  Looking back it seems like a month with all that has happened since that fateful day.  I can only imagine what it has been like for McKay to come to terms and adjust to all that has changed.  As human beings we use time to adjust to life’s twists and turns.  Time gives us the modality to accommodate and prepare for the anticipated changes that inevitably come.  In McKay’s situation a plan was in place for a scheduled return from the Motherland to the Promised Land, but that all got turned on its ear when he was given a few short hours to pack up everything, close an area, and make the necessary arrangements for hastily made travel plans.  It sounds like a chapter from an international spy thriller.  I’m still not sure how it all came together, or how he made the adjustment to crossing multiple time zones on three separate planes, or how he endured a 10-hour flight from Seoul to Seattle, but when he showed up at the Salt Lake International Airport that little brother of yours looked great!  His flight didn’t arrive thirty minutes early like yours did, a topic that was repeatedly brought up on the drive from Brigham to SLC, so by the time he arrived all the principal parties were in place anxiously awaiting his appearance at the top of the escalators.  I know you were there in spirit thanks to the marvels of modern technology.  It seemed like it took an inordinate amount of time for the four elders to make their way from the gate to baggage claim, as we were repeatedly advised that they were coming from the back of the plane, but once the pilots started showing up I started to wonder what was taking so long.  Eventually they made it and you know the rest of the story.  We stopped at Nielson’s Frozen Custard on the way home and then McKay, Mom, and I went over to the church to issue his release from his full time missionary labors.  By the time we eventually got home it was close to midnight so you can imagine my surprise when McKay showed up a little after 6:30 a.m. the next morning to read scriptures.  It was something that we had done every day before his mission, but between the jet lag and trying to adjust to all the changes he had been through I wasn’t sure I would see him before noon.  Suffice it to say that I was greatly impressed.  Mom came down and joined us and we’ve been there at the appointed hour ever since. 

Aubs posted this on Snapchat.   

Yippee!!!

I woke up the next morning wondering if it was all a dream.  Was my son really home from Russia?  He was!  And up early to read scriptures with us to boot!  SO GOOD TO HAVE HIM HOME! It was a cold morning.  Me and the boys all sat around talking to him.  It was fun hearing his stories.  Then Weston came.  We basically all talked about his mission all day. Weston was hilarious.  He had us all laughing.  So fun to have all these boys back together again!  Just like old times! Now if only Taylor was here!  I know I keep saying that, but it seems there is always one missing!  haha

He really is home!