From Tegucigalpa to Washington D.C.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

The big day of our leaving had finally arrived. We put the finishing touches on the vacating process in our apartment, took a couple of photos, and then wheeled our luggage to the elevator, and ultimately outside to the car that was waiting to take us to the airport. It was a constant press to keep to our schedule and get out on time which kept the emotional departure on the back burner, so-to-speak, and kept the tears at bay for the most part. Wonderful, kind friends said good-bye and wished us well as we left this unique and special part of our lives behind forever. The suitcases were piled so high in the car as we drove away from our beautiful temple that I could hardly see out the window for one last glance.

The Temple Recorder, Elder Alvarado, drove us to the airport and Pres. Valle came with us also. We were so glad for their help and their hints about navigating the rules and regulations of the airport. Our lunch of apples and V-8 juice had to be given away before we could eat it and it turned out that our hunger was put off only by a couple of granola bars that were in my carry-on and some snack-size almonds and trail-mix for the whole trip. We flew United and they don’t even give you a Biscotti cookie anymore!

Both of our carry-on bags were set aside to be searched. Glade had put in a pair of toe-nail scissors (not just little clippers) and it was buried deep in a case. They searched and searched, put it through the scanner again, and were finally satisfied when Glade produced the trimmers. He didn’t know that you had to put those in checked baggage. A young man carefully went through all my things with gloved hands. I don’t know what he was looking for, but when the search was ending, he took the curling iron from its heat-resistant cover and asked me in Spanish if that was for my hair. I smiled and said yes; he seemed satisfied and let me proceed.

All our departures ran late, but not enough but what the pilots were able to make up the extra time in-flight and we arrived on time. It was a tight connection in Houston, however; but our missionary tags caught the attention of a local Branch President, also flying, whose wife had coincidentally served a mission in Tegucigalpa. After our train ride, which was outside the building in the rain, he helped us find one of those motorized shuttles. A kind lady drove us through the airport hallways calling out, “Car coming, car coming, car turning right,” etc. to clear us a path; and we made it just in time to board our flight to Salt Lake City. We were on North American soil and I was so happy!

We had enough time in Salt Lake before our last leg home to catch our breath. Glade picked up a couple of muffins and there was a basketball game on the overhead TV—IN ENGLISH—so we were happy campers and started to relax a little.

When we landed in Idaho Falls at 10:45 p.m., we were welcomed with cheers and smiles, a welcome home sign with all the greeters’ names, and tons of hugs and kisses from kids and grand kids and it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. We were Home.

We loaded luggage and piled into cars for the trip home. Melissa presented us with a minkee quilt that her grandma made for us and I slept with it for a week! It’s colder in Idaho for sure! When we arrived, a spotlight on the roof lit up a huge “Welcome Home Grandma and Grandpa” banner over the sewing room window. Jeff and Emi and family made the sign; Alexis brought it to Rigby; and Scott and his kids climbed onto the roof and with Tracen’s help, too, taped it across the window. It made us feel remembered and loved.

As we climbed out of the cars, everyone was “lingering” and we were appreciating the sign and the fact that it was all lit up so we could see it at midnight on our arrival. Suddenly, I noticed a section of concrete curbing—the kind that borders landscaped plants and flowers—just off to my right where my bushes should have been! My jaw dropped and I shouted “Where are the bushes?” Well, long story short—Scott and Glade collaborated to take out all of the shrubs that bordered both sides of the driveway and ran across the front of the house clear to the East end. They were all gone—along with two huge mugho pines and a weeping birch tree that were in a planting in the center of the front lawn! What a shock.

Everyone knew about this “little” project except for me, of course; and they were a little worried about my reaction—especially to the removal of the front lawn planting. I planted, weeded, and nurtured all those bushes for over thirty years and now they were gone. However, they were huge and were taking over the driveway and all the space where flowers used to bloom. They were nearly six feet high and still growing so it was time for them to go—but I couldn’t have made that decision. Scott hired a landscape company to do the work, and the removal took four days. Scott also had a huge job to oversee everything and keep the workers on track. Apparently it was a giant “mess” and one I was lucky to have missed. It was done last fall along with the addition of dirt and sod to create sloped areas around the driveway clear to the courthouse on the North which was another big improvement. Wow! It will take some getting used to, but I can plant all the flowers I want now!

We stayed up and talked until the “wee hours” and then finally went to sleep in our own bed in our own home.

Sister Peterson with Sister Ocamp0

With good friend Sandy Toledo

Last look at our wonderfully comfortable apartment

We will be happy for our big kitchen at home where we don't
trip over each other all the time.
Notice the two faucets--the one on the left is extra filtered for drinking.

These friends helped load our luggage in the car.
From Left: Brother Castañeda, Elder Alvarado--Temple Recorder, and Pres. Valle

Farewell to Sister Valle, Our ever-present guard friend, and Sister Casceras

One last look at our beautiful temple.

My favorite flowers. Don't you think they look just like rhododendrons?

Arriving at the airport

One more photo before leaving

Waiting for our flight. They changed gates for our flight but no
announcement was ever made. A person had to find out by
observing what was gong on and following the "leader."

Our ride home to the United States!

At home the preparations were under way for a wonderful welcome. A light
mounted next to the chimney lit up the sign in the dark and it was awesome.

Five of our kids taking a break in the preparations for lunch.
Tracen, Scott, Kristie, Justin, and Alexis!

Keegan and Amelia with a "Welcome Home" sign above
and Amelia and Grover are below.

Waiting for the plane in Idaho Falls

Tracen, Melissa, Ethan, Emily, Kristie, and Marc.

They're Coming!!

Cameras Ready!!

We've arrived! We're Home!!!

First Hugs! Keegan, Ethan, Grover in front, and Amelia

Thank goodness for Skype so Grover knows who Grandma is!

More first Hugs! From the far left are:
Emily with Keegan, Marc, Melissa, Kristie, Alexis, Justin, Amelia, and Me