For those of you who didn't know, the last several months I have dedicated a lot of time to plan a week long mission reunion. We gathered donations from former missionaries from my mission to be able to fly our president and his wife here to SLC over Conference weekend. We raised over $3500 for this week. The response from so many people was so wonderful. But with this week, came a lot of stress! There were 4 of us that planned it, and me and one other sister were in charge of the big Friday event for the family. I did a lot with finding former missionaries and with the food for the reunion.
And now, the week is over. It's sad since I don't know when I'll get to see President and Hermana Vazquez again, but it is a relief that it is in the past and that it went really well. Here is a brief recap of the week:
Wednesday: They flew into SLC and I was able to see them at the airport.
Thursday: We did a session at the Jordan River Temple.
Friday: This was the big event of the week. It was a dinner for the whole family. We had probably more than 200 people there.... yet I still had ordered way too much food! But better too much than not enough!
Here are a few of the awesome sister missionaries I was able to get to know as a missionary. Only the second from the left was my actual companion though.
Kara (Belt) Kearsley, Katie Lundquist, Erika Jensen, Cassurie (Gines) McCairns, me. They are all so beautiful!
We had a pinata for the kids, then took them to their own room to watch The Princess and the Frog. We gave them little treat bags that my neighbor helped me put together a couple days before. Thank goodness for big vacuums... but they loved them!
Saturday: During the Priesthood session, the sisters all got together with our children and chatted it up for hours. Again we put some movies on for the kids. I guess Sam was tired... (at this point most of the kids were running around the gym)
La Hermana Vazquez with Livia
My dear friend, Erika. She's the best. I love her. I wish she lived in Utah.
My mission trainer's little girl, Sophia, was trying to put a bow on Livia's head. She chased her all over the gym trying to put it on her.
After the Priesthood session, Presidente came over to the church where we were to say hi to us all again. He loved all the kids and always wanted to be hugging and holding them. Livia was usually fine with him, but she had just been hurt and was crying for me.
Lots of the hermanas with Presidente and Hermana.
Hna V, Livia, me, Sam, Pres. V
Sunday: We enjoyed a Fireside given by Los Vazquez and had
lots of cookies to eat after that. (Yet again, I overbought by a long shot.)
Monday: Each day we had someone different drive them where they needed to be. Monday was my day. It was so great to have so much one-on-one time with them. But they probably think I am the worst driver ever! I almost ran a red light and I back tracked all over the place! They were patient with me though. Luckily I had Erika most of the day to help me with the navigating!
We went to Deseret Book so they could buy some books in Spanish. I sat down with President and he drilled me for a while about my life.... but it was good! I hope I passed!
We went to Rodizio Grill for lunch, thanks to Shad Feild for paying for us all! It was delicious! And I was super stuffed when we left....
We visited a friend of theirs from years back that lives in SLC. Then for Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) we went to a bowling alley where a few former missionaries and their families joined us. I didn't stay to bowl since I had very tired children waiting for me to take them home and put them to bed. I would have loved to see them bowl... when I asked if that's what they wanted to do they just laughed, so I'm guessing they didn't have much experience with it! But my family needed me more than I needed to see them bowl.
So I said my final goodbyes. It was hard to walk away knowing that it could very well be the last time I see them. I'm hoping to some day in the near future visit them in Mexico. We can always use a vacation, right?
They were still here all day Tuesday, but I didn't think my kids would appreciate me driving them all the way to Sandy again. Our whole family has been pretty exhausted this week with being away from home so much and getting to bed really late every night.
They flew out this morning and will be home in Mexico tonight around dinner time.
I was so blessed to have been able to help plan and bring about this reunion. I learned so much from this experience and I feel so blessed to have been a part of giving them this opportunity. The whole time they were here, they expressed so much gratitude and love for being able to come. They just wanted to be where any of their missionaries were. I'm grateful they could come and that I've had the chance to learn from them again.
Now.... I just don't know what to do with myself.
4. And they can dent in the side too. (Look towards the back.)
5. Even though your car gets trashed, it's still so much fun to have a sleepover with friends up in the mountains. (I can't believe I didn't take a single picture.)
8. It's not worth buying a second box of candles for an adult.
10. Jason is so great and makes sure my birthdays are always special. I'm so lucky to have such a loving and caring husband who does all he can so that I have a great birthday! (He got me several other gifts as well along with the game, I just didn't take pictures.)
