Cassin's Homecoming

So I am a little behind in my blog update. I feel like I have been running nonstop since the middle of June and I am still running. But I need to say how HAPPY I am that Cassin made it home safe and sound after serving his mission in Tennessee for the past 2 years. He flew into Lethbridge at 4:00 and the weather was very cooperative and we had no delays. Everyone spent their time waiting for the plane in different ways.

 

The girls made welcome home posters

The swarm of hugs.

Everyone was so excited to see him after so long. 

A hug from a greatful DAD.

All Smiles

Hugs from Bailey

Boots carried all the way from Tennessee

Brothers

Hanging out with Grandma and Great Grandpa.

It was so nice to just have the whole family together again after 4 years. We all enjoyed soup, stories, and ice cream cake to celebrate Brandon's 17th Birthday.

He was so kind to share his birthday with a homecoming celebration.

We had such a wonderful weekend with family coming to visit and coming for Cassin's talk on sunday. He gave such a wonderful talk on the importance of the Book of Mormon in our lives. He has grown so much and has such a knowledge and spirit about him. We had about 50 people over to our home after for Cafe Rio and great visiting.

Returned with Honor

After 2 years of faithful service in New York #1 son has returned home. We were all worried because of course mother nature stepped in to mess up the day with another winter storm. Flights had been cancelled into Calgary and Lethbridge so we were watching the internet flight udates constantly as we prepared to pick him up. We were blessed and his flight made it into Calgary and the Lethbridge flight was on schedule. We were going to see him at 7:50pm. As we pulled into the airport parking lot at 7:20my cell phone rang and Dustin informed us he had been bumped from his flight. He had already been seated on the plane but the people they were trying to get off would not leave and he heard over the radio that they should ask Mr. Tanner. So being the kind and so very tired person he was he got off and we didn't get to pick him up until Midnight. Crazy. What's funny is that was the original flight he had been scheduled on but we had changed it so he wouldn't be stuck in the airport for 7 hours. He finally arrived as did two other returning missionaries so it was a big celebration in the tiny Lethbridge airport. We are so happy to have him home. Now we'll watch him settle into life once again.

Missionary Update

Elder Dustin Tanner has been out in the mission field for almost 4 months now. He is doing so great. We always recieve such positive emails from him each week that I can't help but grin from ear to ear as I read them. He has just gotten a new companion, an Elder Boyed from Colorado. He thinks that they will get along great. He also got to move to a new apartment, in a new neighborhood. He describes it as a much nicer place in a nicer neighborhood but their are still lots of cockroaches. You get a picture.
He has had such great experiences since being a missionary. You can just feel the spiritual growth that he is going through in the messages we recieve. They are short but sweet. As most missionary moms know, you don't get a whole lot of detail, but you can read between the lines. He has met some very interesting people in N.Y. and a lot of different nationalities. They have had a baptism and Dustin was asked to baptized the young man. They are now getting a young girl and another man ready for baptism on the 23 of this month. He loves the people in the Bronx ward. He says that he thinks they all like him too because they remember his name and they don't remember the other missionaries. He is such a people person that I think he can influence people just by getting to know them.
I am so happy to have him there. People always ask me if I worry about him and I can honestly say that I don't. If I could see where he was that would probably change, but probably not. I don't worry at all because I know he is where he needs to be and he is on the Lord's errand.
Dustin has had a mission conference with all the missionaries in N.Y. Elder Uchtdorff attended and Dustin said it was a highlight to shake his hand. The couple missionaries in his district, The Morrisons have sent a couple pictures of their district missionaries and we have loved seeing him. He looks healthy and happy.( Though he did inform me he was sick for a while and lost about 20 pounds) He has also had the opportunity to go to the museum, The Bronx Zoo and A Yankees game. My favorite part of his letters is hearing about the people he teaches and how the spirit effects their lives and changes their lives. Overall Dustin is doing great and loving what he is doing.

Sending out a missionary

We sent out our first missionary on the 23rd of april. What a great experience! Dustin gave his farewell talk in sacrament on Sunday the 20th. The WHOLE family on both the Tanner and Memmott sides of the family were there except uncle Dan whose plane was grounded because of snow. What a fantastic site to see everyone together to show support for Elder Tanner. We love everyone for making such a huge effort to be there!(Even through the blizzards and family pictures) Cassin and Dustin both spoke that day and did a great job. It was nice to just spend time with family and friends. Dustin was set apart as a missionary sunday night by President Evanson. That was a special experience to witness.
Dustin told me "NO Tears Mom. We've said goodbye before." I think that helped in letting him go out the door marked MISSIONARIES. I held up my end and only cried a little when I left the building to walk to the car. Jeff was doing his happy dance. I haven't seen a prouder Father. What a great feeling it is to have a son serving the Lord and doing what is right. Now we wait on pins and needles to find out how life in the MTC is going. We will keep you all posted as we hear from him. Anyone who would like to write to Dustin in the MTC the address is :Elder Dustin Jeffrey Tanner, MTC mailbox #150, NY-NYCN 0513, 2005 N. 900 E., Provo, Utah 84604-1793