Homecoming Talks and Luncheon

We zipped home on Saturday night from the reunion to finish getting things ready for the luncheon and the last review of our talks (I had written mine while we were in Arkansas for which I was very grateful during this busy first week.)

I took pictures of everything set up and then didn't take another picture all day.  I was so sad when I realized that I had missed the opportunity to take pictures of our sweet friends who made the journey to hear us talk.  Both Gary and I were tear eyed during Church as we saw so many friends--near and far---come into the Chapel and then later come to our house for lunch.  How blessed we are with these sweet friends from Hong Kong, from the Headquarters Mission, from Syracuse, and from West Jordan.  My sister, Valerie and her husband Austin also came up from Mesa and were a big help at the luncheon.  We are so blessed.

Our topic other than sharing about our mission was to talk about Following the Prophets and prepare for the upcoming General Conference. 

Here is the set up:

Our sweet missionary cookies.....

We setup a table with our Arkansas things.........to share with our family and friends.

My "miracle" painting, t-shirt, our tags

a gift from Bro. Wing the Institute director

Our temporary dining area

serving area

It was great to see and hug our friends and neighbors.  And it was nice to get this final "big" thing of a mission done--the Homecoming!  (We did also report our mission the next Thursday at Stake Council Meeting in which the three of us shared a story and our testimonies.) Done and done.....it feels official now.

My talk follows.  Gary and Jena both gave excellent talks as well.  Jena's talk was typed on Gary's computer so I don't have a copy but she shared some of the quotes from President Nelson's talks in the past few years that we studied in Institute.