My son Dalton arrived HOME today from having been gone for two very long years on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!  As we gathered at the airport with family and close friends to await his arrival the excitement was building like crazy. We had a huge welcome home sign for him and the little kids had handmade some signs of their own.  We all waited at the base of the escalator at the Salt Lake City Airport just watching for him to appear at the top of that escalator.  The suspense was killing us! And then finally it happened….he appeared at the top of the escalator with the biggest smile in the world.  All of us broke out in cheers down below as he descended the escalator and he let out a great big shout of joy.  The second he was down the escalator I ran right to him for the world’s biggest hug.  And then the tears burst out as I couldn’t contain the joy I felt at having my son back home again.  The feeling was surreal to say the least.  Next his sister came running in for a huge hug and once the women were out of the way it was all about his dad.  He and Rollin bear hugged as they both laughed and cried at the same time.  Then it was time for a family group hug with the four of us…reunited together once again.  That was the best part of all.  Having the whole family together after two long years, all healthy and happy.  That was HEAVEN!  Here are some pictures of him arriving:

Starting to gather at the airport with our welcome home sign

Both sets of Grandparents are ready to greet him

Watching anxiously for Dalton to come down the escalator

Mama gets the first hug! BEST HUG EVER!

Little sister gets second hug 

Dad gets third hug 

FAMILY group hug 

Reunited again as a family. BEST FEELING EVER!!!!

I couldn’t help but think to myself that I truly hope that when my time comes to die and have my spirit go on to the spirit world that what I felt today is exactly what it will feel like in heaven. That pure joy of seeing your loved ones all waiting for you and cheering as you enter.  Feeling that sense of peace and “I’m home” and unconditional love.  It’s that love of your family that makes heaven heaven in my opinion. There is just no better feeling than that. There just isn’t.

I am so proud of my son for giving service for the last two years to the people of the Jackson Mississippi mission area.  I am so proud of his willingness to sacrifice his time and talents to go out and teach people about how much their Heavenly Father and Jesus love them.  Dalton absolutely loves the people in the south.  He made lifelong friends during his mission.  He learned so many lessons over the two years and it was evident that he has grown into a true man.   He has a sense of inner confidence and joy that radiates from him and it is awesome to see the growth he has experienced as a person these last two years.

There are many things in life that can provide temporary feelings of happiness…a cute pair of shoes, nice things, etc, but the love of family isn’t just a temporary feeling of happiness, it is an eternal happiness. Our faith and our family are the two most important assets we have in this life.  They are the things worth fight for, worth working for, worth sacrificing for.  They are what bring us true and ultimate happiness in this life and in our life after death.  Being with our family is what makes heaven, heaven. I hope that each of us will live our lives in such a way that we are all worthy to be together as a family in heaven someday!

Thanks for letting me share my excitement about today with all of you! 🙂

Today was HEAVEN!

Love,

Amy