No Place Like Home

Oh how wonderful it is to be home!  We left Paris early Tuesday morning and landed in Las Vegas 15 hours later...Tuesday afternoon.  Weird how the time changes allows you to experience one eternal day.  Burke's amazing sister Kristen picked us up from the airport and when we arrived home in St. George we found our home decked out in thoughtful signs from Cassie, Catherine and Danelle.  They had turned our utilities on so our house felt perfectly cool and they had even put milk in our fridge, fruit in our basket and fixings for PBandJ. It just made my heart full to know we have such a thoughtful and kind family watching out for us!

Here's Burkie the day after we got home (with a fresh hair cut!) and all of our stinkin luggage...a reminder to never pack this heavy again!

Our families thoughtfulness didn't end there however.  The very next day (Wednesday, July 14) was my sweet Alan Burke's 29th birthday!  I was really upset because Burke asked me to get him just one thing for his birthday: absolutely nothing.  He reminded me that we just had 2 amazing months abroad and that the best gift in the world to him would be to save our dollars and put it towards our car payment and school.  It was really hard for me to restrain myself as there were so many things I would have liked to get him, but in the end, respect for his request triumphed over my need to give things to prove my love.  It wasn't a totally lame-gift-less day though as we got to eat Mexican food at Cafe Rio for the first time in 2 months and then Burke was "surprised" by a casual get together over at the Ridings with all of our St. George family.  Look at this darling birthday pie Catherine made for Burke!

The week continued to bring in fun surprises when Mike (Burke's big brother) invited us to join them at Sand Hollow Reservoir for boating and wave runner-ing on Saturday.  :)  Our nieces were having the time of their lives and we had a great time out on the water despite the nasty sunburns on our legs and feet.

That night a few of Burke's buddies and the entire Adams family (minus the Kelly/Wes crew in Montana...missed you guys!) came down for a welcome home BBQ that the Ridings hosted for us once again.  I think we've utilized their home and patio a little too much over the last year, but we are certainly grateful they are so gracious and kind to host us all.  It felt so good to just sit back and soak up all the happiness that comes from being together with family.  Kristen went above and beyond and made us an amazing cake.  On one side there is France with a miniature chocolate Eiffel Tour and on the other side she made the state of Utah with a ding dong "plateau" and the D that's down here on the St. George "D Hill."  The little sign even says "Welcome Home" in French.  Isn't she so talented?!

We have felt showered with love this whole week and it just feels so wonderful to be back home.  Some things we've really appreciated thus far are:

1) Our guitars!  The first thing Burke did after feeding our lovely fish was to go straight to the office and pull of his guitar.  He's been playing constantly for an entire week!

2) Being able to drive again

3) Grocery stores with EVERYTHING you could possibly need in them

4) Having a temple just 3 blocks from us and seeing familiar faces in our session

5) Being close to family again

I feel like there is so much about our experience that I didn't have a chance to document, but all in all, let's just say it was well worth it.  Thank you to everyone who enabled us to make that dream a reality, who supported us and who made our homecoming so memorable.  We are so grateful and we love you!