Eyrealm: Like a Pioneer on the 24th of July

All this wildness in July was really leading up to the triumphant homecoming of our ninth missionary, Sister Charity Eyre. Dad and Mom left the mobs at Bear Lake on Pioneer Day (a state holiday in Utah) to greet our wonderful "pioneer" who had been serving in the England London South Mission (our mission 30 years ago) for eighteen months. There is nothing quite like the exhileration of greeting a valiant missionary after long months of dedicated service to the Lord! It was fabulous!

My great sister was there:

And lots of her kids, since our kids were still at the lake awaiting their own reunion later that night!

Cute Chelsea (above) Clark (below)

And darling Pat! Somehow we didn't get Lindsay in a picture!

At the bottom of the escalator were Charity's great fans as well as former companions (and spouses...yikes) :

It was great fun to catch up with those terrific friends!

Friends since childhood and NYU buddies...darling Jane!

Friends forever...born on the same day...and former roommate Miffy~!

Charity's trainer, wonderful Sister Pederson.

The trip home was hard because Charity suddenly realized that the splended adventure and once in a lifetime experience of being a missionry was truly over! After a good cry, a stop at TonyBurgers for a great picker-upper hamburger and encouraging words from Chris and Nickie, we forged on to the lake where at ``10:45 p.m. 33 men, women and children were waiting with baited breath and in the dark as Charity entered the Bamboo House. Anita (Tal's fiancee') was pretending to read a paper on a bench at the front door, which made her wonder if she was at the right house Suddenly everyone jumped out, much to the glee of the 18 neices and nephews (well 16...the babies had gone to be). Welcome home banners were strung everywhere and Charity's brothers hoisted her up on a chair and whirled her around a few times! It was pretty overwhelming to poor Charity, but we had a great time!