WELCOME HOME, ELDER MURRAY!!

The airplane he was SUPPOSED to arrive in was delayed until the next day! We were here, with bells on to gather him and take him home. Here, we awaited his arrival at the IF Airport. Some of his biggest fans waited for him to cross another "finish line."

Waiting, still waiting. A man that sat next to Blaine on the airplane told us that he was planning on being LAST to come through the door. Such a punk! Funny how waiting an extra day and now another 2 minutes seemed to last longer than that 2 years he was just away from us! Finally.... It's true! He's really here! Everyone cheered as he broke the finish line.



Mom was, of course, first to hug him home. Then dad, then the rest of us. He looked so good! Truly a sight for sore eyes! My favorite was when he bent down to greet all his nieces and nephews. He has always been so cute with them!







Once we gathered his luggage, we made our way out the doors.


Then we went to the Ammon Cemetary where Keagan is buried. I didn't think it was very appropriate timing, but it was something he wanted to do, so we supported him. It made the day a little bittersweet. He didn't say anything. He just stood and stared, then cried, then knelt down to talk to Keagan and placed his nametag on the headstone. It was heartbreaking, but nice to see that he was able to have a little closure that he missed out on when Keagan died. We took the yellow welcome home balloons and let them go, just as we had two years ago at the interrment.


Next, we caravanned back home. First, he wanted to go see our neighbor, Fred, to let him know that Ghana didn't kill him as Fred had feared. He was introduced to his "new and improved room that Mom and Jena and Jamie had worked so hard to get ready. It was perfect! Mom informed him that we had a foreign exchange student living in his room for a few more weeks so he would have to sleep in a sleeping bag in mom and dad's room. He asked a bunch of questions about him and wanted to meet him. He looked a little sad, so I blew mom's cover and told him she was replaying "The RM" movie scene, and he seemed relieved. A really nice tough was all the pictures of Ghana mom had blown up and framed. Jamie then played a song she had prepared for him on the piano. Then... as we always do... we ATE! .... EVERYONE home again!

WELCOME HOME, BLAINE!
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HOME!

Gary's newest Projects

A handyman's projects are NEVER done! I've had to resign to that fact and it has helped me not be bitter. :) Gary's newest projects are below. First, he bought a humongous piece of machinery to help move around and discard of heavy objects for his dad in his pasture, such as metal frames and axles as well as sheds as pictured below. Second, he is going to restore the green Chevy pickup, as seen below, after cleaning things up. Thanks goes out to Jake, who helped Gary haul this beast from Blackfoot to its new home! And to Jake's wife for letting him! :)

Aunt Jena had a brilliant idea that she let us be a part of... We helped celebrate Keagan's 2nd birthday this year by singing happy birthday and eating cupcakes by his gravesite. It gets less painful to go there and it offers some kind of comfort to be there and know that his body is there, but his spirit lives on. I know that truth, but it is confirmed to me each time I visit. We love you Keagan!

Last Supper

Campbell found 4 fluffy balls of feathers on Mom's lawn while cleaning up before mowing it. He showed Jamie and I and we discovered they were new baby Robins. My NICU nursing skills kicked in and I fashioned them a nest out of aluminum foil and toilet paper. Then since they eat worms that have been pre-digested, I blended some up.... YES, I said Blended them up! Gary thought I had gone off the deep end when I loaded his nightcrawlers from the fridge into my blender. It was a little sick, but I had lives to save. One already died and I had a mission! I used a syringe and once the aroma of blended worms came close to these remaining robins, their mouths flew open and they all went crazy. I fed them until they were quiet and no longer responded to the syringe. I felt like I could hug a tree! :) After several hours, I noticed signs that they weren't going to make it. The next morning, they were gone... But at least they went out with a full tummy! Sad but not many people can protest such a great story and not be lying!