K-Lightful: Homeward Bound

October 12, 2014
In three days we will return to Utah and our mission will seem like a dream. The last days have been filled with goodbyes. We had a nice farewell party with the YSA a few weeks ago. Friday night we had an appointment with the Bishop. He visited with us and expressed his gratitude, and then he took us down the hall where a big surprise party had been planned us. We were amazed at how many people were there. People gave us cards and gifts and we had food and everyone expressed their love and gratitude for the things we did while we were there. We were overcome with emotion and overwhelmed at the kindness shown us. There was such a spirit of love and unity as people came together to make this happen. We will always remember it as one of the highlights of our lives.
Tomorrow will be filled with packing and cleaning and Tuesday we will attend the temple in Preston for the last time. We are sad to leave behind so many friends that we have made and excited to come home to our family. We have come to love many people and enjoyed many things about this green and pleasant land, but there is no place like home. I happened on to a poem that seems especially fitting and expresses our feelings as we return.

This is an exerpt from the poem by John Van Dyke, "America for Me"

Tis fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down
Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,
To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings,--
But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.

So it's home again, and home again, America for me!
My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be,
In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

Oh, it's home again, and home again, America for me!
I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea,
To the blessed land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is filled with sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

It has been a great privilege to serve in the England Manchester Mission.