Dreams Do Come True

Wow....it has been so long since I wrote anything and so much has happened since then.  First and for most - my son is home!  I can not express the joy of having him back in my arms and feeling of his love. I miss writing to him each week and the closeness that we feel, but I am so glad he is back (well, he is back and gone off to school. ) 

The day that Boyd came home was such a long day as his flight did not get in until 5:00 p.m.   I puttered around the house doing the last minute cleaning and shopping while i waited for the time to tick by.  Finally we were on our way to Las Vegas to the airport.  I was so excited and could not really believe it was happening  Skyler wanted to know why we went so early and I told him that is was cause we did not want to miss the plane coming in.  We had about 30 minutes to wait and it went so slow!  About ten minutes before he got to the gate, the board showed that his plan had arrived.  We had a huge banner that Rob had made for him but there were only three of us there - Rob, Skyler and I. The girls were not able to get off of work. However, we were able to video the hugs live on facebook.  We had those cute girls standing next to us who were waiting to be chaperones for others flying in. They kept us laughing. One of the girls had a huge voice and was so loud. She kept welcoming people to Detroit or California just to make them laugh. She saw our banner and wanted to know what it was for. We told her Boyd had been on a mission and we had not seen him for two years.  She then started looking for him with us. Rob and Skyler kept giving me problems as they would tell me to settle down or not look up the escalator. Every time i saw church shoes I would get excited.  Finally we saw him getting off the farthest escalator.  You could hear all of us shot there he  is and the ladies heard us.  Rob tried telling me to hold still, but forget that. I dropped my side of the banner and took off on a slow run.  I wanted to run right into his arms but he was just laughing at me and kept right on walking !  Our new friend had stepped over to hold up the other side of the banner and began shouting "welcome home Boyd" at the top of her lungs. It was not until we got back to the banner that he finally gave me a hug. Big brat - I wanted that way early but it did not matter, I had him now.  I had my boy home! 

We talked the entire way home and through dinner. Boyd did most of the talking and it was so great to see him and hear his stories. He wandered around the house like he did the day that he left trying to soak it all in. He was home and was not going anywhere.  The next morning the tornado began.  I spent a few hours taking him shopping to get him clothes as we were going on a cruise in two days. He only had missionary clothes so needed something else to wear.  Later that day, Chad and LeAnn came with their kids to spend two days with us.  We were supposed to have a good time but remember all of our bad luck, well it happened again.

For some reason Leann wanted to go jet skiing in Lake Havasu instead of here in our town. I was shocked as it was over an hour drive each way plus hauling the boat and jet ski.  We did not get to Havasu until after lunch and problems started then.  Our truck that kept shutting off and not starting (but the shop said it was all fixed) quit again as we went to put the jet ski in the water.  It was going no where.  Then the boat got overheated and and had to be hauled back to Bullhead.  Rob and Chad took off with the boat while I tried to get the insurance company to send a tow truck. It was 120 out side and no water near the truck.  After about four hours, the truck was on its way home and we were waiting for Rob to come back with the other one. It was after 10 by the  time we got home and i still had to pack for our trip. LeAnn was tyring to help by offering to go to a hotel but we told her to stay as she was not in the way.  I was up until about 2 that morning packing.  The day before was behind us and we were going on a cruise with just my kids!!

Well, all does not end there.  We got a notice from the airline that our flight was delayed by three hours which meant we would miss our connecting flight in Phoenix. I called the airline to find out there was nothing avaialble as there had been a huge computer problem earlier in the week.  We finally found two tickets on the last flight out from Vegas.  I needed four. She told us she could put us on overbook which meant we took our chances.  And, since the seats were not guaranteed i had to pay for the new seats even though I had free ones to begin with - $1200.  I could not beleive it but what was I to do.  I paid it and we headed right to Vegas. It was first come first serve on the tickets so we went four hours early.  We were lucky enough to get on the flight and finally we were on our way.  It was a horrible day with fights from in-laws and hurt feelings but we were finally going (and yes, I did get my money back for the tickets) 

We have never been on a cruise before but I would go again tomorrow.  It was the best vacation we have had in a long time and totally different than anything we had ever done before.  We were all so excited. The rooms were tiny and the boat was a little bit rocky but we got used to that.  We took off with all of us out on deck and the breeze blowing through our hair. We were headed to the Bahamas.  We were able to eat when and what we wanted, to stay up as late as we wanted, to shop and spend lots of money (in the arcade to say the least - boys!).  It was just so awesome.  The best part of the boat was dinner time.  It was a fancy set up so you had all the formal dinnerware and plates. Skyler had never seen anything like it and wanted to know why he had three forks and they placed the napkin on his lap.  We laughed so hard.  Our waitress was so funny and grew to love us like we loved her.  The food was crocodile legs and escargo plus other weird stuff.  Skyler just wanted potatoes and gravy so he would order two entrees that both had potaotes. By the third night he learned he could order just the potatoes - and lots of rolls.  Padina (our waitress) kept us stocked up on those. Jay was the floating bartender and always asked us what we wanted to drink.  We told him we did not drink and he told us we would have no fun.  It was the best part of the boat - dinnertime. I cried the last night as I was so overwhelmed. Not a care in the world had been ours for fives - all the problems left behind and just my family. 

Our excursions were great as well.  We went to Freeport and to Nassau.  We spent one day at the back on kayaks and riding the waves.  Of course there was shopping too. The next day we went to the Atlantis water park.  It was huge!  We went on a few slides but the best part was swimming with teh dolphins. We got to squeeze into these wets suits which caused lots more laughs and head out into the water. We kissed, fed, patted swam and rode the dolphins.  It was so much for that excursion but so worth it.  To see all the smiles on the kids faces and the love that was there. It was that way the entire trip.  We had just the best time ever. 

The day after we got home my family came. They were here for Boyds homecoming. We had a nice court of honor for Skyler to get his Eagle and he even seemed proud of it.  I know I am way proud of him for getting it.  Skyler and I had to talk with Boyd that day which was not nice of the bishopric. Moms are supposed to sit in the audience so they can beam and cry.  I kept my talk short and sweet so we could hear Boyd.  I did take my place in the audience after I spoke too. I was amazed at the words I was hearing coming out of my son's mouth.  He had changed so much. He talked of how scared he was to go but that he was so glad that he did. He stood by the Savior for two years and taught of his truths.  I so wish he could stay that pure forever. He did bear his testimony in Spanish which brought tears to many eyes - especially his dad.  Our boy was now a man,

We were able to spend almost three weeks with Boyd before telling him good bye again.  It was time for him to go to school.  I took more time off of work and headed to Utah with him.  We flew up as he did not have a car and had events planned for five days to get him started at school.  We spent the first morning at orientation for freshman which was just awesome!  I could have done without it. Then we headed to his apartment.  Well, we toured the place the summer and i was so excited for him to live there and have tons of friends to be with.  We walked into his apartment though and both felt sick. It was such a disaster - no paint on all the damaged walls, pills on the floor, meth smell in the carpet, mold around the toilet - no way was he going to live there.  His mattress was paper thin with holes in in and probably bugs.  We told the office who got pretty upset with us for questioning things and told us it was student housing not the marriott hotel.  I was pretty upset.  Student housing should still be liveable.  We went home for Boyd to think about it and the next day went back to get out of te contract. We had to find someone to sell it to which really was no problem. It cost me almost $300 to cancel the contract but I did not care - he was not going to live there.  We then had the task of looking for another place to live. I called work and go the rest of the week off so I could help him. We looked all over and found a really nice place with one opening left.  I wanted him to stay there so bad but grandpa had already offered the basement so it was an easy way out for Boyd. He does not do well with change or meeting new people so he finally decided to stay at my parents.  I hate that as I know he will come home everyday and do nothing just like Cortnie did. He needs to find friends and socialize. So far he has proved me right and come home every day.  It breaks my heart and i really hope he will do something soon. At least he is settled in now and enjoying school.

The girls were also moving in to their new place that same weekend that I stayed. We called Rob and asked me to bring the truck up to help them move. They had so much stuff!  He brought James with him and drove until after midnight to get there.  I am so glad they came. There is no way I coudl have lifted all those boxes and it would have taken us 25 trips with their cars.  I spent the following day unpacking and putting together a new place.  My short five day trip was not 11 and I was exhausted.  I am glad I was able to go and to help out.  We also turned around and went to Panaca four days after getting home from there.  Again, nice to go but so glad to be home. 

We are home now for a month but Boyd is coming home this weekend to go to the temple with his friend so a Vegas trip and then two weeks after that we go to General Conference again.  We have a trip or activity planned once a month for the rest of the year to see our kids in Utah and I am so glad.  I want to be with them all so bad. I miss them like crazy.  Three more years - then hopefully we can move.  I just need to have faith that things will continue to work out.  I need to somehow help my son to feel the spirit again so he will want to have the church in his life - Skyler that is.  Prayers and more prayers.  I can do this right ....you bet I can.