Homecoming -- The Return of Grandma & Grandpa Schmidt

(Note: This post was taken directly from Ashley's blog)

My parents, or more commonly known around our house as Grandma and Grandpa Schmidt, have been serving an LDS mission in the Dominican Republic for the last year and a half. Well tonight was their homecoming and we were all so excited to see them!

Their plane was originally supposed to land at 4:50 pm. But they missed their connection and didn't land until 7:25 pm - which meant for a very late school night.

 This is the sign that Claire and I made over the weekend. She painted the whole top line (by going over my pencil lines) all by herself.

Watching all the legs and clothes of the people coming down the escalator and judging whether it was them.

 Very large sign by the Schmidt Family

 More signs

 Jake and Grace

 Claire and Christian

 And Finally..... here they come!

 Mom pulled out her pictures to take pictures of us.

 Claire and Grandma

Dinner at Chuck-a-rama. We barely made it before 9 pm and they were kind enough to serve us until we were finished.

Glad you're back Grandma and Grandpa! We missed you!

-- Posted By Blogger to It's Called Love... at 3/11/2014 03:20:00 PM

Arriving in Utah

Uncle Bruce and our kids met us at the airport.  All our kids came and surprised us.  Five elders from the office came and sang with us when we spoke. (one not in the picture).  Yo se Dios vive!  Esta es la iglesia de nuestro Padre Celestial!  Jesucristo es el hijo de Dios, el Redentor, el Salvador del mundo.  El libro de Mormon es verdadero, la palabra de Dios.  Familias son eternas!  Estamos agradicidos para ustedes todos!

We are grateful for all of you!!
 Con amor,

Los Schmidt

Jim and Susan's flight delayed

Hi everyone,

Just passing info along. My parents are on their way home from DR, but missed a missed a connection flight in New York due to the large amount of time they spent going through customs. Now they will arrive in SLC at 7:25pm, Delta flight #2366. My mom called and wanted me to inform everyone. 

Have a nice day!

-Andrea

Going Home!

We had dinner and lunch out with two senior couples, the Mahons and the Clawsons. The last Sunday, 2 branch presidents and 3 other men greeted us with "good morning"  They had learned English.  Jim spoke, I didn't do too bad on the organ.  Then they all gathered for a picture and hugs.  We passed out packets of Oreo cookies and said farewell.

 A knock at the door Sunday night, it was 6 elders to sing us a good bye song before they drove us to the airport the next day.  Here's some pictures:

If you are in town, we'd love to have you sing with us!

On Saturday, March 8, 2014 10:28 AM, Riley Reeder <riley.reeder@icloud.com> wrote:

Elder y Hna. Schmidt,

I can't believe you are already home! How has it been? Kind of an interesting adjustment? I hope everything is going well. I'm sure your family is extremely happy to see you . I will most definitely be there to hear you speak- and while my singing voice is far from ideal- I will join you guys :) 


Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 7, 2014, at 4:58 AM, Susan Schmidt <susanandjim6@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hola! 

We'd love to have you come do a musical number with us on Sunday, March 16th  when we speak in Church.  Maybe a medley of Called to Serve, Cuentas Bendiciones, Placentero nos es trabajar, y Yo se que vive mi Señor (only one verse each.)  Maybe we could practice singing it through a couple of times before the meeting at 8:30.

     So it's March 16th at 9:00 am at 60 West Gordon Avenue, Layton, Utah--I think Layton Hills exit 331, just off the freeway a few blocks to the east/towards the mountains.

     Any other missionaries that are close by, bring them with you.

Let us know if .

Con amor,

Los Schmidt 

Hi! We're turning in our phone, tv, and internet

Hi, last email--you've heard that before.  Anyway if you need us before Sunday Night call 809-980-4919, or 829-904-0750.  WE LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!  have a great weekend!!!! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL--WE WILL TRAVEL TO SOME!!

Love, Dad and Mom and G&G S

Farewell to the Dominican Republic!

Hi Family!

The elders and Ramona brought up lunch today as a surprise.  I started to cry.  Then everyone got out their cameras.  What a time we've had!  They served a big pan covered with melted cheese.  Dad said the ingredients would have been expensive.  It was like shepherd pie only with platanos instead of potatoes and a few carrots and raisins in.  Tasted pretty good. Then they had big pitchers of chenola--an orange drink kind of like orange and peach combined.  We had a gift for Ramona, Hershey candies in a heart valentine plus other stuff, a big jar of Smuckers Strawberry jam for the Clawsons (her favorite flavor), then a note and money for the elders to go get ice cream at a fancy new place that opened up recently.  Dad and I went there for Valentines. 

      We ate at the Pres. house (the whole office) on Wednesday.  It was fancy!  They served Dominican food the president's wife said to remember them by.  It is same meal as when we came and at traslados --rice with vegetables in, chicken, candied banana and potato salad of yucca instead of potatoes, carrot and eggs.

     Last night we went to dinner at a hotel, the fanciest place we've seen since we came here.  We met the Mahons there, the CES couple also going home from Huntsville, Utah.  The Clawson's replacing us are from Kaysville just along the freeway not far from us. So strange.  We're going to lunch with them tomorrow.

     The president called the office a few minutes before we left today and wanted us to come to the mission home.  He and his wife greeted us and gave us our certificates (which we'd typed) and a booklet of all the missionaries' pictures and a plaque.  They want us to email them.  They go home in 3 months and a new mission president and wife come, American from California. 

      We will miss them all!. Then we shook hands and came home to box groceries and clean/pack etc.  We've been packing for about a week.  Anyway, life goes on.  Hope you all are terrific!!!  Then we leave here Friday morning, going with the elders at about 4:30 am.  Glad we did it.  Glad we get to come back closer to you all!.  I took a family picture of you all dressed up in beautiful tuxs and dresses when we ate at the President's house.  President Rodriguez thought you all looked wonderful!  He was surprised at how many there are of you!  Hermana Rodriguez wanted to know how many and said since more had been born while we were here, that we needed a new picture and to send her one!  You are all a pretty sight!  We love you!  Thanks for being such a wonderful support to us!

Love, Mom & Dad