First Stop.. Albuquerque

Monday, May 17th, was our last day as missionaries in the Phoenix Arizona Mission office.  It was a bittersweet one.  We have loved our time there-it was a great experience to work with so many wonderful missionaries and be a part of that great work.  We have grown to love them- especially the other couples we worked with in the office.  We will miss our close association with the mission and those very special people.  But, on the other hand, it was also time to move on.  We have no doubt we left things in very capable hands- the Skonnards, the couple that replaced us, are terrific. It also helped that we had a wonderful, extended vacation planned that we were eager to begin.. So..
     On May 19th, bright and early, we pointed our Ford Edge toward our first destination- Albuquerque, New Mexico.  My mom grew up in Albuquerque and I have many fond memories of my early years there.  After my father died, mom returned to New Mexico, eventually meeting and marrying my step-father there.  He was in the Navy and was transferred to CA when I was 7 and we never lived there again, but, often returned to visit Grandma Reay.  Anyway, I always enjoy an opportunity to go 'home' to Albuquerque.  We arrived there early afternoon and met my cousin, Fritzi Hardy, for a piece of cake and a chat.  It was fun to see her and catch up on her life and some family gossip.

     We left her, just as rush hour was kicking in,  to go to see our dear friends, the Kemsley's. But, thanks to our dandy little GPS gadget, we only managed to get off track once.  Blaine was one of Bill's counselors in Germany and we became quite close during our years there.  When I wrote Shauna that we were planning on traveling thru New Mexico, they kindly invited us to spend the night with them.  We were delighted to take them up on their invitation.  It was so fun to see them and share the sweet spirit of their family and their beautiful home. Wow, it is amazing how much the kids had grown up in just three years.  Logan was a giggly MIA Maid with braces last time we saw her and she now is a lovely, confident young woman who was graduating in a couple of days.  Winn was in Jr high back then and he's matured into a self assured, busy teenager.  And, Gage will be coming home from his mission in a couple of months.. Yep, some big changes in their world! I am so frustrated with myself that I didn't take any pictures.. just wasn't in the vacation mode yet, I guess.  Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them- they are some of our most favorite people.  As we drove away the next morning we turned a corner and there, right in front of us, were 3 hot air balloons just gaining altitude.  What a lovely send off!  Albuquerque is famous for their hot air balloon festival and it was so fun to get treated to the sight.  I quick grabbed the camera and took this picture from inside the car. The quality isn't great but, hopefully, gives the idea.