"Midnight transfer"

We are saying goodbye to New York for a few weeks. You can just barely see Manhattan along the horizon as we are flying just barely above the clouds.
I have always loved the way it looks as you come up above the clouds when in a plane. We sat in the plane on the tarmac for 2 hours waiting for a break in the weather.
What fun it was to see all our family at the airport in St. George when we arrived. Even though it was past all the grandkids bedtime, they were all here waiting for us. So excited to see the plane land.
We finally got to see little Dawson, the cute little blond in his mama's arms. Haven't seen him yet. He is number 10 grandchild.
What a fun surprise to have our best friends arrive to welcome us home too. We love you all and are so blessed.

We are on a medical leave of absence for a couple of weeks. We are not sure what the problem is, but Doug has not been able to breath very well for the past couple of weeks. We have been to lung doctor, talked with the Mission Medical Dr. McIff, visited an emergency room, and finally flew home to so Doug could get a full work up to see what the problems is. It could be the pollen or something blooming in the air. It is extremely bad this year. He hasn't had the typical symptoms of allergies. Just can't get his breath especially when he lays down. So he has been very sleep deprived also. We were not upstate in all the thick foliage last spring. Down in the City with all the concrete and bricks, so he had no problem then. What a scary thing not to be able to catch your breath or take a deep breath. He said it feels like you are breathing out of a straw all the time. We now know what it is like for the younger missionaries when ever they have a "Midnight transfer." Not time to say goodbye to any one. We were in the ER Friday night down in Scarsdale, got to the mission home at 4:00 am then was at the airport at 1:30 pm and in St. George by 10:30 pm, Saturday.

We will be here to see if we can figure out the problem and then hope to return to New York to finish out our mission. So much to do. Regardless of what happens, we will still go back to NYC to close down our apartment and will have to drive our car back home. This hot dry air is great for Doug's ability to breath. The difference is so amazing. We have seen our doctor here and will see an allergist and lung doctor here also. It's great to be home, but we are missing everyone in NY.