He's Home!

Elder Dallin Stephen Carroll has returned from his two year mission to Recife, Brazil!!!  It was such an exciting day last Wednesday, October 29, 2014.  We have been counting down for quite a while until the day finally arrived.  We almost couldn't believe it was really happening.  His flight arrived from a layover in Miami at 8:55 in the morning.  We had to get up super early to get on the rode so we could get to the airport on time since it was right during rush hour.  It took us almost two hours to get their but we had plenty of time.  He flew with American so he arrived in a totally different terminal than the rest of the airport.  When we got to the gate we literally were the only people in the whole place.  It was quiet and we just sat and chilled for a while.  We checked Dallin's flight status often and finally saw that he had landed.  So much joy!!!!!!!  We waited until people started coming through the doors.  Stephen asked the passengers if they came from Miami, but they were from Chicago.  He continued asking until finally one man answered yes that he was from Miami.  Then we got crazy excited!  We could only see half of the escalator from the entrance so it was hard to see who was coming.  We watched people's feet to see if it was Dallin.  I finally saw him coming down the escalator and I said, "It's Dallin!  I see him!  It's Him!"  He was talking to a Brazilian couple when he came through the door.  I gave him the biggest hug ever!  It was just great to see his happy face and to hug him.  I can't even describe the joy I felt in having my son return after serving an honorable mission.  It was an incredible feeling, one that I won't forget.  He looked great.  He was a little tired from flying all night. 

Here we are waiting for Dallin to arrive.

Trying to get a cart to carry Dallin's luggage

I got my boy back!  Woohoo!

Easton has a brother again!

We grabbed some Chick-Fil-A breakfast on the way home because Dallin was starving and then Dallin arrived home to our welcome home sign.

We went over the Stake President's home around 4 pm so Dallin could officially be released as a missionary.  President Galt asked him to share some things from his mission and I enjoyed hearing him talk and loved him sharing thoughts and things that happened to him on his two year adventure.  After Dallin was released we headed to Longhorn for dinner.  He said after two years of hearing about this restaurant through my letters he wanted to go there.  I didn't realize he had never eaten there.  He loved the stake and pretty much everything!

We stopped by Mama and Papa's to visit with them after our dinner.  Mama had made Dallin an apple cake to take home.  Yummy!  That's his favorite cake that she makes.  

This was a great day...we were missing our boy Landon who is serving his mission in North Carolina but his time will come when the time is right.  He is serving the Lord, working hard and changing lives and we sure love him!  

It's hard to believe Dallin is home.  I find myself just looking at him and smiling.  I smiled when I heard him singing in the shower.  I just keep smiling.  I love that he keeps slipping up speaking in English and would rather speak Portuguese.  He gave the prayer on dinner in Portuguese and that was really cool.