Picture A Day

Day 386 - July 17, 2017 We made it to Bentonville, Arkansas.  Our little Grace was the perfect hostess.   Brian and Shelby weren't bad either.   It was great fun seeing in person this little one that we've looked at by FaceTime since she was born.  She is a smiler and a waver.  She loves watching Moana and rarely moves from the spot she sits to watch it.  Below Grace and Calli were enjoying  the entertainment.  Bentonville has some incredible cultural exhibits.  There is a Crystal Bridges Museum which is outstanding.  On the right is an incredible likeness of a man.  Even the hair on his head was perfect.      This was an interesting display of apple flavored candy. Below is the explanation of this art.     “We need our own space to think and digest what we see. And we also have to trust the viewer and trust the power of the object. And the power is in simple things.”  —Felix Gonzalez Torres A strip of hard green candies individually wrapp

Day 385 - July 16, 2017 There were moments while in the Philippines that I thought about what I would possibly say when I returned home to express the love that I've felt while serving in these wonderful people. I suppose I concluded that the talk would be a difficult task and it would be best to simply share a few experiences and my testimony.  We were assigned to speak about keeping the commandments.  This is a topic that is near and dear to my heart.  Hopefully as Scott and I spoke, the members felt of our passion and our conviction for obedience.  We enjoyed the experience of speaking to our home ward and received many gracious and kind comments.      

   Day 384 - July 14-15, 2017 On Friday Brian flew in to be with us for the weekend.  It was good to see him and can't wait to see our little Gracie.  She and Quinn are the only babies we haven't seen yet.  Brian was great to help around the house getting things back together.  On Saturday morning we went near the Chicago airport to meet with one of our returned missionaries.  The timing didn't work out so I took the car back home to an appointment I had.  Scott and Brian took the train home.  They stopped in the city to remember the sites and sounds of Chicago since it had been three years.  The two of them had a great father-son morning and did a little ministering along the way.  Family and returned missionaries turn out to be our highest priority in this time of life.  

Day 380-382 - July 13, 2017 Let's just say that the next few days were those of frustration and overwhelm.  It wasn't until we finally said, "Let's drop everything and go to the temple" that we felt peace and calm with life.  Our returned missionaries would always tell us how difficult the transition is in returning home, now I understand a little better what they were going through.  I don't want to overstate the challenge.  We are living a very good life with many blessings.  But adjustments are necessary and not everything goes as planned. (Sounds a lot like the first several months when we started our mission).  The Lord knows what he's doing with his children.  We are learning His will and His way. 

Day 379 - July 10, 2017                                         At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Monday morning we arrived at our home in Naperville.  Another wash of emotion fell upon us.  We were tired from traveling but rejuvenated with an enthusiasm for next steps.  My good friend, Lisa, welcomed us with balloons and notes all over the front door.  Our home looked so well kept.  Our friends who stayed here while we were gone took tender loving care of it.  It's good to be home!

Day 378 - July 9, 2017 The next 24+ hours was spent on the road, catching a few hours sleep, Church in Cheyenne, Wyoming and more time driving and experiencing the landscape of the west and midwest.  My instagram post was, "Same moon; different hemisphere.  Still magical." #goinghome #chicagoland #nextadventure    

Day 377 - July 8, 2017 Before driving back to Illinois, we had to stop and see our Koudelka crew in Boise!  Although we didn't have a long visit, it was enough time to share a meal with, see their new home, talk and play games with.  It was a boost to our hearts to hug another family of ours!  Can't wait until we're all together again.       Grandpa playing tick-tock!   Three years means a lot of growth!  Isaac, Lolo, Lola, Claire, Sadie and Liv. God made us family!

Day 376 - July 7, 2017 My mom is a party planner.  She has thought about a Homecoming gathering for Scott and me for months.  The time finally came when she could have her party.  It was a first on many levels.  The first time we gathered together for 3 years with loved ones.  It was the first time Dad Curtis has been to the house since he went into the rehab center.  It was the first time Dad Clark has ventured out of his home for anything other than a doctor's appointment in a very long time.  It was wonderful seeing everyone again.  The pinnacle event of the evening was when Mikale presented us with a gift from our children.  It was a picture of the Philippines Angeles Mission Home.  When we saw it, there was an immediate emotion of love and sense of reverence.  That home was a refuge to us for 3 years.  We love the memories of the meals, the missionaries, the members, our friends, the preparation, the respite from a hectic days work, the place where many prayers were offere

Day 375 - July 6, 2017   Today we went to the Gateway Children's Museum with the Williamson family (sans Ammon).  They had so many great areas for the children to explore.  Kai and Teagan were in their height of glory.  Even Lincoln loved being there watching his siblings and being doted on by mom, grandma and great-grandma.  We took our sandwiches to the place grandpa Curtis calls home for a while.  The kids were able to see great-grandpa in action during his therapy.  He likes to call it the torture chamber.  It was a fun day.

Day 374 - July 5, 2017 This has been the home for my dad for about a month.  After a fall he took in a parking lot, this care facility has taken good care of him.  Mom and I would come and visit him each day.  A little diversion from the daily routine is always a delight.  It is a great thing to see our parents!  

Day 373 - July 4th, 2017 We celebrate Independence Day in America on the 4th of July.  Although we hadn't been in the United States for more than 24 hours, we were excited to celebrate the 4th with our Williamson family.  Little Lincoln, one of our newest little grands, was his Lolo's buddy.  It was fun eating fried chicken and enjoying family.  A great way to spend a celebrated day!     

  Day 372 - July 3rd in USA  We are home!  Well at least we made it to Utah.  A stop to see our parents and family members before heading to Illinois was a sight to savor.  Family is everything!     The Naegle's were in the mission when we arrived.  They served us, the missionaries and the members in the self-reliance program devotedly.  They were in the background filming as we arrived and didn't come over until we had hugged our family members.  They are now wonderful friends who share many memories of our mission with us.  #alwaysremember Our mission is over but will never be forgotten.  Once an Angeles missionary, always an Angeles missionary! President Scott B. and Sister Sandra G. Clark Philippines Angeles Mission June 2014 to June 2017 "Knowing Who You Are, Changes What You Do!"

Day 371 - Monday, July 3, 2017 A man and his board!  This is the transfer board that President Clark spent hour upon hour studying, pondering over and praying about.  He looked over the board (all of his missionaries).  He discussed the board with his assistants.  He prayed over the moves (transfers) he made with the missionaries in their individual areas.  He worked for the "one"; every missionary and every decision was important.   Then when the time came to make the transfer, confirmation was given by the Spirit that it was right and the transfer was finalized and the missionaries were informed.  We completed 26 full transfers and a few emergency transfers over 36 months.  It was a mighty and daunting task.  President Clark loved it.  He loved the process and how he felt after going over it time and time again.  Many times he thought he was finished but someone else knew he wasn't.  He would go back and change it, then it felt right.  Often times he would get the boa

Day 370 - Sunday, July 2, 2017 Sunday morning we picked the Johnson's up at the mission home.  I had Sister Johnson in her car and she even drove to the office!  They will be a grand addition to the Philippines Angeles Mission, where only the finest serve!  We did some training for a couple of hours then it was time that they went to Church.  President Clark and I stayed to wrap up some computer items.   Final pictures with old and new Mission Presidents in the Angeles Mission.     With our wonderful office couple whom we love dearly, the Richard's.     To the office elders and assistants who will be the lifeline for President and Sister Johnson.  They are in for a real treat.   

Day 369 - Saturday, July 1, 2017   Saturday morning was spent finishing our packing and trying to make four bags weigh exactly 23kg.  We definitely didn't make it but that's what the postal service mail is for.  We scurried about trying to make sure that everything was fit as a fiddle for the Johnson's arrival.  We have lived in the mission home for 3 years.  We knew every square inch of it, decorated it and loved it and the memories created inside it.  What do you do to ensure that it is ready for a new mission president and companion who will come in, adjust to and begin to love it as well?  It was shelter from the storms.  It was a place to show our appreciation to our District and Stake leaders.  It was a place of training and council for our Missionary Leadership Council.  It was a place where our departing missionaries could spend the last two days of mission life before returning home.  It was a place where the arriving missionaries developed trust in their new l