He's Hoooome!!!

Note from Elder Alley's mom: Elder Alley returned home July 5, 2016. I figured it'd only be fitting to show pictures from the happy homecoming for his last mission blog post. 

Elder Alley requested I make baklava for his homecoming. He didn't request that
we not eat any before he got here. ;) (Don't judge me. I can't have access to baklava
and NOT eat it.)

Last prep for the the airport pick up. 

20 minutes before his flight was due to land and his sisters are more than
ready to get this party started.

It's much better to be standing under the "Arrivals" sign, than under the
"Departures" sign.

Gotta take a pic in front of the "Welcome to Spokane" sign.

The Canadian Welcome Committee :D

The waiting is the hardest part...

But it's worth it! Hug collage! His baby sister couldn't wait
for her first hug.

This. Is. The. Best. 

Dad's first hug in two years...

Grandma's first hug...

Big sis patiently waited her turn. Now we have two new RMs in the family.
Excited to get #3 in October! :)

He's back!

Hi, Grandma!

His friend, Grant, just happened to be getting off of work when he saw us holding
the "Welcome Home, Elder Alley" sign and decided to stick around. Fun surprise! 

There's a lot of people who are happy Elder Alley is home. 

So great to have our friends, the Kiriakas, there.

Cousin Leah reuniting with Elder Alley

This girl missed her brother an awful lot.

They are gonna have sooo much fun down in Provo together this fall.

Daddio

I had to refrain from hugging him the whole time.
(It was making it hard for him to walk. lol) 

Yea! Just. Yea. :D

His cousin Adam was not sure about this new guy who just showed up... 

Still eyeing him...

Happy to report that Elder Alley (Max) has since won him over.
A little wrestling time and Max was in! ;)

Apparently, this happened the first flight he took with them. So he's had a  broken 
handle since day 1 of his mission. :(  Mexico City baggage handlers are not gentle.

Adam had a sweet ride back to the car

He's home. He's really, really home.

And not much has changed. haha

It's still hard to get a serious pic out of him. haha

There we go. That big smile we all missed so much.

Aunt Peggy and Uncle Jon joined us for lunch at Rancho Chico. Max spoke Spanish with all the staff and Ashley (his sister who recently returned from her mission to Thailand) leaned over to me and said, "That's it. We're going to a Thai restaurant for dinner!"

Old habits die hard. Still in mission mode. Helping his "companion" (Dad) back the car up. 

Elder Alley thought it only fitting that he wear his Grandpa Alley's tie on his way home.

Excited to have a visit from Mama Hilmes. :)

Shoes that say, "I worked hard...really hard."

He said his goal is to wear out his life in service to the Lord. If these shoes
are any indication, he's on the right track.

A little overwhelmed at being home.

"What do I do now?!"

It didn't take him long to figure out what to do next. He was home less than 24 hours before boarding a plane to Chicago with the family to attend his uncle's funeral who had passed away unexpectedly the previous Saturday. He was able to continue to do what he loves: serve. He felt it a privilege to help support his cousins who had lost their father so young. He made the comment, "This is why I left my family for two years. I wanted others to have what we have and to know what we know: This life is not the end of things. It's just a step in our eternal progression. Families are forever. The sting of death is swallowed up in the victory of Christ and the knowledge that we will see Uncle Marc again."

And that is how Elder Alley started his transition back to post mission life. We are so glad to have Max back with us.