January 8th

We started the year off with a bang.  January 9th was for sure a parent pay day.  It started off with Jacob returning home form his mission to Albuquerque, NM!!

 Patiently waiting for Elder Hatch to arrive....Our family, Grandma and Grandpa Hatch, Aunt Alice, Aunt Audrey, Brook and Elise

 Family reunited!!!!  HE'S HOME!!!!!  Can you tell we are just a little happy?

 Brothers!

 With Grandma and Grandpa

 And here come misfits....

 Together again!

 Jacob, Bill, Adam, and Travis....Poor Stevie is still on a mission.

Everyone sporting the gifts Jacob brought home for them.  Jacob is "wearing" the gift he bought me.... a table runner.  he is also wearing the gift he bought for himself...the sombrero! 

So, as we pulled up to the house upon returning from the airport, we find this white envelope from church headquarters addressed to Sister Miranda Hatch in the mailbox.  Yep, Miranda's mission call.  CRAZY!!!!!

Sadly it had to sit on the counter for awhile.  We went to visit with the stake president, President Clarke, so he could officially release Jacob from his mission.  After we returned it was fun to see this on the counter:

Yep, a pay day for the parents!

So then, later that night, Jacob got quickly thrown back into the "real" world as many of our family and friends gathered to predict and listen as Miranda opened her mission call.  he was a bit "shell shocked", but it was nice for so many to be able to see him on the day he returned home.  

 Aunt Alice, the Ruppers, and the bishop--Brother Farrington 

 Kerian Steffensen, Anne Foerster, Dina Croll

 Lots  and lots of Miranda's college and high school friends came to support her.

Getting ready for the big moment.

Miranda was a bundle of nerves.  We had a large white board where everyone could make their predictions on where her call would be to.  It's fun when it could be just about anywhere in the world.  She was really hoping for a foreign mission...at least a foreign speaking mission.

 This is just about one of my favorite pictures.  I love how you can see the anticipation in everyone's eyes as she begins to read the letter..no one knows what happiness is about to ensue...everyone is just holding their breath.

And so it is.  She will be serving in the Chile Vina Del Mar mission-speaking Spanish and reporting to the Mexico City MTC on June 4th.  And why did she jump for joy?  Two reasons.  One, that is the same mission Matt served in.  Matt was BEYOND excited to have her go to the same mission he did.

And two,.. her close friend Marta Fandsen had just been called to the SAME mission! Marta is scheduled to report to the MTC near the end of January.

Needless to say it was a very acceptable mission call that made her VERY happy and surprised a lot of us.  What lucky parents!  How cool is is that Jacob got called to my home town and Miranda got called to the same mission as Matt!  It truly was an incredible day.  One that will be remembered and stay in our hearts forever.  We feel truly blessed!