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Story time!
Seventeen years ago (gasp!), my parents moved our little family from one side of Mesa to the other. The day that our new house closed, a group of 3 or 4 girls came over with a plate of pink sugar frosted cookies. You know. THESE.

image via: Cooking Classy
That was my first exposure to the LDS church (which I think is humorous as I grew. up. in. Mesa). Turns out that those girls were the Achievement Day girls, some of whom I have remained friends with after all these years.
But my real journey began a few months later, with the neighbors who lived across the street. The Allens. I quickly befriended their family, getting to know their seven children well. They adopted me as their own, joking with others that I was their eighth kid. They invited me to church and I eventually agreed. I went on family vacations with them. I played after school with them. I went to church each week with them. It was wonderful. As with all good things, it came to an end; they moved after we were in the neighborhood for a few years. Though I no longer had the opportunity to see their family regularly, their move had little impact on their continued support of me. The day before I turned 17, Mark baptized me before a room full of family and friends. Debbie was one of the speakers at my baptism. She was my escort when I went through the temple. He was one of the witnesses in the sealing room when the mr. and I were married. She has helped plan my showers. He has helped bless most of my babies. They have been like second parents to me. So when they returned home from their mission in England last night, I was right there with their family, welcoming them home. And I realized something. Even though things change and time separates, relationships remain the same. I have grown and have a family of my own; I am not able to spend a fraction of the time with this amazing family as I would like. But being around them is the same now as it was when I was younger. I still feel like I am part of their family; I still feel like I am right at home.

Side note: Do you KNOW how difficult it is to get good pictures at the airport when
there are 70 people attacking 2 missionary couples in love? Nigh on impossible.