the air port

Like most missionaries, the plane was leaving in the very early hours of the morning 630am. 

Filipa Triffitt was flying to sydney on the same flight, so she kindly took some of stuff over with her so I didn't have to pay the over weight baggage price!! 

Here are some pictures of the last to be seen me for 18mon

ths. They aren't the best pictures, but what do you expect when you get up at 5

am just to say good bye to someone. 

So here is a picture of everyone (well those that wanted to get in the photo) who came to say Good bye! 

Hannah & Mick came to say goodbye (but I think Hannah only came because they were going to Macca's for breakfast afterwards).. I notice in the background how happy everyone looks - they didn't look like that when I could see them... hmm... 

Steph & Kristen also managed to get their two little ones out of bed.  this is probably the weirdest photo EVER. I look like I really awkward - I am not sure if it was because I was a missionary and there was a man touching my arm or what. MeKenzie is smiling like never before (always ready for the camera Kenz)... As for Steph, he is trying to look like he's not sad, and I think Kristen was doing the same....

Leilani was up - but I am sure she didn't have a clue what was going on.. Thanks Lani

So, I set off and headed to my destination, Utah. I had a couple of hours to wait in Sydney and then a few more in New Zealand and then I had a 13hr flight to San Francisco (which I thought 13hrs was really really long, until I came home and I was scheduled on a 22hr flight from London to Sydney) where I was meeting Laura - she planned to head back to Utah the same say as me from Hawaii, we didn't plan it, it just happened, we were on the same flight to Salt-Lake city. I won't mention here that we were sitting in the airport waiting for our flight and just staring out the window when we realised that they were making the FINAL CALL for the flight to Salt-Lake! So we jumped up and quickly boarded the plane when we realised when they said FINAL they really meant can Laura and Elle please board this flight because we really want to leave. It was only a small plane and when we boarded EVERY seat was full (except for our two) so everyone on the flight was waiting for us to board so they could take off - meanwhile we were just having a chat in the airport lounge!!