He is home!

WOW...what a wonderful few days we have had!  Elder Ben returned Tuesday Dec. 18th!

Waiting at the airport...

First one down the escalator...

Ethan couldn't stop crying...

2 long years all came out in tears...  This was one happy Mama!

With his proud and grateful Dad... James was so emotional the whole day.

How did you get so tall???

Grama and Grampa Dixon...

Meeting sweet baby Asa...

Sis. Cori Larsen was at the airport to pick up her daughter (from a semester study abroad in China!) so she came a little early to see Ben! They were so good writing Ben throughout his mission!

Welcome Home!!

We were sure missing Tyler and his family.  They will be here Christmas Eve and everyone will get to meet new baby Rhett!

Putting on his last sticker...

Reminiscing...

 We are so happy to have our Elder Ben home.  These past two years have been a remarkable spiritual growing experience for him and for us all!  It is a beautiful thing to see a young man full of the Spirit of our Heavenly Father.  He kept saying "I can't believe my mission is over...I wish I was back...I loved it with all my heart!"  There isn't anything he would rather be doing... he loves the people he met and taught...he loves his companions...he loves his Mission President and his wife... He so loved being a missionary...he is so grateful for the past two years!  We are to grateful for his example of Christlike love and service! We had a wonderful experience when he was released.  Pres. Raines had Ben bear his Testimony in Chinese.  It was the first time we had really heard him speak in Chinese. 
It was beautiful and so tender! He was prompted to comment that Ben is the glue that holds our family together.  He is right in the middle and is the center of our family. 
His inspired words were absolutely correct.  Ben has always been a peacemaker
 and we are so grateful to have his influence back in our home!

Well done...Elder Dixon... Welcome Home!

One More Day!!!

My sweet son Ben will be home...in my arms...TOMORROW!!!  Two years is a long time!  We have only been able to talk to him on Christmas and Mother's Day. We are so proud of him and all he has accomplished over the past two years.

2 years ago we prepared to say goodbye.  That is a hard thing to prepare for!  

Tyler and Brad came over early that morning to say goodbye...

After sending 2 other brother's on missions...Ethan KNOWS how long 2 years is.  Ben is his very best friend and he didn't know if he could let him go.

Brad and Cami and Tyler surprised us and met us at the MTC!

 Showing Cami the ring James made Ben... It was a bit COLD!!

They changed how you drop off your missionaries!  This was our first experience with "Drive-by drop off"... They only allow one car to bring the missionary in and drop him off.  So...we crammed everyone in our car.  Noah and EJ were on the luggage in the back. It was so fun!

 Then for the good-byes...

 As we were saying our final good-byes...we heard "Elder Dixon"!!!  A friend of Ben's was there to escort him and help him with his luggage!  It was a tender mercy for sure!

We felt such peace know Ben was right where he was supposed to be.  Prepared and happy to be there!

As we began to drive away...Noah put his arm around Ethan and said "I guess I'll have to be the favorite big brother now..."  Ethan replied..."Not a chance!"

 Tomorrow can't come soon enough!  Ben has 2 new nephews to meet!

What a blessing these two years has been!

2 days!

Tuesday January 4th was Ben's 19th Birthday!  Tyler and Brad decided they needed a "Brother's" outing...so they came and picked up Ben, Noah and Ethan and took them bowling!  One of their favorite things to do.  It meant so much that they all wanted to be together!

We spent the rest of the day getting Ben packed and getting the final necessary things done.
We took all the family to President Raines office where Ben's dear friend Scott came up from BYU and met us for Ben to be set apart as a full time missionary.  Pres. Raines has been such a dear friend for so many years... he gave Ben some wonderful advice and gave him a beautiful blessing when he set him apart.  After he told Ben he felt that there is no coincidence that he was called to speak Mandarin Chinese and that he would use it throughout his life and in his future educational pursuits.  It was a powerful experience.
We went home and shared experiences and advice.  It was really a tender, sweet time.

Then we had ice cream cake to celebrate Ben's Birthday...it felt like everyone just wanted to be together.  No one wanted to leave...it was a remarkable feeling!

 James gave him the ring he made for him.  CTR in Chinese and OYM for "Open Your Mouth"...
He loved it!

 A few precious moments on his guitar.  We will sure miss hearing him play!

 Kalvin trying to stow away in Uncle Ben's suitcase...