Angela – Page 164 – Letters from Home

Mark goes to Cub Camp

It’s a rite of passage to go to Cub Camp. Age 8 seems younger and younger with each child, though. I got to attend one day of camp with Mark and it was a delight to watch him during the skits and songs and see what he chose to purchase from the shop. Many boys bought $5 Indiana Jones whips. Thankfully, Mark only had $3 with him, so it wasn’t a temptation. Mark’s favorite activity of the day was the obstacle course. I took video of him climbing, swinging on a rope, doing somersaults, jumping, and running through tires. I could watch that for a long time.

Family Vacation Photos

1-IMG_2119-001 — We went to Fish Creek with Richard’s family. We didn’t get photos of everything, but if you make it through this post, you may think we got enough.

1-IMG_20140708_120432 — I love to see Sparky enjoy the ride. The drive to Fish Creek is accessible only with all wheel drive and some spunk.

1-DSC_1455 — Oh, yes. Before we left, Rob and Melinda and their kids spent the night at our house. Here we are deep in conversation in the backyard. Rob and Richard worked on doors and handles in our basement. Hallelujah.

At the top of the road, Paige, Mark, and I stopped to take pictures.

1-DSC_1460 — Mark went higher than any of us.

1-DSC_1456 — We were surrounded by insects and interesting things to collect. Then suddenly, the insects were silent and not to be found…

1-DSC_1472 — We watched the storm move in as Richard brought up another truckload of people to join us at the top of the mountain.

1-2014-07-08 (3) — The storm arrived just as everyone got there. Some people were caught in the storm, which lasted quite a while and included hail, wind, and great amounts of rain.

1-photo 3 — We huddled together under the trees. The kids, one by one, escaped to the warm cab of the truck. We had around 20 people and only one truck for shelter.

1-IMG_20140708_154039 — Grandpa, Daniel, and a few others made an expedition to the other truck which was lower on the mountain. The rest of us piled inside and outside our truck and began the drive down the mountain. There are ten people in the cab and five people on the running boards and in the bed.

1-IMG_20140708_154048 — Paige and I are on the left. Rob and Melinda are on the right. Liz is in the truck bed. We were cold, but we were having fun. We figure that this fiasco will become a family legend.

1-IMG_1955 — Once everyone dried off and had some food, many people took another evening hike. Paige and I stayed behind in the campground. Four or five carloads of Boy Scouts descended on our camp area and set up their tents just feet from us. I think the Scouts were thrilled that Paige was there. We were not so thrilled that they were there.

1-IMG_1990 — The next day we hiked to the falls.

1-IMG_2187 — There were so many wildflowers along the trails. I wish that I had brought our flower pressing kit or a big book. I didn’t want to use my Bible.

1-SAM_0179 — Many people hiked up into a cave area to enjoy the falls close up.

1-IMG_20140709_133918 — I like to see my kids being helpful to each other. This little scene melted my heart.

1-IMG_20140709_125908 — Daniel was in the water for a long time. I wonder if he can feel his frozen feet yet?

1-IMG_2038 — Timothy hung out with cousins. He has been to the falls before and remembered how cold he was, so he opted to stay dry. The hike to the falls was downhill, but for the uphill climb out, Richard ferried people on the motorcycle. Sparky ran up and down the hill to keep up with him. When we got home, Sparky couldn’t get out of the van without assistance. Loyal pup!

1-IMG_2203 — Here are the Ross men: Dale, Russ, Rob, and Richard.

1-IMG_2217 — There was a lot of motorcycling during the trip. On the first day, Richard, Daniel, and Timothy went for a 3-hour ride to the campground. This is Mark in Pine Valley.

1-IMG_2220 — Mark loves this motorcycle and keeps the helmet close by in the tent trailer when he goes to sleep.

1-IMG_2222 — Here is Shari and her husband Dave.

1-IMG_2228 — Here are Russ and Nancy, whose jobs at Dixie State University made it possible for the family to gather at the school cabin in Pine Valley for a few days after we camped.

Photos by Paige, Mark, Angela, Russ, Melinda, Shari, and Richard.

Mountain Views

Happy summer memories hover around me. Views of mountain peaks and rivers are the backgrounds; the kids and their cousins are the focus. Sleep, mealtimes, and ordinary caution are abandoned to build memories.

I’m drawing some strength and perspective from the hills and from time spent with family.

And yes, I sing songs from The Sound of Music in my head and sometimes out loud as I look out over this beautiful world.

A few highlights of the holiday

Worst date ever: Richard in the E.R. after lunch with a severe allergic reaction to nuts. He got a shot of epinephrine and all kinds of medicine…quickly! (This is when he was feeling much better.)

1-IMG_20140702_213314-001 — Timothy shows Dad his new Lego set he bought with his lawn mowing money.

1-IMG_20140704_150007 — Grandma and Tyler are matchy-matchy.

Everyone helps out with the construction when you go to Spring Lake. Richard had to work on the 4th, so I took the kids to Provo to see the parade and the fair and to visit Spring Lake. Daniel skipped the parade and worked with my dad all day at Spring Lake. In the evening a few cousins joined us for Tank Wars. It was a fun day.

Something for the time capsule

I was hoping these would last a few more years until the chunky plastic-rimmed glasses trend was over. Don’t get me wrong, everybody looks great in those glasses. But I made a promise to myself after looking at my mom’s high school yearbooks that I would never wear glasses with dark plastic rims. I also decided I would never be photographed in a down feather-trimmed blouse.

Also, I have been growing out my bangs. This week it dawned on me that people are now embracing bangs.

I’m feeling a bit grumpy about all of this.

Daniel’s High Adventure Trip

Daniel and Richard went on a High Adventure trip last week. They visited Zion National Park and hiked Angel’s Landing and walked some of the Narrows. They spent a day outside of the park rappelling and went boating in the evenings. Saturday night I sat up late and watched the videos that Richard took of the trip so I could see the fun. The footage that Richard took at Angel’s Landing made my stomach flip and my feet go numb. I also saw some spectacular rappelling by the boys and leaders. I am thankful for a great group of boys and leaders in our ward. I am glad that Richard was there, too.

Because of Joseph…

I just realized it is the 170th anniversary of Joseph and Hyrum Smith’s deaths.

I have visited the places they walked. I have visited the place where they died. However, it’s more important to remember and acknowledge that I am blessed and influenced by the Prophet Joseph Every Single Day.

This morning as we read the New Testament as a family I looked at the footnotes to find a clarification on the text from the Joseph Smith Translation. For personal study, I read a chapter in The Book of Mormon. Phrases from scripture he translated come to my mind when I have big decisions to make or when I have a problem. Where would I be without the scriptures? My temple covenants bring power and protection to me throughout the day. I can read my patriarchal blessing whenever I want; I can worship in the temple almost any day. I have a strong network of friends from church who lift me and love me. I know that our family relationships can continue forever because of temple covenants. I have been richly taught about the Savior all my life through The Book of Mormon. All of these things and many more have come to me because of the Prophet Joseph.

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah. I am blessed every minute because of what he did. How have you been blessed because of his work?

Paint Day

Paige and Timothy are off to paint a mural at a local Christian church today. It’s supposed to be a big Narnia castle and ocean scene. Timothy’s coach is a youth pastor and the mastermind behind the project and he invited Paige to help. Mark and I will paint Daniel’s bathroom door since he’s away on a high adventure trip. In fact, he’s not too far from these hills in Southern Utah.

Heritage

Paige painted this heritage painting showing how our ancestors got here and important monuments of their faith. She painted the Mayflower, the San Juan Bautista Mission in California, the St. George Temple, and a handcart.

There are many interpretations for Malachi’s words about the hearts of the children turning to the fathers. One way to interpret this phrase is to focus on how our hearts feel when we realize what our ancestors have given us. My heart almost feels like it’s shifting or turning inside when I feel the joy of knowing my ancestors.

Last week I found a journal that belonged to my great-grandmother that I had misplaced. It was Cerie’s journal of their trip to Sweden in 1957. She describes the personalities of people I only know by name and a snapshot or two. I wish I had found it in time to include some of her observations in the history I wrote last year. But that’s the nature of family history. You are never done. Our stories go on and on and there many heart-turning moments waiting to be discovered.

Author: Angela