I am taking a break from updating my blog during the next few weeks. Weddings call forth many private emotions and so many errands. You can picture me in the aisles of Hobby Lobby on (another) “last trip for the wedding,” running errands, facilitating a big luncheon for family and friends, and preparing church lessons, etc. It’s a time to celebrate Tim and Queenie and to cherish the covenants of the temple sealing. While I am busy, I know that no detail of the wedding matters more than those few minutes in the temple being sealed as husband and wife for eternity.
I didn’t thin the sunflowers this year as they popped up in a great company of heart-shaped leaves. They continued to grow and blossom through the summer, and now the flowers begin to fade. The bees that collected nectar begin to close out their shift as small birds come to snack on sunflower seeds.
As I have mentioned before, I interpret these unintended sunflowers as the Lord’s cheer and encouragement to me as he cares for my missionaries. To me, quite literally, they are my “son-flowers.”
They bloom in my backyard, but I see them everywhere this time of year. Looking through photographs, I find them in the background of Daniel’s wedding pictures, and now, Tim’s. I collected the round, burr-like remnants of Mark’s first-year missionary sunflowers last winter to keep in a glass box on a shelf.
We need the rhythm of seasons and the predictability of daylight and sunset. Yet with all this predictability, there awaits a perpetual wonder inspired by the beautiful creations of God. I smile almost every day when I see how that one little sunflower that appeared while Daniel served his mission has become this array, reminding me of a glorious God, who blesses us with a “multiplicity of blessings.” (See Doctrine and Covenants 104:2.)
Each year, Paul adds new calls to our dance, and these pictures show that this isn’t your grandma’s Virginia Reel. (I’m pretty sure our grandmas would love it, though.) We had great participation this year at the Sanchez reunion.
What you see here is my effort to be a better family member. I wear Grandma’s red boots for this annual dance and I fiddle my hands off to offset the classical violin music I foisted on the family in the past, as well as other annoying firstborn behavior.
This month, I have some opportunities to teach about the trials of the early Latter-day Saints. As part of my preparation, I compiled my highlights from general conferences and church magazines on the subject of trials. Perhaps there is something in this document that would be helpful to you.
Many treasures, hidden riches, and even my knowledge of God have been gained during difficult times.
And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
The tang of cool evening air has signaled to my brain that summer is coming to an end. I have taken down the summer decor and replaced it with some autumn things. It always makes family members sad when I pack up two seasons, summer and Christmas, so I try to make the changes when when no one is looking.
This will be the season that Tim gets married. We moved furniture to his new apartment this weekend and seeing his room at our house without a bed was jarring. There are many endings in life. The children leave for college and they leave for missions, but when they get married, we experience a more definitive end to the years of being together. He won’t sleep under our roof many more nights.
I don’t mind decor changing, in fact, I welcome it. But it really makes me pause when I see those empty rooms once inhabited by our children.
I made it out for a walk last night, but I decided to veer off my usual route and wander onto Charlene’s street. She was visible through her open gate to the backyard, watering her tomatoes. When I waved, she invited me back to see her yard, cared for by her wonderful children in honor of her late husband who always kept things beautiful. We shared an important conversation, and as I walked home, I realized that the Lord had steered me to just the person I needed. His timing was perfect.
Richard took Daniel, Tim, and Queenie to Marysvale to pick up our truck where it broke down three weeks ago and was getting repaired. It was a tender mercy that the mechanic was so convenient and kind. He even stored our trailer and three 4-wheelers at his house.
Richard arranged for a do-over for the activities from the Ross reunion that our kids missed three weeks ago. They stayed in the usual campground, took a ride on the mountain on the four-wheelers, had a picnic, and got rained on.
So many details need to be juggled on trips like this and it takes great effort. Our kids have the kind of father who handles these details, and he was even prepared with matching rain gear. 😁
This was one of the calls I had with Paige on her birthday this week. We mix and match people who can participate for any given thing. Of course we miss the other members of the family not included in this shot and others. I took for granted being a 6-person unit that I could count on to see each day, but as much as I miss them, I don’t want them to clip their wings for me. They are doing amazing things in many places.
Paige is worth celebrating!
Paige is a wonderful mother, a peacemaker, a kind friend, and a keeper of traditions. She is what a disciple of Christ looks like. She’s strong, patient, steady, faithful, and a listener. She has developed many gifts. She’s a talented professional illustrator, a foodie, a dancer, a musician, and a wonderful daughter. And so much more.
