The extended Ross family had quite a month. Yesterday was a happy spot, with the wedding of our nephew Jeff. The darling couple played jazz saxophone with their band, sang, and danced at their reception. How enchanting.
Weddings are beautiful, and this one was particularly lovely, but nothing compares to the blessings from our Father in Heaven that we heard during their temple sealing. Well begun, Jeff and Paris!
It seems like it’s been a while since I’ve written anything on the blog. Picture posts tell a story, but not all. I’ve been doing my writing in a personal journal instead.
We’re meeting grief in all its faces. Some moments we feel more tender. Other moments we feel heightened frustration with inconveniences and people. There’s a need for familiar and comforting entertainment. We’ve laughed together, and moments later notice that sharing the obituary of Richard’s dad with well-intentioned friends keeps the wound fresh. I’ve cried in public and plundered our stash of candy like a kid.
Today Richard and one of his brothers are on a ride around their dad’s favorite haunt, Fish Creek. I imagine this will help them enjoy memories of their dad and carry on his good legacy. Finding solace in memory and tradition is a great idea.
This week we said goodbye to Richard’s dad who passed away on May 12. Oh, how we love and miss him.
It was senior night for Anna’s lacrosse team. She’s incredible!
Today we celebrated Queenie, who graduated from the University of Utah in Human Development and Family Studies with honors. Woot!
Daniel and McKenna were my buddies to ride up to campus on the train. They made the journey a delight.
I saved some extra seats in the arena just in case we needed them. I abandoned the extra places when we realized we had too many, only to see a few minutes later that my nephew Ray and his girlfriend had claimed them. They were there to cheer for a different graduate, so we were all surprised to see one another. 🥰
We are so impressed by Queenie’s many accomplishments.
April is the biggest month for birthdays in our extended family. It’s a good thing I am an empty nester with a flexible schedule so I have time to give attention to them. 😂 The post office has been a frequent haunt this month, as well as my car.
April is also the beginning of school year-end events. This week I got to cheer for Solomon. Tomorrow I get to be a proud mom as Daniel graduates from BYU. 🎓
I have a glimpse of family life for your reading pleasure? today.
We saw my parents and extended family on Saturday for my Mom’s Easter egg hunt, then came home to welcome Tim and Queenie who spent the night at our house. Richard mowed the lawn for the first time this season on Saturday evening, and the lawn, blossoming trees, and tulips are beautiful. We stayed up late that night talking to Tim and Queenie about their adventures. Queenie will complete her bachelor’s degree this month and Tim is busy helping his friend Josh build a house and has some stories to tell about being a property manager. They made a trip recently to Arches National Park and Goblin Valley, which were firsts for Queenie.
We had a freeze a few nights this week, and Richard protected his apple tree blossoms with a tarp and heater.
We had our middle kids with us on Sunday. Add to the energy and events of Easter weekend the four sessions of general conference, which we watched while eating cinnamon rolls, Chex mix, and peanut M&M’s. We also visited Daniel and McKenna’s newly remodeled house where they will live after Daniel graduates this month.
Although we didn’t get a complete family picture this Easter weekend, we almost had one on Sunday during a video call. Richard played with filters to delight our grandson.
In my excitement to be with my kids and extended family, I oversupplied them with desserts. After our Easter feast on Sunday, we read passages of scripture around the table to complete our long tradition of opening eggs which hold tiny objects and scriptures. Happy Resurrection Sunday!
Grief lurks beneath the routines of life and finds its way out from time to time. This week I experienced a resurgence of some grief for Richard’s sister and my grandmother who both passed away 5 years ago, one day apart, during the first week of March.
As I studied Jacob’s dream recently, the detail of the angels stood out to me, perhaps because I have been living with these memories of loved ones. I like the imagery of the Lord directing and overseeing the comings and goings of angels.
Perhaps this dream is my reminder that the spirits of loved ones are busy, still progressing, and are allowed to minister to us from time to time, according to our needs and their life experiences, all under the direction of the Lord.
Jacob is experiencing a rough time. I like in this painting that more angels are coming toward Jacob than are walking away. He has a long path ahead, but it’s an ascent that leads to the Lord.
Maybe you’re discouraged about a loved one’s path and this image could be helpful to you.
Or, you might be the one in a wilderness, sleeping on a rock, looking for personal hope. I have seen that keeping my covenants with God really helps during these times.
As we keep our covenants with God, He promises great things,
-See Genesis 28:15
We had a nice visit with Richard’s parents this week.
While we were there, we decided to watch opening ceremonies for the Olympics. I enjoyed Andrea Bocelli singing Nessun Dorma as the Olympic flame entered the stadium. It was so moving to me.