Extended family – Page 2 – Letters from Home

The ladder

Jacob’s Dream at Bethel by J. Ken Spencer

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,

I am with thee.
I will keep [protect] thee in all places whither though goest.
I will bring thee again [home].
I will not leave thee…
Until I have done [all things promised to you].

-See Genesis 28:15

Parents and the Olympics

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.

A new Eagle Scout in the family

Congratulations to David! We celebrate his accomplishment! 🦅

Sanchez homecoming party

My parents are getting settled after their mission. Today they spoke in church about their experiences and then we gathered in their home to enjoy a meal. The young cousins (not pictured) joined one another in the usual arrays to play while adults settled into conversations long overdue. Sunlight reached inside to illuminate a very nice family gathering. My parents are themselves, and more tender and refined because of their missionary service.

Family reunion at 11:30 pm

#Goals

I don’t think we’re using hashtags or saying “#Goals” anymore, but this verse is pretty aspirational for me.

Notice that Nephi says his father Lehi was obedient unto the word of the Lord. End of statement. This is a character trait of Lehi, a long-established pattern in his life. Nephi continues, “Wherefore (meaning because of this, or for this reason), [Lehi] did as the Lord commanded.”

Nephi also says he was born of goodly parents. To Nephi, GOODNESS and OBEDIENCE were defining characteristics of his parents, so (of course) they would do what the Lord asked of them.

I have parents like this, and they have been missing from our lives for a year because they have been serving a mission. This is their second mission together. They served as mission leaders for three years when they were in their fifties, and now they are in their seventies. They have been serving in Puerto Rico where my dad served as a young missionary in the early 1970’s.

I can say of my parents, “They are obedient, so they answered the call for more senior missionaries to serve.”

They come home this week. I have their car in my driveway, a nice bedroom waiting for them because they fly in so late, and flags to wave at the airport. Hooray!

Or, as my dad would say, Hurrah for Israel!

Times change

This cousin was Tim’s little buddy a few years ago, somebody he would carry around, but a lot has changed recently. Now he looks like somebody Tim could call to help move a sofa. How great is that?!

Now, what’s goin’ on?

Dale and Richard greet each other on the phone with this drawled phrase, “Now, what’s goin’ on?”

Richard decided he wanted to spend some time with his parents over the weekend so he made it happen. Happy faces.

Virginia Reel 2025

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.