Extended family – Page 23 – Letters from Home

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.

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.

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.

Cousins!

A few weeks ago we visited my sister and her kids, one a newborn little sweetie. I just thought I’d share the happy faces today. That is all. Hopefully these faces bring a smile to your face.

Happy Monday!

Mark’s Baptism Day

This weekend Mark was baptized. It was a nice day with beautiful weather, lots of family and friends, talks by Daniel and Timothy, music by Paige and me, and cooking. Baptism days are always busy, but I tried really hard this last time to relax, even if it meant that the tent with bunting never got set up, my hair was not curled, and we didn’t get a proper family picture with all of the cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents who gathered. I think I got everyone photographed at dinner but three.

My sweetest memory of the day was when Richard had Mark in the font, ready for the ordinance, and Richard looked up at me. That exchange was simple, but sealed the moment. The work and joys of parenting, gospel preparation, and the new phase we are entering came into focus in a look, but none of those details of parenting were there; it mostly felt like love and joy.

Prom 2014

These are some of the kids from our trip to Escalante; they are in the same Sunday school class and they are delightful people.

We found Paige’s dress in Provo and the girl at the shop told us that it was one-of-a-kind. Paige didn’t love the dress at first, but finding a dress her size was a challenge, as was finding a dress with sleeves. She loved it by the end. I think the blue dress looked lovely on her. I had to do some hemming in the front so she could walk. My sister Susan did her hair.

Most of the parents gathered to take these photos. It was nice to send our daughter with kids we knew and to enjoy the photo shoot with our friends, their parents. One of the parents told me that she thought that this low-pressure, friendly date would probably be more memorable than others they will have. Who knows, but I don’t think you can forget how beautiful those girls look in their dresses and how happy everyone looks.

Whirlwind

There is no writing going on in a whirlwind. But here are a couple of pictures of things we have been up to. Richard’s mom celebrated a birthday with us and we welcomed Sara home from her mission over the weekend.

We checked on Spring Lake and admired the foundation.

Richard’s parents stayed for a few days and then Russ’s family stayed. There was Indian food, the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, a piano recital, a district math test, baseball games, an overnight retreat in Midway, and a violin-piano duet in a church in Spanish Fork.

We put together an answer to an art-themed prom invitation.

Daniel’s friends spent several days in the basement constructing a physics project… with lots of Lego man spectators.

I’m glad the pace isn’t always this busy, but it was good to see Richard’s family and to be among so many good friends.

Impromptu temple tour

Paige and I had an adventure this week across town and noticed that we were close to the Oquirrh Mountain temple. We had never visited this temple so we stopped by and took a picture. On the way home we drove past the Jordan River temple and looked around. The next day we stopped at the Provo temple for tradition’s sake. When I was a little girl I would ask my parents to take me home by way of the Provo temple, which wasn’t in our path home, but I never remember them saying no to my request.

Birthday Girl

The kids were out of school so we were able to go on an early birthday picnic for my mom. We gave her a tiara. If you see her today, remind her to put it on. She’s a queen and it’s her birthday.

Happy, happy day!

Spring Lake Easter Egg Hunt 2014

We gathered at Spring Lake for the annual Easter egg hunt, hosted by my parents.

The Round House is gone, and there are only the footings of the new house in place.

The boys and Richard helped my dad haul literally a ton of rocks and remove dead wood. Paige and I helped my mom hide all of the eggs while they were thus distracted. Timothy and Mark enjoyed working with the saw and pruners. Mark was especially proud of his bundle of sticks and asked to make one more before we left. Some cousins arrived and baby Ruth and Sparky hit it off almost immediately.

Sparky noticed that she needed a little face wash and he cleaned her right up.

It was such a pleasant day. We had some lunch and began the Easter egg hunt. We spectators had a great time watching the kids find the eggs. Richard *might* also be smiling because we bought that truck in the background on Friday. It’s a nice ride.

This is a picture of Richard and me eating chocolates and watching the kids play.This is the view of the new temple from my parents’ property. Beautiful.

We missed Sarah’s, Matt’s, and Paul’s families who couldn’t make it. We know what it’s like to miss the Annual Easter Egg hunt, but the beauty of family traditions is that there will always be next year.

(Most of these photos were taken by Paige. Thank you!)