We felt like climbing red rocks all weekend, so we did.
Category: Extended family
MLK Weekend
Richard and the boys enjoyed another beautiful day on the slopes on Saturday. Mark has graduated to poles and the yellow skis.
Paige worked on school all weekend. Her life is not for the lazy or fearful.
While the boys were away I met my friend Julie Rose for lunch in Provo. We have been friends since early elementary school years and we were roommates in college. The conversation was long and satisfying. She is a journalist so I always come away from our chats feeling like I was able to tell my stories. I loved hearing her stories. She is on BYU radio in the afternoons.
Daniel played a piano solo in church, Abide with Me, ‘Tis Eventide. I liked the arrangement and his expression.
My parents spoke for my sister’s ward youth fireside on Sunday night. They talked about the miracles associated with missionary work. The meeting was held at their home in Spring Lake and the topic, speakers, and setting left me feeling inspired.
We spent our first night at the new Spring Lake home. My brother in law made everyone some breakfast the next morning. He took a picture of the waffles he made for the kids:
Richard and my dad built shelves at my parents’ place and I studied and sewed all day. Deer wandered near the windows; the kids made paper airplanes, built forts, and read books. It was a nice holiday.
Words to match the season
Richard and I were awake early Christmas morning when the snow began to fall. It was a perfect Christmas setting. More things than snow affected my heart this year. There were moments of deep spiritual peace, happiness, some melancholy, satisfaction, and searching. Memories had full expression as I nestled in blankets near the Christmas tree. Here are some of the words that have found meaning for me over this Christmas break.
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!-James Montgomery, Angels From the Realms of Glory
With the end of the year comes a lot of introspection for me. I wonder if I am better than I was last year. I wonder if I have contributed enough of myself to others. I wonder if I CAN change my poor habits. It was during some of these thoughts that I really listened to the lyrics of the Christmas Hymn above. “Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great desire of Nations…” I was being reminded to look beyond my plans and thinking and look to the Savior. “Brighter visions beam afar…” With him, all things, greater things than I can imagine, are possible.
…But [she] kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. -Luke 2:19
Timothy was ordained a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood just before Christmas. There were 3 generations of family represented in the room. A week later, Paige received her Patriarchal Blessing. This time, past, present, and future generations mingled in the words of her blessing. Each of these sacred experiences I will keep in my heart for a long time.
If we could look into each other’s hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care. -Elder Marvin J Ashton, Ensign, May 1992.
I learned to love several more people in 2014. This required throwing away some of my hasty judgments about their motivations and choices. I was humbled several times as I learned about challenges that they face, mostly in silence. I learned again that loving people is less about merit (mine and theirs) and more about vision. We love who people really are, not the things that hold them down.
And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! -Charles Dickins, A Christmas Carol.
I was a little stretched and had some grumpy Scrooge moments as we were inundated with things to buy and things to bake and places to be. I heard the words of Dickens about the reformed Ebeneezer Scrooge, “And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well.” Had we kept Christmas well? I sat down and wrote the things that we did that really mattered. This winnowing of memories helped me to see that we had.
I have many hopes and dreams for 2015. At the close of the 2014, I am so thankful for music, lyrics, literature, family, and scripture that helps me keep the season in proper perspective.
The year-end photo swap
I’m trying to compile pictures for 2014 and I’m relying on lots of sources to do it. There has been a big exchange of photos among my sisters, a brother, and friends. These are some of my favorite finds this month.
Happy Thanksgiving
We’re spending Thanksgiving with most of these kids.
I machine embroidered these names in time for Thanksgiving. We’re going to attach these to baskets in cubby holes at my parents’ new house in Spring Lake. I can’t wait to see each child’s basket in a special spot at Grandma’s. I think it’s a great idea to have a place for each child to keep their things when they visit.
Each name is done in the child’s favorite color. Now that I’m done with this big project I just want to play with these colorful little tags. I’ve spent 15 minutes laying them out in different configurations on the table. Do I have time to do this? No, no I do not.
The Miracles of Song and the Courage of Youth
This is my dad and his family as they sent him off on a mission. I’m not sure what’s going on behind those stoic faces. Dread? Sadness? Bewilderment? Not ready for the camera?
My dad joined the Church when he was 17 years old. His family was not religious, but he had a few friends who were instrumental in his conversion. There was the neighbor who gave the family a Book of Mormon which sat on a shelf for years until my dad read it clandestinely in his room while throwing a basketball against the wall to avoid suspicion. There were some darling girls who invited him to early morning seminary, which he attended faithfully, learning the Old Testament. And then there was the Oakland Temple Pageant. His friends took him there and when the choir of 500 youth voices sang The Spirit of God, his heart was deeply touched. He had found the source of peace in a time of real upheaval. It was the late 1960’s in the Bay Area.
My dad’s story of hearing all of those young men and young women singing is best heard in person, and I am sure I am leaving out details. However, I believe that it was one of the sacred events that changed the course of his life.
It’s my dad’s story, but it’s also a part of my story. If those kids hadn’t shared their love of the gospel…if they hadn’t sung their hearts out… if he hadn’t had the Book of Mormon in his home… if he hadn’t been courageous and decided to be baptized, he wouldn’t have met my mom and I wouldn’t be here.
I believe in the miracles of music and the courage of youth.
As I sing in this choir with 300 kids ages 12-18, I am having a powerful experience.There are songs that I still cannot sing the whole way through without stopping for tears.
I hope someone in the audience will be touched by this music. I know that music can change lives.
*Butler Middle School is actually on 2700 E.
Spring Lake Views
Long before my parents bought the Round House in Spring Lake, this was a special place in our family. My great-grandparents lived in Spring Lake and farmed there in the 1930’s through the early 1960’s. I remember trips to Spring Lake to visit the old house, the trout farm, and the little lake. There is something so beautiful about this rural area. In fact, the lake (as it used to be before the trees were all removed) is one of the places I think about when something unpleasant is happening.
At the base of the Secret Garden there is a beautiful view of the Payson Temple.
I love the meandering pathways through periwinkle and oak in the Secret Garden.
The new house is nearly finished. Our fingers are crossed that we can eat our Thanksgiving dinner there.
8 years ago
Eight years ago my dad and mom began their missionary journey. They were asked to come to the Church office building in Salt Lake City for several interviews before being called as a mission president and companion and there was a lot of training which began 6 months before they went to the missionary training center. My mom learned Spanish. My dad revisited his Spanish speaking skills. He shaved his mustache.
They moved out of their home and said goodbye to the grandchildren. It was a big deal in our family to see this happen.
They served for 3 years in the California San Bernardino mission. My mom taught, cooked, entertained, cooked, taught, loved, and spent a lot of time on the phone dealing with the health issues of their missionaries while my dad presided over the mission. There isn’t time to list all the things a mission president does for the missionaries, the people who are being taught by the missionaries, the members, and the community. I saw both my parents shine as they did the work. It was a busy, busy time.
Just a few months after they came home they were called to serve in the Provo Missionary Training Center. My dad served in branch presidencies and as a Branch President for Spanish speaking missionaries. This meant they would be at the MTC usually 2 nights a week and all day on Sundays. It meant my dad would read and respond to letters from his missionaries on another evening each week. My family was able to attend a sacrament meeting at the MTC on Christmas Day a few years ago. The missionaries spoke Spanish at whatever level they could. I saw how they loved my parents and how parents loved them. My dad has a great zeal for the gospel and my mom has a quiet wisdom that the missionaries love.
They were released on Sunday morning, which means that their service was accepted and they are no longer serving as missionaries. My heart broke a little bit for them, especially my dad. I am so proud of my parents. It’s been a marathon… an 8-year marathon, and they have touched so many lives.
Work day
Grandma’s Birthday
My mom and I decided to surprise my grandmother in Nevada for her birthday last weekend. Here are a few pictures from the party.
She allowed us to pamper her for a few days. My grandfather told me over and over how much he loved her. She takes good care of him.
She is quite the decorator. Isn’t her living room lovely?
My grandmother asked me to play the violin at her party. My grandfather wouldn’t let me stop. I played and played and he asked for more after the guests left, his face beaming because he loves music.
Somehow I missed taking a picture of my mom. It’s an all-day drive to my grandmother’s house and we talked the whole way there and back again, my voice becoming hoarse. My mom and I could probably call driving together “cheap therapy.” Years ago, we got talking so intently that I accidentally drove 30 miles into Wyoming instead of to the cabin where we were headed.
I learned things about my grandmother on this trip without my children. I saw her marriage, her personality, and her interests in a new way. I’m thankful for the women in my family. I’m thankful for my grandfather, who can’t remember many things, but remembers how much he loves his wife and children.