Weber 2025
Women in the house
Tim and Queenie had some early wedding photos taken last week, and I was surprised and honored that Queenie chose to get ready at our house. She asked McKenna to do her hair and makeup, so our dining room became a salon for a few hours. I was occupied with preparing food for the family reunion the next day, so I enjoyed the company while I worked. Daniel and Tim were there, too, Tim trying to tie a bowtie for a lot of the time.
As I’ve said before, this phase of life is either eerily still or bursting with activity. Observing McKenna and Queenie, I felt deep gratitude for these two women.
13
I remember dates from our history, and if I am not careful, this blog could become a log of old memories. Today is another special one. August 13th was the day we moved into our current home 13 years ago. The move had a significant impact on our children’s lives and who they chose to marry.
Paige was introduced to Michael through a friend from our Sandy ward.
Daniel met McKenna in middle school.
Tim met Queenie in high school.
The house has adapted to many configurations of family members, in and out through their college and mission years. Lately we can count on weekend visits from Tim because Queenie lives nearby.
Today the corners of our house hold Queenie’s wedding dress while I finish some alterations, settings and centerpieces for a wedding luncheon, storage for Daniel and Tim’s belongings, and Mark’s old crib in his room for visits from Paige’s family. Most of the time I am alone in the house now. It has been a good house for our family in all our seasons.
Share
August 7 was the 7th anniversary of Daniel’s mission departure and Mark’s 10-month mark as a missionary. This was also the beginning of many years as a missionary mom, as Tim’s mission also deserves mention here.
The missionary years have offered some of the biggest lessons of life for our family.
This short video came up in my feed and I appreciate how he describes one of those big lessons. Whether as a missionary, or basic disciple like me, sharing light matters.
The following passage of Scripture describes the creations of God, including the sun, moon, and stars, but all of His creations can shine His light. I like to think this verse describes an important purpose of life,
And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years…
Doctrine and Covenants 88:44
😂
Commandments
A question from the Doctrine and Covenants Come Follow Me curriculum:
To what can I compare commandments?
- A recipe for a happy life
- Instructions
- Prerequisites for a course to know God
- A map
- A ruler, or standard of measurement
- A compass
- A lantern
- A pathway
- A road sign
- A life vest
- A reminder of home
- The laws governing motion towards God.
- A guardrail on a treacherous path
- A lighthouse in a storm
- A bridge to something otherwise inaccessible
- Steps on a ladder
- Lines on the road, keeping me safe in darkness.
- Lines on writing paper, guiding my words.
- The familiar stretch of road leading to our home.
- The character traits of God
- God’s love language
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15
What would you add to this list?
Marysvale 2025
I am glad that I went to the Ross reunion and that I could see how Richard’s family is doing. I am glad that Queenie and I had a good talk driving to and from Marysvale. I will remember witnessing the terrible Monroe fire not far from where we stayed. I am thankful for Richard’s mother who worked hard to alter Queenie’s wedding dress. This year, we had a smaller group of people, but the core Ross family was there. None of my children could attend, but Queenie represented our family well. One way we remembered the people who were missing was to do a puzzle made from a picture from 3 years ago.
I am thankful that we took two cars. And someday soon, we will retrieve our truck from the auto repair shop in that tiny town 3 hours from home. 😬
Collecting photos for the wedding
Tim and Queenie are preparing a display of 4 generations of wedding/young couple photos for their reception. These are Richard’s grandparents. The first picture is new to me. Until this month, I had never seen a picture of the Rosses when they were young, and I see the features of both couples in their descendants. It makes me feel sentimental as I reflect on the bright hopes of young couples engaged to be married.
No. 17
I took a long break, but came back to doll making recently. My dolls are mostly intended for people grieving the loss of a loved one. As I create them, I often try to reflect the clothing style, facial features, and hair of the one I wish to honor.
With Joann out of business, I have lost my usual supplier of yarn and fabrics. And just this week, I discovered that my sources for handmade doll clothes and crocheted shoes are also gone. I have sewn a few outfits over the years, but it was one of those crazy miracles that I could usually find the perfect clothing from vendor booths at a local shop. Anything from cowboy gear to a Hawaiian muumuu, a fairy costume to beautiful white dresses, those little booths were a great help.
I dressed this newest doll in clothing and shoes I set aside years ago, just in case. It felt good to be prepared.
Personal ministry
I have been thinking about personal ministry lately. I’m talking about taking care of people, not by formal assignment, but because I want to. I got a little rusty at this during the last year, focusing on sending Mark on a mission, then reclaiming our home and my identity. As I begin to pick up the service I used to do in my neighborhood, I am realizing that there are skills and strategies to relearn to be a good minister to others.
There are physical strategies, such as having food in the house and freezer to put together a meal, or some simple, wrapped gifts ready for birthday deliveries. Also, having an eye to see who is missing or on the margins and making time to reach out to them.
There is definitely a spiritual component. Often, personal ministry is uncomfortable and makes me feel vulnerable. I don’t think I’m ever confident that I’m saying or doing the right thing. It takes spiritual courage to show up with stumbling words or a gift they might not like.
Understanding my personal limitations is important. Sometimes I want to do something generous, but the week is full or I am depleted, so I do something small or postpone the grand gesture. Whether or not I can do something tangible, I can always pray. I have learned that prayer is a valid and important way to minister.