This kind of Father

Richard took Daniel, Tim, and Queenie to Marysvale to pick up our truck where it broke down three weeks ago and was getting repaired. It was a tender mercy that the mechanic was so convenient and kind. He even stored our trailer and three 4-wheelers at his house.

Richard arranged for a do-over for the activities from the Ross reunion that our kids missed three weeks ago. They stayed in the usual campground, took a ride on the mountain on the four-wheelers, had a picnic, and got rained on.

So many details need to be juggled on trips like this and it takes great effort. Our kids have the kind of father who handles these details, and he was even prepared with matching rain gear. 😁

mix and match on Paige’s birthday

This was one of the calls I had with Paige on her birthday this week. We mix and match people who can participate for any given thing. Of course we miss the other members of the family not included in this shot and others. I took for granted being a 6-person unit that I could count on to see each day, but as much as I miss them, I don’t want them to clip their wings for me. They are doing amazing things in many places.

Paige is worth celebrating!

Paige is a wonderful mother, a peacemaker, a kind friend, and a keeper of traditions. She is what a disciple of Christ looks like. She’s strong, patient, steady, faithful, and a listener. She has developed many gifts. She’s a talented professional illustrator, a foodie, a dancer, a musician, and a wonderful daughter. And so much more.

Weber 2025

Plein air painting and lunch on the porch.
Little Grandma Carol made a visit.
Tim and Queenie
Lots of volleyball this year.
Painted by Daniel. Each person who painted a Book of Mormon cover did a beautiful job.
Becky, recovering from shoulder surgery, made it up for the afternoon.
The Rosses were in charge of setting the table on Sunday night.

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

Our music room, violin not stowed away so I will practice.

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

Focus on Joy by Michael Malm

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.