Author: Angela

I write so my family will always have letters from home.

Hobby Room

We had free cable television in the home we rented 7 years ago. I spent a lot of time watching home improvement and cooking shows. Some of my favorite shows were about how to stage a house to sell it.

I scoffed at some of the inexpensive things that people were told to do, such as throw a white sheet over the kitchen table so it looked extra clean, or change the light bulbs to be clear or simply hide all counter top appliances from view.

But then I remembered why I fell in love with our house plan. In the model there was was the hobby room with a wall of shelves and a table in the center. And that room chanted in my head, “Buy me!” There were other good features in the house, but the dream of a hobby room was a big factor in my “yes” vote on the house.

This week I have been staging photos of our house for the time when we decide to sell. Even after we move, I want people to be able to visualize themselves in a hobby room like mine. Of course, my hobbies are not crafty. They’re educational. I took down most evidence of that so it looks more universal.

Goodbye, hobby room. Don’t worry, I won’t do a post about every room in the house, although it might be funny to see what poetic things I could say about that marvelous coat closet in our entry.

I just need one person to think it’s great and they can buy our house and pursue their dreams. It’s been a great room for us, although it NEVER looked this good when in use.

More Girls Camp pics

I knew you were hoping for more Girls Camp shots. Photos by Cindy.

Here is our camp. It’s a Church camp on Mount Lemmon, which is named after a WO-MAN. Just so you know…

Here are a few of the girls by our banner. We were the Lucky Charms.

Paige arrived after the other girls because she was on her 4th year overnight hike and had spent the morning rappelling.

If I can’t be Maria von Trapp in a musical, then I will just have to pretend that I am at Girls Camp. It’s a magical place like that.

This is such a good group of girls!

Our camp is special because it has a piano. Paige accompanied our stake in our camp theme song. On Sunday, she played it again in Stake Conference while we all sang. The girls gave her big cheers during the week because she sounded great. 100+ girls cheering for you in a room that echoes makes you feel good, although a little headachy.

We had lots of scripture time, and that was nice.

This sweet girl was my buddy. Love her!

The hills are alive… with the sound of music!

Now, go climb every mountain.

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night.

I got to go to Girls Camp. I must have done something good… to deserve it.

 

Goodbye Baseball

We have three new trophies in our house. Mark is very proud of his work in t-ball.

Daniel says farewell to little league. He’s all grown up now.

Timothy, fully decorated, listens to ANOTHER speech from his coach.

Timothy’s team won the tournament. They are the #1 Minors team from Copper Hills Little League!

Girls’ Camp: check.

Shamrock Headbands seemed like a good idea at the time... (Photo stolen from Emily's Facebook post.) 😉

Pioneer Trek and Girls’ Camp are finished. I am tired and there is dirt embedded in my nails, but it’s been a good few weeks with the youth.

The smell of an afternoon rain shower is so soothing. I feel relaxed and ready to take on the next hurdle: our move to Utah.

We’re leaving the desert after 7 years and these recent experiences with the youth don’t make it very easy to leave.

If I think, “Where will we be next month?” I just have a dark space which doesn’t include our house or our friends. It still doesn’t seem real, but as I take down our photos from the walls and we begin to fill in the trampoline hole in the back yard, I see that it is real and that our mark on this house is being carefully erased. I find myself growing less concerned about the house and more concerned about the impact we have made in our little community. I hope that we have made a difference.

Smile first.

Recently I watched a young child inch his way from the back of the room to the front to get closer to his mother during a meeting. He picked a spot on one of the front rows and gazed up at her, anticipating her return. As she walked to her seat, the child, obviously so anxious to be with his mother uttered a little, “Mama,” hoping for a hug and a joyful reunion. She was embarrassed and upset with him. As she picked him up, he read all of her signs and began to cry. She wasn’t happy to see him waiting for her on the front row, after all.

This person did something that is easy for us to do: we forget to smile first.

I’m feeling a bit forlorn today because I have to leave my boys for a few days. It makes me wish that I’d had more time to love them before I have to leave. I’ve spent the day folding their newly washed clothes and helping them plan a menu and shop for goodies. What I wish I could do is spend the day playing games with them. Circumstances have made that impossible. But maybe you could think of this mom today and remember to accept your children and not worry about things that don’t matter… especially what “other people might think” of your parenting if you decide to smile at them first and correct them later.

Ballet Recital 2012

Paige’s dance recital was a beautiful success. She received a trophy for dancing for 6 years with her studio. She joined the studio before they had a building of their own in which to meet. Over the years, she danced on wood, concrete, and carpet before her studio was able to build a facility with proper floors and mirrors. That’s what you do in a small town. You help build it and you always keep a dream of how it can be. I’m so thankful for Michele Igason, who took Paige under her care and helped her become a beautiful dancer. Her studio has not made a profit in the three years since her building was completed. Such sacrifice has blessed our life and we will never forget it.

The green costumes were for a number from The Incredible Hulk. Mark waited in great anticipation for this number, and when it turned out to be quite graceful, he turned to me and said, “This is NOT what I expected.”

Paige was in 7 numbers and the pink tutus were my favorite.

“Suits” looked like it was the most fun to dance. The girls had a great time.

Remembering

This was the Ross Pioneer Trek Family. Richard and I were Ma and Pa to 7 children, ages 14-18. We had a baby we carried made from a pillowcase and dry rice.

We worked hard and we were a great team. We worked to make our journey a reminder of the past and relevant to our current lives.

We grew close to each other and stayed with our family most of the time.

This was my last pull with my family. I got heat stroke and had to be taken away for medical help.

Richard carried on without me. He was much admired for his sacrifices on the trail.

I am so grateful that a photographer kept a record so I could see what happened after I left.

I like these photos of Richard. It’s my blog, so I can post as many as I like.

They went up this steep hill with a human chain to pull on either side of the handcarts.

This man helped me when I was ill.

At one point, I looked up and was amused to see this Amish-looking man kneeling beside me. He was a great help to me also and I smiled to think that our Brigham Young actor was also an experienced paramedic.

Although the Ross Pioneer Trek family was “orphaned” they were proud to have finished the trek first, and raced to the end. Richard was there to cheer them on.

Paige did a great job on Trek. She was strong and cheerful.

She was part of a different “family” but we watched her from a distance. She enjoyed carrying her family’s baby.

It was an experience not easily explained in words, but the memories are deep and our faith has increased. And I have a nifty bonnet to help me remember.

Photos by Mr. Zollinger and Kara Egbert