We hope you feel better soon, Ray!
WE LOVE YOU!
Category: Extended family
Preparation
This is my violin at rest. Richard and I are playing at a friend’s funeral tomorrow.
It’s a tender time, losing such a young father in our ward.
Significantly, our ward will participate in the sacred process of dedicating a temple on Sunday.
As I prepare for this funeral and dedication, I examine my heart and find that along with the ache of mourning, there is peace and an ultimate hope of eternal families, made possible because of temple covenants.
Austin Now
Yes, that’s Richard in a field of Texas wildflowers.
Richard was in Texas last week. Most of the time he was in Dallas, but he took a day and a half to visit our family and a few friends in Austin. He visited our old house and the trees we planted in our yard. He ate a Freebirds burrito and went to Chuy’s (whoa, boy; lots of Tex-Mex!) and rehearsed the finer points of dry, sarcastic humor with his brother, Rob. He’s still serving out that brand of humor a week later.
Team Ryan Hess
Cancer has touched the lives of several family members and friends over the past 2 years. Tonight our hearts are breaking for a friend, Ryan.
If you are a Federal Employee, please consider donating leave time to our friend, Ryan Hess who is suffering from cancer. You can read about him here.
To donate leave time, please see this link.
Loss of a friend
A friend passed away last night after a battle with cancer. I met her soon after moving here with her cute flipped hair and 3 beautiful children. I will never have the right words to say to her family and very close friends who are grieving.
We made a card for her on Friday; a card that she will never read. Last night as I cleaned the kitchen at bedtime I thought about her and felt such peace and gratitude that she graced my life. This was just before the call came that she passed away. I like to think that friends who pass away are allowed say their good-byes to us, although we are unaware of their presence except for a gentle comfort that comes to our hearts. I am grateful for the continual source of peace and comfort, our Savior Jesus Christ. “Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”
It was a confusing night; I think I fell asleep in the middle of a prayer, only to awaken every other hour to continue that prayer for her family… and for all those who love her.
Good-bye, Tracy. I’ll make sure your children always feel loved when I see them.
When life deals you lemons
We are sick with a cold that we have evaded for 8 months. A despicable, nefarious cold that waited to get us when we tried to venture to Disneyland.
The missionaries are out speaking and teaching. We’re here eating chips and sneezing. Here are some photos of our day.
4 lemons. I named them Paige, Daniel, Timothy, and Mark…not because my children are sour but because these lemons are beautiful.
We carry this friend around with us to ease our sore throats and coughs. Timothy played chess on my computer most of the day.
Here’s your reminder that Mormon missionaries are awesome.
Daniel collected berries in the backyard.
A treasure that I remember from the old days.
My sick little boy, smiling despite the trouble in his respiratory tract.
He stayed close to me most of the day; here he is snoozing on my shoulder again.
I keep finding things that remind me how my dad loves my mom. I won’t tell you the name of her listing on his cell phone, but it’s darling.
Forgotten Letter
I found this unfinished letter in a box a couple of nights ago. Despite its personal nature, I am sharing it… because it’s positive, and we all need something positive to read these days.
Here’s my mother and me, still becoming acquainted:
April 2004
Dear Mom,
You are so many things to me. I’ve been thinking about my favorite memories and qualities I have seen in you.
First, a list of memories of you as my mother:
Music…always
You read so many books to me.
You rescued me from the dogs on the way to elementary school.
You rolled my hair into curlers so I would be pretty.
You made me eggnog when I was sick and spaghetti when it was my birthday.
You sewed outfits for me… a favorite shirt with an angel patch.
You helped me learn to ride a bike and roller skate and perform at my recitals.
You listened and participated in my concerts.
You used every resource you had to pay for music lessons.
You were my chauffeur.
You left sweet notes for me (I kept them all) at my bedside.
You bought me pop tarts and Carnation [instant] breakfasts for early morning breakfasts in high school.
You went on orchestra tour with me to Cedar City.
You helped me pick out a prom dress.
~end~
Here are a few more things that I would like to add, 6 years later:
You kept your kitchen clean. I could hear you doing the dishes at night after I was in bed.
I always had clean clothes to wear.
You worked to help me find friends that were good for me.
I need to mention books again. I remember all of the children draped over the sofa beside you, behind you, and around you while you read to us. You were always ready to read to us.
You were a good Scout wife. I remember when Dad went to Wood Badge for about a week and it was hard, but you were brave. I wondered why those little beads were so small. They represented a lot of time for Dad and for you. You went to the Scout office, packed for the campouts, shopped, sewed, attended, and cheered.
You were in the PTA… always.
You went to our Parent Teacher conferences.
You helped me write my talks for church.
You went to the temple with Dad.
You were always thinking about the youth from church; a confidante to many young women.
At registration day (i.e. Pay Us day) at high school, you paid for the yearbook and other fees and I just felt so grateful.
You picked me up from my college dorm one day along with 6 loads of laundry that I had accumulated and helped me get back on top of my life.
When Richard and I were sick at Westwind, you did our laundry for us.
You seemed to know when I was sick or in need. You showed up one day at my apartment and found me suffering from a very bad cold. You took me home and made me breakfast.
You gave me a copy of the cute handouts you made for the young women at church. I kept that “Master in Charge” card for ages.
You were so excited to be a grandmother, you brought me (& future baby) presents while I was still in labor.
You took care of me for each surgery and birth… 7 lengthy visits.
You drove me to the airport when I left Utah 12 years ago.
Your voice is what I hear as I read the scriptures. So many verses you have put to music…
You were 20 when I was born. I’m so glad.
You gave up school so Dad could finish. You gave up school again to go on a mission.
Of course there is so much more I can say. But at least I am saying something and not laying it aside like I did 6 years ago.
I love you.
~A
Dear Grandma and Grandpa Ross
We were so glad to see you. We love you so much, we even came outside in our pajamas for hugs. We are sorry your car got wrecked in Phoenix. That’s the #1 place for traffic and all things awful for travel.
Thanks for wrestling the boys during all the rehearsals and providing a sugar wonderland in our lives. We are thinking you must have fed Sparky something good, too. He doesn’t try to stow away in just anyone’s car.
We are so glad you came.
Love,
The Richard Rosses
Lessons from 2009 part 1: Prayer
Friday I offered a prayer at our annual homeschool club Christmas party. One prayer request came from a friend who simply wanted us to pray as a group for an undisclosed need. And we did.
I’ve been thinking about that request. We all have private struggles and challenges, and many try to face them alone. One thing I have learned (and love) about my Christian friends is that they openly express needs and pray for one another. I find my own troubles tiresome and my mind wanders when I pray only for myself. This year, I have seen friends and family struggle with illnesses, death, and other challenges. I have felt powerless and worried, but when I prayed, I felt like THIS act was the best service I could give for problems that were just too big for me. Learning to transform my useless worry into meaningful prayer has been a common theme in 2009.
I’m grateful for the love that naturally grows as I pray for someone and the miracles of healing and comfort that have come this year from a loving Father in Heaven.
Carry on!
I gave Paige and Daniel the assignment to read about our Mayflower ancestors last week. We’re descendants of Mary Chilton and Richard Warren, who were passengers on the Mayflower. Mary was orphaned at age 13 when her parents died within a week of each other after landing at Plymouth. She later married Mr. Warren John Winslow who arrived in Plymouth in 1621.
I have been thinking about those ancestors all day. The Chiltons were Separatists who had fled from persecution in England to live in Holland. Although they were financially better off in Holland and were able to exercise their religion in peace, they were troubled by the worldly influences around them, such as a lax sabbath day observance and also some cultural differences. These parents were concerned about their children. They were concerned that the principles for which they had left their homeland were being watered down in the environment in which they now lived.
Mary’s parents died in what I believe to be a heroic struggle to maintain purity in the next generation.
Paige is writing a report about this young girl, Mary Chilton, who was orphaned in the new land. Will Paige be able to see a pattern in conviction and courage carried through the generations to her own family? I want so much for her and the boys to drink in this heritage of strength and fearlessness. I have seen it in my parents and grandparents: Strength to be different; Strength to stand alone and follow through with what they feel inspired to do. Our ancestors were fearless in being counted with the Separatists, driven from England, and later the Mormons, driven from the eastern United States. I see the same fearless strength today in my parents who are missionaries; and I’ve seen it in my grandparents who have made a difference by their service and faith.
I hope we’re doing enough to see that this courageous pattern is carried on in the next generation. Learning about these ancestors makes my decisions seem easy and my burdens light in comparison. However, this doesn’t mean I believe the battle is of lesser importance. The same enemy fights against good and it’s still the children for whom we struggle to preserve. And the enemy is insidious and permeates our culture so blatantly that I find myself shocked all the time at what I have just seen or heard.
I’m feeling a little more empowered by this new knowledge of our roots. As I said before, I hope Paige feels the same through her study of these ancestors.