Category: Family Time

Goblin Valley and a hike through Ding and Dang Canyon

Richard and Mark were the advance party for a trip to Goblin Valley for the Young Men, traveling there a day early to claim a good campsite. Because they did this, there was an established camp ready when the young men arrived, making it possible to do a long hike before dark.

Mark and Richard spent a night beneath the bright stars together before the others arrived. It sounds pretty ideal.

Richard introduced the group to the hike through Ding and Dang Canyon. It was a challenging hike, and the boys had a wonderful time. It sounds like a successful campout. Well done, Richard and Mark!

Weber 2024

Today we go back in time a few weeks for a post about our Sanchez family reunion.

The theme this year at the Weber cabin was Wogworts, our version of “Hogworts” from the Harry Potter books. We did this theme in 2017, but the younger kids asked us to do it again so they could participate.
There were many magical classes offered. Here is the potions class, ready for students.
There was a sorting hat that “spoke” the assigned house to each child.
My sister planned an escape room for the older kids while the younger kids had little classes outdoors.
My job was to run the wand shop. The kids decorated wands and wrote down spells (things they could say) that would make people happy.
There were enough wands for anyone who wanted one. My dad carved about half of them. 🩷
Cousins of all ages here. Tim is being a good sport playing Duck, Duck, Goose.
It wasn’t possible for the entire Ross family to be present for the family portraits, but that’s okay. These representatives are awesome.
Our woodworker Mark spent a lot of time carving more wands.
Daniel and Mark harvested some fun boulders and rocks from the Smith and Morehouse River to bring home. This big one is now in our front yard.
This is the moment that Mark met his nephew for the first time. 🩷
We couldn’t stay all week, but Mark stayed several days longer than the rest of us. He relished the time with his cousins and grandparents.
Here is something on the smaller scale that represents the Weber experience, the tiny hot cocoa mugs which have been on the table at the Weber for 50+ years. Each can hold a few sips of hot cocoa and there is just enough room for one big marshmallow.

There is so much I could say and show from this cabin experience. Not pictured are the big family portraits, the Virginia Reel, tubing in the river, the duckie races, etc. I simply don’t have photos of everything. As always, the experiences live in memory and take on new qualities with time.

Weekend in St George

Quick stop at the Beaver Creamery
We took a day trip with Richard’s parents to Cedar Breaks. We stopped at the Bristlecone Pines, which they say are 4500 years old.
We are enjoying our audiobook, Tolkien’s The Two Towers, and this ancient tree fits right into that world.
The Virgin River Valley with Zion National Park in the distance.
Cedar Breaks
Tailgate picnic
Tim also happened to be in town with TPM for an employee weekend, so he stopped by to say hello.

Mark’s temple

2015
2024

On Mark’s ninth birthday I took him to the Payson temple open house. Later, this was the first temple that Mark entered to do baptisms for the dead. Through these experiences and more, this became his favorite temple, and recently, he received his endowment there.

In the Payson temple there is a fruit motif in the interior design, as it was built on land that was previously an apple orchard. As you ascend within building, the blossoms in the motif change to fruits.

As I reflect on raising Mark, I see that small, sacred things like attending a temple open house have yielded very sweet fruit.

In his life.

In mine.

And for our ancestors.