Family Time – Page 60 – Letters from Home

Gila Valley Adventure

Today we went on an adventure to the Gila Valley in Arizona. It was a long drive but we took our friends with us and that made the drive more bearable.

We attended the Gila Valley Temple Open House. We forgot our camera. This was taken with my phone, but as you can see, heaven’s rays were clearly visible here.

In the most beautiful room in the temple, Mark planted his feet and gently resisted my efforts to move him away. All of the children said they liked this room best. I caught my breath and tried to keep my composure when I entered the room, too.

It was a nice place to visit, thinking of our 15th anniversary this week. We were married in the St George Temple.

Cure for grumpy boys

1. food

2. watch Dad make funny faces on the web cam

3. bed

Easter Greetings

A perfect Easter Morning for me means

Home,

Church,

Family,

and

Reminders of the Savior

everywhere;

especially in the flowers.

I like this movie

Do you?

It was just digitally restored. The colors are amazing. Somehow you just love the characters. Everyone over the age of 6 liked this movie at our house.

I highly recommend The African Queen.

The Young Ross Women

General Young Women Meeting, 2010

Tonight we learned that deep beauty springs from virtue. We’re in the middle of our own stories, working toward a happily ever after. Our reaction to adversity determines the paths of our lives. We were encouraged to be strong and of good courage.

We saw it here. Watch the “video presentation” if nothing else!

Our photo from last year is here.

The Cause and the Cure

I have been feeling the effects of Post Traumatic Family Portrait Disorder. I won’t go into all the details, but I am unnerved. There were unfortunate choices made in our clothing and posture. The sun was in our eyes. We couldn’t find a decent new dress within 30 miles for Paige. A shortage of curlers, a mistake in the bangs/no bangs dilemma, a failed teeth-whitening attempt and sunburns just hours before the portrait. Oh, the ignominious defeat! I’ll blame the town, as usual. Shame on you, Sahuarita.

I’ll find consolation in the children’s portraits for a long time.

Monday

It’s the Monday after a big weekend. The laundry is going, school work is in progress, and the flowers in our backyard are beautiful.

What have we been up to?

ArtclassesDavisMonthanAirshowFamilyPortraitsSpeakinginchurchTeachingSunbeams(3-4yrolds)RestingWritingletterReadingRestingCryingand findingbeautyinthisdifficultplacetolive.

Biosphere 2

Today our studies took us into the Catalina foothills where the Biosphere 2 project still stands. In the late 80’s and early 90’s this was an experimental ecosystem. For two years, 8 “biospherians” lived in this sealed environment, testing whether it could be self-sustaining. This is a huge and impressive structure made of steel and glass and an intricate underground network which regulates temperature, humidity, winds, power, and rain. There are very distinct ecosystems within the biosphere: savannah, ocean, desert, and rainforest. At the onset, there were 3800 species of plants and animals living in the structure. It served as a farm, living quarters, and research center.

P.S. Biosphere 1 is the earth itself.

This is the basement of the biosphere. It’s several acres of pipes, power conduits, etc.

The "lung" which is a 20-ton rubber and concrete air pressure regulator. — The “lung” which is a 20-ton rubber and metal air pressure regulator.

This is a view of the living quarters for the 8 people who lived there for 2 years.

Trying to escape against an air pressure gradient.

This is a salt water ocean replica, which once had a coral reef and wave generator.

We celebrated Richard’s birthday today. Guess what? The gift we gave him was THE RIGHT MODEL!! I’m so relieved.

Good things

Boy, I am glad for leftovers and ibuprofen;

and a washer and dryer that did my work for me while I was away today and tonight.

I’m especially glad for hugs and kisses from little boys and a ballerina daughter who dances every move she makes.

I am grateful for the little idea to visit a friend today. It turns out she was sick. Sick people need visits, you know.

Watching the Olympics commercial-free is really a treat.

I’m grateful I found a present for Richard’s birthday and I’m also grateful for receipts and a nice return policy because I probably got the wrong thing.

It felt good to come home to a comfortable house with things going on in nearly every corner.

And now I’m off to spend some time with Richard.