Paradise Found

I would have posted these earlier, but last week my appendix decided it was through being my appendix.  After a week of recovery and lots of nice people helping with the kids, I'm feeling great and ready to jump back into life.
These pictures are from our spring break in Idaho with David's parents.  It was a much-needed break.  Our ward split last month and David was put in the new bishopric.  Faced with the task of building the entire organization from the ground up, they had been spending hours and hours and hours and hours in meetings and extending callings.  We had a great week in Idaho and got all relaxed and de-stressed.

We went snowshoeing on Schweitzer mountain.  What a beautiful view!

People in Utah who complain about six inches of snow have no idea. 

David's mom and I decided not to try keeping up with the men.  We set our own pace.

 Grandpa and David took the kids on a hike.  Christian took a nap in the backpack.

Nathan helped with the burn pile.  He couldn't resist walking through the wet ashes.

We Are Never Alone

In Sunday School a few weeks ago, we were studying the story of Jesus walking on the water.  The teacher emphasized that the disciples had been struggling through the storm all night long before the Savior came to them.  She said that Jesus often lets us struggle alone for awhile before He comes to our aid.

Yes, He lets us struggle, but I don't think our Savior ever leaves us alone.  There have been times when I have felt alone as I struggled through some difficulty.  But even then, I can look back later and see evidence of His hand supporting me through some of the darkest times.  

This truth was movingly taught by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in his powerful address:  "None Were With Him", given in April 2009.  The entire talk is well worth reading, but I especially want to share this paragraph:

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].” ²⁰

We do not have to struggle through our lives alone.  Christ is right there to take our hand.  We are human and so easily forget what Jesus Christ did for us.  I am glad we have holidays like Easter to remind us.

color

David and I recently listened to "The Giver," by Lois Lowry.  Among other thoughts provoked by the book was this: "What would the world be like without color?"  After several months of seeing mostly white, brown, and gray outside, I am craving some color.  I sometimes get my color fix during the winter by looking through pictures I've taken of flowers and other living things.  Here are some of my favorites for the benefit of others who might need some color:

This is where David grew up in north Idaho.  When you walk through these grasses on a warm day, you can literally feel the energy of the living things surrounding you.  How could anyone be satisfied with anywhere else after living here?

 This vinca was the only thing I could get to grow in the damp, shady front flower bed of our Orem house.  I love this shade of violet.

We found this spider web near Battlecreek Falls, above Pleasant Grove.  

Not only is the web amazing, but I love how the leaves look with the sunlight shining through them. 

These flowers were all along the trail heading to Grouse Creek Falls in Idaho.

Simple and beautiful. 

You don't see many ferns where we live.  These were in the back forest at David's parents' house in north Idaho.  The next two pictures are from the flower gardens there.

This was near Bridal Veil Falls, up Provo Canyon.

Looking out our back window.  I've always thought of a beautiful sunrise as God's way of saying, "Good morning."

St. George

David had a conference in St. George last week.  His parents were kind enough to take care of the kids so we could spend a couple days there.  Neither of us had been to St. George before.  In the short time we were there, we enjoyed what we saw.  I loved the old red brick buildings against the backdrop of red cliffs. 

It's nearly spring there.  I've always loved seeing crocuses and knowing that winter will soon be over. While David was at his conference, I caught up on our family photo album and did some shopping. 
We also discovered at a chinese buffet that we love coconut shrimp.

The church must have known we were coming, because they were kind enough to make sure the temple was closed for maintenance while we were in St. George.  Just our luck!



David and his good friend, Brother Brigham.

 

We spent an afternoon at Snow Canyon State Park, 20 minutes from St. George.  There were some nice little hikes, including petrified sand dunes and a trail leading up to pioneer names written on canyon walls with wagon axle grease.  David saw this formation and knew he just had to climb it.  Someone had to stay below to take pictures so I volunteered.

 

This was a fun little slot canyon we found. 
Nothing like a couple days away from the kids to remind us how much we like them.



No winter blahs allowed

We have been cooped up a lot lately because it has been really cold.  When it gets above freezing, we look for things to do outside.  We spent a fun day on Temple Square in Salt Lake.  If you haven't been there lately, you should go check it out!  They've added several new things that are pretty cool.  In the south visitor's center (which I used to think was rather dull) there's an intricate model of the Salt Lake Temple that shows some of the interior.  The north visitor's center has a sweet presentation on the family that I hadn't seen before. (it's in a room to the left of the Christus statue).

We visited the new children's section in the Church History Museum.  Wow!  The kids could have spent half the day there.  Clara's favorite part was dressing up and learning a Mexican dance.  Nathan built a tower with huge padded blocks.  They got to fish from Nephi's ship and gather eggs and vegetables in the farm section.  There was tons of other stuff to do as well.  We will definitely be back!

David likes to take the kids hiking up in the hills by our house.  This is Battlecreek Falls, frozen solid.

Christian has been learning to feed himself with a fork and spoon.  He is a much better eater than the other kids.  Yesterday he devoured about 8 asparagus spears as if they were chocolate-covered pretzels.

Whenever David makes his mischeivous face, I can totally picture what he was like as a little boy.  Nathan often makes that same face.  They are both WAY too good at it.

We found a backyard playset online for a really good price.  If the kids have as much fun playing on the actual playset as they did playing on the boxes it came in, it will be worth the effort of building it.

Who knew a slide could be so much fun on the ground?  No one can fall off.  Maybe we should just leave it this way.

Little People

WHY, when there is ample floor space in our house, do my kids prefer being on the table and counter?  Is it because they enjoy feeling taller and seeing the world from a "grown-up" perspective?  On the other hand, how often do I get down on their level and look at things through their eyes? 

How quickly we forget what it is like to be little. 

winter fun

 We spent last week in Sandpoint, visiting David's family.  Nathan loved helping Uncle Michael plow the driveway.  He and his cousin Joshua were buccaneers for most of the week.  Their duties consisted of ridding the seven seas of sisters and girl cousins.

 Clara and Katie were hunted all week by the buccaneers.  The kids had a great time sledding.

 

Back at home:

Christian knows where to find the good stuff! 

 Christian has not yet figured out what is so fun about snow.

 Clara plays the part of a smug princess rather well.  She has informed me that she wants us to buy a mansion.  She also dreams of someday being a teenager and having a boyfriend. 

Sigh...The next 14 years ought to be very interesting.

 Just another picture of Christian being cute.

And another.  Sorry, I can't help myself.
For those who are really interested, the is another post below about Christmas.