Traveling Circus: Lehman Caves

Day Two began with breakfast at the Border Inn.  As we were preparing to leave, we picked up a "Survival Guide" for the "Loneliest Road In America" which we were planning to travel that day.
Off we went.

 Our first stop was the Lehman Caves Visitor Center in Great Basin National Park. 

 I had been there as a kid and was excited to take my family there.

 While we waited for our tour of the cave, the kids worked on their "Junior Ranger" certification.

 Titus and I got all saddled up for the big cave.

 And in we went.  It was even cooler than I had remembered it.

 The intricate formations in the cave were amazing.

 And huge.

 Titus didn't last long in the too-small Snuggli that the park let us borrow.  It was his (not-so-convenient) nap time and he cried and cried until he finally fell asleep.

 Levi was really hoping to see a bat in the cave.

 After our tour of the cave, we were looking across the sagebrush covered hills talking about how one would never guess there was a gigantic, magnificent cave hiding underground.  We decided that it is the same way with people.  On the surface a person may look average, plain, or even boring.  But when time is spent learning about someone, a treasure may be found lying within.

 The kids were sworn in as official Junior Rangers of Great Basin National Park.

 They were proud of their badges and certificates.

 We hiked around outside of the cave before we loaded back up and headed on down the road.

 The only thing of note that we saw on the loneliest road was this wind farm. Yay for clean energy!

 We ate at this yummo Mexican Restaurant in Ely and posed in front of this anatomically correct mural of elk because we couldn't stop laughing.

 After a quick stop at the Railway Museum, it was time to log some more miles.

 This time dad took up residency in back with the boys.

 And the girls were up front."Mom, say cheese."

 We couldn't wait to unwind in the pool when we got to our hotel in Fallon.

 Dad manned the circus in the pool while I ordered pizza.

It was the perfect ending to Day Two of our vacation.  The promise of Day Three was exciting:  we would arrive at our destination in California.

Traveling Circus: The Border Inn

 Five and a half years ago we sold our home and moved into a basement apartment so Jeff could go back to school.  We have not taken a family vacation since.  He graduated a year ago and we built our house.  This Spring Break we decided it was time.  So off we went to sunny California!

 The plan was to drive west through the Nevada desert making a few stops along the way, spend a week with Jeff's brother Brian and his family, and then make the marathon drive home in one killer day. It would be nearly 2,000 miles and 30 hours in the car together.

 We left Sunday after General Conference to head out to the Nevada border.  We had to stop and take pictures by this strange "shoe" tree in the middle of no where.

 We arrived at our destination for our first night's stay: the Border Inn...only we got there faster than we had expected, and the time change made it even earlier.  We had a lot of time to kill before bedtime, and when it comes to entertainment and amenities, the Border Inn is not exactly top notch.  As in the Border Inn is not even in a town.  It is a gas station/restaurant combo on the side of the "Loneliest Road in America."  But don't you worry...the Dansie Family Circus had no trouble making entertainment of our own.

 Daisy was a little worried about the condition of our motel.  After using the bathroom, she announced, "I am NOT taking a shower in there.  I will wait till we get to our next motel."

We tried to take a family shot at the border sign...but I didn't make it in time.

...and the camera tipped over the second time and got this shot of the beautiful sky.

But the third time's the charm.  The whole circus at the border.

And on the Utah side too.

Standing right on the stateline border, between the Nevada and Utah signs.

Next on the agenda for our fun filled waste-some-time evening was the small arcade inside the casino where we broke the weight limit on the toddler carousel.

Titus thought it was great!

And Isaac thought this mechanical horse was super lame since he is used to riding a real one.

We closed out the night with a fierce game of air hockey.  Back in our little wood paneled motel room, we watched a few reruns of "Full House" before praying and tucking into bed.

As I lay there listening to the sleeping sounds of the people I love the most, I thought about how much fun we had on our first day of vacation.  We hadn't done anything, really, but I smiled there in the darkness thinking about the things we had laughed at together, and remembering how incredibly blessed I am to have this thing called family.

I fell asleep looking forward to Day Two.

Women and Unity: Conference Weekend

 I love General Conference.  Always have.  Conference was a big deal in our house when I was growing up.  We set aside the whole weekend for special games and treats and activities associated with participating in Conference.  I loved watching the way my mother "feasted upon the word" at Conference.  She would sit quietly, usually cross-stitching, and listen intently.  She would express aloud her love of Conference and her love of the Prophet.  She would talk about the anticipation of General Conference and then the desire that it could continue when it ended after only two short days.  She taught me to love General Conference. 

 Now, in my own home, Conference is a big deal.  Big enough that we postponed departure for our long-awaited Spring Break vacation until after Conference is over.  My kids totally look forward to General Conference.  We have created our own family traditions associated with General Conference that I hope will help my children understand the privilege of hearing from living prophets of God.  Conference is almost here.

 One of the things I look forward to at General Conference is the sense of unity that I feel among millions of members in this worldwide Church.  I've been particular cognizant of the principle and necessity of unity lately as the noise from a very small group of dissenting women within the Church has become louder.  One of the things I have always loved about the Church is that I am encouraged to ask questions and seek for greater understanding.  In our most recent General Conference, President Uchtdorf said, "It’s natural to have questions—the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding" (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, October 2013 General Conference.)  The demands (articulated here) of this fraction of a minority of women in our Church go beyond asking questions and seeking for understanding and have become distracting and damaging.  As a result of the disproportionate attention these women have received, I have spent some time pondering and studying the principle of unity. 

When I first heard of the organization "Ordain Women" I immediately thought of the account of the king-men in Alma chapter 51.  "There began to be contention" because "a part of the people desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered" (Alma 51:2).  These few people caused a division (NOTE: divide = opposite of unite) among the people.  These people "sought power and authority" (Alma 51:8).  The most disheartening part about the obvious parallels is that "this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people" (Alma 51:9).  Because of the division among the people caused by this demanding minority seeking for power and authority in the Book of Mormon, thousands of people lost their lives.  The contentious demands of the vocal minority can weaken our unity and even threaten spiritual lives.  As we all do our part to establish Zion, we are reminded that "the Lord called his people Zion because they were of one heart and one mind" (Moses 7:18).  A hallmark of God's people is unity.
 

I am so thankful to be a woman in this church.  My knowledge, of course, is limited, but I know of no other organization on earth that esteems and respects women, and the divine rolls of women, more than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Our Priesthood leaders teach and model respect, even reverence, for women and for womanhood (see, for example "LDS Women Are Incredible!" by Elder Cook).   I am thankful for the inspiration and direction I get from our Relief Society, Young Women and Primary General Presidencies.  I admire and revere these inspired women leaders and I am grateful for their examples.  Hearing their testimonies, experiences, and seeing their examples has been a powerful motivational force in my life. 

I am thankful for the unifying power of the Priesthood.  I look forward to unitedly sustaining our Priesthood leaders this weekend.  I am thankful for what I am learning about unity in the scriptures (especially from the Apostle Paul) and from our living prophets (see, for example "Our Hearts Knit As One" by President Eyring.)  In an earlier conference of the church, the Lord commanded, "Be one" and then warned, "if ye are not one ye are not mine" (D&C 38:27).  I am thankful that despite our many, many differences as members of God's worldwide Church, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). 

I hope to do my part in our efforts to become one.

The Manna Plan

 There is so much brilliant symbolism in the account of the children of Israel being provided for with manna from heaven.  I learned even more about manna in my own life at Time Out for Women this past weekend.

Almost six years ago, one of my very best friends in the whole wide world asked me if I wanted to go to Time Out for Women together.  I was all for a girls weekend away and for spending time with her so we started planning.  We were both a little skeptical of what it was going to be like.  I mean, who pays to sit in church all weekend, right?  We had secret plans to check in at the conference and then slip out early to do something really fun instead.  But within the first 15 minutes we were hooked.  We have been Time Out groupies ever since.  We go to Time Out every year.

This year we were even on the brochure!  Yessss.

So since I am Time Out for Women #1 Fan, I volunteered to help out with the event in Richfield this year.  My sisters met me there for our first Sisters Only Weekend ever.  It was even more fun than I expected.

We loved hearing from new presenters Tamu Smith and Zandra Vranes.  They were totally honest, a little improv, and made us all wish that we were Black too.

 Jeff's mom and sister were there too.  It was great to see so many friends and family members and enjoy the weekend together.  When you are in a room with thousands of other women there is an automatic sense of unity - we really are all the same in so many important ways.

 Justin Cash demoed some mad guitar skills.

 And I got to help with the service project! Yay!

 It can be overwhelming when there is so much need all around us.  It can also be inspiring to see how much can be accomplished when everyone does just a little bit.  Our united efforts as women, whether it is a box of mac & cheese or something much, much more, can make a real difference in our world.

 I was lucky enough to grow up with just sisters.  Just us three girls.  We are all so very different.  Most people say we don't even look like sisters.  We have different interests, hobbies, and talents.  We have different pet peeves, habits, and vices.  We have always been close, and have become even closer as adults.  It was so much fun to spend the weekend together.  We laughed and we cried and everything in between.  These two are always there for me, and I have such peace in the reassurance that, because of the promises of eternity, they always will be.

 And we got to meet John Bytheway, which is just plain cool when you're a Mormon.  (and his lesson on the Prodigal was phenomenal.)

 Chris Williams was there!  I first heard his story in a Stake Conference years ago. (watch the Mormon Message video here) and have never forgotten it.  His book is titled Let It Go and his message is for every single one of us.  All of us have the need to forgive, to be forgiven, and to utilize the miracle of the Atonement in our lives.  I was so glad we got to hear from him, and meet him.

 I haven't heard from Merrilee Boyack in years, so I was excited that she was presenting in Richfield.

 I always learn something new when I go to Time Out.  I gain new perspective and new understanding.  But taken overall, most of what is said is not new.  The ideas, interpretations, quotes, and scriptures are, for the most part, ones I have heard before.  For me, this doesn't make them any less effective.  Emily Watts (I think?) talked about living on the "manna plan."  She explained that God gives when we need in proportion to what we need.  No more, no less.  I loved this concept, and as I've been reading a book by Emily Freeman (another favorite presenter) I have thought more about how, in order to survive this life, we need manna every single day.  Although I have experienced sincere prayer before, in order to be who I need to be today, I need that experience today.  Although I have read the Book of Mormon before, that nourishment cannot sustain me unless I gather what is required today.  After this weekend, I am even more thankful for the cyclical nature of this life, and the repetitions that serve as manna for me.  I need the nourishment again and again.


I went to Time Out not knowing that I needed the time with my sisters or the messages that were presented.  But I did.  I needed to nurture those invaluable sibling relationships, and I needed to be reminded of the innumerable miracles that grace my life.

Here's looking forward to November.

One on One

 I keep thinking I am going to get back to normal, but normal seems very evasive.  Three months ago my life was crazy busy, but it was very predictable.  I would wake up, exercise, study, get the kids ready for school, and then head up to work on the house.  The kids would walk to the house after school and we would head back to the apartment where we would do homework, dinner, and the whole night time routine.

Now I set my clothes out at night planning to exercise each morning which sometimes happens and sometimes does not.  The move, compounded by me being absent for a month caused a disruption in Titus' sleep routine from which he has not recovered, meaning I am often up at night with him.  It is not unusual for one of the kids to need me for a drink, a hug, a nightmare, or a blankie at 5:00 in the morning as I have my running shoes laced up and I'm preparing to walk out the door.  This throws my study schedule off which leaves me praying in the shower (not all bad, but not ideal.)  I have big plans each day to organize, unpack, clean, and serve.  But then Titus wakes up and all my plans get postponed.  So I'm trying to be ok with unpredictable.  I'm learning (slowly) to adjust my expectations and still get something accomplished.

 Lately we've been accomplishing a lot of cookies.  Isaac loves to cook and is always by my side in the kitchen.  When Titus naps each afternoon, he wants to bake.  Here's the math: missing morning workout + making cookies each afternoon = chubby mama.

 Levi loved basketball this year.  He was really aggressive on the court and sad that it was already over. (Daisy played again this year too, but missed her last game due to a sprained foot, so I don't have a cute pic of her with her jersey and medal.)

 Thanks to the city recreation department and BYU we got to enjoy a Men's game with our cousins.  We love cheering for the Cougs and being together.  I could go to every game and not get sick of it.

 These brothers rarely miss their morning pajama wrestling match after the big kids leave for school.

 Isaac returned to his dance class for the first time since his hospitalization.  He was soooo excited to go back, and his little friends were so happy to see him. 

 Levi taught our family home evening lesson about missionary work, and then we all wrote letters or drew pictures for the missionaries.  I had to snap a picture of Levi's letter before I mailed it. 

 Levi and I got to go on a date to the Hale Theater and see "Big River."  Before we left, Jeff was giving Levi tips on how you should treat girls on a date.  Levi kept me smiling all night long.  He picked Chili's for dinner, and we avoided the wait by sitting at the bar.  He realized about halfway through the meal that he was the only kid around. 

 We both loved the production, and Levi asked some really introspective questions about race, slavery, and discrimination on the way home and for the next several days.  Levi was so excited to get his picture taken with "professional actors!"

Spending time with each of my children one-on-one became even more of a priority after Isaac's hospitalization.  Being with  him and just him helped me recognize how important it is to really get to know each of my children on an individual basis.  I understand that there is something sacred and essential to investing in and establishing that very personal relationship.

 When we are not making cookies, Isaac and I like to play games.  Sometimes he gets going on a puzzle and I sneak off to do the laundry.  Sometimes I give him my phone and sneak off for a nap.  Sometimes we play rounds and rounds of Uno while the laundry and the bills and the dishes all wait.

The warmer weather has beckoned the kids outside to play and left me missing the fields where we lived before we moved here.  I remain hopeful that the renewal of Spring will be a renewal for me.  I am ready to bid this winter goodbye.