Just because

Sometimes the best kind of flowers. The just because ones.

Mormon Battalion Museum

I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting a few months ago and I saw an email informing me that I had an ancestor that was in the Mormon Battalion. 

So when we moved to Southern CA, I wanted to make sure and go and see the Museum.

We got there and the sister missionary was telling us some info while she was standing in front of some  old style pictures. The thing is that the pictures looked like they were high def. I was distracted by the pictures, and then one of them sneezed. One of the pictures sneezed. It was like Hogwarts. The pictures started talking and then they all got up and walked away.

We were invited to go into the next room.

It was charming. I learned a lot about the Battalion.

The story about the nine year old boy that walked over 100 miles in 8 days all by himself to catch up to his dad freaked me out a bit. I looked over at Boaz and thought that boy was two years younger than Boaz. His poor mother.

At the end, there were kiosks where you could look up the members of the Battalion.

I couldn't get the image to copy to my pictures. But I found out that my ancestor ended up at Sutter's Mill. I don't know if he was involved in the discovery of gold, but he might have been there. It is fasinating to me when my people are part of historical events.

He ended up going on a mission to the Malad Valley. I have driven the Malad Pass every time we went from to Idaho to Utah. He lived in Soda Springs, ID and ended up dieing there. That was very close to where I lived up until we made this last move.

Somehow that information makes me feel closer to him.

Clinton Bronson. He is from my dad's line.

Family History is fun.

The wall

We were invited to a resort Monday. Craig had to work, but I took the boys south. We visited the Mormon Battalion Museum in San Diego. More on that later.

The kids swam and played ping pong. My friend and I wandered the shops.

We found out there was a new climbing wall. The older boys were excited about the possibility, the younger siblings were willing to follow the older ones.

We had a good pre-climb instruction. Harnesses were demonstrated. Josh was the first to try. He strapped into the automatic belay thingie. The person in charge of the wall was excellent. He was focused, gave encouragement, gave instructions, was ever watchful for the safety of his clients.

Beginning the climb. The holds were color coded. The easier holds were white and brown. Pink and blue and green were okay too.

At the overhang. Trying to find the way up. The guy said, "There is always a way up." The tendency is to rely on the arms to pull you up. The best way to climb is to depend more on the legs to push your way to the next hold. Once you stop, it is harder to get going again.

Past the overhang and climbing to the top. Josh was the only one to make it past the overhang. I still attibute this to scouting. All those pull-up that he had to do every year for over 4 years gave him drive to work on his arm strength.

Way up at the top. Then he got to jump off the wall and let the belay device lower him down. So I think the wall was 30 feet. As his mother, I was grateful for the belay device and the attention of the guy. (I feel super bad I didn't get his name. I did remember to compliment him on his expertise and attention.)

As I write this, I must disclose I didn't try the wall. I was wearing flipflops, and I am not really a fan of heights. Although I like the opposite activity - repelling.

Boaz tried the wall also.

The guy again watching out for my boy. Boaz has a height disadvantage still. Although that will no longer be an issue in probably two years.

Just under the overhang, searching for a way up.

Getting his legs ready to provide the push up.

He tried several times and gained good experience. He will be better prepared next time he tries. And, again, he did better than I did because I didn't try.

The wall as a metaphor for life -- there is always a way up. Keep moving. If at first you don't succeed, try again. Build muscles and confidence. Focus on the path. Pick your holds intentionally. Go with people you can trust. Trust the people you are with. Use the proper equipment. There is always tomorrow to try to go higher and faster.

The guy showed us how an experienced climber does it. He went up in under 15 seconds. He almost ran up the wall. He trusted his legs. He knew the holds. 

New bionic hip

My sweet mother-in-law has a new hip. Her old one was really giving her troubles. I am grateful to live in a time where this is possible.

Waking up after surgery with a brand new hip. She is said to be resting comfortably. I pray she will have a good night and recover well. I'm so sad to be so far away where all I can do is pray. I wish I could be there and trade off with my family and be part of the support system. I do love her.

scripture

New ponderizing scripture.

The true test. To be obedient to all the Lord hath said. Will I do it? I know I want to .

Disturbing dream

Last night I had a disturbing dream. I had checked out five books at a huge multi-floored library. One book was a huge eight inch thick tome for research. Of course in my dream, it wasn't heavy at all.

When it came time to returm the books for some reason I returned the huge book directly to the stacks without checking it in.

I  spent hours in that library, checking all the floors for that huge book. 

It was utterly futile.

Crazy, strange dream.

Scripture

New scripture:

In light of the angst that has been in the Church since the policy, that was written for the Priesthood leaders, was leaked to the press in the most out of context light possible; this is to remind me of the dangers of murmuring.

I have recently been murmuring a bit. Not about the new policy, I can understand that. We haven't been able to sell our house in Idaho. Josh has really struggled in school here. It seems we are constanly running into new fees or taxes or costs that we hadn't anticipated. It has been hard to be here financially. But things are looking up. Tender mercies abound. 

It is time to remember to be still and know He is God.