Gideon's Baptism

Kids React to Rotary Phone

I saw this cute video today and thought Mom and Dad would get a kick out of watching little kids get stumped by technology.

Joe Lee Valadez

Meet my cousin Joe Lee Valadez who is a fifth generation Texan. He is the son of my aunt LaVenna, dad's sister, and uncle Chano. I am three months older than him. He has two older brothers, Tony (deceased), Gene and a younger sister, Linnie Eva (deceased). His wife passed away almost two years ago.

We have visited via email for some time since a genealogy contact about a common relative. He picked me up at the airport in San Antonio when I went to watch the Martin boys compete in the national junior Olympics. We were instant friends. We went to lunch and visited about our families and got acquainted. He drove me passed the San Antonio temple where he is a temple worker on Tuesdays.He is active in the community and sits on the rodeo board as well and a couple of other ones. He had quarter horses about the time dad was showing Appaloosa's. He watches a grandson a few days a week.

Bainbridge Island

Spotted this in Walmart today. Made me think of the great fun we had at our family reunion up there. I'm looking forward to the next one!

(Not sure what to make of the "local" label on the shelf below...)

Religious Family History

I asked mom and dad to spend a few minutes with me to tell me the things that they can remember about the religious history is our ancestors. I have heard most of these bits of information in the past, but I couldn't remember which information belonged with which person.

These unedited videos don't represent the entire conversation that I had with them. Mom and I had a much longer conversation about her ancestors based on the information from the George Edgar Buck biography she has in her possession. I will definitely want to extract some of that information as well.

I need your help! The new "stories" feature on FamilySearch is awesome. It lets you put in short or long stories about your ancestors. I'd like to extract some of the information from these videos and put it into the stories of our ancestors on FamilySearch. This is a project that doesn't require any original research. It just requires watching the videos and pulling out some relevant info and typing it up.

Here are the two videos. First mom:

then dad:

Thanks for Coming!

Thanks to all of you for your effort to come out to the family reunion this year. It was a pleasure and a privilege to do so many fun things with you all. I give an extra big thanks to Mom and Kim for hosting and feeding so many people. Some of the activities were a bit of a bust (101 inventions didn't thrill me) and some were surprisingly fun (kickball comes to mind). The printing museum was one of my favorite parts and I'm so grateful you all humored me to participate. It meant a lot.

I'm looking forward to the next round of fun, wherever it may be. I just chatted with a colleague who had his family reunion at the Rockin' R Ranch and spoke very highly of the experience. Some sort of destination like that, or the river trip we talked about, might be fun next time if Nicole doesn't have us all come out to Texas. Whatever it is, I'm sure it will be great.

Love you all!

Ross Family Reunion 2013 (Better Late than Never?)

Okay, everyone, life is crazy, and I am SOOO sorry I am tardy at getting this blog post up.  Hopefully it won't mess anyone up, that it is so late...  :)

Sunday

• 9:00 - Church at Hannays' ward for Nate's missionary talk
• 10:30 - 11:00 ish? - Brunch at the Hannays'
• Rest of the day - hang out at the Hannays'

Monday

• Morning
• Breakfast - Eat at the house you slept at
• 9:30 - Crafts/Pinewood Finishing Touches - Grandma and Grandpa's house
• Afternoon
• 12:00 - Lunch - Grandma and Grandpa's house
• 1:00 - Leave for Trax and the "101 Inventions That Changed the World" at the Leonardo Museum
• Whenever your family is done at the museum, there are lots of other things to do in downtown SLC: City Creek Mall, The Gateway, Temple Square, Trolley Square, etc
• Evening
• Dinner - City Creek Mall (pack sandwiches at Grandma's or buy dinner there)
• 8:00 - Popsicles and (possible) family meeting back at Kim's house

Tuesday

• Morning
• Breakfast - Eat at the house you slept at
• 9:00 - Tour of Crandall Historical Printing Museum (275 E Center Street, Provo)
• 11:00 - Family Pictures
• wear bright colors and a smile!
• Afternoon (Provo Beach Resort, 4801 N University Ave, Provo, #210)
• Lunch - grab something on the way to Provo Beach Resort, or eat at the Pier Cafe there
• 1:00 - Pinewood Derby!!
• we only have the room reserved for ONE hour, so be ready to rumble!
• 2:00 - Play at the Provo Beach Resort
• bowling, golf simulators, way-awesome indoor flowrider ($25 per person, bring your swimsuit, waiver has to be filled out by a parent if under 18), carnival games, etc
• 6:00 - Dinner - at Ross Home (601 E 150 S, Lindon)
• 7:30 - Games - Ross Home/Park
• tetherball, basketball, kickball, trivia games, spelling bees
• 9:00 - S'mores - Ross Home

Wednesday

• Morning
• Deseret Classic 5K (for those who are interested, you can register up until July 21 here)
• After the race, breakfast in the mountains! (Place TBA)

Ross Family Reunion Tentative Schedule

With just a month until our reunion (hooray!!), we thought we'd share with you a tentative schedule.  You can view it here, and if you want to edit it, send us an email with your google account address, and we will invite you.

Let us know what activities you'd hate to miss, what activities you don't really care for, or anything that you'd love to do that we don't have written down.

Also, we've got the Skip Ross family coming in Monday evening/night.  Will the Gillelands be leaving early? We'll want to make sure that our picture time is when as many people as possible are present, so let us know!

The Way Back

While listening to an episode of A Way With Words, titled "can of worms", a caller asked a question about what people call that furthest back area of a station wagon. The caller said they called it, back in the '60s, the "way back."  

Do you remember calling that area the "way back"? The hosts said it was a rare expression. I seem to remember that was our phrase. 

As a bonus in that episode, there was a question from a five-year-old from Bainbridge Island about the meaning of "cats" in tic-tac-toe.

Reunion Date Drift

We originally planned June 18-20 for the reunion. Then the wedding switched our plans to July 22-24. Now that we aren't scheduling around the wedding anymore, I think we should consider switching back to the earlier dates. The Gillelands have a houseboat reserved during the July dates that they don't want to lose. The Skip Rosses could save money by coming in June. Both dates are equally good for the Brad Rosses. How about Weston, Kim, and Nicole?

Are there other reasons to weigh as we decide for or against switching the date back to June? Please be candid and let us know how you're weighing things.

Extreme Pinewood Derby, Ross Reunion Style

We are getting very excited about the family reunion.  Although nothing is set in stone yet, we have some fun ideas and possibilities.

Something we are almost positive we will be doing is the First Ross Family No-Holds-Barred Pinewood Derby.  You can use old Cub Scout cars, you can make new ones, you can have a family car or (recommended) one for each member.  The only rules?  It has to be standard size to fit on a regular pinewood derby track.  Other than that--sky's the limit.  No weight or height limits.

So...start thinking about what you want to do!  You can buy Pinewood Derby kits at the scout office, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.  Bring your car(s) finished, because we won't have time to do much during the reunion.

See you at the races!

Family Reunion Dates

As far as I know, we are waiting to find out what date Nate's "farewell" is.  If it is July 21st, then we'll plan the reunion for Sunday the 21st, Monday the 22nd, and Tuesday the 23rd.  We'll take Wednesday the 24th off for Pioneer Day/wedding prep whatever, and then I think Ty's wedding is the 25th.

If Nate's farewell is the 28th, then we will do the reunion on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 26-28th.

Just got a call from Mom saying that Nate's farewell is July 21st, so the beginning of the week it is!

How does that sound?

We're still deciding on Jebb's baptism--we'd love to be there, but don't know if it will work.  We'll let you know, Michelle!   

Jebb is Turning 8

Jebb will be turning 8 on June 8th.  As is our tradition, we are planning his baptism on that day.  It just happens to be on a Saturday which is grand.  We wanted to let you all know so you could plan to attend if your calendars allow it.  Let us know if we should save you a room. ;)

Ross Reunion Questions

I heard that the Reunion might be changed from the June dates.  Is this a for sure thing?  We are excited to have a wedding this summer!!! YEAH TY!! Rumor also has it that we might do reunioning on Mon and Tues of that week???

Mercy's Baptism

We know not everyone can come, but we'd love to see anyone whose schedules and location make it possible.  (Edited to add:  I didn't put the time down!  It's at NINE in the morning.)

Aging can take its toll

Although the joys of grand-parenthood are many and wonderful, along with it comes the reality of aging.   Both Mom and I are feeling our age… at times.  Yes, we are only in our early 70's and other seniors are still steaming along youthfully.  But we are who we are and from time to time must take an assessment of our physical resources.  What I am getting at is that we need to let you all know a few things: 

Mom has recently had quite a bout with her eyes and the retina area.  At one point during one of her exams she went virtually unconscious and the doctor and I were almost panicked… yes the doctor too.  He was moments away from calling for an ambulance.  It all started when she received an injection of a radioactive liquid to allow them a view of the veins in her eyes.  She has also been suffering many incidents of dizziness and disorientation, so much so that she is often not comfortable with driving herself.

Not to be outdone by your Mom, this Wednesday I will be going into the hospital for some tests on my heart.  Recently, in a routine test deposits of calcium were discovered in one of my coronary arteries.  Thus the extra tests.  I am pretty sure all will turn out fine but the whole thing has made me aware of my mortality.  My energy level has been in the tank lately and the doctor decided to do the tests which could result in anything from a stent to a new pill… or who knows.

Please do not be worried.  We are both doing fine (for a couple of 90 year olds).  I just thought this note was important so there would be no hurt feelings when you ask certain things of us.  In the recent past we have been asked to help out in (for us) challenging ways.  In years past we took great delight in “babysitting” and doing other things for you all.  But our capacity to do such things is not what it used to be.  So, if you need us to do things for you, please ask, but don’t be hurt if we must decline.

2013 Reunion

We're putting a stake in the ground and designating June 18-20 for the summer reunion in Utah county. That fits in between the travel plans of the two farthest travelers  so hopefully it will work for the rest, even though it isn't over a weekend.

Of course, we leave the planning somewhat vague in case other joyful events should overtake us and trump the reunion plans. In the meantime, reserve the date.

Mercy's Baptism

We are so excited for Mercy to turn eight and be baptized.  (She is SOOOOO excited that she practically levitates everytime someone mentions "March".)  We know not everyone can make it to her baptism, but we wanted to tell you all the date and time.

Mercy is going to be baptized on March 30 (day before Easter) at 9am, in Lindon.  She is the only one in our ward that is getting baptized that day, so we are combining with the Fourth Ward (I think), who also only has one baptism that day.  We would love to invite anyone who can come to come by the house afterwards and join us for a brunch.  We love you all!

Happy Birthday Mom!

On Tuesday I went to the Jordan River Temple and did my mom’s initiatory work along with five other ladies from the 1800’s. My mom, Dorothy Amalia Buck, passed away on January 3, 2012.  I decided to wait until today February 7, when she would have turned 95 to do her endowment.  I hope she is pleased and ready to accept the work done for her in the temple. It was a privilege for me to do it for her. I love that we can be bound together forever.

Eye Update

I went to the eye doctor today for my follow up after the bad experience of my last visit in January. Dr. Mehr said he will not use the dye to take pictures of my eye again because of the bad reaction last time. He said he can find what he needs in other ways.

I had two questions for him today. Does he have and AED in the office and the answer was no, but he made a note that he will get one for the new office downstairs. He jokingly said he will name it "Eva". The other question  was,  does my condition have a name? Dr. Mehr said that I have a branch retinal vein occlusion. However, he said that the Lord must want me on another mission because the one in the right eye appears to be healing itself. He had to do laser surgery on the one in my left eye. He didn't mention the progress of the cyst that is growing in my left eye.  I go back in two months.

The pressure in my left eye has been normal since returning from our mission. Previously I have had shots two different times to re leave pressure in the left eye. The vision in that eye has not gotten worse, but I notice some depth perception problems with threading a needle and playing pickleball. The left eye is affected by bright lights.

I have a testimony of priesthood blessings. Dr. Mehr mentioned another time that I must have been blessed because of the mission at Cove Fort when he found the high pressure in the left eye had not returned. I had had a priesthood blessing shortly before that visit as well. I am grateful for a righteous husband who can administer them. Thanks for your prayers in my behalf.

2013 Reunion Planning

The rumor on the street is that we want to have a reunion in 2013 and that the Brad Ross family may be in charge of planning it and letting the Martin family tackle it in 2014. To that end, I've sent out a bunch of invites to a reunion calendar to put in the dates that are bad for your family for a reunion. Will you please add your events to that calendar so that we can see when you are doing summer camps, trips to Italy, or undergoing emergency appendectomies?

We are thinking that a lot of the cousins are the right age to enjoy a river trip. I had a great experience with a group that does river trips for scouts. They only charge $175/person for scouts on a four-day trip that includes all the meals. I suspect family pricing would be similar. They depart out of Moab. Do you guys think this would be a worthwhile type reunion trip? How many days would you want to do? Would you want to do other activities as well, or just stick with the river?

Of course, we can do something a bit more traditional in the Salt Lake/Lindon area as well, if that is preferable to everyone. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Don't forget to check for the calendar invite email and add your blackout dates.

Moving Day is Coming! (Updated)

We hope to be able to move into our new home either this Saturday or the next. If everything goes perfectly this week with all the subcontractors, we will be able to get our final inspection on Friday. If not, we'll need to wait until after Christmas.

We're going to take a couple of couches that Mom and Dad have been storing for a while, at least until Weston decides that he wants to use them. I think I will come up this Saturday to try to pick them up. I know I can fit at least two of them in the utility trailer. I may have to make a second trip later to get the third.

If it turns out that we can move in for real on Saturday, then we'll probably forgo the couches initially and focus on moving the furniture out of our home and out of LaDonna's apartment. I will probably rent a U-Haul to get the most stuff in a single load.

If anybody is looking for something to do on Saturday, I'm sure we could use the help. I'll post a note here on Wednesday when we'll hopefully know better what our actual chances are for getting in on Saturday.

UPDATE (12/19/12): We aren't going to make it for the big move on Saturday the 22nd. (Not really a surprise.) That means we will try to do it on Saturday the 29th. I think that is a date that is pretty likely to stick, so if you are around and available, we'd love to have an hour or two of assistance, especially on the Lindon end for unloading stuff.

UPDATE (12/30/12): We didn't move yesterday. We thought we could move on Monday the 31st, but that is also looking too optimistic. The weather kept throwing us curve balls as we tried to finish off the last little things. We will probably move LaDonna in to her side on Wednesday and we will move in to our side on Saturday, January 5. The house is looking so good, we can hardly wait!

Latter-day Saint Voices: Keryn

(Here is my submission to the ward newsletter)

I love reading the words of the baptismal covenant in Mosiah 18, where those that were desirous to called the Lord’s people were commanded to “…bear one another’s burdens that they may be light…”  I have been taught this principle by example my whole life, most recently by members of our ward.

Here in our ward, I have been blessed with many examples of this covenant in action.  I have been able to drop four of my five children off at a ward member’s house with less than five minutes warning, so I could rush to the doctor with the fifth child.  We have been able to call and ask for some expert advice from a ward member – even just two days before Christmas! – so we could finish building our shed.  When I totaled our van, two family members offered to lend us a car, but four ward members offered extra vehicles to us in the same amount of time.  One ward member even drove us around Orem for more than five hours over two days, helping us find a new van for our little family.  And on and on, too many to count.

President Henry B. Eyring stated “Zion is the result of people bound together by covenant and love.”  I am tremendously grateful to live in a ward with so many people striving to become a Zion people. 

"Belle here is all the help a fellow needs"

I finally finished reading "The Undaunted" about the Hole in the Rock pioneers. I really enjoyed it! (I think the copy I have was one I borrowed from Mom forever ago and now can't remember for sure.) Reading one part of the story about Stanford and Belle Smith actually coming down the Hole was extra fun because it reminded me of a talk that I heard Elder Holland give in one of those super-regional-broadcast stake conferences where he told the story. The story was so much fun, I had to quote a bit of it here.

With this roadbed finished, such as it was, the task was now to get the first 40 wagons down the “hole.” ...

They organized themselves in such a way “that a dozen or more men could hang on behind the wagon” with long ropes to slow its descent. Then the wheels were brake-locked with chains, allowing them to slide but avoiding the catastrophe of the wheels actually rolling. 

In one of the great moments of pioneer history, one by one the company took the wagons down the treacherous precipice. When they reached the canyon floor, they eagerly started to ferry across the river with a flatbed boat they had fashioned for that purpose. As it turned out, the Joseph Stanford Smith family was in the last wagon to descend that day. 

Stanford Smith had systematically helped the preceding wagons down, but somehow the company apparently forgot that Brother Smith’s family would still need help as the tailenders. Deeply disturbed that he and his family seemed abandoned, Stanford moved his team, wagon, and family to the edge of the precipice. The team was placed in front and a third horse was hitched behind the wagon to the rear axle. The Smiths stood for a moment and looked down the treacherous hole. Stanford turned to his wife, Arabella, and said, “I am afraid we can’t make it.” 

She replied, “But we’ve got to make it.” 

He said, “If we only had a few men to hold the wagon back, we might make it.” 

Replied his wife, “I’ll do the holding back.” 

She laid a quilt on the ground, and there she placed her infant son in the care of her three-year-old, Roy, and five-year-old, Ada. “Hold little brother ’til papa comes for you,” she said. Then positioning herself behind the wagon, Belle Smith grasped the reins of the horse hitched to the back of the rig. Stanford started the team down the hole. The wagon lurched downward. With the first jolt the rear horse fell. Sister Smith raced after him and the wagon, pulling on the lines with all her strength and courage. She soon fell too, and as she was dragged along with the horse, a jagged rock cut a cruel gash in her leg from heel to hip. That gallant woman, with clothes torn and a grievous wound, hung on to those lines with all her might and faith the full length of the incline all the way to the river’s edge. 

On reaching the bottom and almost in disbelief at their accomplishment, Stanford immediately raced the 2,000 feet (607 m) back up to the top of the cliff, fearful for the welfare of the children. When he climbed over the rim, there he saw them literally unmoved from their position. Carrying the baby, with the other two children clinging to him and to each other, he led them down the rocky crack to their anxious mother below. In the distance they saw five men moving toward them carrying chains and ropes. Realizing the plight the Smiths were in, these men were coming to help. Stanford called out, “Forget it, fellows. We managed fine. Belle here is all the help a fellow needs [to make this journey].”2

One more fun detail that I picked up in the footnotes of the Lund book: the Smiths eventually settled in Mancos, CO. Now I can think of that every time I visit the Gillelands in Durango.

Expressions of Appreciation

We want to thank each of you for your prayers on our behalf while we were serving a mission at Cove Fort. The Lord heard your prayers and we felt them as we served. That is one of the neatest things about serving a mission is to feel the spirit guide you each day. We felt protected from the world. It truly was a spiritual way station for us as well as our guests.

It is hard to believe we have been home almost three weeks. We still miss the spirit that is at the Fort. It was nice to be able to sort of measure your success for the day. If you had completed a tour, you know you had shared your love of the Lord.

We loved that many of you were able to visit us and let us share the Fort with you. We appreciate the Gillelands who made the mission possible by letting us use Kristine’s 5^th wheel. We were the envy of the RV Park as we had the most tipouts. Thanks to the Hannays and John for watching over our home while we were gone. We were able to make the transition back into our home with the Hannay’s assistance in bringing our belonging from Cove Fort and placing them in our living room. Weston, Devin, and Brad got all our electronics up and running.

The final act of our mission will be when we give our report in sacrament meeting on November 18 at 9 am. It will then just be a cherished memory.

I know the Lord sustained me through the mission. Dr. Mehr, my retina specialist, said that I was blessed for my service because there was no swelling at my visit on October 31 and my vision had improved slightly. He had planned to service my eye at that visit, but it wasn’t needed at this time. I go back in two months.

Love,
Mom

Latter-day Saint Voices: Bradley

Keryn and I were invited to submit a short article to our ward newsletter in the style of the LDS Voices section at the back of the Ensign. Here is my submission. Keryn will post her's shortly.
---
I've had the privilege of sailing across the Sea of Galilee, of watching the sun rise on Mt. Sinai, and of sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane. None of these are the holiest places I've ever been.

One of the holiest places on earth is the parking lot outside the Jordan River Temple. It was there, sitting in an old red Buick, that I prayed for the hundredth time about marrying Keryn. On this occasion, He filled me with the strongest sense of assurance I've ever felt. I felt like I barely touched the ground walking into the temple for a session. God had heard and answered my specific prayer after much seeking.

A small bedroom in Shawnee, Oklahoma is another sacred spot. My missionary companion was sick and we were stuck in our apartment with a small TV and video tapes of the recent General Conference. I popped in a tape to pass the time. When Gordon B. Hinckley started talking, my ears perked up. I'd heard him speak many times before, including once in person in the Marriott Center. But this time was different. This time the Lord chose to touch my heart with an overwhelming impression that the man I was hearing was a true prophet of God. This inspiration was all the more surprising because I wasn't actively seeking it.

To me, the holiest place is one where God speaks to me. It turns out to be possible just about anywhere when our hearts are turned to him.

This Monday VP candidate Paul Ryan came to a rally in Durango. Our wars Scout troop got to post the flag for the Pledge. There were a couple of pics in the paper, I posted my favorite here:  See pic here!

Big G Move

Although some of you may have heard our news, I thought I ought to officially announce the latest big development for the Gillelands.

We have decided to move to Utah.

Soon.

By the end of the month.

Yes, I am freaking out.

We do not know exactly where, but I think we are narrowing it down.  We either want to live within walking distance of G&G Ross, or we want to live in Herriman.  John is driving Gabe and Seth up to Bingham today to have them participate in the basketball open gym.  While our boys don't necessarily need to play BBall, it is our hope that they might make the team so that they will have an instant group of friends.  The coach said that if we attended open gym he could give us a fair assessment of their chances.  They will return home tonight.

I then will go alone to the Mormon Homeland to find us a place to live.  I would appreciate prayers for me that I might recognize our home when I see it.

It is all a little overwhelming and has caught even us by surprise, but we feel like this is where our family needs to be right now.  While I am still fuzzy on lots of details, I am looking forward to this new chapter in our BigG lives.

Australia

I went out to greet a big white van and three little kids greeted me and read my badge and one of them said, “That is what we are.” I could tell from their accents that they weren’t from Utah. The father John Rea comes from a family of eleven and parents came from families of over fourteen. And almost all of his family lives on the same street in Brisbane, Australia. Half of their acquaintances are family members.

We started with the video and the six children were so well behaved. They asked lots of questions, especially the two little girls. We took a long time in each room so it was good the Fort wasn’t too busy.

When we arrived in the room of light, I asked about the four sources of light and before anyone could say anything the five year old girl said, “The scriptures.” Wow! Most people get it as the fourth source and most of the time with prompting. I’ve only had a couple of people choose the scriptures as the first source of light. In the prophet’s room, the youngest boy said, “My dad is a bishop. “John said they have been to visit Nauvoo that the Nauvoo Temple is his favorite temple. They were an amazing family. I asked permission to take their picture to post on my blog.

The Reas are in Utah because one of his brothers lives in the town of Benjamin and one of her sisters lives in Salt Lake. They have been here about two weeks.

The Family Video

We finally finished the video.....or I mean Jack did. Thank you JACK! It seems that we didn't light the back green screen as well as we should of so Jack tried his best to make it look great. We had a blast filming it with you guys in the late hours of the night. Enjoy!