Cameron Todd Paschal, age 12

On March 20, 2014, Cameron turned 12.  This is a special birthday for every young man and woman in our Church.  Cameron was ordained on Sunday, March 23, with our entire family and most of Paschal's there.  We filled the classrooms at the Church.

A few weeks before, Cameron and I were traveling to Mr. Mac's to pick out a suit.  Cameron told me he didn't want me to be sad, but as soon as he could go to the Temple he was going to do baptisms.  (Meaning, if I wasn't there, he was going anyway; he was not waiting.)  Well, Sunday afternoon just after his ordination, he was in the Bishop's office getting his recommend.  Mutual had been cancelled for Tuesday, so he announced to everyone - Tuesday, I'm going to the Temple.

Theron and I were able to drive down and witness this historic event in our family.  Again, my heart was full.  This is what you raise children for - to give you spiritual blessings that can come in no other way.  We watched as Todd baptized Cameron for members of our family.  Adrian was also baptized and confirmed for others that same night.

The highlight was ice cream after at Baskin Robins and to listen to Cameron tell Taylor about the experience and the size of the baptismal font and that the oxen were white and not gold, and on and on.  The warm spiritual feeling will stay with me for a long time.

Congratulations Cameron and may you continue to have such a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The Cove Fort Adventure

The fun thing about traveling with your home behind you is that you never know what's around the next bend.  On Monday, March 17 (St Patrick's Day), we left Las Vegas and were intent on driving to at least Cove Fort - just because we had never been there.  
 
The wind started blowing in Cedar City and we were pretty set on just getting off the road before we blew over.  When the Cove Fort sign appeared, we said, okay we made it, we're staying the night.



After descending from the truck, we immediately met a senior missionary elder who welcomed us and took us on a tour of the fort.  He and his wife were getting ready to leave as they were just finishing their mission.  As the wind howled and the valley became obscure with dust all around and the temperature dipped now into the 30's, the site director gave us permission to park our trailer for the night in a graveled parking lot.   The RV park we were intent on staying at was not open yet; it didn't open for another month and then it was to be fully occupied by senior missionary couples coming down to be tour guides and work at the Fort.

Not only were we now going to spend the night there, but the 10 missionary couples were having a St. Patrick's Day dinner - corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, green cake, and so forth and we were invited!  What a treat to attend a senior missionary party.  Everyone we met was so great and the site director has invited us back to give a Monday evening fireside on our humanitarian mission experiences.

Around the next bend is always an adventure and this one was a sweet one.  It touched our hearts as we heard of the many and varied missionary experiences of the couples.  No matter where the Lord sends you, it's always the right spot in his vineyard.

Cove Fort was built and settled by Ira Hinckley, Gordon B. Hinckley's grandfather.  It was never a protection fort, except from elements.  It was a relay station for travelers and housed the post office and a telegraph office.  They have many of the original furnishings.  As you travel I-15, take the mile drive over to Cove Fort and visit.

On the Road for Home

Our last big activity in San Diego was to bike Balboa Park.  We used diesel to get us close and then we used physical power of the bikes.  We enjoyed biking through the park seeing the sites.  This is a beautiful park next to the San Diego Zoo and there are numerous hiking and biking trails.  There are beautiful buildings to see and you never know what awaits around each corner.  



One path led us through the middle of a lawn bowling area.  Two gentlemen volunteered to teach us how to lawn bowl.  The balls are not round, they are balanced on each side to make the ball curve and the object is to get close to the white ball where ever it is placed on the field.  There is some real skill to knowing how to roll the ball -- gently, trying not to bruise the grass; releasing the ball to take advantage of the curvature; and being patient and subtle.  The people who participate come each day and they have some real champions among them.  What a great experience.

Sadly on Saturday, March 15, we pulled away from Santee RV Park in California and headed for Las Vegas.  We stayed there through Monday and headed further north for home.  Just before entering Nevada, there is a huge solar field.  We parked the truck and biked about 6 miles to see it.  It's operational but we couldn't get a tour.
 
Steve and Jackie had found a great bike trail in Vegas - Red Rock Canyon.  It is about 16 miles round trip and you share the road with cars but everyone is going the same way.  I did it!  All the elevation changes and down hill slopes.  We stopped and had a lunch break and enjoyed a few views of the canyon.  It was great to be able to see this canyon from the seat of a bicycle.  I love that electric bike!  And, to all, yes, you get sore legs and lots of exercise.

Theron then wanted to go to Hoover Dam and bike the old railroad trail to the dam and then walk the new bridge.  My legs were give out, but how could I stop.  So another 7-8 miles of biking that afternoon.

 And then we called it a day and rested!
 

Our Hearts Were Full

Just before we left for San Diego, February 21, 2014, our family and Dawain's family were able to meet at the Jordan River Temple and perform sealings for about 50 of our ancestors.  What a great memory to see Marc and Brittney, Curt and Melanee, Adrian and Todd, Dawain and Jana, Garret and Jenna, and me and Theron all gathered in a sealing room.

 The night wasn't without incident, just as we were leaving, Dawain asked if we all had our recommends - mine was in my purse.  Hurriedly I ran in and got it.  However, Garret had left his at home.  A few phone calls and Jenna verifying that she was married to him, got him in the Temple.

This is what family history work is to me; all of us participating as we can to perform these family ordinances.

Another Week in San Diego

The rain clouds have now gone away and the weather is sunny and warm.  We now go out and enjoy some great adventures.  Most days we can get out early and get going - well, that's if Neala doesn't have a computer question.  Neala is writing the history of her granddaughters and the file is a novel size - way to go Neala.  The rest of us should be doing the same.

Theron has cleaned the under basement of the trailer and installed the new handles on the closets; the repair work is finally finished.  I have cleaned the floor and vacuumed once.  Steve is having trouble with his TV dish so he and Theron have been trying to find solutions.  That said, we have gone on several bike rides - we love our new bikes and yes, we are getting some good exercise.  The first trip was 22+ miles around Coronado Island.  Then we traveled a little north to LaMesa where we traveled down to the ocean about 15 or so miles.  We took the bikes to the grocery store and the farmer's market.  They are used way more than we have ever used a bike before.  At one of our stops, there were about ten sea lions resting on the pier.  The brave sea lion hunter tried to get close but they hollered at him.


On Wednesday, Dawain and Jana arrived and stayed until Saturday.  It was so fun having my brother and sister-in-law here.  Thursday we attended the Temple at San Diego.  Wow, what a Temple!  We bought trolley passes and traveled two days into San Diego and saw some sites.  One day we went to Old Town and the next day to the harbor.  The Mormon Battalion Park is at Old Town and we learned all about the battalion's experiences.  One of us even had to play dress up and go to combat.  This is a great museum; it was a fun.

Theron has been wanting to see the ship Rose since he and Curt traveled on it as crew.  It's in the harbor, but is being renovated and so we couldn't get onto the ship.  The lady selling the tickets to the Maritime Museum let Theron, Steve and Dawain walk down the plank to stand nearer the ship.  Theron taught us the ropes -so to speak; Curt, we didn't learn very well!  I can't believe that you climbed clear to the top of the mast!  

Going and coming on the trolley was an experience.  Apparently there was a fire or power outage and between about three stops, we were stopped, diverted, cancelled, waited, and so forth.  Coming home from the city, we spent a good two hours - that's double the time it usually takes.  It's great being a senior now, we get some very good pricing on tickets and trains.  Youngsters, eat your heart out!

Back home, Cameron and Taylor are off-track so Adrian has been keeping them busy.  They went to the Sandy Bishop's Storehouse and boxed toilet paper.  Way to go.  Cameron won first place in his school debate meet and he is going to participate in the district meet in April.  Always knew that kid could use his talking for good.  Cameron also took the math placement test for junior high and will be in 8th grade advanced math in the fall as he starts 7th grade.

Melanee celebrated her birthday and it looks like everyone else celebrated by putting on a snout.  Happy Birthday Melanee. 

We now have Ali-isms:  Ali, "You would be the best mom if you shared your drink with me."