Oklahoma City Temple Open House

When we could not get tickets to attend the Oklahoma City Temple Open House on Saturday, we decided it was important enough to take the kids out of school and for us to make a day of it. Neal had to work but we left early, drove through intermittent light showers, and gorgeous displays of wildflowers and had enough time to spare for lunch and a stop at a nearby cemetery (to document gravestones) before heading to the temple.

A temple of God is the most sacred place of worship in the world — a place where heaven touches the earth, a place where marvelous blessings are bestowed, and a place where we can feel closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and strive to become more like Them.  This is why we want our kids to see the temple, to feel of the special spirit that is there.  We want them to cherish the sacred.

It was short but the tour provided us the opportunity to see the baptistry, locker rooms, instruction rooms, the celestial room, sealing rooms, and the brides room. I was in particular touched by a painting as I left the celestial room of Christ being strengthened by an angel in the Garden of Gethsemane, it being fresh in my mind and heart from our studies during Easter week. I just felt sincere gratitude for my Savior and Redeemer.

Following the tour we changed our clothes and I took the kids to another treat. We stopped by Express Clydesdale Barn to see these magnificent beasts and give them a little love.  the kids enjoyed the farm dogs as well which were more than happy to expose their bellies for a good rub.

I also had a reality check and a reminder to respect nature when I put my arm far between the bars to give one of the horses a good scratch when it shifted and pinned my arm between it's muscular, nearly 2000 pound body and the metal bars. In less than a second I had definite soft tissue damage and was praying my arm wouldn't snap. The horse shifted again and I was quickly free but had a ugly bruise and bump on my arm (which took over two weeks to dissolve). Lesson learned. Think and respect the laws of nature.

After this stop, I bribed the kids with ice cream to read books while I got some more pictures in the cemetery before we headed home. Light showers has we approached home at sunset gave the black sky a contrasting stream of rainbow.  Love the beautiful things we get to see.

Easter

Studied the last week of Christ's life. Colored eggs.

Different this year see as the Easter bunny has been labeled a fraud, the kids worked with in a budget and purchased treats for each other to give on Easter. We attended church in which the Primary children sang Gethsemane as one of the special musical numbers during sacrament meeting. Following church the kids helped me make hot cross buns. The dough was a flop the first go around so we took it outside for a friendly family game of catch in the alley after getting the second batch rising.

Our dirt, grit, and grass filed dough!

The second attempt went better but it was sticky and hard to work with but the end result was soft, well baked, and tasty.

We enjoyed watching the Easter program that was shared online and the sacred music and messages shared. It was a great Easter after a busy week.

Daingerfield State Park Camping

We got away for two nights on this one thanks to the long weekend and getting Good Friday off. It rained a lot prior so when we arrived we had a small creek running through our camp and under our picnic bench. With strategic placement of the tent and repositioning the bench we made it work. We did a lot of hiking on this trip and it was great. And the bathroom was across the road so we didn't get lost. Neighbors partied until late but getting out int he tall pole pines and doing the hikes made it worth it.

Frisbee

 Strenuous for us flat-landers

 And down!

On minivan, pretty, no touchy

20 minutes on the road is this girl's limit. Nap time!

Rhys' Texas Choir Concert

The stars at night are so big and bright....

Clap Clap Clap Clap

Deep in the heart of Texas!


There was singing about bluebonnets, the Red River Valley, and more, including Rhys' favorite--The Fifty Nifty United States and dancing to Cotton Eye Joe. 

They did great and kept it under an hour--thank you Mrs. Sanders!

Henry, Jackson, Rhys

Putting First Things First

About every 2 months, we are trying to provide Sophie with an opportunity to attend the temple. This last time we invited a couple friends but no one wanted to get up that early on a rainy Saturday. So glad she sees the importance, is willing to sacrifice sleep, encourage others, and spend a little mother/daughter time standing in holy places.

Lay-Standing

Common occurrence from the weirdest cat ever.  He stays in this position for long periods if there is something going on in the kitchen.

Purtis Creek State Park Camping

One night and nice to get away if only for a while.

The first evening there, we finally get set up and Neal and I head over to the restrooms that we think we know the general area that they are and end up way far off, cutting through on a trail we think will lead us back, then having to cross a narrow finger of the lake on rotting logs to get back to the road and eventually find the restrooms. We were gone for over 30-40 minutes! Thank goodness my bladder wasn't at capacity when we started off.

The best was while on our short hike and after reminding the kids to keep voices low so we could see any wildlife, I shout down the trail after Neal in several attempts for him to come back to see a small snake. He was too far ahead to hear me and I undid all I had asked the kids to do.

Moments later, our friend's little boy walking a fair distance ahead started yelling something back to us and spooked some dear which made a ton of noise crashing through the brush, across the trail not far from him and out of sight in a brown flash. He tore back to us quite fearful.

Lots of wildflowers starting to pop up on this hike.