April 9, 2017

Dearest Christopher:

So, first off, where were you when the bombing happened last Monday?  How close were you?  How did it effect you?  Were there others you knew who were injured?  How are the people of St. Petersburg doing generally?  Our thoughts and prayers go to the people who were injured or killed as well as their families. There is definitely darkness in the world, however, there is so much good as well.  I still believe that most people are good and desire to do good.

This past week was spring break, and what a lovely low stress week it was. Not as wonderful as Amagansett (or Khasakstan and Kyrgestan ;)--everybodies desired spring break location--can you believe it has been nearly 2 years since you received your call?)  We did some activity most days:

Monday we all went skiing--the weather was glorious, and the snow surprisingly good.  We spent most of the day at snow basin.  At some point SJB took off on his own and NJB was getting frustrated that RJB could ski faster than him.  Next run we went on RJB was on a separate chair from NJB and I.  NJB kept going on and on about how he hated skiing and everybody was better than him and he just wanted to go home, he was no good at it and wasn't getting better . . . yada yada.  I tried to be upbeat and tell him that skiing is just like anything else, you practice and you get better.  AND THEN, a tender mercy.  We ran into a friend of his and the friends mom and started skiing with them.  The friend and NJB were about at the same level, and with that competition and opportunity to show off, NJB took off and skied better than I have ever seen him ski.  It was so funny!

On Tuesday we went skiing again, this time SJB went with a friend, RJB stayed home to hang out with a friend, and NJB and I headed up together for a few hours.  Again, the snow was much better than I expected for spring skiing.  Later that night, NJB, RJB and I headed out to the late move starting at 9:50 because it was spring break and we could.  We saw "La La Land" at the cheap theater that makes me think of the theater on 86th and 3rd--when I'm inside, I'm transported back to NYC.  There were only about 10 people in the theater.  Anyway, we really enjoyed the movie--it's a modern day musical reminiscent of musicals of the 50s and 60s--singing, dancing, boy&girl meet etc.  The ending however was not typical Hollywood.  It was late, so emotions were magnified, and the kids were REALLY disappointed by the ending.  RJB was in tears.

SJB went up skiing again, I got some errands done, RJB & NJB were a bit of slugs until we went out for a shortish mandatory hike.  On the hike NJB kept talking about the movie and was analyzing the relationship of the main characters, talking about love and how he knew they really still loved each other and how he could tell the man loved the woman more etc.  I was struck by how much thought he was giving the story line, relationships, the difference between movies and real life.  It cracked me up and impressed me at the same time.  Both RJB and NJB are obsessed with the music from the movie so we bought sheet music on-line and they are both practicing with renewed vigor.  :)

On Thursday, SJB went skiing again, while RJB NJB and I went to baby animal days up in Cache Valley at the American West Heritage Center.  The place was pretty full of people--I guess more than I was expecting.  They had baby bear cubs there--we couldn't hold, just view--they were SOOOOOOO cute!!!  There were 6 of them and one of them was a trouble maker, he had lots of energy and kept climbing on other sleeping cubs, pulling at them and trying to get them up to play.  Could have watched for much longer.  We went on a horse-drawn wagon ride.  The driver asked where everybody was from.  RJB answered NYC, I clarified that we live in Ogden now. We went on a tractor drawn wagon ride to look at a small herd of bison.  We pet calves and baby goats, little lambs, saw a foal, some peacocks (when we saw the peacocks NJB said, "we used to see those at the Bronx Zoo"--good memory), held baby turtles. The highlight however was holding baby bunny rabbits. We could have done that all day long.  We waited in a rather long line twice to hold them.  The second time a little bunny wet on RJB and she just started laughing, and said, "I felt something warm." She wanted to keep holding bunnies so was given another bunny to hold  and I thought, "so glad that wasn't Caroline."  NJB rode a mechanical bull, he lasted less than 10 seconds.  We had a lovely time and got much more sun than I realized.

DGB came up Thursday night with the intent of skiing with SJB on Friday.  They went up to snow basin but got up there and it was closed because of rain.  So DGB hung out with the kids and later in the afternoon took RJB and NJB bird watching at the Bear River Bird Refuge while I took care of Gpa.  It's always lovely having you older kids around--brings me joy when those who have flown the coop still come back home.

On Saturday morning we had a family effort to get NJB's county project done (an assignment made at the beginning of the school year and due tomorrow).  Later DGB, NJB and I took a short bike ride and hurried home as we saw a storm approaching.  We made it home minutes before rain started pouring and quickly turned to sleet then hail.  We watched the storm and lightening from the living room window.  So powerful and beautiful.  Later that evening we NJB RJB SJB and I went to a trampoline park (my first time) and had a great time bouncing around and doing flips into foam pits etc--even I did flips  :)  All in all it was a lovely stay-cation.

After church today, I picked up your dad from the airport.  He was glad to be home from Ghana and shared some interesting stories about his time there.  We are blessed to live where we do.

It's been a lazy Sabbath and I got a much needed 3-hour nap.

A quick cool story about conference. I think last week I told you about my approach to conference this year.  As I listened to the different speakers I had in mind, "what does Heavenly FAther want me to do as a result of this talk?"--I listened for the promptings and received them.  I received the same prompting twice, to do some family history on my Grandma Goff's side, to go back to the Anna Backlunds parents (my great great grandparents) and then look at their decendants.  I wrote, "do it today".  Well I didn't do it Sunday, but was talking with Susy Yamada Monday morning and she helped me navigate the system and within a few minutes tops I found a name that needed and endowment and sealing to spouse.  It was pretty incredible. I look forward to doing more work on that line and learning how to do it.

Well, my dear.  Life is very good.  We love you so much and again pray for you, your safety, well-being, happiness, and for that of those you associate with and for the people of St. Petersburg in general.

LTIABABA

Mom

PS.  A funny story I forgot to share last week.  I was gone somewhere and a door to door sales guy (younger) came around selling something--probably lawn care or pest control, seems to be a lot of that here--RJB answered the door.  The salesguy asked to speak with parents and she said that we werent here.  He at some point asked for RJB's number and if she would be intersted in going out.  She replied, "that's very nice of you but I'm only 13".  He apologized and was quickly on his way.

PPS  You had asked about my native american sister.  Years ago, 1954-1996 the church ran a program called the Indian Placement Program, in which Native American students who were baptized members of the LDS Church were placed in foster homes of LDS members during the school year. They attended majority-white public schools, rather than the Indian boarding schools or local schools on the reservations.  When I was in Jr. High, Cheryl Benally, from the Navajo tribe, lived with us for 2 years.  She was a year younger than I.  I remember trying to be her friend, but not trying hard enough.  As an adult, I look back and feel horribly that I didn't extend myself more.  How incredibly hard and disorienting it must have been to leave home at such a young age and come to a completely different culture.  Cheryl's parents had their kids participate in the program because they hoped for a better life and better schooling for them off of the reservation.  They would come up and visit occasionally.  Over the years they have made an effort to keep in touch, and stop by whenever they are up Ogden way.  It seems every 5 -10 years Cheryl and her parents, or husband and kids will stop by unannounced.  Now that I have contact information, I hope that we will stay in better touch.

Couple of other things I failed to mention in the letter.  More for my own record than that you need to know.

Monday, Jaren, Amberly and kids came for FHE.  I love having a relationship with our nieces and nephews and want to reach out more to them in general.  Wednesday, RJB and I went to a baby shower for Zack's wife Jennica.  It was REALLY well attended.  Fun to see our extended family, including Aunt Tricia (she and uncle Darrell are still separated).  Later that night Xochi had a sleep over with RJB.  RJB is soooo good with young children.  She is a baby magnet.

Friday night Darrell stayed with Gpa.  he and I stayed up late talking.  In the course of conversation I learned that Gma took him and his friends toilet papering when he was around 11 years old--never knew that.  Funny huh?