It's Not the Quantity but the Quality!

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We may not have quantity time with our Florida Rose family but quality must count. WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL! We spent the better part of 7 days in Orlando (from Sept 1st through Sept 8th). We booked our flight months ago and at that time it seemed forever before we would actually leave! But, of course, time has a way of passing so quickly and before we knew it, we were on a Delta non-stop flight on our way to spend time with Matt, Sara, Luke, Emma and Gavin! We had a great trip and were soon hugging Luke and Sara! Matt was still at work and Emma and Gavin had fallen asleep on the way to the airport! It took them a few minutes to wake up and realize it was really us, but within minutes it was as if we really don't live such a distance away. I had seen them all in February but Greg had not and was completely overwhelmed with how much he had missed them.

Sara is such a wonderful daughter-in-law and made us, once again, feel so loved and welcome. We love to visit them and though Sara, hostess that she is, thinks they should entertain us every minute, we kept assuring her we are perfectly happy to just be with them and a part of their normal routine. Those times were some of our greatest joys!

We loved listening to Luke practice the piano and tell us about their fish, watching him do his homework, listening to him read (SO WELL, I might say!), practicing baseball, purchasing his new uniform and bearing his testimony with such courage. He is a wonderful young man, very intelligent, handsome, athletic, driven to do well, and very kind and loving. It is obvious he loves his brother and sister very much!
We enjoyed watching Emma's enthusiasm for gymnastics and her natural talent for it (Nadia Comaniche (sp?), look out!). She is inherently graceful and points her toes like the pros! She is funny, warm, VERY loving (much to my joy), beautiful and very intelligent. She is learning to read and it was fun to see her phonetically sounding out the words in her little books. She is creative and loves to do things by herself! She is the consummate "Little Princess" of the family!
Gavin, well what can I say about Gavie except that he is a pistol and absolutely adorable ! He makes us chuckle just thinking about him! We had the most time with him because the other kids were in school and he, too, captured our hearts! He is full of energy, hilarious, has the cutest little giggle, and is a typical rowdy little boy who immediately took to Grandpa. They enjoyed playing ball and just generally rough-housing! Greg had not seen him for any length of time since he was a baby, just for a few hours last summer, and somewhere along the way had gotten the perception that he was a little sickly and perhaps frail. (Matt and Sara did at one time have a few concerns with his breathing and he had been tested for problems). Nothing could be further from the truth! He is ALL BOY and a pure delight.

One of my greatest joys of the trip was watching Matt and Greg together again...Greg with his only son! They visited about the gospel, family, work, sports, etc. etc and thoroughly enjoyed watching a few football games. I wish they could spend more time together but it is not to be...and we are grateful they are where they are supposed to be. No complaints! Thank goodness for technology and communication today. I find it interesting that each time we see them them it is as if we have never been apart.

We are so grateful to have had time once again to see the way they are parenting: very loving and respectful of their children's feelings but firm when necessary...a wonderful mix of the two and the children are thriving. Having Family Home Evening with them was wonderful and led by the spirit as what was ultimately discussed was not intentionally planned but a natural progression of the gospel game we played first. We are grateful that they serve humbly and valiantly in their callings and do so much good as do each of our other children and their spouses.

I include further details and highlights of the trip under the pictures posted below.

The night before we left after a very long day of fun! We were all hammered!
Was I really so tired I forgot to take off my earrings?

At the Orlando Temple on Friday night!
It really was dark after the session, but this picture looking toward the temple
was taken with the nightshot setting of my camera...a great feature when
there isn't enough light!
We met Tom and Brittnie, some friends of Matt and Sara
at the temple and attended the session together. What wonderful people they are.
It is a unique experience for us to attend the temple when there are only perhaps 10-15 people
in the session. The spirit is the same and the beautiful celestial room in that temple provided us
a great opportunity to just relax and count our blessings.
We then went out to dinner at Carubba's ( something like that, anyway)
and laughed ourselves silly!
Greg and I asked Tom and Brittnie how they met and one thing led to another.
Their story is a side-splitter! The laughter continued with Greg's and my courtship.
But the capper for the evening was Matt and Sara's story!
I know it was torturous for Matt at the time, but wow, was she worth the wait!
We love you, Sara!

Outside Ember Restaurant in downtown Orlando

Floating the river at Rock Springs!

Playing with the frog!

We had such a great time here on Saturday! We took a picnic with us,
floated the river 3 times, then ate and watched Luke and Gavin torment
a frog. They were not to be deterred and I think the frog survived it all!
There was still enough time to float the river one more time before the clouds
set in and the horn went off warning us of lightning danger.
I was not the most "graceful" getting into the river and into a tube...let's just
leave it at that! I'm sure we gave many people watching on the bridge their laugh for the day!
Greg incurred a nice little "owie" on the sole of his foot helping me that first time. Bless his heart...he's always
watching out for me and making sure I am safe and cared for. What would I do without him?

Rock Springs is as the name implies a natural spring and part of the Wakiva River system.
We canoed the Wakiva River itself a few years ago with Ron and Kathy Murray and had a memorable time!
Just imagine jungle foliage!

"Grandma, this is my Mom!

Dinner at Dixie Crossroads...the best seafood!
I have become a huge fan of rock shrimp (in the middle of Matt's plate)
They are as good as lobster in my opinion and easier to eat!
(Love this picture...can't you see Matt wanting to say, "Gee, Mom, give it a rest!
But being the kind, respectful son he is, he acquiesced.)
Hey, I had to get a picture of that shrimp!
My mouth is watering as I type!

On the way to the beach!
How Matt and Greg enjoyed each other...these were some of my happiest moments,
just watching these two together!

A group project...I forgot to take a picture of the finished product
which had a mote & a drainage system!

Fun in the sun... in the shade!

Grandpa and Luke looking for fish

Oh, to look like this!

Greg and Matt enjoying one another and watching the kids.

On the board walk at New Smyrna Beach

What is it about going to the beach? I LOVE IT and so does my husband!
It is a wonderland of simple pleasure...watching the kids dig and create in the sand and joining
in their fun, watching them boogie board,
watching them look for fish which were unusually numerous that day and just enjoy
fun in the sun!
There is something about the ocean that makes you feel so insignificant and yet not! I can't explain it!
The power in those waves is magnificent, both frightening and awe inspiring!
It was another lesson that day that as long as we obey the rules and pay attention to what
is going on around us we will be safe.

Just cute...that's all I have to say!

Watching a movie with Grandpa

Kicking back with Emma

A wonderful Family Home Evening

Playing games with my little sweetheart!

Gavin, Emma and Luke ready for church

How I love my little Emma!

Always games with Grandpa!

Love this picture of Gavin and Matt!

Grandpa giving Gavin a shave!

Have you ever seen a boy this happy doing his homework?

Buds!

Emma completed this ABOUT ME poster the first night we were there!
So cute and SOOOO Emma!

Playing ball with Grandpa/The boy has got an arm!

We thank you, Matt and Sara, from the bottom of our hearts for the most wonderful visit to Orlando ever! We love all of you so much and thank you for your genuine love and care. We can't wait to see you in December! Kiss our precious little kids (and each other) for us!