At the Ranch. {Day 2}

We began our first full day at the Ranch with a walk around some of the property.

We explored for a bit and then settled in among some pine trees for our first Sunrise Devotional. I hoped this tradition would prove to be magical and spiritual and would bind our hearts together with our children. It was all this and more.

For this first day Patrick taught Easton and Maylie about the Creation, and I took Tate to a different stand of trees. We sat on an old log and following the Spirit as best as I could, I taught him about the First Vision. It wasn't scripted, and up until that very moment I had no idea what to teach him, but as I glanced up to see the sun filtering through the needles above, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity to teach him that the boy Joseph wasn't much older than him, and that he went into a grove of trees very similar to the one we were in. Tate told me all the things he knew about that first appearance of God the Father and the Son, and I filled in the details, asking him in a whisper how he would feel if Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were to appear to him at that very moment. I bore my testimony to him at the end of our 7 minute discussion. The sunlight wasn't the only thing shining that morning....

We then joined up with Easton, Maylie, and Patrick, and watercolored for the next hour. I felt so peaceful as we all sat together painting the landscape. I haven't picked up a watercolor brush since my first and only lesson in England with Sister Buckner. It brought back wonderful memories. And though I lack all technical skill whatsoever, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and Easton told me he thought I was the best painter in the whole world. What a sweetie.

{This is a watercolor brush filled with water from the creek.  Kind of special!}

Look at this lovely heart flower Easton gave me...

 All three of them gave me flowers all day. I had bouquets by the end of the day.

After our morning explorations, we went swimming the whole afternoon. Big Creek was closer than the river so we walked down to the beautiful white sand, set up our beach umbrella, and watched our little ones play all day long. I think they would have stayed there all night too...it was just as I'd dreamed--sandcastles, water, a small bridge to jump from...it was a child's paradise.

I wanted to freeze time that day. It was just too perfect. I wish I could go back for an hour and lay on that sandy mountainous beach....