Traces of Time . . . May 15 to 21, 2017

Traces of Time . . . 
Happy May

This week 

May 15, 2017

to 
May 21, 2017

Spring

March April May

Monday - May 15, 2017

 Walt physical therapy this morning.  He comes home tired but thankful for the great help.

We had a great Family Home Evening at Dave and Marilyn Gibbons home.  They served pulled pork and the rest of us brught: appetizers, potato salad, tossed salad, buns, fruit, and for dessert strawberry short cake.

Tuesday - May 16, 2017

Michael's birthday - "14" today...

Voting today for a levy for the Library. (It passed! Yea!!)

Our School Board zone didn't have anyone up for election, but Linda Petersen's position was contested by Darin Moon.

We then went to the Burley High School Greenhouse.

The last two weeks of school, everything is 50% off.

We chose these wand petunas that each spread out 4 feet.

We were happy to get them home, and hope we can keep them alive until our kids come to help us plant them on Memorial Day.

Walt has gotten the hoses out and 
has begun to water the lawn.

We had our Relief Society night meeting.
Tawny taught us about the benefits of exercising.
LaRae taught us about studying scriptures.

We had "healthy snacks" tonight.

We Here are three of the presentors: Tawny--Exercise;
LaRae--Scripture Study; and Kathy Merrill--Food Storage.

Wendy Weeks taught us about Keeping a Journal.

We Here's LaRae with two other presentors:
Bonnie also taught about exercise for us older gals.
Kaye conducted and gave us some tips
and also read a

We

We

We

Relief Society tonight -- 

Wednesday - May 17, 2017 - Temple Day

Snowing today~! High 46 degrees.


We just bought petunias at half price.  Hope they make it.

Thursday - May 18, 2017

 Walt

Friday - May 19, 2017

Michael's birthday - "14" today...

Saturday - May 20, 2017

 Walt

Sunday - May 21, 2017

Michael's birthday - "14" today...

Traces of Time . . . May 8-14, 2017

Traces of Time . . . 
Happy May

This week 

May 8, 2017

to 
May 14, 2017

Spring

March April May

I've got the narration -- now I need to add the photos.

Hopefully on Monday....

Hope you have had a good week, too.

Monday - May 8, 2017 - 

Walt started a new physical therapy regimen that his neurosurgeon, Dr. Charles C. Rich in Salt Lake, prescribed for him to do for his on-going back problems.  

His orthopedic surgeon here in Burley recommended that he try the Wright Physical Therapy Clinic.  Walt was very impressed on his first full work-out this morning from 7:00-8:00.  Last Friday they had gone over his needs and determined what he should do.

No walking at the Oregon Trail Recreation Center gym this week while Walt gets his hew physical therapy regimen all scheduled out.

At 11:00 we went to the Viewing/Visitation for Helen McMurray at our Burley Third Ward Relief Society Room.  It was good to see Helen's five daughters again:  Tamara Evans, Wendy Granata ______(I never remember her current husband's name), Ilene Kushna, Catherine "Cathi," and Cynthia Wand.

A lot of their local friends came, which was very heart-warming to see.  

It was very tender when the five daughters joined hands in a circle as Wendy gave the family prayer.

The ward Relief Society sisters then served them lunch before they went out to the Pleasant View Cemetery at 2:00... prayer.

...where Tamara's husband, Richard Evans, gave the dedicatory prayer.

After he dedicated the grave by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, he asked that it be protected from the elements and added that it would be a sacred spot for the family to come to remember Helen. [And, of course, to remember their father, Wendell, also.]

He ended with some special words about the Savior "who opened the door for us all to be resurrected."  We had not heard it said in quite that way before.  Walt and I liked that thought a lot.

The casket was then lowered into the grave.  This was a very tender time with this outstanding family.

Helen Clark Ashby McMurray was certainly an elect lady whom we have all been blessed to know.  She will be missed by her family and many others.

For family home evening Walt had us take turns reading each paragraph in "The Living Christ."  I will put a copy of it with our Sunday post for May 14.

Tuesday - May 9, 2017 

I drove to Twin for our 2:00 planning meeting for our Wendell High School 60-year planning meeting. There were just three of us who were able to come, in addition to Dale: Beverly B. Mason drove from Nampa, Barbara P. Frith came from Filer, and me from Burley.

We mostly discussed who we've been able to contact so far and how to contact those we haven't found yet.  So far there are 17 coming and 4 maybes for the Sept. 15-16 gathering.

Dale proposed that we may need to change from the Turf Club, which has a cover charge of $150 to Maxie's Tomatos which has no cover charge.

As I was driving back to Burley, I couldn't believe that I forgot to take a photo of us.  We are meeting again Aug. 1.

Wednesday - May 10, 2017 - 

Walt did physical therapy from 8:00-9:00 so he barely had time to shower and be ready for us to leave for the temple at 9:30. Every second Wed we do the sealing session with our Burley 3rd Ward High Priest group.  Then we do a 1:00 endowment session.

Dale and Connie were not able to come to the temple today.

After our session we ate at Maxie's Tomatos.  Walt had Chicken Fettucini and I had lasagna...surprise.

We had to pick up some things at Costco, along with having my hearing aids checked there.  We finally got our expired membership renewed.

Before I finished picking up what we needed, Walt went to sit down, and talked with our friends from Wendell, Jim and Lucile Campbell.  When I checked out and found him, he teasingly said: "If you hadn't been so busy shopping, you could have seen and talked with our friends, too."

Thursday - May 11, 2017 

This was a busy afternoon. It was our last Burley Library Book Club for this season. Sydna Keeting reviewed The Forgotten Kennedy about Rosemary Kennedy.  She did a great job.  Just Kathryn Hall, Kathleen Hedberg, and I were the only ones who were able to attend.  We begin again in September.

Then LaRae Crane picked me up for visiting teaching at three o'clock.  We love visiting Debra, Karen, and Cindy.

This evening was our closing social supper at the home of Bonnie Hansen for our Serendipity Book Club.  Bonnie Fronk, the president this year prepared pulled pork--with the help of her two daughters, Heather and Vicki (who is here from Kentucky for Mother's Day). The tortillas, beans, chips, avacado, lettuce, olives, dressing were furnished by the rest of the club members.   It made a delicious "Café Rio-like salad."  For dessert, Marilyn Gibbons brought home-made strawberry pie.  It was all very delicious!

For the program, each one of us gave a 3-minute quick review of a book we've read or want to read.  In addition, Diana Baker, just back from a mission to Africa with her husband shared some highlights of their adventures there.

Some of the books reviewed were: 
Eileen Petersen - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi.

Gladys Harrison - Washington L

Susan Young - Biography of Henry B. Eyring - 

Karma Lambert - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Karen Robins who has gotten interested in World War II - Broken, Flags of Our Fathers, Fly Boys by James Brady, The Lila Girls, The Zoo Keeper' Wife by Labinsky and Killing the Rising Sun by Bill O'Reilly

June Tilley - Dionsaures

We then had supper, and when we returned resumed the book reviews.

Marilyn Gibbons - The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokow

Terri Smith - Eyes by Ardyth G. Kapp
 "The farther back we look the further ahead we see."

Gladys shared this quote: "Ye left me and I lift thee and we ascend together."

Jennie Egbert - Through the Window of Life by Susan Freeman

G'lenn Bloxham - The Orphan Keeper by Cameron Wright

Delores Green - The Rent Collector by Cameron Wright

Elaine Anderson - The Walk by Richard Call

Judy Ward - Earth by Eric N. Skousen, PhD.

Bonnie Hansen - A Thousand Miles to Freedom by Yun Son Kim; Prelude to Glory by Ron Carter How God has his hand in our great country and our destiny.  Thou Shalt Prosper by Daniel Lacin about the Jews

Bonnie Fronk - All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (who lives in Boise)

Diana Baker - The God Seed by M Kathryn Thomas; Wilford Woodruff's Witness by         ; The Inevitable Apostacy  by Tad Callister; and The Great Apostay by Talmage.






Gladys Harrison, recently back from a CES mission with her husband in Washington, shared an Idaho Spud candy bar with each one.

In closing, Bonnie Fronk, our outgoing president, had a nice plant of mums for each one.  We also thank Carol Cheney, vice president (who was out of town), and Jennie Egbert, secretary.

The new presidency for the 2017-2018 year, chosen alphabetically will be Marilyn Gibbons, Delores Green, and Bonnie Hansen.  They will decide among themselves who will be president, vice president, and secretary.

It has been a great year -- September 2016 to May 2017 with these dear Serendipity Book and Study Club friends.

The 16 of our 20 members who were able to attend tonight were:Bonnie Fronk, Jennie Egbert, 

Friday - May 12, 2017 - 

Walking 

Saturday - May 13, 2017 

next

Sunday - May 14, 2017  Mother's Day

For our testimony at the end of this Mother's Day Sabbath, we say we believe all that The First Presidency and The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have declared about Jesus Christ on January 1, 2000 as follows:

The following document was declared on January 1, 2000:

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Eph. 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—“built upon the foundation of … apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isa. 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

January 1, 2000

·  

The signatures are by the living Apostles as of January 1, 2000.

Traces of Time . . . May 1 to 7, 2017

Traces of Time . . . 
Happy Months of Spring

This week 

May 1, 2017

to 
May 7, 2017

Spring

March April May

I've got the narration -- now I need to add the photos.

Hopefully on Monday....

Hope you have had a good week, too.

I loaded 49 photos for the week....but they wouldn't 
"select and paste" to the blog.
Have to figure out "Plan B."

Monday - May 1, 2017 - May Day

Walking at the Oregon Trail Recreation Center gym

Tuesday - May 2, 2017 

Walking at the Oregon Trail Recreation Center gym

Wednesday - May 3, 2017 


Walking at the Oregon Trail Rec Center gym

Temple Day

Thursday - May 4, 2017 

" 'May the fourth' be with you!"  Star Wars day... 

Walt went to physical therapy this morning

Friday - May 5, 2017  

We did family history this morning for two hours with Kathleen Hedberg.

This afternoon we drove to Utah to attend the viewing (6:00 p.m.) and funeral (7:00p.m.-8:03 p.m.) for Helen McMurray at Larkins Sunset Gardens.   

The funeral was very nice with all five of her daughters participating--Tamara Evans, Wendy Granata, Ilene Kushma, Cathi McMurray, and Cynthia Wand.  


We spent the night with Gary.

Saturday - May 6, 2017 

We drove over Pioneer Crossing to Saratoga Springs to tell Julie and John and family "Hi and Bye" on our way home, but Julie had left at 6:00 a.m. to help at the BYU try-outs for the Pre-teen and Teen Jr. BYU Ballroom teams.

John was just dashing out the door with Jacee and Maddie on their way to the tryouts at 9:30.  So it was a more "Bye" than any "Hi."

Rigdon wasn't too happy about being left behind, but Jackson and he surely had a fun "brother time" until the others returned.

We got to Idaho Falls in the early afternoon and got to go through the open house of the Idaho Fall Temple.  The actual time was 2:30 to 3:40 to go through.

We pulled up at the Madison High School at 4:40, just in time to see the 5pm (2nd performance of the day) Spring Concert for the Idaho Ballroom Academy with almost 400 dancers performing.

It was an emotional time as they honored the 34 seniors who have danced with Idaho Ballroom from 1 up to 12 years. 
As our daughter, Janie Fisher, announced the one boy with the 12 years she said: 
"And with 12 years--who had to learn to dance before he learned to walk--is Sam Fisher."

Daniel Fisher was also honored by the teams he taught.  As he is going away to medical school, his teams presented him with a Litman stethascope.  (When Daniel showed it to his Grampa later, Walt said: "Litman out just as I was in medical school and it is still the top of the line.")

They also gave Daniel $200.  Three of the boys sang "Danny Boy," acapella.  It was a very tender moment!

This program just keeps getting better every year with colorful costumes, fun and beautiful dances and dancers, and lively music.

We don't know how Janie and Shawn do it. 

After working all day to help with the Spring Concert for IBA --Sam and Ashley dashed home after the final performance to get ready for the Sr. Prom...
As Janie posted these photos of them...she noted it was Sam's last Prom at Madison High School...

 ...and Ashley's first Prom...

We celebrated with Janie & Shawn, Aimee, Daniel & Kelly, and Michael after the Idaho Ballroom Academy Spring Concert at Pizza Pie Café -- their tradition.

Sunday - May 7, 2017  

We left Rexburg this morning at eight o'clock and pulled in to our driveway in Burley at 10:20.  There's a lot of road construction between Idaho Falls and Pocatello.

We went to our 3-hour Burley 3rd Ward block and then slept for about two hours after.  Then we broke our fast with dinner at six o'clock.

Now we're catching up our blog.

We called Brian and got to talk to him, Taylor, and Jennifer.  Taylor was just getting ready to cook something from Spain for a school assignment.

We tried calling some of our other kids but didn't get through.

At the end of this Sunday, we pray you have had a peaceful and restful Sabbath Day.

I shared my testimony at Fast and Testimony Meeting this morning.

Here are the main points...

Heavenly Father loves us, knows us, and wants us to be happy. He knows the only way to be happy and successful is to keep His commandments.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and part of His Godhead.  Because of His Atonement for each one of us, we can  be forgiven when we repent and go forward to become better.

The Holy Ghost, as the Third Member of the Godhead, is the one who testifies to us what is truth.

We are thankful for This Godhead who helps us in every way to become perfect.  We won't become perfect in this lifetime, but we can be on the road to perfection through what we choose to do.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true Church of God on the earth today.  It was restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith and was organized on April 6, 1830, which Jesus Christ revealed to the Prophet Joseph was the actual day of His Birth (April 6th).  

The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  The Bible is the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly.

President Thomas S. Monson is God's living Prophet on the earth today.

We are thankful for our many blessings, for our seven children, our thirty-five grandchildren, and our four great-grandchildren.

We pray we may always bring honor to the good names our parents, grandparents, and beyond have given to us.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Walter R. Petersen & Eileen A. Petersen - May 7, 2017

Traces of Time . . . April 24-30, 2017

Traces of Time . . . 
Happy Months of Spring

This week 

April 24, 2017

to 
April 30, 2017

Spring

March April May

Monday - April 24, 2017 -  Birthdays for Gary, John, and Kimble...

Tuesday - April 25, 2017 - Jerry's Birthday in Rochester, Minnesota

We walked at the CSI gym from 11:00 to noon.

I got my haircut today by Jenny McGill at Salon Sensations.

Wednesday - April 26, 2017 

We walked this morning for the last time before the Semester ends on Friday.  The class will resume on September 12th with the Fall/Winter Semester.

Then we rendezvoused with Dale and Connie at the temple.

We had dinner after at The Depot Grill.

Thursday - April 27, 2017  


We drove to Utah today for Walt's appointment with Dr. Charles C. Rich, Jr., his neurosurgeon who did Walt's back surgery May 1, 2012.  After going over Walt's MRI with him, he emphasized that surgery had a great risk of making things worse and little chance of making it better.

Walt told him that after our son, Brian who is an orthopedic surgeon, had looked at this MRI he said: "Dad, your back is a mess!"     Dr. Rich laughed and replied: "There's nothing like your kids to tell it like it is."

Dr. Rich prescribed for Walt to have a month to six weeks of physical therapy to see if that helps any.  But it looks like surgery is not an option.



Then we got to go to William's second grade Spring Program at Summit.

We helped Julie out during the dress rehearsal of Jackson's and Maddie's play "Peter Pan, Jr." by watching Rigdon from 3:30 until 7:00.

We spent the remainder of the evening with Gary in Pleasant Grove.



Friday - Aprl 28, 2017  We did a session at the Mt. Timp Temple this morning.   We had a great afternoon with Gary. 

The plan was to drive around Utah Lake and seeing the mountains and all the beautiful scenery.   However, because of the freezing cold front that came through with snow, we decided to go up to the Church History Museum next to Temple Square.  As we got close to the point of the mountain, we saw an accident in the south lane of the Interstate, and the traffic pile up it caused.

So we took the next exit and decided to spend some time at Cabella's.  Walt and I had not been in this new one, so it was a fun experience.  Loved all the stuffed animals there in several displays.


Tonight we so enjoyed seeing "Peter Pan, Jr." with Jackson and Maddie as pirates.   Julie was one of the producers.  There were 130 elementary students in the cast!  And they did great!!




Saturday - April 29, 2017  

This morning we watched about 2 hours or so of the 3 1/2 hour movie "War and Peace" from 1956 (I think) made with Henry Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, and Mel Ferrer.  We'll catch the end the next time we are in Utah.

We gathered at Chubby's--a new gourmet place in the Saratoga Springs Mall--for a lunch to honor our family April birthdays.  

There were 12 there -- the four birthday boys -- Walt, Gary, John, and Kimble, plus Steve and Natalie, Carter, David, Julie Beth, and friends Mike Ruffell and his son Cody, and Kirt Melling, oh, and me.


After lunch we headed back home to Burley -- arriving just at 7:00, in time to watch Lawrence Welk.


Sunday - April 30, 2017  

We had the blessing of Shawn and Janice bringing their 13-year old son, Michael, to our home this morning from Rexburg, to receive his patriarchal blessing from his Grandfather.    



We have always tried to have peace and the spirit in our home.  However, there is never a more peaceful and spiritual feeling than when Walt is giving a patriarchal blessing.

We had a reverent time during our 3-hour 3rd ward block.

And we share our testimony of all the truths of the Gospel and the Great Restoration of it in the early 19th Century from Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

We are so thankful for all the tender mercies we receive daily from Heavenly Father.

We are thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer.

We are thankful for the guidance daily from the Holy Ghost.

These Three of the Godhead are very revered by us.

We are thankful for a Prophet on the Earth today -- President Thomas S. Monson.

We are thankful for the scriptures -- The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, and the words of our Prophets, Apostles, and Seventies.

We are thankful for each other and being able to be together to help each other in our elderly years.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Walter and Eileen Petersen - Burley, I D A H O