Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Traces of Time . . . December 10 to 16, 2018

Traces of Time . . .

(To see last week's blog post--scroll down to the end of this week, then the Week of Dec. 3-9, 2018 will be there. If it's not, hit "Older posts.")

THIS WEEK- DECEMBER 10 to 
DECEMBER 16, 2018

 OUR KIDS WERE GOING TO SURPRISE ME ON MY BIRTHDAY, DEC. 15.
BUT DECIDED I SHOULD KNOW AHEAD.
YOU ARE ALL INVITED...
Julie said I should share her post:
"The children of Eileen Petersen would like to invite you to an open house to celebrate her 80 wonderful years on earth! It is on December 15 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. at my home."
 The address is 1063 Topaz Road, 
Saratoga Springs, UT 84045
Eileen's e-mail is wyepetersen@gmail.com if you have any questions.  Phone: 208-670-7010.







MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2018 
Family is Everything…

We have an appointment with the podiatrist at 11:00 this morning.

We 


TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2018 
Family is Everything…


Marci from Home Health came.  

Walt got a blood test ordered
by his podiatrist, Dr. Rogers.
Walt went to the Lehi Barbershop 
for a haircut.
It really is an old-fashioned
Barber Shoppe.
When we got back home, there was
a fun surprise--John's Mom and Dad
were there--Brent and Vicki Petersen.
Julie had made some delicious
home-made corn chowder.
Did I think to get a photo?  No.
We all went to Jackson's Vista Heights 
Middle School Band Christmas Concert tonight. 
Jackson is an excellent trombone player.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2018 
Family is Everything…
Happy Birthday, Steven...
With all the activities John and Julie's kids are involved in,
it's not every night that we get to have dinner together.
Tonight we enjoyed baked potatoes with hamburger gravy.
Then Gary came and
he watched
"Meet Me In St. Louis," with us.
It is a 1944 movie with Judy Garland,
and Margaret O'Brien, which
introduced the new Christmas song:

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
This is the ending in the Spring of 1904
when the "Exposition of the Louisiana Purchase"
also known as the "World's Fair" was held
in St. Louis.
When we lived in St. Louis (Walt was there
from 1959 to 1963 at the Washington University
School of Medicine.  I joined him there in
June 1961 when we married.)
We moved from there on June 10, 1963--
the day after he received his M.D. degree--
to Minneapolis, where he began his
medical internship on June 24, 1963,
the day our first child was born.
I was at the Presbyterian Hospital and
he was at the Minneapolis General Hospital,
but he got back over to the hospital where
I was just before Janie was born.

We enjoy being with Gary for these Wednesday night 
Christmas movies in December.
And we still hold hands at the movies!
ATHURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018 
Family is Everything…
A blast from the past...
I was looking for something and this photo popped up.
Back at our Burley Riverfront Park at a mini Prescott Reunion.
Looks like Steve and one of her other nephews throwing Aunt Bonnie in. (It would have been before 1990, because Bonnie passed away in March 1990 from colon cancer.)
The next summer at the Prescott Reunion, Aunt Thelma had made Bonnie an old-fashioned 1920's type swim suit, and wearing it holding a parasol over her head Bonnie marched down to the river bank and said: "I'm ready to be thrown in."
Now....back to today ...Thursday, Dec.13.
We woke up to a sunshiny, but cold day.
 By the time we wake up,
Jacee, Jackson, and Maddie 
have eaten breakfast and gone to school.
 ...but Julie saves us whatever she's cooked.
 Riggy showed us this Grinch shirt
he's wearing to pre-school...
 ...because it's Grinch day today
at his pre-school.
 Max likes to have breakfast with us.
We ran some errands today...mailed a letter at the Lehi Post Office drive-through box, got some Vitamin B-12 pills at
Costco that his new primary care geriatric physician has ordered,
picked up his suit at the "Red Hanger Cleaners" in Saratoga Springs, and then filled the car with gasoline.
But didn't take any photos.

Maddie is going to be an elf tomorrow as a helper from
sixth grade for the first graders Polar Express.
  We had another pleasant time
with the entire family...
  ...all gathered together...
  ...for supper.
  Julie made Hawaiian Haystacks.
Delicious! Thanks, Julie.
  Maddie's K.P. for the week is
loading the dishes in the dish washer.
 Our dear, dear friend, Lorna Gorringe Coombs,
who was our main babysitter in Burley
for us while we were raising our
seven children, came to see us 
this early evening.
She actually left Burley to begin 
at BYU on August 26, 1974--
the day our seventh child--
Jennifer Eileen Petersen--
was born.
She had saved most all her babysitting
money to put herself through
college. She majored in
education and taught two
years at the Almo Elementary School.
She and Carl are leaving in the
morning for Arizona to spend
a week with their daughter, Kelli,
her husband and three children.
Lorna was sad that she won't be
here Saturday for my
80th Birthday Open House.
So she brought me a gift and
birthday card today.
We loved the hour with her
talking about old and new times....
I can't believe I didn't get a 
photo with her!
She is one in a million!
We love her!!
She said to give all our kids a
hug for her.
She still has fond memories of
when we flew her into the Flying 'B'
Ranch with us as her high school
graduation gift.
Especially remembers the landing,
when we almost touched down, but
then did a go around and then landed.
I was holding my breath because
that was not a normal landing!
Here's  photo I took back in October
when Lorna came to see Walt in
the Pointe Meadows Rehab Center.
Image may contain: 2 people, including Lorna Gorringe Coombs, people sitting and indoor
Here's the fun card Lorna gave me,
along with a fun apple red hand soap.
 What a nice message inside:
"You have filled so many hearts
  and lives with love.
 Celebrating you and all
  the goodness you've shared."

Friends are forever!


FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2018 
Family is Everything…
Walt has physical therapy scheduled at 12:20 noon.
But they didn't come -- again.
Rigdon came to hang out with
us for a while.
Julie added the blue ornaments
to make this silver wreath into
a silver and blue wreath.
 We are invited to dinner at 
Clyde and Julia Witham's home at 6:00 p.m.
They had a potato bar, and
the invited friends were welcome
to bring an appetizer or a dessert.
I baked a Texas chocolate sheet cake.
Heather Cannon cooked the Swiss steak
and gravy to go over the baked potatoes.
Julia and Tammy helped
clear the counter and tables,
getting ready to play Pictionary
before dessert was served. 
It was a delicious dinner.
 The flavorings on the right side
were for everyone to make their
own Italian creams. Yummy
 
 We took a photo of those
in the dining room.
 Here are the guests at the table
in the kitchenette.
  The Withams had their home
filled with beautiful Christmas
decorations and nativities.
When we got home, Maddie
took our photo with Rigdon.
It is the last day in my 70's!
Brian and Jen flew in to Utah from 
Nashville, Tennessee.
They landed about 7:30 and
got to Julie and John's about 9:00.
It was about 9:30 when they got here.
We were so excited to see them that
I didn't even get a photo.
We'll get lots of photos tomorrow.
When they left at 11:00 to go
spend the night with Gary, Brian
said I had one more hour to be
in my seventies!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1 5, 2018 
Family is Everything…
Walt is ready for the day.
Julie didn't forget the traditional birthday breakfast donuts.
 Brian and Jennifer took us and
his two brothers to breakfast
at Kneader's. Thank you!
 Brian and Steve played tennis
for about an hour after this.
 You can tell it was a sunny day.
Gary hosted Brian and Jen at his home.
Thank you to our Family today for hosting
a wonderful Birthday Open House for me
this afternoon.
Thank you for all those who could come and be with me today, and for those who brought or sent cards and gifts.  I feel so loved! It's nice to be remembered.

 I am grateful for such caring children, their spouses, grandchildren, and for dear friends!
I woke up feeling very old this morning.
I am 80 years old. 
That is older than dirt!
Birthday cake...
I am so blessed to have married
Walter Ray Petersen lo those
57 years ago.
I have faith that we will
be together forever!
Six of our seven children were able to come --
Front: Steve. Next: Julie, Gary.
Back: David, Janie, Brian.
Our children with their spouses and some of 
the 39 grandchildren and of the 5 great-grandchildren
By rows front to back:
Jacee, John, Rigdon, Maddie, Isaac, Steve, Taitum, Katie.
Julie, Eileen, Walt, Jackson, Parker holding Diesel.
Standing: Janie, Shawn, Brian, Jennifer (we have two Jennifers and two Julies), David, Gary. (David's Julie had had to leave with Sam and Will; Steve's Natalie had had to leave with Kimble. And Janie's Michael and Ashley had had to leave.)
Fishers
Front: Taitum with Katie.
Sitting: Ashley holding Diesel.
Standing: Janie, Shawn, Parker.
Andersons
Katie and Parker, Taitum and Diesel
Ashley with me.
Ashley with her Grampa Petersen.
Gary and Isaac  
(I had someone take a photo of
Gary and Isaac with Walt and me
as soon as they came, but
evidentally, my camera didn't
functiion--as sometimes I think a
photo has been taken, but it
didn't take a photo.)
Gary is on the back right;
Isaac is in the center front,
in the blue shirt.
Steve and Natalie,  Kimble  
(Carter had to be at his
soccer game in Provo)
David and Julie, Sam, William 
Julie and John, Jacee, Jackson, Maddie, Rigdon 
Brian and Jennifer
are on the back row
next to Janie and Shawn.

Jen and Jerry, Seth, Sarah, Ben, Josh, Liz, Adam, Anna
were not able to come from Rochester, Minnesota

My sister, Janice
Jeff talking with Shawn
Vicki, Janice's daughter came with her 
daughter, Hailey.
Sarah, Janice's daughter,
Gary is talking with Brian and Jennifer,
who flew out from Nashville, Tennessee, to be here.
This is the beautiful birthday cake.
This is the chocolate birthday cake.
Lovely lavendar flowers from
Gary and family.
All the kids helped put this wonderful
birthday open house together.
Thank you so much!
Friends areEverything, too…
Kenna, my best friend, drove from Burley
just for this, then drove back.
Here are Kenna and Neal Wyatt.
On their way back home, they
may have stopped at Maddox for dinner.
David had a chance to
talk with Coach Wyatt.
Greg and Vicki Rasmussen, and their daughter,
Stephanie Palmer came.
Greg and Vicki live in Clifton now.
Carolyn brought her Mom, Margaret Schloss 
They are dear friends who moved from
Burley to Heber City about 15 years ago.
Fred passed away three years ago.
(We may not have gotten a photo of them.)
------
Roger and Deanne Dixon came 
from Highland.  They moved back to
Utah from Washington D.C. 19 years ago.
Roger is a classmate from the class of '57
at Wendell High School.
Our Missionaries are Friends 
Forever, too…
Three of our missionaries came who
served in the Mexico Merida Mission
when Walt and I were
Mission President and 
Wife of the Mission President,
June 1995-July 1998.

Thomas and Bekah Rohrer
Nathan, Amy, and Sophie.
He planned three mission reunions 
for us--inluding the 20-year reunion
in July 2015.
He brought us a cassette with
3,000 photos from the mission
that he digitalized from the
mission albums I had made,
plus some of the other
missionaries' photos.
Thank you!
Matthew and Evgie Warner
Elder Warner has put these 3,000
mission photos onto a cloud for
all our missionaries to have
access to. Thank you~!
Hna. Angeles Cortes-Salermon, her husband and
daughter. (Her son and other daughter
couldn't come.)
When we surprised her at her wedding
in the Manti Temple, she may have
screamed right in the temple.
 Then it was off to dinner at Sizzler...
  Ready to go out of the warm Visitors' Center
to see the Christmas lights
at Temple Square.


 Very beautiful...
+Here's a larger view....but it cuts off those on the right side.
 As we left Temple Square, the 21,000 who had attended the third night of the Tabernacle Choir annual Christmas Program, starring 
Kristin Chenoweth came pouring out of the Conference Center. Needless to say, the traffic got very slow.
Janie sent me a link to some of Kristin's performance. Don't know if I copied it correctly.
https://youtu.be/tmLoh0Lfo-c

A  big Thank You again,
to my Family for a
Wonderful 80th Birthday!


And an Eternal Thank You 
to Our Father in Heaven Who
Created    The Plan of Salvation
   and to the Savior Who -- 
through His Atonement --
made  The Plan of Salvation operational  so
Families can be together forever!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2018 
Family is Everything…
We were up at 6am to be ready at 7am when Gary came to drive us to the broadcast of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
We got it line right at 8:00 am for the doors to open at 8:25.

We got wonderful seats.
We loved the performance!

It was the Special Christmas Program by the Tabenacle Choir at Temple Square today. Outstanding in very way!
We walked the two blocks south to have breakfast with
Janie, Shawn, Gary, Brian, Jennifer at the Marriott Hotel where Janie and Shawn stayed last night.
 We had just one more hour with Brian and Jennifer.
 Jennifer told Grampa that she was happy that everyone treated her as part of the family.  Brian told me that Grampa replied: "Well, if my son ever makes you feel like you're not part of the family, you let me know!"
 We got one last photo before we had to tell Brian and Jen goodbye as they were ready to head to the airport for their two o'clock flight.
Janie and Shawn were driving back to Rexburg after they picked up Michael who had stayed overnight with his cousins...Carter and Kimble.  Gary is always so good to help us get to where we need to be.  We would never survive old age without our children helping us so much.
  Now I'm 80 years old,
plus one day.
We got back in time for priesthood and Relief Society in our Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward.  Julie Beth gave an inspiring lesson in Relief Society from Elder Uchtdorf's General Conference talk, focusing on BELIEVE in the Savior.

 I'm still enjoying these flowers, plus another beautiful bouquet that Kenna and Neal brought.
 We had another delicious roast beef Sunday dinner that John cooked.  Julie & John and Jacee, Jackson, Maddie, and Riggy make us feel a part of their family.  We are so grateful what they--and the rest of our family--do for us in our elderly years!

We share the Christmas Message from
the First Presidency about the SAVIOR.

Following is the 2018 First Presidency Christmas message, released Dec. 6 and signed by President Russell M. Nelson, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring:

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, offers to us four incomparable gifts — the capacity to love others, the ability to forgive, the blessing of repentance and the promise of life everlasting. These four unique gifts will bring us more and more joy as we accept and act upon them. They were made possible because Jehovah condescended to come to earth as the baby Jesus. He was born of an immortal Father and a mortal mother. He was born in Bethlehem under the most humble of circumstances. His was the holy birth foreseen by prophets since the days of Adam. Jesus Christ is God’s transcendent gift — the gift of the Father to all of His children. (SeeJohn 3:16.) We joyfully celebrate His birth this Christmas season.
We hope you have had a restful and peaceful
Sabbath Day.

We are thankful for Heavenly Father who loves us.
We are thankful for Jesus Christ who is our Savior.
We are thankful for the Prophet Joseph Smith
restoring all the truths needed for
this Last Dispensation.
We are thankful for our Living Prophet, 
President Russell M. Nelson.
We are thankful for the Restoration of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are thankful for the Bible,
and the Book of Mormon.

Walt and Eileen Petersen
Saratoga Springs, Utah
Posted by Walt and Eileen at 11:19 PM

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