Traces of Time . . .December 24-30, 2018

Traces of Time . . .

(To see last week's blog post--scroll down to the end of this week, then the Week of Dec. 17-23, 2018 will be there. If it's not, hit "Older posts.")

THIS WEEK- DECEMBER 24-30, 2018

MONDAY, DECEMBER  24, 2018 

Family is Everything…
'Twas the day before Christmas...

Natalie had an emergency

appendectomy on Saturday, 

December 22 at 12:30

noon because

her appendix had ruptured,

abscessed and become 

gangrene. If she hadn't been 

in such great shape,

her nurse told her, most

patients under those conditions

would have been in the ICU.

The doctor had told Natalie on Sunday 
that he thought she could go home 
Monday at lunch time, but this
morning he said she should stay in another day...

John watched "Holiday Inn"

starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire
from 1942.

We did some last-minute 
errands.
'Then Twas ...
A  Christmas Miracle
Natalie's nurse had her get up
to walk today, just before 
the doctor came in again.
Natalie did so well that the
doctor said she could go home now...

Gary picked us up in 

the afternoon and we

rendezvoused with

Steve and Natalie,

Kelsey and Josh,

Cortney and Tomas,

Kimble and Carter at

"Phat Axe"

in American Fork
to begin the
"Day Before Christmas"
activities.

Nothing like something

safe and calm to do the

day before Christmas...

...say, something like axe throwing!

Yes, Steve and Natalie's family

chose an hour of axe throwing.

There was instruction first.

The instructor thought Natalie should
throw even though he knew she had
just been released from the hospital
after an appendectomy on Saturday.

Kelsey got a bull's eye

 Everyone got a

bull's eye during the hour

of axe throwing.

Brothers--Steve and Gary--are
still competitive.

We all survived...

Then it was a tradition for them

to draw their brother-sister name

and get a gift right then at Walmart.

Gary said I needed to just go in

this cart to get some
gift bags.
As we were going out the
doors at 6pm, as others
were coming in, the
Walmart gal said:
"Sorry, we are now closed...
Go to Target, they are
open until midnight."

Then we went to Steve and

Natalie's home for the bar-b-que

ribs Steve had been slow-cooking

since ten o'clock that morning.

Cort, Kels, Josh...

Then it was time for them

to open presents.

Cortney and Tomas, Carter.

The brothers liked their

combined gift card from Kelsey

and Cortney for

something about...video games

Kimble is excited about

a special gift.

Then Natalie's surprise

gift from Steve...

going to the National Crossfit

Contest in Wisconsin next

July 31 to August 5, 2019

with two of her sisters--
Angie and Jena.
She is so excited!
They are so excited
to go with her!

Then Gary, Walt, and I
went to Denny's for
Gary's Christmas Eve
tradition...
from "The Santa Claus" movie,
to see if they are out of something.
Right off, when Grampa ordered a
caramel milkshake--they didn't have it.

That made Gary's night!

I ordered a Mud Cake to share,
but we were all so full,
we only took about one bite.
We couldn't even finish our milk shakes.

After a delightful

Christmas Eve with family

Gary took us home to

dream of sugarplums.

And to all a Goodnight.

We can never show enough love

and gratitude for what Christ came

to earth to do for us.

He is our Advocate with the Father.

Because of His Atonement for each one

of us, we can be forgiven and look forward

to being Resurrected.

*******

But we also have the 

fun for children to look
forward to Santa Claus
bringing toys to
good little girls and boys.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2018 

Family is Everything…

Santa Claus did come!

Everyone is excited and thankful.

We had fun watching to see what

Santa brought.

We love Christmastime.

We had the most fun

watching the joy 
of a 4-year-old little boy.

Maddie helped sort the presents.

Riggy has been waiting for

days and days to open 

his presents!

Here's his "Red Rocks"

U of U shirt.

When he holds up his hands

forming the "U" ... Julie forms
a "Y" and says: 
"Oh, no, True Blue."

We all took turns.

 Everyone was so generous!

 Thank you so much!

We are overwhelmed.

 Time for Christmas breakfast.

 Christmas plates used 
once a year.

Yummy...

We are overwhelmed by this

30x40 photo of our family

gathered for the last time

in front of our home of

50 years in Burley, I D A H O.

We also love the notebook

of everyone's remembrances

of Dad and me.

Now Walt is ready for the day.

 I had a dilemma of mixing
rolls with only 1 1/2 cups of flour.

We are ready for

Christmas dinner.

We used gold forks and

Christmas dishes.

 We had a full table.

 We had delicious turkey

and all the trimmings.

 We had 13 total...

Kimble, Maddie, Julie, John,

Jacee, Jackson, Gary...

 ...Steve, Carter with the turkey leg,
and Kimble...

 Grama 'n Grampa...

Natalie got to be in the recliner...

After dinner discussion continues...

Then games...

We told Steve and his sons goodnight,...

...then we watched

...and that is the ending of a 

Wonderful Christmas Day

2 0 1 8.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2018 

Family is Everything… 
'Twas the day after Christmas...

Maddie did three puzzles.

We were very tired and

mostly just lounged around the house.

Brent and Vicki came over 

but John had come home

from work early with symptoms

of the flu...so he just went to bed.

We enjoyed talking to his Mom and Dad,

and then they went back home to

Tiffany's home in West Valley.

Gary came over at 7 o'clock...

 ...and we watched "Inside Out"

which D's wife, Karen Taylor's son

had a big part in the making of.

Riley's 5 Islands of Personality: Family Island, 

Friendship Island, 
Hockey Island
 Goofball Island
Honesty Island
 "The point is, 
the Islands of Personality are 
what makes Riley, Riley." 
[And what makes you, you
and me,me.]
The Islands of Personality 
are locations in 
Inside Out
inside Riley's mind.

Emotions inside our head...

Here is Joy...the most 
important one...
"Endure with Joy"

Here is Anger...

Here is Fear...

Here is Disgust...

Here is Sadness...

Here's where some
of the memories
are stored...

This movie has been called
"Brilliant," and
"Outstanding".
It is both!
We enjoyed watching
it with Gary.
 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2018 

Family is Everything…

Marci from home health came then

Kimble came to drive us to
rendezvous with Shawn and Michael
at Tremonton where they drove us
on to Rexburg to spend four days
with the Fishers...
"♫♫♪♪And here we have
I D A H O ♫♪♫"

We got there at 4:30, and at 5:30 we
went to "Mary Poppins Returns" with Janie.
Warning to Julie Beth: Just skip past
the next photos and dialogue
until you see the movie.

We liked it a lot!

They stayed very true to the original
"Mary Poppins" of 1964.
...different senarios but
similiar happenings.

Julie Andrews was born
Oct. 1, 1935
So she was 29 years old
when Mary Poppins was
made and now is
age 83.

Janie said she didn't know if she would
like the star of "Hamilton" doing the
part of Bert - Dick VanDyke - from
"Mary Poppins," but he
was great!

it has all the magic of
the 1964 "Mary Poppins"
from 54 years ago!

Great cameos by...
Dick Van Dyke, then age 39,
now age 93!

Meryl Streep...
now age 69...

Meryl Streep would have
been 15 when the first
Mary Poppins came out.

Angelia Lansbury...
same age as Dick VanDyke
then 39, now 93~!
She has a lot of wrinkles showing
in the movie close up.

Julie Andrews did not accept
a cameo role. She said it
was Emily's time to shine!

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018 

Family is Everything…

We had a biscuits 'n gravy breakfast
with Aimee and Michael,
Katie and Parker, Taitum and Diesel,
Heidi, Ashley, Michael,
Janie and Shawn Friday morning.

We see the cocoa pot is in
good hands.

Janie always cooks 
delicious meals.

Janie now has the cocoa pot.

Aimee - the third generation
who will have the cocoa pot.

Janie and Shawn and we
 went to the Rexburg Temple
to do a Twelve o'clock endowment session.
The temple was covered 
in snow and just 18 degrees.

We didn't get a photo of 
us four going to the temple.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2018 

Family is Everything…

We were in for another

great day with the Fisher Family.

 We woke up to a 

cold, snowy morning.

We went to the Madison High vs

Skyline High School basketball game.

 It was a "retro game"

where the team and cheerleaders

dressed up in uniforms from

years past.

 Fun school spirit posters...

 The coach dressed up retro, too. 

 Cooper, Ashley's boyfriend,
made a basket.

 Madison was behind at first,
but won by about 10.

 Way to go Bobcats.

Ashley posed with us at half time.

Then she posed with her Mom.

She is the fourth of four girls,

and they have three sons.

Just she and Michael are

at home, now.

Katie was a Madison High cheer leader,

also, and is now helping coach them.

Here is Ashley with her

boyfriend, Cooper.

We watched the end of the

Orange Bowl when we got home.

Can't decide if we were for

Alabama or Oklahoma.

Then we watched "Hildalgo."
Well, Shawn and I watched 
it to the end.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2018 

Family is Everything…

We went to the Rexburg 14th Ward.

Janie taught the

Gospel Doctrine lesson as

they concluded 
The Old Testament today.

Here are the 7 Dispensations of Time...

Adam - 4000 B.C.

Enoch - 3000 B.C,

Noah - 2400 B.C.

Abraham - 2000 B.C.

Moses -  1400 B.C.
******************************************************

Jesus Christ - Meridian of Time "0"
******************************************************

Joseph Smith - 1800 A.D. 

 * * *

Purpose: 

Studying the Old Testament

should strengthen our

testimonies of the

S A V I O R

and our commitment

to live

His Gospel. 
Janie gave an excellent lesson
in summing up the 
Old Testament for the study
during this year of 2018.

Several class members talked with
her after the class.  Here is
Dr. Dyer, who is her neighbor
and former bishop.

During Relief Society we sat
by Janie's very dear friend, Mary.

We had a wonderful dinner.
(Please send me the photos from dinner,
thanks.)

Then we got photos with the family.

Aimee and Michael Mecham...
our firstborn grandchild.
They live in Oklahoma.
They head back tomorrow, Dec. 31.

Katie and Parker, 
Taitum and Diesel
live in Rexburg.

Heidi and Jordan live in Rexburg.

Their 2nd wedding anniversary 

was on Dec. 10.

Sam is on the second year of serving

 in the Washington D.C. South Mission. 

He got to call on Christmas Day.

Daniel and Kelly were also on

the conference Google time call.

Ashley is a senior at Madison High.

Michael didn't get a separate

photo with us. He is the youngest, 

and youngest son of 

Janie and Shawn.

He is a sophomore at

Madison High School.

The Pie Night (Dec 23) showing

L-R: Big Michael, Little Michael

(who is about 6' 2" now),

Ashley holding Diesel, Parker,

Katie, Daniel, Kelly.

Daniel and Kelly flew to Boston

Dec. 24 to be with her parents 

and family Christmas Week.

They were going to ski in Vermont.

Taitum, almost 3, went to play in

 the back yard. The snow was

so deep she sunk to her knees in it.

Then Shawn helped Grampa and

me walk out to the car...

...because it was time for us to 

head back to our Utah home.

We had a wonderful time

with Janie and Shawn and

their family.

Thank you for everything!

You are very tender and

kind to help us in our

failing, elderly years.

(Please remember that as Grama A always said: "Old age isn't for wimps.")

Then

(I took a great photo of Janie
waving goodbye to us from their
beautiful home, but now I can't pull it up.)

Shawn drove us from 

Rexburg to rendezvous

with Gary in Malad, Idaho.

 Thanks, Shawn and Gary for
getting us back home safely. 
"Welcome to Utah" sign...
is at mileage marker 400...
and our Pioneer Crossing sign
is at mileage marker  278...
So it's 30 miles to Idaho Falls
from Rexburg, then the
mileage marker at Idaho Falls
is 119 to the border of 0,
Total miles from Rexburg
to Utah border is 149,
and from the Utah border
to Pioneer Crossing is 122 miles,
then Pioneer Crossing to 
our home in Saratoga Springs
is about 20 miles...
so total = 295 miles,
which took right at
4 hours to drive
tonight.

 Snow was all around, 
but roads were okay.
We got home about 7:30 tonight.
Thanks again Gary and Shawn.

At the end of this Sabbath Day,

we pray you have had a

restful and peaceful day

in remembering our Savior.

May you have had a wonderful

year of 2 0 1 8.

As we sang these two hymns in
Sacrament Meeting today,
I wrote down that they
would be a good testimony
for this last Sunday
of the year 2018.

O Savior, Thou Who Wearest A Crown

1. O Savior, thou who wearest

1. A crown of piercing thorn,
   The pain thou meekly bearest,
   Weigh'd down by grief and scorn.
   The soldiers mock and flail thee;
   For drink they give thee gall;
   Upon the cross they nail thee
   To die, O King of all.
2. 2. No creature is so lowly,
   No sinner so depraved,
   But feels thy presence holy
   And thru thy love is saved.
   Tho craven friends betray thee,
   They feel thy love's embrace;
   The very foes who slay thee
   Have access to thy grace.
3. 3. Thy sacrifice transcended
   The mortal law's demand;
   Thy mercy is extended
   To ev'ry time and land.
   No more can Satan harm us,
   Tho long the fight may be,
   Nor fear of death alarm us;
   We live, O Lord, thru thee.
4. 4. What praises can we offer
   To thank thee, Lord most high?
   In our place thou didst suffer;
   In our place thou didst die,
   By heaven's plan appointed,
   To ransom us, our King.
   O Jesus, the anointed,
   To thee our love we bring!
5. Text: Karen Lynn Davidson, b. 1943. (c) 1985 IRI
   Music: Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612; adapted by J. S. Bach, 1685-1750

"Ring Out Wild Bells"

    from the poem by Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892

1. 1. Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
   The flying cloud, the frosty light.
   The year is dying in the night;
   Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
   The year is dying in the night;
   Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
2. 2. Ring out the old; ring in the new.
   Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
   The year is going; let him go.
   Ring out the false; ring in the true.
   The year is going; let him go.
   Ring out the false; ring in the true.
3. 3. Ring in the valiant men and free,
   The larger heart, the kindlier hand.
   Ring out the darkness of the land;
   Ring in the Christ that is to be.
   Ring out the darkness of the land;
   Ring in the Christ that is to be.
4. Text: Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892
   Music: Crawford Gates, b. 
5. 
   
6. 1921. (c) 1948 

We testify of the truths spoken of

in these two hymns.

How would we get through all things we go through each year without a loving Heavenly Father who sends divine help through angels -- both in heaven and on this earth -- to help us each day!  

We pray that we will always have a grateful heart for the many tender mercies that we receive from all who watch over us.

Walter and Eileen Petersen

Saratoga Springs, Utah

This last Sunday in

the year 2018 --

December 30.