(To see last week's blog post--scroll down to the end of this week, then
the Week of November 18-November 24, 2019 will be there.
If it's not, hit "Older Posts." at the bottom right.)
THIS WEEK-
NOVEMBER 25-
December 1, 2019
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2019
Family is Everything…
We had Family Home Evening
for the Empty Nesters in the
neighborhood at the home
of Bryant and Kathie Hatch.
"Living a Spiritually
Centered Life."
Clockwise from back left:
Bryant, Kathie, Nelson,
Judy, Leslie, Howard,
Sharon.
With Eileen in the photo
of Bryant and Kathie Hatch.
"Living a Spiritually
Centered Life."
Clockwise from back left:
Bryant, Kathie, Nelson,
Judy, Leslie, Howard,
Sharon.
started the movie "White Christmas"
for Walt.
Family is Everything…
No Institute until January 7th
when we will continue
Marci here to help Walt.
Julie brought photos from Grama
'n Grampa Huffaker for us to sort.
So nostalgic seeing my Mom and
her siblings when they were little
kids. Reminds me how grateful
I am for the heritage from
my Parents,Grandparents,
Great-Grandparents and beyond.
I pray they are proud of
Walt and me and of our children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Julie helped us take all our
Thanksgiving decorations down
so when we return from Idaho,our Christmas decorations
will be up.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2019
Family is Everything...
The Gathering Day for Thanksgiving is here...
Maddie, Jackson, and John came to
tell us goodbye.
Jacee and Rigdon are in the van...
The final loading...
And they are off for 5 days in
I D A H O . . .
with John's Dad and Mom and
most of John's 8 siblings and families.
They wanted to leave by 10:00ish and
were on the road by 10:24...hope
they have good roads all the way.
[They didn't...lots of traffic, and
snowy roads. They got to Burley/Declo
about 3:30 that afternoon.]
We had a great serendipity this morning...
Dave and Marilyn Gibbons,
who are among our very best friends
who are among our very best friends
from our years in came to
see us.
They are here to have Thanksgiving
see us.
They are here to have Thanksgiving
with their daughter, Jeni and family
in Harriman. And I think they said that
Lanae and her husband and family
will be here from Montana.
They told us that the new Bishopric
for our Burley 3rd Ward is:
Christian Jackson, Bishop
(can't remember the new First Counselor)
Brian Reiter, Second Counselor.
We love The Gibbons!
Gary came at 12:20 to load us up.
We were on the road by 12:46 noon~!
...about 275 miles to go...
from Saratoga Springs, Utah
to Rexburg, Idaho.
The red spot on Idaho map
shows were Rexburg is.
The other map on left is of
the where Rexburg is in
the County of Madison.
The far eastern border would
be the west border of Wyoming.
We think Idaho has the most
artistic border of any other state
because it follows rivers on both sides.
This map is a good visual of
where Rexburg is from where
we go from Utah to Idaho...
The road from Tremonton, Utah to
the Utah/Idaho Border...
about 20 miles was the worst
wintery-snow conditions we
drove in until the 30 miles
between Idaho Falls and Rexburg...
which we hit just at dark...4:52 sunset.
It was slow going on icy roads in
a snow storm. Gary counted
12 vehicles off the road. We saw
several tow trucks and
police cars with
their red lights flashing.
We pulled up at "Greystone"
(what Janie calls their home)
at 5:45 p.m...
5 hours after we pulled out of
our driveway...
(...this is the photo of Greystone
when we left on Friday...because
when we pulled up Wednesday
evening it was very dark.
We were sure happy to be
finished driving for the day.)
We're thankful for Gary's safe
driving us thru all the kinds
of weather that we hit.
Janie and Shawn and kids had
supper all cooked...
...the tables all set...
...and ready for the Gathering Meal
of Stew and Scones.
Delicious!
Steve and Natalie were about
thirty minutes behind us...
We had pie a while later and
played games Truth Truth Lie...
talking and laughing, laughing, laughing!
Family time is precious and treasured time!
Family is Everything...
The day began by Gary
and others shoveling snow...
Steve shoveling rexburg snow...
Thanksgiving morning tradition
F O O T B A L L
Gary at Former
thanksgiving football games...
Gary today in full rams attire
with all the gear ready...
Mecham Family ‘n Friends invited
with all the gear ready...
Fisher Family ‘n Friends to play
At the Sugar City Park
at nine o'clock that morning.
at nine o'clock that morning.
The exciting, fun time was talked
About the rest of the day
(Shawn and Steve had to leave
the game early to go rescue heidi
and her friend Pono in malad when
a truck passing them on the
slushly road at the
utah/idaho border had
caused them to slide off
...Shawn and Steve had
Heidi and Pono back by
about 1:30 in the afternoon.
Helpers for breakfast...
Gary cooking sausages...
Grama A called them
"Little pigs."
Gary, Sam, Michael...
...more helpers,
Gary, Janie, Natalie.
Gary, Janie, Natalie.
Michael, Aimee, Katie, and Taitum
are ready for breakfast.
are ready for breakfast.
Yummy waffles with
strawberries 'n whipped cream...
hard to beat.
strawberries 'n whipped cream...
hard to beat.
It's great that everyone pitches
in to help...
Grampa and I can't help do much
anymore because we have such
a hard time even just walking.
So we got to watch the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
anymore because we have such
a hard time even just walking.
So we got to watch the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
Janie had done a lot of preparaing
before hand, so it's nice she got
a lot of help today.
before hand, so it's nice she got
a lot of help today.
The table is beautifully set for
the grand Thanksgiving Dinner.
She has used her beautiful wedding
china for many, many dinners
over these past 33 years.
the grand Thanksgiving Dinner.
She has used her beautiful wedding
china for many, many dinners
over these past 33 years.
With most everything ready...
just waiting for the turkeys to
get done...a game of Whacky Six
is under way.
Grampa 'n I opted for a nap while
the game was going on.
just waiting for the turkeys to
get done...a game of Whacky Six
is under way.
Grampa 'n I opted for a nap while
the game was going on.
The four o'clock dinner time
is approaching and
the hot food is almost ready to
be put into the serving dishes,
is approaching and
the hot food is almost ready to
be put into the serving dishes,
...the strawberry-apple salad
and the orange fluff salad
are on the counter...
along with green beans
and corn.
Ashley goes over to take a...
...selfie with her and Grampa.
Michael's putting some last-minute
goodie in place...
goodie in place...
...and we're almost ready...
...to begin
...Shawn is cutting the turkey,
...Steve and Katie are getting the
pans all washed, dried, and
put away to make it easier
after dinner.
pans all washed, dried, and
put away to make it easier
after dinner.
Janie has coordinated everything
in grand style...
in grand style...
We're thankful for everyone
watching out for us in our
elderly years of 85 and 80...
watching out for us in our
elderly years of 85 and 80...
...Diesel is ready
...Parker has been helping plus
watching Disel.
watching Disel.
...we are truly blessed and
thankful for this delicious
food served on this
Thanksgiving Day of
November 28, 2019.
thankful for this delicious
food served on this
Thanksgiving Day of
November 28, 2019.
Grampa and I loved their tradition of
going around the table three times to
have everyone share what they are
thankful for...
which included family, country,
son serving a mission, safe travel,
in-door plumbing, dancing, being home,
those away in the military making it
possible for us to be home having this
Thanksgiving dinner with family and
loved ones, eternal sweethearts,
the Holy Ghost, and
The Savior.(16x3 would = 48 different things that
these sixteen people were thankful for
that I can only remember a smidgen...
any of you who remember more, please
text or e-mail me so I can add more.
Thanks.
The sixteen at dinner were:
Janie, Katie, Parker, Taitum, Diesel,
Heidi, Pono, Sam, Ashley, Michael,
Hudson, Gary, Steve, Natalie,
Grampa and I.
Shawn and Aimee were with us
most of the day.
Katie is cutting Diesel's food
for him...
for him...
We were sad that Aimee had a
migraine hit her so hard before
dinner, that she missed dinner
when Shawn had to drive her
to the Emergency Room.
Shawn did get a plate of
dinner warmed up later
when he got back.
Aimee never did feel like eating.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***When everyone was ready to
get up from the dinner table,
Steve said:
"Okay, we guys are doing the
dishes now. That's how we
roll around here."
about 7:00, just in time for pie.
Apple (Janie's homemade, along
with Apple Crisp), pumpkin,
banana cream, coconut cream,
chocolate, blueberry, razzleberry,
pecan, blackberry...and I may have
missed some.
to decide what to choose...
We played Wits and Wagers...
which is a very fun game.
We feel truly blessed and happy
to be with family and friends
on this annual day of
T H A N K S G I V I N G .
Shawn, Gary, Grampa, and I
watched "Miracle on 34th Street,"
others watched some of the Star Warstrilogies in the theatre room downstairs.
Janie drove Aimee back to the ER.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2019
Family is Everything...
The day after Thanksgiving...
Biscuits 'n gravy for breakfast...
along with bacon and hashbrowns,
and pancakes with homemade
butter syrup!
Oh, and hot chocolate in
the cocoa pot, or orange juice,
or chocolate milk.
We gathered what family was
left for a photo...
we completely forgot to gather
the family after Thanksgiving dinner
for a family photo when everyone
was still together.
We are thankful for family!
We were all so happy that
Aimee was feeling better this morning.
Then sad that she had to go back
to the hospital a while after this
photo was taken of her with
Grampa Petersen.
All too soon it was time
left for a photo...
we completely forgot to gather
the family after Thanksgiving dinner
for a family photo when everyone
was still together.
Aimee was feeling better this morning.
Then sad that she had to go back
to the hospital a while after this
photo was taken of her with
Grampa Petersen.
for us to say "Goodbye."
We were trying to get ahead
of the snowstorm forecast
for noon today.
We pulled out at 10:45...
Utah border about 1:00...
stopped at Wendy's in Tremonton
about 1:30 for lunch.
[The sign is googled...my cell phone
battery was too low to take photos
when we crossed the border.]
We hit snow at Tremonton but the
roads never got as bad as on the
drive up on Wednesday.
We hit stop 'n go traffic right
when we got off Bangeter to
Redwood Road...and for 30 minutes
we thought we'd be another hour
getting the 11 miles to home,
but at 2100 North we passed the
accident that was causing the
slowdown and pulled into our
driveway at 5:15...
a total of 5 and a half hours
driving time,
(We stopped in Tremonton
about 30 minutes.)
It's nice to go traveling...
but it's always nice to
get back home!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2019
Family is Everything...
Steve and Natalie . . .
Happy
23rd Anniversary
November 30th, 2019
...23 years together =
...just two years till your:
********************************************************
Sad ending of the regular season...
BYU 2019 Football Season ends today...
They will play on Christmas Eve in
the Hawaii Bowl in Hawaii.
2019 Football Schedule
The BYU Cougars didn't seem to show up to play
against San Diego. The Cougs didn't even make a touchdown...I don't think.
Lost big time! Maybe 28-3...can't really remember.
SUNDAY, DECEMER 1, 2019
Family is Everything...
We love seeing our new friend, Art McOmber, in
our Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward each Sunday.
He said Tammy's coming back from Alaska tomorrow...
they thought, but she said she's coming back Tuesday.
So they're going to clarify that today.
Walt shared his testimony in
Fast and Testimony Meeting today.
They brought a roving microphone
to our row so he could stand there.
The six others who shared their testimonies
were Bishop Ted Mardesich, Nelson Spencer,
Roberta Sherman, Vickie Conner's dau,
and then her g-dau, closing with
wife of Garrett Mardesich, who shared
that she has an anxiety problem and
some Sunday's she cannot force
herself to come to Church, so
she is struggling with going
to Church right now. Vivien Oramas
said in Gospel Doctrine Class that
we need to share our struggles more
like Sis. Mardesich did in her
testimony, so that we will know
how to help our brothers and
sisters.
Thanks, Gary, for all you've done
for us this Thanksgiving,
and all the times before that.
We were happy that
John and Julie and kids
made it home safely a little before 3:00.
They brought their Christmas tree in
that they always cut on the mountain
the day after Thanksgiving with
John's family.
But they were too tired to decorate it.
*** *** ***
We are so thankful for The Plan of Salvation
and the Atonement of Jesus Christ
that makes this Great Plan operational.
At the end of this December 1st,
At the end of this December 1st,
we pray you have had a
restful , peaceful, and spiritual
Sabbath Day...
We share these truths as our testimony to you...
Heavenly Father lives and knows us each by name. He loves us and wants us to return to Him and Heavenly Mother when we leave this mortal existence. He loves us just as we are at this very moment. But wants us to be our very best self.
*** *** ***
Jesus Christ came to earth as The Only Begotten of the Father and fulfilled the Atonement. He is the Redeemer of all.
*** *** ***
Joseph Smith was foreordained to be the Prophet of the Restoration. He is the Restorer of all things.
*** *** ***
President Russell M. Nelson is the Living Prophet today for all the world.
*** *** ***
The Bible is "the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly" and is a Testament of the Divinity of Jesus Christ.
*** *** ***
The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is the most correct book of any book on earth.
*** *** ***
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the True Church on the earth today.
*** *** ***
Of these truths we testify in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Walt and Eileen Petersen
Saratoga Springs, Utah, U.S.A.
Decemer 1, 2019
