Traces of Time . . . December 9-15, 2019

Traces of Time . . .

(To see last week's blog post--scroll down to the end of this week, then 

the Week of December 2-8, 2019 will be there. 

If it's not, hit "Older Posts." at the bottom right.) 

THIS WEEK- 

DECEMBER 9-

DECEMBER 15, 2019

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 

Family is Everything…

Karen, the home health and hospice

nurse came to check Walt.

   We had Family Home Evening

for the Empty Nesters in the

neighborhood at the home 

of Bryant and Kathie Hatch tonight. 

 We are continuing the lectures

by James M. Cox

"Becoming Spiritually Centered."

We donate money when it's our

turn to treat. The Hatches bought a

special chocolate cake at Costco.

 It was delicious. 

It had a rich, chocolate flavor.

(Can't remember the official name of it.)   

The ten gathering tonight were,

front: L-R: Sharon Howell, Howard Howell,

Kathie Hatch, Linda Hartley.

Back: Mark and Tammy Ballard, Nelson

Spencer, Bryant Hatch, Andrew Fletcher.

Eileen Petersen is in the next photo.

Walt was not able to come tonight

because he was worn out from a

lot of family activites last

Friday and Saturday.

 Here's the photo with Eileen on

the back left. Mark, thank you for

taking the photo. 

 We loved their Christmas tree.

 Sister Hartley said:

"This group has saved my life.

It's been so lonesome since I

lost Bill a year ago. It helps
me a lot to get out and have
a group to go be with...and
learn more about the Gospel."
Then she gave each couple/person
there some homemade goodies.
"I haven't made divinity for twenty years,
hope it's okay."

Linda, it is heavenly! 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 

Family is Everything…No Institute until January

when we will continue

  Elder Carter Petersen,

Steve and Natalie's son arrived in

his Brazil Salvador South Mission

today after an 8-hour flight from

the MTC in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

There were 10 Elders and 2 Sisters

in his MTC group who traveled together.

Enlarging the above photo to show 

Elder Petersen better. He's right behind 

the word: "-VINDOS."

Here he is with his Mission President
and Mission President's wife.

He then had a 6-hour bus ride to Poções  his area.
I don't know if they stayed in the
mission home one night or not.

First Week in the field  [December 10-Dec 17]

Steven Petersen
Ola mae e pai,
Mom and Dad I am so lost. This first week so much has happened. I love my companion I love the people of Brazil I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have so many investigators yet I don't know how to help these people. They are going through things I've never been through or experienced. I don't know how to speak Portuguese so I go around with my companion and he teaches all the lessons because I am without words.

We were able to chat via text this morning with Elder Petersen. Here are a few of the things we learned from him:

His companion is from Texas. He attended BYU for a year before leaving for his mission in Brazil. He has been out four months and is probably the hardest working missionary out here. He is basically fluent in Portuguese. Yeah I think he is the youngest trainer in our mission
He does only speak Portuguese unless I'm completely lost then he will tell me what something means.
It"s been pretty crazy though a 6 hour flight to Salvador then an 8 hour bus ride to Poções (my area). We have a ton of investigators and a pretty small ward. The people are full of love and service and are so happy with the little that they have.
I love you guys I'll try to be more organized and ready for next week! (He couldn't figure out how to work the webcam, etc).

Elder Petersen would love to hear from any of you. His email is scpetersen@missionary.org

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Our Tuesday, December 10th...

Marci came to help Walt start his day.

  Riggy helped put the ornaments back

on our tree that had fallen off in

transport from the storage unit.

We had Christmas Carolers just

as Gary got here tonight.

It was the Cub Scouts and

their leaders.

What a nice surprise, and

brought in a wonderful

Christmas spirit!

Thanks, Cub Scouts and Leaders.

 Gary came tonight for our weekly
"movie night together" because
Jackson and Maddie's 
Band Concert is 
tomorrow night.

 We look forward to these weekly
"movie nights" with our son, Gary. 

We watched the 1942 Christmas movie

"Holiday Inn" which was redone in

1954 as "White Christmas."

Gary said: "I liked 'Holiday Inn' 

better than 'White Christmas.' "

Info from Wikipedia

"Holiday Inn is a 1942 American musical film directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, with Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, and Walter Abel.^[3] With music by Irving Berlin, the composer wrote twelve songs specifically for the film, the best known being "White Christmas". The film features a complete reuse of the song "Easter Parade", written by Berlin for the 1933 Broadway revue As Thousands Cheer. The film's choreography was by Danny Dare.^[4]

The film received a 1943 

Academy Award for Best Original Song (Irving Berlin for "White Christmas"), as well as Academy Award nominations for Best Score (Robert Emmett Dolan) and Best Original Story (Irving Berlin).^[5]"

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 

Family is Everything... 

Karen, R.N., came to check on Walt.

He has been having a hard time

since we returned from the

trip to Rexburg, Idaho, for

Thanksgiving.

 Jackson's Band Concert was tonight.

The Jazz Band played first.

And last was the symphonic band.

In between was Maddie in the

Beginning Band.

Walt and I both really enjoy these

Band Concerts that our 

grandchildren play in.

Maddie has just started on the clarinet,

but she wants to play saxaphone, too.

Walt had a hard time getting in

to the Vista Auditorium, even

with John's help. And he had an

even harder time coming out.

I don't know how much longer

he will be able to go to 

these events.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019 

Family is Everything... 

I took just one photo today...of Walt this morning,

but it didn't turn out well. So I guess this is a 

no-photo day.

        I worked a lot on my Mom's life story which we 

are planning to give to each family for their Christmas

gift from us this year.  January 14, 2020, will be the

100th birthday remembrance of my Mom,

              Verna Beth Huffaker.  Here's a photo of her

              that Julie recently found in her sorting of

              the family photos.

              It is the actual photo that Verna had given

              to her boyfriend, Arnold Albertson, when

              Verna was a sophomore, age 16. 

               If you look closely you can see where she

               has written: "To Arnold,

                                       With love,

                                       Verna" on the left side.

       I'll have to see if I can lighten the photo up for her Life Story.

 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 

Family is Everything... 

We found these photos today...

My Mom's parents, my grandparents

Dave and Ella Huffaker

both age 53 in 1944

in front of their farm home

in Wendell, Idaho

She is standing a couple of

steps higher than he is standing on.

He was 6'5" and she was barely 5',

if that.

The January 1949 photo of

how high the snow was out in

the country along the side of our

roads 5 miles out of Wendell, Idaho.

My cousin, Lucy, and I are on the

sled and my Grampa Huffaker

is standing by us.

The snow was up to the roof of our

little country school teacherage

which my folks were renting.

Karen, R.N. came...

Walt is doing a little better today.

Janice and Jeff stopped by from

Midvale on their way to a birthday

party for their 2-y-o granddaughter,

Ellis, Jasmine's daughter.

 She gave me this beautiful Hallmark

2019 Christmas ornament.

Thanks, Janice.

Julie took a photo of us all.

 Then a photo of my sister and me.

 They had a chance to ask

John about where to find

replacements on the Christmas

lights he and Julie have out

on their house. I guess most

people have switched to the 

LED lights, but they still like

the regular old lights better,

but they are hard to find

replacements bulbs for now.

 We were glad they didn't have to

drive in snow today.

...and they're on their way to
Janice's daughter, Vickie's home
in Provo where Jasmine and
her husband are out here
visiting from South Carolina.
Their little girl, Ellis, is
celebrating her second 
birthday at a party this evening.

David and Will drove down from Draper

this early evening and brought us

all supper from Arctic Circle.

John is making something

special. He can cook anything!

David was telling us some

fun story.

...another candid photo...

All too soon it was time for 

them to head home...

David and William, thanks for

making these drives down to
see us in the not-so-fun traffic
on the Interstate, Bangeter, 
and Redwood Road.

Julie got a photo of

all four of us.

Thank you for all
you do for us!

Family is Everything... 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 

Family is Everything... 

Marci came to help Walt get ready...

... for family photos this morning...

SUNDAY, DECEMER 15, 2019 

Family is Everything... 

Julie had donuts and chocolate milk for my

birthday breakfast this morning...

 We 

 We 

We  

 We Walt gave me the most beautiful
necklace I have ever had.
Thank you to my Eternal Sweetheart.
What fun birthday decorations...
lavender streamers and lavender
and blue balloons, my favorite
color combination.
On the magnet photos Julie took all
these photos down of her family
throughout their Christmases...

 

...and put of these photos of 

me she recently found in a box

of Grama Huffaker's photographs.

My "ministering sisters" came to

visit with me this afternoon.

Leslie Elmer and Kathy Skousen.

Leslie shared a story about

Michael Wilcox and about

"the given and receiving"

at Christmas time.

 Thank you, sisters, for
watching over me.

The Cousins' Christmas Party
has begun...
Gary is getting the 12 flavors
of hot chocolate ready to compare.

Gary also brought cookies for 
the kids to decorate.

 Looks like Julie believed me
when I told her this morning I
was going to stay "80" for
another year...because the
candles were and "8" and a "1,"
but tonight it had this...

 We played "J I N G O" which was
very fun. Gary brought fun
prizes for the winners...
I won a... 

 ...I won a set of "Noel" 
hot pads and oven mit...



Julie started to take a
photo of everyone...

 ...but John boxed her out...

 Here we all are...
cousins are dwindling in number
as they are growing up and
leaving home...

This is a great remembrance
of the gum drop tree that
Grama 'n Grampa Albertson
had for years and years.
(Grama had ordered it from a
Miles Kimble catalogue, I think.)

 Thanks, Gary and Isaac, for planning
so many fun things for the
Cousins' Christmas Party tonight.

...another birthday is in the books. 

 *** *** ***

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 15th,

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.

*** *** ***

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 15, 2019