Traces of Time . . . Week of April 6-12, 2020 Easter Week

Traces of Time . . .

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

the Week of March 30 to April 5, 2020 will be there. 

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

THIS WEEK- 

APRIL 6-12, 2020

YEAR OF 2020 

THE DECADE

OF 2020 TO 2029...

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020

Family is Everything...

"Fhis is My Beloved Son.

Hear Him."

These seven words began the answer

to a young boy's prayer--

200 years ago today.

The Apostolic Blessing

from our Prophet at

the end of 

General Conference

last Sunday blessed us

to know that

Joseph Smith is

the Prophet of the

Restoration.

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

Karen, Walt's home health and

hospice nurse is a blessing in his life.

Walt was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia

in September 2018 at the University of Utah

Neurological Clinic where he had been

tested in May and July, and the head of

the Clinic, Dr. Norman Foster, saw him

on September 20 and made the diagnosis.

His prognosis was 7-8 years. In

April 2019 he was put on long-term

hospice, so has nurse come twice

a week, and the aid comes 3x a week

to help him shower. This is a great

help to me. Walt is so concerned about

all that I have to do to take care of him,

but I keep telling him to take that off

his worry list. That's what I'm here for.

LBD is in the family of Parkinson's

disease, but the mind skills go before

the tremors happen. He is having some

jerky movements in his arms and legs,

but is on Carb/Levo - generic for Sinemet

that helps slow the progression of

the tremors and loss of muscle control.

Julie is getting us outside. When it's

colder than it looks, she puts a blanket

around Walt to keep him warm on the walk.

                                              Julie laughed at my hat.

We don't know who put this

Easter Bunny up on the main

road in the residential area,

but it brightens the day.

Riggy got his photo by it.

We like it when Riggy comes

on the walk with us.

This is about 2 blocks from

our home.

I think I saw it was 37 degrees

when we got back.

On a sad note:

We learned that our Wendell High School

Classmate, David Stephenson, passed

away on April 3. He was in poor health

from Lewy Body Dementia. David was

the president of our Senior Class of 1957.

I don't know if his graveside service was

today or next Monday in Wendell, Idaho.

We send condolences to his family

and loved ones.

Photo of David escorting his

daughter at her wedding in Aug 2018.

David with his wife Nancy - Aug 2018

Burley friends...we just learned that

a Burley friend passed away on April 6.

Obituary: Peter Kent Church

·         1

March 2, 1936—April 6, 2020

Peter Kent Church passed away on April 6, 2020, in Draper, UT. Kent was born to R. Tom Church and Sara Kent Church on March 2, 1936, in Burley, ID. As the youngest of three children, Kent made a name for himself as an avid sportsman with an excellent sense of humor. He was a member of the Burley High School basketball, football, and baseball teams, and a true friend to all who knew him. After completing his undergraduate education at the University of Idaho, Kent was accepted into the school’s law program where he graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 1960. Having followed in his older brother Tom’s footsteps, he joined his brother’s Burley, ID firm where he practiced law for 35 years.

As a young boy, Kent attended the third birthday party of the little girl who lived down the street. On August 17, 1957, Kent married that girl, Patricia A. Haight, in Burley, Idaho. Together they would raise three children, Cindy, Kathy, and Brad. Kent’s true joy was spending time with his family—usually participating in some type of sport. They spent countless hours skiing, golfing, and game playing together. Kent’s happy place was the golf course and a move to Las Vegas, NV in 1995 allowed him to play year-round. His grandchildren have many fond memories of Pops giving them golf cart driving lessons through the streets of Sun City, taking them on nightly toad hunts along the golf course, and playing a million holes of golf. In spite of his battle with Alzheimer’s, Kent remained joyous and hilarious. He was always the first to crack a joke and constantly had his caregivers and family rolling with laughter. His wit remained sharp and his sense of humor his true shining quality. He will be dearly missed.

Kent is preceded in death by his father, mother, brother, Thomas H. Church, and sister, Kathryn Hoffbuhr. He is survived by his wife, Pat, and his children, Cindy (Garry) Gee, Kathy (Joe) Anderson, and Brad Church. He was the proud Pops to 8 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren who strive to carry on his legacy.

There will be no services at this time. The family will host a celebration of life at a later date.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

Family is Everything... 

Marci came to help

Walt start his day

Institute day...

This is the 4th Tuesday since

Institute was cancelled.

There would have been no Institute

today anyway because of Spring Break.

 ...we can still read in

the Saints book.

We are so well taken care of.

Supper time is family time.

We had ribs from Sean's Smokehouse.

Walt passed on the watermelon.

And it was a tasty one.
He doesn't like watermelon because
his Grampa Bide didn't. Or is that
cottage cheese that he doesn't like
because Grampa Bide said it
was clabbered milk just fit
to feed to the chickens.
How he loved his 
Grampa Byrum Prescott "Bide."

Maddie was coloring her bangs purple.

But we never saw the finished color.

Walt resists putting his feet up

like the nurse recommends.

A selfie...

Blue skies...

Warm enough to go without

a hat today...

Walt's game for a ride...

Walt's ready...

John got a bungie cord...

...and made sure Walt was

secure behind Julie.

...here they come from around the block

Walt loved the ride!

Now it's John and Riggy's turn...

We tried another selfie...

Maddie took Riggy for a spin...

Then I got a turn...

...I'm not as brave as Walt

or the others...

I liked watching everyone else ride.

Gary texted us to look at the

Super Spring Pink Full Moon...

Steve, Natalie, and Carter also went

out to see it at their place...

Earlier in the day, Julie had a

fire pit to burn the pruning results.

I think this is a fire pit that Steve,

Natalie, and Carter had...

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

Happening in our 

Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward...

At 4:30 p.m. today, a family in our

ward posted that their fourth child

was born. Westin and Chelsea Dawn Smith

have a new daughter:

Cosette JoAnn Smith, 6lbs 7 oz. 22 in. 

Chelsea posted on her facebook on April 9th:

"Westin already officially announced this, 

but I wanted to join the over sharing on social media. 

I figure a new baby is a nice break 

from all the COVID-19 stuff. 

Cosette JoAnn Smith joined our family 4/7/20 

at 4:15 PM. 6 lb 7 oz. 

We are absolutely smitten with her!"

Isn't that the sweetest thing

to say about your newborn

baby: "...smitten with her!"

Each new mother and father 

should feel that way about each

baby that is born.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2020

Family is Everything... 

We are each choosing our

"favorite movie" for April.

Walt and I watched a movie

"with" Gary...he in his apartment

and we in our cozy cottage.

We started in the afternoon...

watching till Intermission,

then watched the rest in the

evening. It's 3 hrs 43 min long.

Wednesday is 

Movie Night with Gary.

We watched Gary's

favorite movie of all time:

"Ben Hur" from 1959.

Gary in his home,

we in our home.

It is epic!

And great message about

Christ during Easter Week.

This movie is one of the smash 

hits of all time--receiving 

11 academy awards!

I tried to take a photo of

Christ giving Judah Ben Hur a

drink of water...

Judah Ben Hur does not know

that it is Christ who has given

him water when the cruel soldiers

said he could not have water.

Christ watches the misguided

Roman soldiers take the

prisoners on to be slaves

to row the galley ships.

Judah Ben Hur saves a Roman 

leader, Arrius...

who...

who...frees him and

adopts him as a son.

...but Judah Ben Hur desires to

return to the Holy Land...

...where he returns to his home.

Being a wealthy prince before being

falsely sentenced by his Roman

friend, his master servant has

hidden his money from the Romans.

The beautiful sound track was

one of the Oscar winners.

Michaelangelo's painting of the Hand of God

giving life to Adam is used for

many different purposes.

If you want to see the famous

Chariot race...

you'll have to watch the movie.

If you do plan to watch the movie,

don't read the rest of this narrative

because I give away

the surprise, miracle ending.

Christ gave His life for each one of us.

Christ's Atonement was completed

on the Cross.

Many miracles occurred...

Miriam and Tirzah had been outcasts,

having become lepers in prison and

sent to the Valley of Death to live

in caves with the other lepers.

The miracle...the power of Christ

healed Judah Ben Hur's mother

and sister of leporsy. 

Judah Ben Hur's disillusioned heart is

cured by the Savior' love...
The Savior is the Master Healer
of all things...
even death.

Yes! 

Alleluia!

Alleluia!

Gary, no wonder it's your favorite movie

of all time. It's also one of your Dad's 

and my favorite movies.

Thanks for choosing it for tonight.

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

Family is Everything... 

Marci came to help Walt

start his day. 

Marci comes Tuesday, Thursday,
and Saturday to help Walt shower,
and if his arms are too unsteady,
she helps him shave.

Karen just checked Walt in the bedroom today
because he was napping when she came.
I am there to write down what his blood
pressure, oxygen level, and temp are.

A good ol' pork chop, mashed potatoes
'n gravy, veggie, 'n salad supper.

Will they stay?

Riggy is trying a cucumber
treatment on his eyes...

Our friends, Gerald and Ruth Budge

moved to St. George from Burley

many years ago...I think about 1992 or '93.

This is what Gerald's daughter-in-law,

Nicole Goodwin Budge--David's wife 

posted on face book today.

Very sweet!

Nicole Goodwin Budge said this about her father-in-law, 

Gerald Budge on Apr 9, 2020 on facebook

This has been such a strange time! I told a friend today, "With everything going on in the world I feel like I have to practice forgiveness about 30x a day!" Then later, I realized I am also practicing more gratitude about 30x a day! People are either really really rising to the challenge or some are "unrising" to the challenge. I want to focus more on the good things! One of them; I am just so grateful and lucky for wonderful kids! My married daughter and her husband have cared for their grandparents all week and it is a debt I just don't think I could ever repay! Here is my son-in-law taking one of the most important people in my life(my father-in-law) out for some fresh air !!! What a handsome couple of guys!!!!

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020

Family isEverything... 

Good Friday

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

We are observing a fast with

the World Fast today as

asked by a Prophet of God:

"I invite all, including those not of our faith,

to fast and pray...on Good Friday, April 10,

that

the present pandemic may be controlled,

caregivers protected,

the economy strengthened,

and life normalized.

Let us prayerfully plead for relief

from this global pandemic."

--President Russell M. Nelson

President of The Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-day Saints.

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

To break our fast, Julie ordered

a dinner from Olive Garden.

She went at 4:00 thinking she was early...

Not!

They told her they had 200 orders, and

hers wouldn't be ready until 7:30.

However, she was able to convince them

to please let her pick it up while she was

there, and she got home about 5:15

with...

...lasagne for Walt, her, and me,

Fresca Alfredo for the kids...

and John had some kind of meat.

Sounds like a lot of families broke

their fast with dinner from Olive Garden!

Then Julie pushed Walt in his wheelchair,

and I walked with my walker to... 

...get out

for some fresh air.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2020

Family is Everything... 

Marci helped Walt start the day.

We are thankful for Marci.

 It looked warmer than it was outside.

...they waited and waited for the

Saratoga Springs Easter Parade that

posted it would be at 11:00...

...when the police car in front,

two cars with balloons and streamers,

and police car in back came by about

1:00...they missed it.

I barely got these photos of the end.

Then it was the traditional Easter egg dying

and decorating...

Walt and I sat at the table to color ours.

The food coloring dye worked much better

than the tablets and made much brighter colors.

Walt did the striped pink and the yellow striped

ones. But his hands weren't steady enough to

dip the eggs into the dye, so I did all those.

The Easter egg spinner to get these

striped eggs was new and a big

hit this year.

This is a fun tradition with our

grandkids here.

Selfie of the day...

Another Easter Season tradition is

having "The Wizard of Oz" come

on TV...

I got some ending shots from 

the TCM showing it this afternoon.

Just follow the "closed captions"

to remember the fun winding up

of this traditional movie from 1939.

SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2020

Family is Everything... 

The Easter Bunny found us...

Yummy Easter Breakfast...

Sunshine...but light snow, too.

Traditional Easter Ham dinner

Time for egg bash...

1-2-3-slide the egg...
if your egg gets cracked you're out
till your turn for another round.

Peeling and saving the cracked eggs...

...ending with delicious
banana cream pie.

We enjoy being together.

Happy Easter...

We are blessed to be part of the Restored Gospel,

for knowing that Jesus Christ is 

The Son of God,

That He is the Creator of the World,

That He is The First Born in the Spirit World

of Heavenly Father and

Heavenly Mother,

That He is the Only Begotten

of the Father on This Earth,

That He was Chosen By 

The Father to 

be The Messiah,

The Chosen One,

The Redeemer,

The Savior of the World.

We honor Him.

We revere Him.

We are in awe of Him.

We worship Him.

We thank Him.

We look forward to 

His Glorious Second Coming

as King of Kings,

Lord of Lords,

Ruler of This World

and many others that

He has also created.

We know that in the battle of

good and evil,

He is the Winner,

The Conquerer of All Truth,

Triumphant in 

All His Universe.

How could we be more

blessed than to have

Testimony of all This?!

"He has Risen,

as He said..." 

--Matthew 28:6

He also said:

"...to this end was I born."

John 18:37

 *** *** ***

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

Easter Sunday,
April 12th,

we pray you have had a restful,

 peaceful, spiritual, and
renewal 
Sabbath Day...

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.  

*** *** ***

I am thankful for a husband who holds and honors the Priesthood of God. He has been the patriarch of our home in righteousness. I honor and love him with all my heart. We are eternal sweethearts, sealed as husband and wife in the temple of God by Priesthood Authority for time and for all eternity.

*** *** ***

Of these truths we testify in the 
Name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Walt and Eileen Petersen 

Saratoga Springs, Utah, U.S.A.

April 12, 2020

...as we come to the end of

a perfect Easter Day...