Friday, April 17, 2020

Traces of Time . . . Week of April 13-19, 2020

Traces of Time . . .
(To see last week's blog post--scroll down to the end of this week, 
then the Week of April 6-12, 2020 will be there. 
If it's not, hit "Older Posts." at the bottom right.) 
THIS WEEK- 
APRIL 13-19, 2020
YEAR OF 2020 
THE DECADE
OF 2020 TO 2029...


MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020
Family is Everything...
Walt enjoys watching the
BYU Sports Nation in the morning,
Brian, we thought you'd like
the replay of this Tennessee football
game that the Cougars won in double O.T.
Spencer Linton and Jarom Jordan
are great hosts...
Walt hangin' out at home...
Karen came to check on
Walt this afternoon.
Walt's had a pain in his leg
often, sometimes more intense
than other times.
We got to "zoom talk" with
Brian, Janie, and Jen and
some of their family tonight.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020
Family is Everything... 
Marci came to help
Walt start his day

 This is the 5th week since Institute 
was cancelled on March 17.
But only the 5th lesson missed 
because of Spring Break on April 7.
The lesson scheduled for today
was Saints,  Chapters 40-41.
"Doctrinal Developments in Nauvoo."
Camie would have taught.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2020
Family is Everything... 
We had a nourishing breakfast
of muffins, fried spuds,
and orange juice 
 It was windy and chilly today. 
Max was out guarding the home and family.
 We're still hunkered down at home.
 Wednesday is 
Movie Night with Gary.
He's at his home, we at ours.
Tonight we are watching 
a favorite movie of Walt's.
 
 We let Walt choose because it's
his birthday week.
Clayboy got a graduation ring
with this inscription:
"Victory with Honor."
  Clayboy's grandmother gives him
some good advice as he's ready to
leave home:
"Trust in God and go to church."
His pastor "Amen's" that.
 His teacher says:
"Make us proud."
 His dad says...
His mom says...
 
 His dad also says...
 
 Remember that first cutting of the
apron strings...
 
 The bus picks him up on this country
road in Wyoming...
 ...and he waves goodbye to
his Dad & Mom, his Grama, and
his eight brothers and sisters...
 He is the first one ever in the Spencer
family from way back up the line
to ever go to college...
 
 "Going far, son?" the cowboy asks.
 "Right far."
  ...he's the pathfinder so that he nor
his brothers and sisters will have
to work in the quarry or mine...
  Yup, he's going far!
 
 It's just his beginning...
 Gary really liked it...called
it a tearjerker.
Filmed in the beautiful Teton Valley
 I love sun bursts.
Beautiful music, too.
 Beautiful Teton Mountains    
 Teton National Forest
 How did the Tetons get their name?
 French Trappers...
 True story...
 Snake River got its name because
it winds back and forth so much.
 THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020
Family is Everything... 
Max came to see us.
Marci came to help Walt
start his day. 
 Karen comes on Mondays and Thursdays
to check Walt's blood pressure,
listen to his heart and lungs, and
see how he is doing. He has been
on long-term hospice for a year now.
(Since April 10, 2019)

 His blood pressure was 136/74 today,
oxygen 95, pulse 68, lungs clear, and
his heart sounded good. Temp 98.8.
So he's doing well this week.
His legs are still weak and he has a
hard time walking--even with the walker.
 
 "Deep in My Heart"
True Story of Song Writer
Sigmund Romberg

 Walt and I watched this delightful
musical on his last night to be "85."
 Walt and I both enjoy Tony Martin's
singing...
 FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020
Family is Everything... 
Happy Birthday, Walt "86" today... 
Our traditional birthday breakfast is
donuts 'n chocolate milk.
Thanks, Jacee, Jackson, and Maddie
for getting up early to be at Grampa's
birthday breakfast. 
Julie and Riggy were there, too.
Thanks, Julie, for the fun birthday
decorations...

...and wonderful photo collage of 
Walt's growing up years and beyond.
 Everyone had a great time looking at
all these fun, old photos.
...colorful streamers and balloons
make it very festive!
Grampa even got a Covid19
mask to wear... 
Walt wore his Idaho shirt for
the occasion.
Today he gets to eat his cake
and have it, too!
In Mexico the tradition is to push
the person's face into their
birthday cake. The picture
on the b-day card I made Walt
shows that his missionaries did
that to him at his birthday
dinner in the mission home.
There's also a photo of my
feeding him wedding cake at 
our reception (June 1961),
and feeding him cake at our
25th wedding anniversary
open house (June 1986).
This shows his collage a little closer.
...good view of the colorful
birthday decor.
I had saved some "Feliz Cumpleanos"
birthday napkins..
Shawn got here from Rexburg
about noon...
Julie helps liven up any party...
Janie brought a surprise for her Dad...
...homemade apple pie she
made from scratch.
Thanks, Steve, for bringing pizza for
Grampa's birthday lunch.
Come 'n get it...
Four of our handsome grandsons:
Sam, Jackson, Carter, Michael.
We have 19 g-sons and 20 g-daughters.
Steve lives close to Julie and John.
More fun looking at Grampa's 
photo collage...
Gary brought a fun birthday gift for his Dad:
Raisins, peanuts, and M-Ms to make
his own trail mix.
Oh, and plastic bags to put it in, plus
measuring cups to get just the right mixture.
Julie got her Dad a delicious birthday cake
at Ridley's in Eagle Mountain.
We all sang "Happy Birthday..."
...as he got ready to blow
out his candles...
Here are those who gathered
for lunch--left to right:
Sam, Janie, Maddie, Steve, Julie,
Carter, Michael, Gary, Jacee,
Natalie, Riggy, and Jackon.
Riggy thought the birthday cake
was delicious!
We enjoyed hearing about several miracles
that Carter experienced in being able to
get from the interior of his
Brazil San Salvador South Mission
area--on short notice--by bus to his
Mission headquarters in able to
get to Sao Paulo
by plane to rendezvous with the
other missionaries to fly out from
there back to the United States.
...always a lot of lively conversation
going on when family is together.
It was so interesting to see how much
everyone enjoyed being together. We
talked and talked and talked like we
hadn't been together for a year instead
of the six weeks of the pandemic
"stay in place" directions.
Well, we actually had not been with
Janie, Shawn, Sam, Michael since 
December,
and Carter since last October.
Here's Janie, Sam, Natalie, Carter,
and Michael...listening to another
good story from someone.
Walt, Julie, John, Steve, and Gary enjoying
more family experiences and memories...
Walt and I have four of our seven children
gathered for lunch...
Janie, Steve, Gary, and Julie.
While there was a lull, Walt asked Gary to
give him a Priesthood blessing.
Shawn annointed with the consecrated oil,
and Gary sealed the annointing.
He gave Walt a tender blessing of safety,
health, and the blessing of the 
Atonement of the Savior. He assured his 
Dad of the love of all his children and
grandchildren and a blessing of
peace and reassurance.
I didn't get a photo but there was a
calm and sweet spirit of the Savior
in the room.
...and
 Steve had left to help get a bar-b-que ready that
he had invited everyone to at their home
that evening. And also he got his guns
together for the guys who wanted
to go shoot for an hour or so.
They went up Israel Canyon on the
west side of Utah Lake.
Left to right: Jackson, Gary, John,
Michael, Carter, Steve, and Shawn.
David and Julie were able to come later
in the day with Will and Sam.
They were planning to just wave at 
us from their car, but we weren't
at our front window, so they came
in with their Trail Mix
and sang "Happy Birthday" to
Grampa from a distance...
...but--surprise--I wanted a photo of
the five of our kids together...so
David did come over and stand
with his siblings.
Gary, David, Janie, Julie, Steve.
Brian called from Tennessee.
Jen called from Minnesota.
...And another surprise, I wanted a photo
of everyone there... front:
Maddie, Jackson, Eileen, Walt, Sam.
Back: Shawn, Gary, Carter, Michael, Sam,
David, Julie, Janie, Julie, Steve.
John was taking the photo.
...but here he is measuring the two Sams
to see who is the taller.
The plumb had them even steven!
..and we got a photo of John with Riggy.
It was almost like Christmas..when no one
wants it to come to an end.
...lingering
...linger longer
...dragging out the goodbyes with
just one more story, one more topic,
one more memory...
Walt had a great birthday!
He is thankful for all who could 
come and be with him.
He thanks those who were able to call.
And he thanks everyone for their gifts
and birthday card.
A Family Death...
We found out the next morning
that this day ended on a sad note
                                               for our family.                              
Dale Allen Bunn, 91, of Wendell, passed away on
Friday, April 17, 2020 at his home in Wendell.
Funeral arrangements are pending under the care and
direction of Demaray Funeral Service—Wendell Chapel.
A graveside service is planned for Tuesday, April 21, 2020,
at the Wendell Cemetery at 11:00 a.m.

Dale is our brother-in-law. He married Walt’s sister,
Phyllis, on July 30, 1950. Phyllis passed away at age 82
the end of July 2014, so they had been married 64 years.
They have six children: Don (Jeanine) Bunn, Matthew
(Brenda) Bunn, Mitchell (Karen) Bunn, Clifford (Stephanie)
Bunn, Brenda (Jerry) Tagestad, Beverly (Patrick-deceased)
Inglis, 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren.
Dale and Phyllis Petersen Bunn

Dale and Phyllis
July 30, 2013
63 year anniversary
 Dale and Phyllis Bunn and three of their
six children: Cliff, Don, Matthew.
Dale and Phyllis with some
of their posterity on 30 July 2013
Don and Jeanine Bunn
Dale and Laura Bunn
Chad and Alison Bunn, Brooke, Hailey
Donna Rae Bunn
Kurtis and Rhonda Jane Bunn Hill
Emmy, Lydia, son
Jacob Bunn
Matthew and Brenda Astel Bunn
Clifford Bunn
Brittany Bunn Secaur
Rebecca Bunn Vipperman – post April 18, 2020 about Dale Bunn’s passing on 17Apr2020
We lost my Grandpa yesterday. He lived an interesting life, full of public service and horses, gun fights and hard work and swear words. He always asked me about city council and had the best advice- mostly to not worry so much. So thankful we moved close so I could spend a little more time with him these past few years. ♥️
SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2020
Family is Everything... 
Marci came to help
Walt start his day.
 Walt had apple pie for first breakfast
Walt had a second breakfast... 
...of waffle topped with strawberries'
and whipped cream, and part
of a left-over b-day donut.
 Gary gave his Dad the fixins'
for a trail mix...raisins,
peanuts, and M&M's...
...ta-da! "Gumby's Trail Mix"
Looks good enough to eat...
 ...so he did.
It gets a thumbs up!
The trail mix from David and Julie's
family also gets a thumbs up.
 Steve brought pizza for Walt's
birthday lunch which also was
a thumbs up.
But Janie's homemade apple pie
gets two thumbs up!!
Thanks, Janie.
Julie 'n John's family's gift of
Dr Scholl's sox is also a big hit.
...plus the mask is a must these days.
Plus Julie's photo collage of Walt's life
was a favorite of everyone!
 I've been looking for this photo of
'Walt in his Coast Guard uniform
for a long time.
Great memories of his birthday yesterday.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
We got some good news that our
dear friend Lorna Gorringe Coombs
--like another daughter to us--
who helped us take care of our kids in
Burley when they were little,
and her husband Carl, had a happy event
happen on this day in
West Valley City, Utah.
Their daughter, Kori, got married.
She and her fiance were planning to
be married in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple
in June or July, but their bishop advised
the engaged couples in the ward to go
ahead and be married and then be
sealed in the temple when the temples
are reopened.
Here are Kori's parents - Carl and Lorna
and Kori's sister, Becky,
and her brother, Joe,
as Kori became
Mrs. Steven Lythall on Sat., April 18, 2020
We are so happy for Steve and Kori
beginning their own Celestial family...
even though they won't be sealed until
the temples reopen.
We send our love and congratulations!
SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2020
Family is Everything... 
 We had delicious crepe suzettes
for breakfast this morning. 
 Walt's birthday balloon is 
still floating in the air.
 Time for Sunday dinner...
 
  ...another delicious roast beef dinner.
Thanks, John.
  John designed a pattern...
  ...and this is how it turned out.
Fantastic!
 I got this photo of a yard on our
afternoon walk.
  Linda Hartley's home looks
beautiful. She is the widow
of Bill Hartley, one of the great
Church Historians from whom I
learned so much at his classes
during BYU Education Weeks.
She lives just three houses
south of us.
  Julie and Walt got back to the house
before I did--because I stopped to
take some photos.
But Julie came back and took
a photo of me by the chalk art.
 We enjoy being together.
...then
...and now
and   


Dave and Marilyn Gibbons called
us this evening. It really brightened
our Sabbath day to talk with them.
They had tried calling Walt Friday
on his birthday, but our old phone
numbers have been changed to 
just one: 801-577-7708
So our friends can't get a hold
of us on those old #'s.
Sure is great to talk with our
Idaho friends in Burley.
Dave and Marilyn served with us
in the San Salvador El Salvador Temple
from its dedication Aug 21, 2011 till
their 18-month mission ended in
January 2013. And they've been
serving in several callings since
they got back home from that
mission. Plus before they served
in El Salvador, they had served in
the Oklahoma Tulsa Mission (I
think that was the one), and had
served in the Twin Falls Temple,
before and since. Jacque Gorton
just said about this photo of them
on face book: "...you can just see
their kindness and goodness in
their countenances."
They are truly an
outstanding couple.
Guess what family movie we
watched tonight?
   ...a few of my favorite things
  At the Intermission of the movie I
asked Walt if he wanted to watch
the second half tomorrow, but
he was good to the end tonight.
 Hope we can 'climb every mountain' in
our life, too.
During our home church meeting today,
after the Sacrament, blessed by Jackson,
prepared and passed by John,
Julie gave the lesson from
Come, Follow Me - Mosiah 1-3.
This verse was meaningful to Walt and me:
"...and behold, I am old, 
and am about to yield up 
this mortal frame to its mother earth."
--Mosiah 2:26
That's how we feel.
...we are challenged to do
service this week like
King Benjamin did during
his lifetime.
 *** *** ***
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 April 19th,
we pray you have had a restful,
 peaceful, and spiritual 
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 19, 2020




Posted by Walt and Eileen at 12:22 PM

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)