Traces of Time . . . June 12-18, 2023

 TRACES OF TIME . . .      

"Time moves slowly, but passes quickly."

“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, 1982

{Last week: Scroll to end and click "Older Posts" at bottom right.} On this blog I share with family and friends my daily thoughts, doings, what interests me, and--at times--tributes to my eternal sweetheart, Walt, who graduated to heaven on 8-21-2020.

Dedicated to our seven children--Janie, Gary, Steve, David, Julie, Brian, Jen, their spouses, our 39 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and posterity to come.   

     THIS WEEK- JUNE 12-18, 2023

  MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2023

  

                    Family is Everything…

  

  Sunrise: 5:55 a.m.

Sunset: 8:59  p.m.

Happy Monday

“Do you know how whales die? They drown. They spend their whole life living in and swimming in a world that eventually kills them.

“Do you know why that is? Whales are mammals. Most mammals walk on the face of the earth, but the whale lives in a world that they are not of.

“They are in the water, but they are not of the water. So while fish can swim around for their entire lives with gills, breathing in the water, the whale most come up out of the water to live. There is a life source that is not in the world that he lives in that he needs access to.

“You are in this world but you are not of this world. You are not just a mind. You are not just a body. You are a spirit wrapped up in a man or a woman. And in this life you need God—you need to pray, you need to worship, you need to read the word of God.

“Because if you don’t learn to come up for air, you will drown.” (@russelldafourth)

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I thought of this analogy time and time again as I read John 14-17 this week. The word “world” is mentioned 41 times in the span of those chapters. Here are some examples:

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“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but … ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15:19).

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:17)

Christ, here at the end of His mortal ministry, clearly wanted us to realize that we are in the world, but not OF the world.

But how do we come up for breath? How do we separate ourself from the world? Christ says,

“I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil […] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)

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As we focus on God and His word and His truth, we will find that “air” we desperately need to survive.

Remember who you are.

Remember Who you need.

Remember to come up for air, and live.

"Come Follow Me" Credit

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TUESDAY,  JUNE 13, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

  

  

 Peterson Cousins --

Bexton and Rigdon...

Going to Grandma Vicki's

for Cousins' Day and

Overnight

 

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 2023

  

                    Family is Everything…

 It

  xoxoxoxox

Walt & Eileen

62 years ago we were married in the 

Salt Lake Temple on June 14, 1961.

It remains the happiest day

of my life -- actually, of 

my eternity!

The month I fell in love...

July 1960

Our first date was 

July 9 - A stake dance.

This photo is August 12,

the day before we got pinned.

(Pinned is like engaged to be

engaged. Walt gave me his 

fraternity service pin.)

 Officially engaged Dec 20, 1960

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

The happiest December of my life!

The best day of my life...

Married Walter Ray Petersen

June 14, 1961

June 14, 1961

So blessed to have our

precious grandparents 

with us:

My Mom's parents--

Dave & Ella Huffaker --

they were both age 70.

Jane's mother--

Maria(h) Prescott, age 83.

(Grampa Bide had died in 1943)

My Dad's father,

Clarence Albertson, 

had died in 1955 at age 68.

 

His mother,

Blanche Ilene Albertson,

age, 67, was either living

in Hagerman or Pocatello.

Ray's mother, Nellie Katie,

 died in 1928.

His dad, Andrew, died in 1938.

 

June 14, 1961

My Dad & Mom received

their endowments and

were sealed on this day, also.

The Apostle who was doing

the sealings --

Elder Henry D. Moyle said

it needed to be done in

order, so after he performed

the sealing for

Arnold & Verna,

my sister

and I were sealed to

them, and then

he sealed

Walt and me.

June 14, 1961 

Priesthood power is real.

The sealing power is the most

powerful ordinance on earth. 

 Wedding Luncheon in Ogden

given by Aunt Tess &

Uncle Austin.

He  was in the Air Force

 30 years--much of that in

Hawaii. They had the flowers-- 

Birds of Paradise--

flown in from Hawaii. 

...and fresh pineapple

from Hawaii for this.

I had never had 

fresh pineapple. It

was so delicious, that

I began one of our 

marriage traditions

to have fresh pineapple

for Sunday dinner.

June 14, 1961

So in love!!

June 17, 1961

Saturday, June 17, 1961

Reception in Gooding, Idaho

June 17, 1961

June 17, 1961

June 17, 1961

June 17, 1961

Grape juice -- because

it went with our colors

of lavender and white.

June 1962

One-year Anniversary

June 10, 1963

Walt graduates from 

Washington University*

School of Medicine

in St. Louis, Missouri

{*A private university named

after George Washington

Ranked #3 in the nation,}

June 10, 1963

We are expecting our first

baby in two weeks.

June 11, 1963 

We moved 560 miles from

St. Louis to Minneapolis

where Walt's 1-year

internship began on

June 24, 1963.

The photo below is on our

2nd Wedding Anniversary

June 14, 1963

Monday, June 24, 1963 

Labor pains began at 6:00 a.m.

Our baby was born on her

exact due date--the

same day that Walt

began his internship.

He took me to Abbott Hospital

about 8:00 a.m.

They told him I would probably 

be a long time before this

first baby was born, so he

just as well go over to

Minneapolis General Hospital

to start that first day of 

his internship.  As soon 

as he left, they checked 

me again and realized 

this baby was coming 

quicker than they had

thought.  

They called and got

Walt back barely in

time for our baby

girl's delivery at

9:30 a.m.

(That was when we

didn't know if it was

a boy or girl until

the baby was born.)

Grama A and Janice came

on a train from Gooding, 

Idaho to help me with

this new baby.

We were so thankful

for their help!

My Mom has become a

grandmother...

my sister has become

an aunt.

Janice stayed the

rest of the summer

helping me.

The end of the summer, the

ward took a photo of 

each family. 

I was so thankful I'd kept

our baby alive for 

that long.

Our family went from 

1 child in 1963...

             ...to 3 children by 1966...

to 6 children by 1973...

and 7 children in 1974...

Seven was heaven and we

called it good.

This is the Cenntennial of

the primary 1978

25th Anniversary - June 1986

Twenty-fifth wedding

anniversary

June 14, 1986.

School, Church, 

Graduations, College,

 Missions, 

College, Jobs,

Weddings...

by June 2001 we had

16 grandchildren

More Grandchildren...

by 2007 there were

29...

50th Wedding Anniversary

June 2011

32 grandchildren...

We had told our kids

after three missions out

of the country for 

6 1/2 years, we were

home for good...

then we were called for 

one more, so:

One month after our 

50th Wedding Anniversary

we were in 

San Salvador, El Salvador...

...to serve 3 years as the

Temple President

and Temple Matron

of the beautiful new

San Salvador

El Salvador Temple.

We got home in Nov 2014...

...had four more years in Burley,

then our kids could see we

needed help, so they worked 

hard down-sizing us... 

Julie drove up many times,

and Janie also came often

to do the major sorting 

and purging.

Everyone helped in those 

final days to make it happen.

It was so appreciated!

Having that last WEPR at our 

Burley, Idaho home of 52 years...

{First 5 years in Gibbon's home;

...at 2341 Burton Avenue.

  47 years in this home.}

...to move from Idaho 

on August 18, 2018...

...to live with family

in Saratoga Springs, Utah

August 18, 2018...

Julie and Gary

Gary, Julie, Eileen, Steve.

 ...now I've been a widow

almost three years...

 ...however, I've never

had to live alone.

What a blessing.

Thank you, Julie & John, 

for making such a 

cozy cottage  for 

us, and now for me to

live here with you

and your precious family.

{2018}

Current...

Rigdon,

Jackson, Jacee, Julie,

John, and Maddie.

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

Lunch Bunch was at 

LaFontaine

Carol, Sue

Sharon, Shauna

Eileen, SuzAnne, Tammy

SuzAnne, Tammy,

MaryAnn

Jeanie, Sharon

9 came today...

Clockwise from bottom left:

Eileen, SuzAnne, Tammy,

MaryAnn, Jeanie, Sharon,

Shauna, Carol, Sue.

Eileen, Tammy, Sue.

Jeanie talked to these

nice young men who

had just come from 

a wedding.

We always miss those

who can't come.

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

To honor our 62nd

wedding anniversary

Gary and Julie took

me to the

Temple Open House

Here's Julie's post:

Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad.

62 years ago they

were married in the SLC Temple.

In their honor, we went to the

Saratoga Springs Temple Open House.

If ever there were a temple that fits my mom,

this is the one! #iykyk Eileen Petersen

We got this view to

see the Utah Lake.

Then we went to 

the front...

...for this view.

The Saratoga Springs Temple

is beautiful!

The Open House goes 

until July 8.

The dedication is

August 13.

Steve was able to rendezvous

with us at Chuck-a-Rama

for dinner.

Thanks for helping me

celebrate this 62nd 

wedding anniversary to

honor Walt in heaven.

*** *** *** *** *** ***  

   Our Wednesday night movie was

going to be: 

THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

but Gary had to go catch

up on work, after taking

4 hours off to be with

us earlier in the day.

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

"Time moves slowly, but passes quickly."

“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, 1982

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023

           Family is Everything…

 Martha Winn Huffaker,

my Grampa Huffaker's mother.

          

A couple quotes of interest to me today...

"We knew before we were born that we were coming to the earth for bodies and experience and that we would have joys and sorrows, ease and pain, comforts and hardships, health and sickness, successes and disappointments, and we knew also that after a period of life we would die. We accepted all these eventualities with a glad heart, eager to accept both the favorable and unfavorable. We eagerly accepted the chance to come earthward even though it might be for only a day or a year. Perhaps we were not so much concerned whether we should die of disease, of accident, or of senility. We were willing to take life as it came and as we might organize and control it, and this without murmur, complaint, or unreasonable demands (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Proceeds the Miracle, [1972], 106)."

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

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.–

"A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens, 1859

Charles Dickens’ bold, declarative opening sentence uses antithesis to set the scene and the overarching tone of the novel. The contrasts draw the reader in, setting the time and place (London and Paris during the time of the French Revolution), while also raising the issue of comparison: Can any era be considered the best or worst of times?

  Neighborhood Garden Party

at Tammy Ballard's 

backyard - 7:00 p.m.

 FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023

                 

Family is Everything…

  

Friday, June 16, 2032

The email pictured below 

is not from me.

Do not open.

My sister received it at 12:07

this morning and has sent this

photo of it to me.

It was sent at 11:59.

Do not open.

It has my name but

is not me.

Any one know how or who

I report this to?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Today Clear but cool...

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

Let's go to something

lighter...like a limerick:

God’s plan made a hopeful beginning / 

But man spoiled his chances by sinning / 

We trust that the story / 

Will end in God’s glory / 

But at present, the other side’s winning.

~~ Oliver Wendell Holmes   

A form of “folk poetry,” limericks are comedic five-line poems memorable for their strict AABBA rhyme scheme and their funny, often bawdy, subject matter. The limerick’s origins are unknown, though both a city and a county in Ireland share its name. The moniker may have come from a raucous 18th-century Irish soldiers’ song called “Will You Come Up to Limerick?”

The earliest known limericks published in English were found in 1791’s Mother Goose’s Melodies. Prolific author and poet Edward Lear further defined and popularized the catchy style of verse in 1846 with A Book of Nonsense. Since the early 20th century, magazines and other businesses have helped keep this poetic form alive by sponsoring limerick-writing contests to inspire the next generation of Lears. Here are some of the wittiest limericks ever written, appropriate for all audiences.

There was an old man of Nantucket /                                Who kept all his cash in a bucket; /                                    But his daughter, named Nan, /                                           Ran off with a man, /                                                            And as for the bucket, Nantucket.

~~Anonymous

SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 2023

  

                    Family is Everything…

  

 

Happy Birthday to 

Seth and Sarah...

both recently home 

from their missions...

Sarah, Feb 14,

Argentina Buenos Aires West.

Seth, June 7,

Brazil Recife North.

Hope you had a 

wonderful birthday!

 

"What does it feel like to be old?

The other day, a young person asked me: - "What did it feel like to be old?"

I was very surprised by the question, since I did not consider myself old. When he saw my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question. And after reflection, I concluded that getting old is a gift...                                                                                            five more paragraphs, then...

Now, to answer the question honestly, I can say: -I like being old, because old age makes me wiser, freer!-.

I know I'm not going to live forever, but while I'm here, I'm going to live by my own laws, those of my heart.

I'm not going to regret what wasn't, nor worry about what will be.

The time that remains, I will simply love life as I did until today, the rest I leave to God.

Dame Judy Dench"

 SUNDAY, June 18, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

      

Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward

Gospel Doctrine Class

Julia Witham, teacher

"It Is Finished"

The Atonement

Julia gave a great lesson on

the Atonement

Father's Day Dinner

Julie cooked a delicious 

ham dinner for John

** *I am so thankful for The Plan of Salvation and the Atonement of  Jesus Christ that makes this Great Plan operational.

At the end of this June 18th,

I pray you have had a

restful , peaceful, and spiritual

Sabbath Day...

I share these truths as my 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. 

He knows what our potential is.

*** *** ***

Jesus Christ came to earth as The Only Begotten of the Father and fulfilled the Atonement. He is the Redeemer of all.

*** *** ***

I am thankful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost as the third member of the Godhead. 

Walt said to me once: "I look forward to thanking the Holy Ghost in person when I get to Heaven. I don't think we give Him enough credit for all He does."

***  *** *** *** ***

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.  Because of the restored Temple Ordinances families can be sealed for eternity.

*** *** ***

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

Eileen Petersen

June 18, 2023

Next week.. June 19-25, 2023