Traces of Time . . . December 11-17, 2023

 Traces of Time . . .             {Last week: Scroll to end and click "Older Posts" at bottom right.}          "Time moves slowly, but passes quickly.                               The Color Purple” by Alice Walker, 1982

"The magical, supernatural force 

that is with us every second is time.

We can't even comprehend it.

  It's such an illusion, 

it's such a strange thing."

— Anthony Hopkins 

 Note from Eileen: You will notice I call                              my blog: "Traces of Time..."                                              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, one due in April 2024 and posterity to come.

THIS WEEK- 

 DECEMBER 11-17, 2023

     MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023

Family is Everything..                             Sunrise: 7:40 a.m. 

Sunset:  5:01 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2023

               Family is Everything…

Happy 57th Birthday, 

Steve.

Age 1 - with 

Great Grampa & Grama

Huffaker

in Wendell, Idaho.

They were age 76, 

my Mother's Dad and Mom.

They lived to age 91.

Steve with his friend Aaron

helping Grampa Huffaker rake up

the leaves at his Wendell home.

2020

Hope you have a wonderful day.

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

 Institute today

The Miracles of Jesus...

Our Institute teachers gave 

us this wonderful ornament

with a painting of the Savior.

xxx xxx xxx

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

Birthday Dinner for Steve

at Olive Garden

Jen, here from Rochester,

Minnesota, with son Seth who

is in second year at BYU after

his mission in Brazil.

Ben has just finished his first

semester at BYU Idaho and

starts his Honduras 

San Pedro Sula West Mission

on January 29.

Steve, Gary, Jen

Grama Eileen with

Seth and Ben

These are two of Jen's

seven children.

Jen stayed with brother, Gary.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

and so are friends!

Lunch Bunch was a Holiday

Progressive Lunch at six

different homes.

Home # 1 - Tammy

Wassail and hot chocolate

Tammy is always a gracious hostess.

Heidi was going to help her,

but wasn't feeling well

enough to come.

Tammy & Mark decorated

the stairway.

 Home # 2 - Kathie

Crackers 'n Cheese Ball

Linda B and Sharon

helped furnish crackers

and cheese balls.

SuzAnne brought gluten-free

crackers.

Kathie is also a gracious hostess.

Home # 3 - Jennie 

Fruits 'n Fruit Dip

Jennie is also a gracious hostess.

I didn't see who helped Jennie.

Home #4 - Eileen...

Didn't get a photo of me there,

but here's one from this week...

I hope I was a gracious hostess.

Veggies and Dip were served.

SuzAnne helped furnish carrots

and napkins.

My cozy cottage

Lavender and blue 

Christmas tree...

This tree was a

birthday gift from my kids

last December.

Aimee, my oldest g-dau,

picked out the ornaments.

The lavender Santa is from 

a Kroger's store when we

lived in San Salvador

for three years--

July 2011-Nov 2014,

as temple president

and temple matron.

Nativities from the 12 different 

countries we served in during

our 4 missions together.

We lived out of the U.S.A.

for 9 1/2 years.

We also collected some Santas.

These are the olive wood Nativities we

brought back in Nov 1989

after we were in the Holy Land

for ten days when our son

Steven was doing a semester

abroad at the 

BYU Jerusalem  center.

The palm tree Walt surprised

me with for my 77th

birthday on Dec 15, 2015.

I loved the palm trees

in the tropical countries

we lived in.

Home # 5 - Jeanie's

Soup 'n Sandwiches

Jeanie is also a gracious hostess.

Linda and her sister Faye

helped furnish the food.

Home # 6 - Kaye

Desserts

The Disney Tree

Kaye is also a gracious hostess.

MaryAnn and Carol helped

furnish desserts.

The Egyptian tree

The Poinsettia tree

but I don't think we got

a photo of the

 fiber optic tree downstairs.

Jennie, Linda H.,

Nadine, Kathie.

We didn't get a photo of all

of 20 of us...but here are

16...

From front row...

LeAnn, Jeanie, MaryAnn, 

Eileen, Nadine.

Next row...

Shauna, Barbara, Linda H.

 Sharon, SuzAnne, 

Faye, Carol.

Third row...

Tori, Linda B., 

 Kaye, and Kathie

Tammy must have taken the photo.

Those whom left just before

we gathered for the photo:

Jennie, Roseann, Myra.

Not only did we enjoy the

beauty of the Christmas trees,

Nativities, decorations, and food

in each home--the spirit

and joy of the season

were felt in abundance.

*** *** ***

A deep thank you for gifts shared,

this week and in previous weeks.

We had a nice day weather-wise

to go from home to home.

*** *** ***

*** *** *** *** *** 

 Our Wednesday night movie with Gary

 was It's a Wonderful Life

from 1946 

Gary and I loved seeing this 

77 year-old movie in color.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

Happy last day of age 84

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

                                                Can't believe I'm just 15 years away from the century mark!

Happy 85th Birthday...

These photos 1938-2023

1938 - born in Twin Falls, Idaho

when Verna & Arnold 

lived in Wendell, Idaho.

Moved to Hagerman Jan 1939

where my Dad cooked at

a pool hall.

1940 Lived in Ketchum, Idaho

where my Dad cooked for

a big pool hall and restaurant.

1941 - Jarbidge, Nevada

Daddy was the skip tender* at the

Guggenheim Gold Mine.

From my Mom's life story--

"Arnold – 1941–March-October (Gold ran out, mine closed)

*Arnold got on as the skip tender.  He took the men and equipment down into the mine in the skip which was a big bucket-like thing.  If they wanted to take something down into the mine, they put the stuff in this bucket.  They had a building off to the side that had a bunch of big heavy levers that maneuvered the cables to lower the skip down the shaft.  We felt like it was dangerous but not like down in a coal mine with all that coal dust.

        I always worried about the cables giving way that it was hooked up to.  I worried about Arnold being seriously hurt if the skip would fall to the bottom of the shaft.

        They would load the dirt and rocks on a platform and haul it up.  Then they dumped these “tailings” behind our house where it made a big hill.  I have some yellow-colored rocks that come out of the mine. 

        They dug with shovels.  Arnold didn’t complain about the work.  He was glad to have a job that wasn’t cooking.

        Maxine remembers the men riding down inside the big bucket.  Sometimes some would ride outside the bucket, which they weren’t supposed to do.  When the wives heard the loud siren go off, they knew it meant “something had gone wrong at the mine.”  One time when they heard it and ran to the mine, one of the men who had been riding on the outside of the bucket had fallen and been killed."

I'm second from right with

Albertson cousins.

1942-1945 Lived in

Long Beach, California during World War II

My Daddy built ships for the U.S. Navy

August 1945 V-J Day

End of World War II

Sept 1945 - Moved back from

California to Wendell, Idaho

started first grade

Idaho Winter 1948-1949

Grampa Huffaker pulling my cousin

Lucy and me in snow.

December 1948

My sister and me in August 1955

Janice starting 1st grade

Eileen starting 11th grade

Wendell, Idaho

Eileen - Senior - 1957

Salutatorian - Wendell High School

1958 Graduation from

Henager Business College

Salt Lake City, Utah

Worked at Executive Offices of

First Security Bank 

June 1958 to August 1959

The Executive offices where I

worked were on the second floor

of this building--100 So Main St, SLC.

I was hired right out of business college 

to work in Public Relations Office, which

was next to the President's Suite.

George Eccles was the President.

One afternoon his secretary had to

leave early and she asked me to

sit at her desk and take the phone

calls for the bank's president.

I was very nervous--just age 19--

but I didn't do anything to cause

the bank to close down.

Salt Lake City

First Security Corporation
Type	Public
Traded as	Nasdaq: FSCO
Industry	Banking
Founded	June 1929; 94 years ago in Ogden, Utah, US
Founders	Marriner Stoddard Eccles, George S. Eccles
Defunct	2000; 23 years ago
Fate	acquired by Wells Fargo
Successor	Wells Fargo
Headquarters	Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Area served	Western United States
Key people	George S. Eccles, CEO
Products	Retail banking Investment banking Commercial banking Mortgages

First Security Corporation was a multistate bank holding company in the western United States, primarily in Utah, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Nevada, and Wyoming. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, First Security merged with Wells Fargo in 2000.

History

The former First Security Building, now the Deseret Building, still retains the former bank's 

name.

Info from Wikipedia

David Eccles who emigrated to Utah from Scotland in 1863 had a founding interest in Utah International, which was later inherited by Marriner and George Eccles. The two sons, together with Marriner A. Browning, expanded their financial interests to 17 banks and a building and loan company, later brought under one holding company, First Security Corporation, in June 1928.

In 1932, First Security acquired Deseret National Bank, which had been founded in 1871 by Brigham Young. It then moved its headquarters from Ogden to Salt Lake City. 

In 2000, First Security was absorbed into Wells Fargo. First Security stockholders received 0.355 of a share of Wells Fargo common stock in exchange for each share of First Security common stock. 

*** *** ***

BYU Aug 1959-June 1961

 It was the summer between 

these two years that I went 

home to Idaho, Walt came

home from his first year of

medical school. He called me for

a date on July 7, and we were

pinned on August 17.

...and the rest as they say

is history!

Married in 1961...

First baby in 1963...

We had 7 children in 11 years...

1963-1974

25th wedding anniversary - 1986

50th Wedding Anniversary - 2011

June 2011

7 children - their 7 spouses

32 grandchildren

July 2018 - last family

reunion at our home

of 52 years in Burley, Idaho

before moving August 2018

to Utah...

And now...

Posterity of...

7 children, their spouses,

39 grandchildren, 7 married,

2 soon to be married,

6 great-grandchildren and

one due in 2024...

We do have joy in our posterity!

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

Back to today -- Dec 15, 2023

My sister, Janice

Thanks, Janice & Jeff

for coming to visit

on my birthday.

They had gotten to their

car when I asked them

to come back for a

photo of them together. 

 Also visits from

Jeanie,

Heather,

Madasta, 

and Kathie.

Just remembered to get a photo

when Kathie came.

Brian called me from Tennessee.

David came at 5:00 to

take me to

rendezvous with family

at Chuck-A-Rama

for my Birthday Dinner.

  

Maddie, Jackson, Julie,

Sam, Grama

Sam, Grama

Josh, Julie, David, Will

Grama,

Julie, Gary, David

11 were able to gather

on Grama's actual birthday

to have dinner with me

on this milestone

85th birthday.

Counter clockwise:

Jacee, Josh, Will, Julie,

David, Gary, Grama, Sam,

Julie, Jackson, Maddie.

Then, back at home, the whole

family gathered around me...

Julie, Riggy, John,

Maddie, Jacee, Jackson.

Julie and Mom.

Thanks to everyone for the

love, gifts, and being together.

When you come to the

end of a perfect birthday...

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***  

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

Steve took me to...

"A Christmas Carol" 

at the Hale Center Theatre

in Orem...

...where we rendezvoused

with Gary and Isaac.

Then Steve took us to

dinner at Chubby's in

Pleasant Grove.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2023

                    

Family is Everything…

 Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward

The bishop's son,

Elder Morrison "Mo" Cheney

reported his mission to

the Bulgarian Mission.

Gospel Doctrine - final lesson for 2023

of The New Testament --

The Life of Jesus Christ

and the

Work of the Apostles

Julia led our class in sharing what

we feel about our 

SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST,

after studying His Life during 

the year of 2023.

Thank you, 

Julia & Clyde Witham

for teaching 

with the Spirit

The New Testament 

this year about

The Savior and

His Apostles.

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

Sunday Roast Beef Dinner

Thanks, John.

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

Sunday evening discussion for

Family Book Club:

Gary, Brian, Jen, Janie, and Mom

Gary Petersen

Sun, Dec 17, 4:00 PM (12 hours ago)

Hi All, here is the link for the FBC Zoom meeting today,

6 pm MST

FBC Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 923 462 1649
Passcode: fbc2457
(dial-in instructions listed below)

We'll be discussing the November book selection, by Jen B:

Is Atheism Dead? is an entertaining, impressively wide-ranging, and decidedly provocative answer to that famous 1966 Time cover that itself provocatively asked “Is God Dead?” 

In a voice that is by turns witty, muscular, and poetic, Metaxas intentionally echoes C. S. Lewis and G. K. Chesterton in cheerfully and logically making his astonishing case, along the way presenting breathtaking - and often withering - new evidence and arguments against the idea of a Creatorless universe. Taken all together, he shows atheism not merely to be implausible and intellectually sloppy, but now demonstrably ridiculous. 

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

D&D... Dance rehearsal for 

Anna & Spencer's wedding reception...

which is two weeks from Wednesday.

Who's the tallest of the Dad 

and three sons?

Is it a tie?

Oh, looks like the youngest

brother is a smidge taller.

Sam's home-made chocolate

mousse is to die for!

Always love havin' the

Jupiter Petersens come...

** *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 December 17th,

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

December 17, 2023

Next week Dec 18-Dec 24, 2023