Traces of Time . . .
This week
~ August 24 to August 30, 2015 ~
in IDAHO.
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...
August 24, 2015 - Monday
Trying to follow my guide lines for preparing for a colonoscopy on Wednesday, August 26. Very limited diet for 2 days before the surgery.
August 25, 2015 - Tuesday
More preparing for the colonoscopy tomorrow.
.
Dale Bunn called us this afternoon that Brent Smith has passed away. We are waiting to hear when the funeral will be. Donnie Bunn also called us early evening with this sad news. He didn't know his Dad had called us earlier.
Here's a photo from last August when Bonnie's family (Walt's sister) had gathered in Wendell with the Bunn family for the funeral of Phyllis on August 8, 2014.
Bonnie had four children when she was married to Morris (Mutt) Smith, and four children when she was married to Chuck Degler.
Here are 5 of her 7 living children. Larry, her oldest son, was killed in a plane crash--I think in the 1970s.
Left to right: Brent, Kevin, Andy, Christopher, g-dau Janet, and Bonnie.
We are all saddened by Brent's death.
August 26, 2015 - Wednesday DAY OF COLONOSCOPY
At 6pm the night before the colonoscopy, I had to take a prep solution called: sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate = 6 ounces of it with 10 ounces of water added. It's the worst stuff I've ever tasted except liver.
This is followed by drinking 32 ounces of water within the hour.
I got all that down, but within 1 1/2 hours it all came projectile vomiting out.
The day of the procedure (surgery) this prep has to be repeated 4 hours before. This time it all came back within the hour, and I still had 8 ounces of water left to drink.
But luckily I was cleaned out enough for the colonoscopy to take place. (Thank heavens, because the worst part is all that preparation.)
"Colonoscopy scheduled for 10:30, report at 10:00 a.m.," was the call I was given Tuesday.
We didn't see that they called later and left the message that moved it back to arrive at 10:30, with procedure to be at 11:00."
So we arrived plenty early.
At 11:30 they wheeled me to the surgery suite. I thought I remembered the big light overhead, but I don't remember being wheeled from my room.
The next thing I knew, they were telling me that it was over and everything was fine.
When Dr. Rea came in he said there were just two small polyps up high about the size of match sticks. So I get to go five years until the next one.
(For those with normal colonoscopies, they are saying after age 75 no more are needed.)
However, Dr. Rea said with the history of my father dying from colon cancer and having had polyps in each colonoscopy (which the surgeon cuts out), I will need them every 5 years for the rest of my life.
As I mentioned earlier, the hardest part is the preparation. Once that's over, the actual procedure, done under anesthesia intravenously through the arm is painless.
Janet Mangum, an outstanding nurse whom we love, wheeled me out to the car and took a photo of us.
The gal there said that all the Utah peaches were frozen so they don't have a crop there. These peaches came from Nampa.
I haven't been too loopy or groggy, but haven't had a lot of energy either. Walt is taking really good care of me.
Our kids who are over 50 need to start scheduling colonoscopies.
August 27, 2015 - Thursday
We went to the temple this morning.
We had some shopping to do at Costco and maybe Winco so we drove down that way and decided to stop at Sizzler for a salad late lunch/early supper.
He will be 92 in November Arlene told us. He looked at Walt and asked "Do you still play your trumpet?" Then said, "Your wife is keeping you looking young!"
We enjoyed talking with them.
Connie gave us the phone # for the floral shop in Hagerman which is 837-6108. It is with "Classique Hair Salon and Floral Shop.". When we finally got through to them, they said it would be better to have the floral shop in Buhl get flowers to the morturary there.
When Walt talked with Bonnie Ann this morning she said that the Farmer Funeral Home in Buhl is handling the funeral arrangements.
August 28, 2015 - Friday
Tree Trouble finished the tree in the back and then did the Elm tree in the front yard.
Jolene brought some watercress by for Walt, along with some kale.
Then we did a little grocery shopping, along with getting a wedding gift for Amanda Weeks whose Garden Open House is tomorrow afternoon at Ken and Bonnie Fronk's residence.
August 29, 2015 - Saturday
Walt performed a sealing in the Twin Falls Temple this morning. Jill Paskett and Michael Rockwell were sealed for time and eternity. They were all smiles.
Funeral for Brent Smith - 1952 to 2015
Then we drove to Hagerman for the funeral of Walt's nephew, Brent Smith. Brent was the son of Walt's sister Bonnie and Maurice "Mutt" Smith.Here's a good photo of him in his younger years with Grama Jane.
Bonnie Ann, Bonnie's oldest daughter, also lives in Hagerman. Her son Clark--with the help of two friends--built a beautiful pine casket. Brent raised some of those famous Hagerman watermelon. As you can see, his photo on the top of the casket was propped up by a Hagerman watermelon.
Then any others who wished to say something about their experiences with Brent were invited to come up.
Several family members came forward--including his brother Christopher from Oregon; Uncle Lawrence Smith from Hagerman; an Aunt from Oregon;, his niece Janet McCrorey Miller from Colorado; Sara, the wife of Danny his grand nephew from Hagerman;, his cousin Don Bunn, from Wendell. A friend also made some comments, but I don't know his name. And I may have missed some others.
They all did very well!
The burial was at the peaceful Hagerman Cemetery. This cemetery is special to me becauses my Grandmother Blanche Ilene Hartwell Albertson is buried there, along with my Uncles Warren, Tom, and Jack Albertson, my Aunt Maxine Owsley Albertson, and two cousins, David and Warren Albertson.
Family and friends covered his casket with the good Hagerman Valley soil.
Brent is buried next to his father...
Front: Linda Julian Dorsett, Texas; Bonnie Smith, Hagerman; Andrea Degler, Boise; Susie Julian Summerkorn, Kaysville, UT; Walt Petersen, Burley; Jimmy Prescott, Hammett.
Back row: Kevin Degler, Alaska; Cliff Bunn, Pocatello; Chris Degler, Oregon; Dale Bunn, Wendell; behind Dale is Mitch Bunn, Wendell (see better in photo below this photo); Don Bunn, Wendell; Matthew Bunn, Wendell; Dale Petersen, Twin Falls.
Following this, the family and friends were invited to come and have lunch at the Legion Hall where the Hagerman High School Alumni group served a delicious luncheon.
As we attend funerals to honor those who have passed away, it also becomes a time of renewing family bonds and friendships.
We lingered with family members we don't get to see often. It's always hard to say goodbye.
....that's 82 years ago! It may have been called the Opera House then. I know my Mom and Dad talked about going to dances there.
Amanda's father has been so kind to take care of our yard this summer.
August 30, 2015 - Sunday
We went to our Church block from 10:50 to 1:50.
The most important part, of course, is taking the sacrament and renewing our baptismal covenants.
The youth speaker, Annalee Fluckiger was assigned to speak on the Sabbath Day. She categorized three of the things to do on the Sabbath.
1. Keep yourself unspotted from the world
2. Going to Sacrament Meeting to partake of the sacrament.
3. Resting from our labors.
She said we dress in our best to be reverent and respectful.
She said we need to keep the Sabbath Day holy all day long.
She then closed with her sweet testimony and said she loves the Sabbath Day.
Malinda Watts, whose husband Robert Watts, spoke two weeks ago, introduced the family since they are new in the ward. (They purchased the Keith and Ramona Crane home.)
They have three daughters ages 10, 7, and 3.
Sister Watts was also assigned to speak on the Sabbath Day based on the General Conference talk by Elder Russell M. Nelson "The Sabbath Is a Delight."
Some of her insights included a saying they have in their home when she hears quarreling: "Try a little harder to be a little kinder."
For today's topic she changed it to: "Try a little harder to make the Sabbath Day more holy."
Delight means joy or pleasure.
When she listens to the Tabernacle Choir on Sunday morning, it brings peace to her to be ready to attend Church. The Savior identified Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath.
She concluded with the scripture that Elder Nelson used from Doctrine and Covenants 59: 9-10:
"And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
"For verily thus is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;..."
She said she had no list to give us but it will be our attitude for the Sabbath and that we each need to decide what sign we will give to God of how we are keeping His Sabbath Day holy.
In closing Sister Watts cited
Doctrine and Covenants 59:15-16
"And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance--
"Verily I say, that inamuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours..."
She testified that she felt one of the most important things to do on the Sabbath Day is to strengthen family ties.
I'm going to continue with the rest of our Sacrament meeting, but need a break here so will add the following photo.
Here's a photo of the side of the Church where we go in now. That sidewalk up the outside goes right to the door without any stairs so it's just right for Walt's walker.
The ward choir of 7 men and 6 sisters, led by Gary McCall sang "Abide With Me." Kathleen Hedberg accompanied them. Colleen McCall, Amber Green, Karen Dayley,* Diane Fluckiger, someone I don't know, Donna Westergard were the sisters. The brothers were David Gibbons, Rick Dayley,* Kirk Craner, Ken Weeks, David Hansen, Dan Black, Ron Fluckiger. *This is the Dayley's last Sunday in our ward. They are moving to Idaho Falls.
(The Burley Courthouse had an Open House for Karen on Friday afternoon for her having worked there for 36 years I think the newspaper said.)
The concluding speaker was Brian Reiter. He explained that the first 80 pages of the Book of Mormon are a gripping story of a family being sent out into the wilderness, learning lessons about parents' concerns with how to deal with disobedient children, another family joining them, weddings, creating new families, and building a ship that none of them had ever done.
Then there are Isaiah chapters, ending with Nephi commenting that he "delights in plainess," which Brother Reiter said the Isaiah chapters did not seem "plain" to him.
The scripture he was given to speak about was 2 Nephi 25:13
"Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name."
We know Jesus Christ performed many miracles of physical healing--he made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the crippled to walk, cleansed the lepers, healed a woman by her just touching the hem of his garment, even raised the dead.
Bruce R. McConkie said that even more important are the spiritual healings--conversion to the truth. All men have power to be healed spiritually.
Brother Reiter had started by showing a graph that was like a stairway leading up.
We need to be on the path that leads us up. If we are not on that path, we need to get back on it. It's like running up a down escalator. If we stop trying to go up, we will be taken down.
He urged us to live the plan that God has set out for us. We need to trust Jesus Christ and His Redeeming Love for us. We need to stay on the path to get to the goal of eternal life.
Bishop Gerratt asked Eric Pierce, his first counselor to share his testimony.
Brother Pierce said there are many people in this ward that he has always looked up to and Brian Reiter is one of them. He pointed out some words in the hymn the choir had sung that had stood out to him today: darkness, help, decay, grace, guide, cloud, sunshine.
He thought back to a dark time in his life as a teenager he was pleading to the Lord in his repentance process and pleading to the Lord for forgiveness. As he repented and was forgiven, words in the last verse of another hymn came to him:
"...the terror is over... linger, O blessed Redeemer...rest on the blissful shore...peace be still"
As we examine where we are, and ask for direction, and ask for forgiveness, if needed, we will know that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer and Savior.
It is great to be a member of this Church.
Sunday School was Lesson #32 "Live in the Spirit," taught by Robert Watts. We learned from the Galatians "about how we receive a testimony of the gospel. It is important that our testimonies are based on revelation from Jesus Christ... Testimonies built on foundations, such as social relationships or intellectual analysis, often do not withstand the trials of faith."
This is Walt shaking hands with the Bishop after the following message he gave us for the fifth Sunday today.
For the fifth Sunday of the month, the Priesthood and Relief Society combined to be taught by our bishop.
Bishop Steven Gerratt's topic was
THE SABBATH DAY.
He put it into two parts:1. What we do when we attend Church, and
2. What we do at home during the rest of the Sabbath Day.
In preparing to come to Church, the bishop suggested again, as he did in May when we started this new Church time of 10:50-1:50 on May 17, that we come at 10:30 and have those moments to prepare for being in Sacrament.
For Church, the bishop said that they have determined that any gospel topic that will be assigned for a Sacrament meeting talk must relate to the Savior and His Atonement.
Sacrament meeting should be a good experience.
Regarding home: Covenants
Elder Bednar said that the number one reason many do not make it to the temple is because of the lack of modeling and teaching in the home.
Our bishop is a veterinarian who works with many cows every day on his family and extended family dairy. He was called about a cow that was in the pasture that was in distress. By the time he got there, the cow had died. He could not figure out how the cow had eaten something in their pasture that had made it bloat and die.
Then on looking the cow over, he saw a long scratch line on the cow's back. It had gotten through the fence somewhere and eaten something other than the grasses in the pasture.
He analyzed this to say "if we stay within the fence we are safe." In this day we not only need strong fences, but we need to maintain those fences. What worked last year with our children may not work this year.
What have we done to maintain our 'fences?'
Our children are Heavenly Father's children as well.
Regarding "progress," Bishop liked the analogy of Brother Reiter's example of "going up the down escalator."
Please don't be discouraged. Heavenly Father has blessings He wants to give to each one of us.
We have lots of places to go for help with ideas of activities to do with children on the Sabbath Day. The Church website is a good source.
Is there something to do as a "sign" of what we should do on the Sabbath. The bishop said he had no list to hand out.
We need to each receive our own revelation as to what our family can do to keep the Sabbath Day holy -- all day long.
And that was the end of the Bishop's lesson for us today.
Walt and I both felt spiritually stronger from our 3 hours in our meetings today.
We always enjoy visiting with President Preston, who is a dear friend. In the business world, he has been our financial advisor for many years and also helps us with keeping our health insurance up to date.
Then we were ready for our simple Sunday dinner of chicken pot pies, corn on the cob, and fresh pineapple. For a fresh vegetable we tried the kale that Jolene had brought us Friday from her garden. She said it was so healthy. It tasted bitter to me. Walt put salt on his (which she had emphatically said not to do).
. And we weren't going outside, so I don't know why he had it on?
Eileen's note: Evidently, the Lord and our First Presidency, Quorum of Twelve Apostles, Stake Presidency, and our Bishopric have been told by the Lord that He wants us to keep His Sabbath Day more holy!
Walt and I pray we will take heed.
We pray you have had a peaceful and restful Sabbath Day.
The Church is true, and we testify of all the truths we have been taught this day.
We are thankful for all Heavenly Father does for us each day.
We are thankful for all Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Redeemer and Savior does for us each day.
We are thankful for the Prophet Joseph Smith restoring all of Heavenly Father's truths to the earth for these latter days.
We are thankful for our Prophet--President Thomas S. Monson--as he guides the Kingdom of God throughout the whole world in our day.
We are thankful for all we learn from the Bible, and from the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of the divinity of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
We are thankful for our eternal marriage in the holy temple of the Lord, and that we can be a family together forever.
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Walt & Eileen Petersen - Burley - I D A H O
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