Traces of Time . . . December 18-24, 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, and posterity to come.

THIS WEEK- 

 DECEMBER 18-24, 2023

      MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2023

Family is Everything..                             Sunrise: 7:45 a.m. 

Sunset:  5:03 p.m.

Life on earth is just a temporary assignment. 

We won't be here long so don't get too attached. 

Your identity is in eternity, and your homeland is heaven.
Rick Warren

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023

               Family is Everything…

 Institute today

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

Remembering Grampa Ray

Maureen Carlson Sargent – 1924-2023 – Age 99

December 20, 2023

 Words can’t possibly express the love of what this woman meant to me and my family… Maurene Sargent- Carlson /grandma/ great grandma. I’m forever grateful for the time I was able to visit with her. My heart is with all of the Carlson family. I’m glad her spirit is free. After 99 years of a great life she was proud of she gets to be reunited with all those she had to let go of along the way. Until we meet again grandma 

Robert Bowen

Fly high with the angels

 

Seems like she went sky diving on

her 90th birthday!

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Lunch Bunch was at

Olive Garden, but I couldn't go 

because my retina specialist

had changed my Monday appointment

to Wednesday.

Here's the gifts one of the 

lunch bunch gals left for me.

Riggy was in a Christmas Sing In 

today at school...

His class sang with gusto: ♪♫♪♪♫

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 

and ♪♫♪♪♫

https://youtu.be/-tJtsKngXJU

 

It's a Marshmallow World ♪♫♪♪♫

https://youtu.be/v7C5eOLTTts

Riggy is under that paper on wall closest to 

curtain on far right, in black shirt and 

Santa hat that almost covers his eyes.

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Gary has had a tradition

for ten years to give

His Aunt Janice and Jeff

Whitman's chocolates.

This tradition in our family

goes back to

Grampa 'n Grama Huffaker.

Ella really liked knowing beforehand

what each chocolate was.

Tried to get photo of the

mascot by the Brazillan grill.

Rocky Mountain Retina Specialists

Macey, the Assistant today.

 And Dr. Goff gave me the

best Christmas gift of all:

My right eye has improved

so much from these 2 1/2

years of injections that

I didn't need to have an

injection today, and am

on "watch care" until

my sight in that eye

goes "wavy."

 Gary is so good to

drive me to these

appointments. 

 Thanks, Gary.

I really appreciate your

doing this for me.

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 Our Wednesday night movie with Gary

 was The Grinch from 1966

Gary remembers watching 

it on TV every December.

He was 1 year old when

it first aired, the year we

had moved back to Idaho.

We haven't watched yet the 

2000 Grinch movie with

Jim Carrey.

These movies are based

on the Dr. Seuss book

from 1957...

Valuable book

“How The Grinch Stole Christmas” 

By Dr Seuss (1957, First Edition) 

Random House

US $200.75 or Best Offer

Was US $365.00 

Condition: Very Good

Sale ends in:6d 5h from Dec. 21, 2023

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

Happy First day of winter...

51º

I don't always remember to

pray for our Stake Presidency and

Bishopric, but today when

I did, I couldn't remember the

name of our stake president.

When I turned on my computer,

I pulled up his name.

I had thought Erickson,

then got confused that

maybe his first name was Eric.

Saratoga Springs Utah Stake – 21 Mar 2021

                Jordan T. Erickson, President                                                J. Dayne Petersen, 1^st Counselor                                          J. Ryan Woodbury, 2^nd Counselor 

                               Wade Olcott, Executive Secretary

FRIDAY DECEMBER 22, 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

                                                

Gary is driving me to

Malad, Idaho to rendezvous with

Shawn who will drive

me to Rexburg for Christmas. 

Thanks, Gary and Shawn

for getting me to Rexburg

for Christmas week.

Greystone...

Now that's enough Mac 'n Cheese

to feed a crowd...

1.  The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.

22.  Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments. 

33. Three French hens stand for faith, hope, and love.

44.  The four calling birds are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

55.  The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

66.  The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.

77.  Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

88.  The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.

99.  Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

110.                   The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.

111.                   The eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.

112.                   The twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is A history lesson for

 today!

Merry Christmas!!

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 2023

                     

Family is Everything…

Congratulations to

Kimble & Maddie...

...now Mr. & Mrs.

Honolulu, Hawaii

We are so happy for you.

...to the family, Maddie.

We love you.

*** *** *** *** *** *** 

 Christmas Adam

1st Article of Faith

We believe in God, 

              the Eternal Father,

and in His Son, Jesus Christ,

and in the Holy Ghost.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2023

                    Family is Everything…

Christmas Eve Day

Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward...

Bishopric

Rexburg Ward

Fishers after Church...

Parker had taken Scottie Marie home

Mary and Janie...bff

Time to decorate

Christmas cookies...

Christmas Eve candlelight dinner

Janie, Grama, Sam, Sara

Christmas Elf gifts...

Christmas Eve Elf sweat shirts...

*** *** ***

Lively conversation on

Christmas Eve...

*** *** ***

Back in Utah...

Grama Vicki PetersOn

with Riggy

Riggy with cousins and

second cousins...

Back in Idaho...

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"If we choose...the course of discipleship, we will...move from what may be initially a mere acknowledgement of Jesus on to admiration of Jesus, then on to adoration of Jesus, and finally to emulation of Jesus. In that process of striving to become more like Him...we must always be found in the posture of repentance."

~~Elder Neal A Maxwell                                                  From a Church satellite broadcast on conversion and retention given at the Provo Missionary Training Center on 29 August 1999.

** *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 24th,

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 24, 2023

Next week Dec 25-Dec 31, 2023

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