Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Traces of Time . . . January 15-21, 2024

 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 at age 86.

Dedicated to our seven children--Janie, Gary, Steve, David, Julie, Brian, Jen, their spouses, our 39 grandchildren, 9 spouses married to our grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 1 due in April and posterity to come.

So our posterity now numbers 66. Number 67 due in April.

THIS WEEK- 

 JANUARY 15-21, 2024
  MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2024

Family is Everything..                             Sunrise: 7:48 a.m. 

                       Sunset:  5:25 p.m.



Use the Book of Mormon to help people have spiritual experiences, especially a witness from the Holy Ghost that the book itself is the word of God. When you teach the gospel using the Book of Mormon, your teaching will resonate with power and clarity in the heart and mind
Elder D. Todd Christofferson



TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024

               Family is Everything…
 Institute
Teaching today for Lori Lynn
are Cheryl & Steve Escher.

THE ATONEMENT
    This depiction in
Gethsemane does not
show the stress that
Christ must have been having.
This comes a little closer.
Sister Escher pointed out that
the sculpture of Christ in
Ashton Garden at 
Thanksgiving Point*...
...gives us a better idea of 
what the Savior was 
going through.
The veins in his neck
are showing stress.
The veins in his feet...
...are showing stress.
We feel great camaraderie
with our teachers and
classmates in Institute
who...
...come together
...each Tuesday to learn
more about the Savior.
Thank you, Steve and Cheryl,
for teaching us today to
have greater understanding
and gratitude for the
ATONEMENT.
Eileen and Marlene
with the Eschers.
 Betsy joined us in this photo.

*More about Light of
the World Sculptures:

ASHTON GARDENS at THANKSGIVING POINT –

LEHI, UTAH

3900 Garden Drive

The Light of the World Garden at Thanksgiving Point invites a special spirit and opportunity to ponder the life of Jesus Christ. Walk with Christ on the path of His life through a series of 15 sculptures, each depicting some of the most powerful moments of His ministry. The beauty of the life-like sculptures helps you learn of Jesus Christ, His teachings, and His life through an unforgettable and masterful experience.

Here's some of what was said at the 

grand opening September 26, 2016:

THANKSGIVING POINT, Utah County — After 13 years of toiling, planning and generous support, a dream to create a scenic garden of religious-themed sculptures was realized Saturday.

More than 350 people packed into a room at the Ashton Gardens to celebrate the grand opening of the Light of the World Garden, a 2.5-acre space featuring 35 bronze, monument-size statues organized into 15 scenes — 14 depicting Jesus Christ in the New Testament and one of Joseph Smith's First Vision — created by Utah artist Angela Johnson.

"This, ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when two very determined, visionary women talk," said master of ceremonies Ryan Larsen, referring to when Johnson shared her idea with Karen Ashton, founder of Thanksgiving Point Institute, in 2008.

The Light of the World Garden, made possible by private donations in the range of $4 million to $5 million, is intended to offer visitors a quiet, serene place to ponder and reflect on the life, teachings and miracles of Jesus Christ, Johnson said.

"Every scene is an aspect of my testimony. It's an endeavor of love," Johnson said. "There are no scripted or guided tours, it's between the person, the statues and the feelings that arise in their heart." 

A small group of speakers associated with Thanksgiving Point and the project, along with those who contributed financial support, each gave brief remarks. The vocal talents of Gentri, a trio of male singers, was also on display. Johnson then shared her feelings through song and poetry before Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke and offered a short dedicatory prayer.

"It is truly, truly spectacular to me," Elder Holland said of the art garden. "This particular space has become one of the special attractions, not simply of Thanksgiving Point, but of the region, the state and this part of the nation, as far as I'm concerned. … 

It's appropriate that it be located here, at the foot of these majestic mountains, midway between two valleys, connected by the River Jordan. That river, flowing by us, with Mount Nebo in one direction and Ensign Peak in another, should make these biblical subjects portrayed feel very much at home."

Elder Holland said the best part about the statuary, the gardens, spirit and setting "is that they will significantly add to the faith of all who come to visit these grounds."

"We need religious faith as much or more now than any time in the history of the world," Elder Holland said. "I believe visitors will come by the thousands and tens of thousands, grateful for a setting in which they can reflect and contemplate, a place to meditate and yes, a place to pray. We don't have a lot of those kinds of places publicly in our busy, noisy, 21st century lives. … This garden will be a spiritual oasis and a welcome retreat."

Johnson's career as a sculptor and later her vision of the garden came about in a unique way. After vigorously pursuing a dream to become a prima donna of the Metropolitan Opera for many years, Johnson realized with finality in 1997 that it would never happen. 

Instead, she felt inspired to go to an art supply store, where she bought a block of water-based clay and a sculpting tool. Within hours she had created a bust of a little girl. Thus began her journey as a sculptor, she said.

About five years and several commissioned sculptures later, she had a yearning to know what God wanted her to do with her newly discovered talent. That's when she felt guided to begin crafting sculptures depicting the teachings and miracles of Jesus with the idea that they would one day grace a garden. She began to work and few years later, crossed paths with Karen Ashton, who shared Johnson's passion for the idea and opened the doors to transform the idea into what it is today.

The Light of the World Garden is open to all visitors and faiths. For more on Johnson's biblical scenes in bronze and how to visit the gardens, visit lightoftheworldgarden.com or thanksgivingpoint.org.

*** *** ***
Jackson off to classes at UVU.
 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2024

Family is Everything...
...and so are friends. 

When I started to text the gals that 
I was wimping out from going
to lunch bunch,
I saw that
         Lunch Bunch was cancelled 
because of snow and icy roads.
We were going to go to
Costa Vida in S.S.
This is what I texted:

I was just going to text that I was

wimping out again today. 

Looks like I won't miss all the fun 

conversation and commradarie (sp?).

 💜 Eileen

   Now I'll go see if Julie has the hot chocolate machine going...

I wasn't even close to spelling "camaraderie" correctly...

ca·ma·ra·de·rie

/ˌkäm(ə)ˈradərē,ˌkam(ə)ˈrädərē/

noun

  1. mutual trust and friendship among people                              
  2. who spend a lot of time together.

I like the word even more after seeing the actual meaning.
And Julie did have the hot chocolate machine going...
...plus fried spuds
and link sausages for breakfast.
Yes, I am well taken care of
by my daughter, Julie, and
her husband, John Peterson...
as well as my other six children,
their spouses,
and 39 g-c.
The six g-gc are there
for me to also love.
I hope I show my 
gratitude sufficiently
for these blessings and
tender mercies
*** *** ***
*** *** ***

"People of integrity and honesty not only PRACTICE what they preach, they ARE what they preach."

~ David A. Bednar

Artist: Norman Rockwell🖼️

 *** *** ***

Movie Night with Gary...

"Bringing Up Baby" from 1938 -- 

the year I was born.

Bringing Up Baby is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, and starring Katharine Hepburn [age 31] and Cary Grant [34]. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film tells the story of a paleontologist in a number of predicaments involving a scatterbrained heiress and a leopard named Baby. The screenplay was adapted by Dudley Nichols and Hagar Wilde from a short story by Wilde which originally appeared in Collier's Weekly magazine on April 10, 1937.

The script was written specifically for Hepburn, and tailored to her personality. Filming began in September 1937 and wrapped in January 1938, over schedule and over budget. Production was frequently delayed by Hepburn and Grant's uncontrollable laughing fits. Hepburn struggled with her comedic performance and was coached by another cast member, vaudeville veteran Walter Catlett. A tame leopard was used during the shooting; its trainer stood off-screen with a whip for all of its scenes.

Bringing Up Baby was a Box-office bomb upon its release, although it eventually made a small profit after its re-release in the early 1940s. Shortly after the film's premiere, Hepburn was one of a group of actors labeled as "box office poison" by the Independent Theatre Owners of America. Her career would not recover until The Philadelphia Story two years later. The film's reputation began to grow during the 1950s when it was shown on television.

Since then, the film has gained acclaim from both critics and audiences for its zany antics and pratfalls, absurd situations and misunderstandings, perfect sense of comic timing, completely screwball cast, series of lunatic and hare-brained misadventures, disasters, light-hearted surprises and romantic comedy.[2]

In 1990, Bringing Up Baby was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant,"[3][4] and it has appeared on a number of greatest-films lists, ranking 88th on the American Film Institute's 100 greatest American films of all time list.

Plot

I forgot to get a photo of Gary and me.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

               Family is Everything…
 Today
I thought the warning on
this Amazon truck was funny...
Maddie and her friend off to
BYU Youth Ballroom practice...
I was surprised that it was
50º in Salt Lake today.
*** *** ***
*** *** ***

“I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior’s Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out.” —President Russell M. Nelson

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024

               Family is Everything…
People often inquire about the exact time 
of the Second Coming.

While we cannot know that (see Matthew 24:36), what if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If you knew that you would meet the Lord tomorrow—through premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would you do today?

As Jesus taught in His prophecy of the Second Coming, blessed is the “faithful and wise servant” who is attending to his duty when the Lord comes (see Matthew 24:45–46).

“Wherefore,” the Savior tells us, “be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom—For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that I come quickly” (Doctrine and Covenants 33:17–18).  Jesus Christ lives. I testify that He shall come, as He has promised.  --Dallin H. Oaks

 

*** *** ***
Visitation for our dear friend
and neighbor of 37 years...
Karen Taylor

Family photos...






Lindsay, Karen's g-dau
and Ross's son Greg from Chicago...
Painting of Karen 
a friend did from a photo.
Beautiful casket...


Several friends came from Burley...
Burley friends who drove 
the 225 miles from Idaho...
Ken & Bonnie Fronk,
Christopher. Eric came
came from L.A. area.
Plus Harry Shaw also
drove from Burley.





Sculpture of old woman
becoming a young lady
again instantly when
she steps through
the veil...
Thanks, Steve, for
driving me, and Gary
for meeting us there.
Gary went to a 
Singles' Conference.
Steve and I had a delicious
supper at Denney's.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 2024
Family is Everything...                   Steve is picking me up at  7:20                 this morning for the 225 mile one-way
3-hour drive to Idaho for:
The Memorial Service and burial for
Shawn's father.

Earl "Budd" Fred Fisher 1937-2024
11:00 A.M. Burial at Pleasant View
Cemetery in Burley.

Following this is a lunch at the
Declo Stake Center - Declo, Idaho,
--changed to  Rupert Stake Center--
and then a Memorial Service.


Some past photos...
Aimee with her Grandpa Fisher - 
Nov. 1, 2014 - Rexburg, Idaho

Burial in Burley Cemetery
next to his eternal sweetheart,
Elna  Lorene  Robins Fisher


*** *** ***
Steve came to get me
at 7:20 this morning.
Gary rendezvoused with us.
Driving to,
There, and Driving
Back from "Buddy's"
Burial and Memorial Service
in Burley, Declo, and
Rupert, Idaho.

Grama A wanted to do a                                                                  painting of this barn...

of this old barn just out of
Garland, but never did.
(photo from 1980s)
Here's a painting she did 
do of an old barn:

♪♫♪♪♫ 

 ♪♫♪♪♫ And here

we have Idaho ♪♪♫


Official State Song of Idaho

Idaho designated "Here We Have Idaho" (sometimes called "Our Idaho") as the official state song in 1931; verses by Albert J.Tompkins, chorus by McKinley Helm, music by Sallie Hume-Douglas. All State Songs

"Here We Have Idaho" Lyrics

You’ve heard of the wonders our land does possess,

Its beautiful valleys and hills.

The majestic forests where nature abounds,

We love every nook and rill

CHORUS

And here we have Idaho,

Winning her way to fame.

Silver and gold in the sunlight blaze,

And romance lies in her name.

Singing, we’re singing of you,

Ah, proudly too. All our lives thru,

We’ll go singing, singing of you,

Singing of Idaho.

--- verse 2 --- 

There’s truly one state in this great land of ours,

Where ideals can be realized.

The pioneers made it so for you and me,

A legacy we’ll always prize.

 REPEAT CHORUS

 

Drove over Sweetzer Summit...



Drove over Sweetzer Summit...
Pleasant View Cemetery
Burley, Idaho





37º but with wind chill...
...feels like 0º or colder!


We drove to the Declo
Stake Center where a man
told us the luncheon had
been changed to Rupert. 
I think this was the first
Stake Center in Rupert --
806 G Street.
Julie & John had 
surprised us when... 
...they were at the cemetery.
Gary missed the Older Adult
Singles' Winter
Conference to come.
Six of of Shawn & Janie's
7 children were able to come
except for Aimee. She was
physically not able to 
make the flight from Florida.
Arizona, Sheri & Shayne's
daughter did the unique table
centerpiecs depicting 
ocean waves... 
...with vases of shells.
Almost all of the ten tables 
of 8 filled up.
All of Sheri & Shayne's six
children were able to be there...
and six of Shawn & Janie's 7 were there.

 The delicious food was...
...catered by Costa Vida.
I don't know who arranged...
the display of Budd's... 
...photos, awards, and
mementoes along the...
front of the stage...
but it was so...
...interesting and...

...so well done.
We learned a lot about...
Budd's life...
...from this.
Budd went to BYU...
...on the GI bill after
...serving in the Air Force.
He was a Cougar cheerleader.
 He and Lorene eloped...
...and then both got their
college degrees at Utah State.
then Lorene taught school...
...while Budd went to
 dental school...
And he chose to do his
dental profession in the Navy.
Shawn went to 15 different
schools in 12 years during his
Dad's Naval transfers.
Shawn married our 
daughter, Janie, in 1986.
Some friends shared their
memories of Budd.
Family gathered...
from several states...
Utah, Ohio, Texas, 
Washington, and Idaho...
Grama with Katie and Ashley...
Daniel and Josh  joined us...
then Heidi...
Sam, Sarah and Michael ...
made all six of Shawn & Janie's...
kids and spouses Sara, Kelly, and
Josh who were able to be here...
I didn't get photos of the
two g-c of Shawn & Janie
who were here--
Umi and Maeve.
I did get a photo of Janie
with her two brothers
who came-- Steve and Gary.
Janie with Steve...
Janie with Gary... 
We left about 3:30...
...the precious barn...
covered with snow...
...don't know when I'll see you again.
...stopped at Maverick...
in Tremonton...
,,,got ice cream treats 
at their D.Q.
...sunset was at 5:30
...the sun gave one final
burst of light!
Steve told me it's 93 million miles away.

Saratoga Springs to 
Burley/Declo/Rupert and back
to Saratoga Springs is
right at 475-500 miles.
...
That counts driving over to
Declo, then being told the
lunch is in Rupert.
Then driving around the 
Rupert Square after...before driving
back, hitting a white-out
blizzard over Sweetzer
Summit - 5530' Elevation...
which I slept through.

Home at 6:20 p.m.

11 hours from when
Steve picked me up.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024

              Family is Everything…

Saratoga Springs 3rd Ward

10:30 a.m. for 2024...
Jason Johnson and
Carol Richardson gave
excellent talks on the
subject of teaching our
children how to come
unto Christ and make 
Him the center of our life.
President Woodbury closed
the meeting with a message about
how excited he is and hopes we are
about reading the Book of Mormon 
this year as the curriculium for
"Come, Foillow Me" in
the Gospel Doctrine class.


Julia Witham taught...



1 Nephi 6-15 today...
 


...focusing on the



...interpretation of the

Tree of Life...
...that Nephi received
in 1 Nephi 11...
Tree of Life...
Tree of Life...
Tree of Life...
Tree of Life...
Tree of Life...
Tree of Life...
Tree of Life...
Tree of Life...
Tree of Life...
Thank you, Sister Witham, for
a deeper understanding
about the
Tree of Life...
I was thankful to be able
to come to our ward since
being home-bound for
two Sundays because
of bad weather.
Thank you, John...
for another delicious Sunday
roast beef dinner. 
*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 January 21st,

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
January 21, 2024


Next week Jan 22-28, 2024
*** *** *** 

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