Help....

I've spent about an hour getting the new gadget on for the countdown to Nov. 1, 2014 when our calling ends and we return to Idaho.  Then I tried changing the photo on the title of our blog, but can't get the photo to reduce in size, even tho I have "shrink to fit" checked in the layout edit box.
     Now I don't know how to get that original wedding photo put back in.
         I know just enough about computers and blog editing to foul it up.

Hope you are having a great day.
I haven't received a group photo of the WEPR Reunion which was June 16-19 at a large, family reunion cabin in Heber, Utah.  When I do I'll post a photo.
Here's a few of the reunion photos we've been sent....
Here's last year's WEPR group photo - WEPR = Walt & Eileen Petersen Reunion

Here's some June 2013 WEPR photos.  Theme: "Mission Impossible" Thanks Jen & Jerry Brewer for all the planning and preparing for this year's WEPR.
Jackson and Jacob in their Mission Impossible t-shirts.

Anna, Sarah, Jacee, Kimble...

Here's some more...Brian, Julie B and David.
Brian & Michelle and 4 daughters get the prize for flying the farthest...from Tennessee...

Jen & Jerry Brewer and 6 children get the prize for driving the farthest from Rochester, Minnesota...

Gary led the Mission Impossible Boot Camp...

...guess I haven't loaded those photos yet....but here is Gary catching some zzzzz's after the strenuous activities.

Who says all the cousins can't fit in the hot tub at the same time?

Well, this isn't quite all 33 cousins...but a lot of them.

     Our grandkids are growing up fast!

Looks like William found the watermelon good to the last bite...

YES...

 F A M I L I E S

    A R E

       F O R E V E R . . .

Happy Father's Day . . .

Yes, Walt got biscuits and gravy this morning...

Be back soon....we're just up from a nap. It's been such a busy day that I had forgotten that we haven't had time for Walt to receive his Father's Day present.
  Now he's opened his few small presents.

Actually, he found this new shave kit last week in the new Don Juan's Grocery Store we've discovered here.  I've been looking a long time for one since he told me the one he's had for 30-40 years is falling apart.

    His main present was the apple pie I baked for him.  I baked two yesterday because it was our turn to furnish dessert for our pot-luck Sunday dinner with the other temple missionaries.

We had 12 today at dinner...Elder y Hna. Clark hosted with Chicken Alfredo over pasta, and Hna. Thompson made a delicious lemon jello salad called "Sea Breeze."

Here are the couples...Left to right: Us; Elder y Hna. Haroldsen, arrived Thursday from Idaho Falls; Elder y Hna. Utt, the Perpetual Education Fund missionaries for El Salvador; Elder y Hna. Winter, also arrived Thursday from Nampa; Elder y Hna. Clark here since Feb. 28 from Arizona; and Elder y Hna. Thompson here from Jerome since entered the MTC July 25, 2011.  They finish their 23 months on 25June2013. (We are so sad to lose them.)

After dinner and a long nap, we were surprised and delighted with the Skype call from Midvale, Utah, where our 7 children and their families have gathered for a 3-day family reunion.  Jen & Jerry are in charge this year and have chosen the theme: 
       "Mission Impossible."  We'll post more about that this week.
We loved talking with and seeing each of them gathered.
They each wished "Dad/Grampa" a Happy Father's Day.
    Here's a photo of us all together two years ago for our 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

This morning President López drove us an hour to Santa Ana to the Pariso Stake Conference.  We spoke about the temple and the blessing of being sealed as a family for eternity.

Walt also spoke about how Satan doesn't want families to succeed and be families forever because he can never have a body and therefore never have a family.

And now I say "Happy Father's Day" to the father of our children...
WALTER RAY PETERSEN...here he is at he was graduating from the University of Idaho in pre-med...1959.

Here we are in August 1960 as we were pinned after dating that summer...he was home from his first year of medical school, and I was home between semesters at BYU. After we had been dating one week, my roommate and friend Sonya Gibbs asked me how I liked Walt Petersen.
   "Oh, he's great, but I'm not getting interested in him. He's a medical student and who would ever want to be a doctor's wife," I naively replied.

Then we married....June 14, 1961...yes, two days ago was our 
52nd Wedding Anniversary.
     Then....

And now...

Happy Father's Day Tribute to our fathers...
Ray O. Petersen...Walt's father 1907-1970...We still miss him.

And Arnold G. Albertson...Eileen's father 1912-1982...We still miss him, too. 

We hope you have each had a wonderful Father's Day being with or cherishing the memory of your father.

F A M I L I E S     A R E    F O R E V E R !

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Today we got to go to our ward....
    Walt said as they were making the announcements: "It's good to be back in the ward." We have been in stake conferences for most of March, April, and May.  And he's had two Regional Correlation Councils, so I did get to go to our ward two times when he was at those.
    I'm really slipping....I didn't take one photo today. And we hosted the Sunday dinner with Beef Stroganoff over rice.  We even bought some wild rice to try out--the tiny box for $4.27 had 2/3 cup in it.
     After dinner Walt dashed over to the temple to give a welcome to two rooms full of workers to be trained.
     We had to leave at 4:00pm to speak at a 5:00pm fireside in the Illopango Stake about temple work.
      We were surprised that the entire chapel was full and they opened the folding divider into the Cultural Hall.  The members here do love their temple president.

So a few minutes ago I took a photo of the centerpiece from dinner....that's it for this Sunday, June 9, 2013. (And I have to down load it first so I can post it.)
  ...the day isn't over yet, so I took a photo of Walt relaxing without his tie on....and then he took one of me.

I'm sitting in the recliner just opposite the love seat he is in.

And here's the Centerpiece.  I told them it looked like I wasn't every going to get to do the Luau....so I did a centerpiece today that I would have used.

Oh....I was wrong about "not taking any photos today."  I did take some of the basket our Relief Society president  decorated for the Marklands for the arrival of their twins yesterday. Ben Markland is the first counselor in our Bishopric, and his wife Delena has been so helpful to pick up our temple missionary sisters and me to go to the monthly Gringa Brunch.  They have Joseph 6, and Dallin 4, and now Dixie Delena 5lbs9oz, and Mateo Sherwood 5lbs9oz, who were born yesterday at 35weeks 3 days.  Delena's goal was to get to at least week 37, and she almost made it. Mother and babies are doing just fine.
  Here's our darling presidente de Sociedad de Socorro (R.S.) and her two counselors.  Karina Artiga is always doing wonderful things for everyone. We all love her a lot!  And she takes great photos.

She had us each write a note to Delena and Ben, and they were going to the hospital today to take them to her.  Here's a closer up view and I think the photos of the twins show up better.

Delena was down a lot during her pregnancy and we were all praying for the twins to be okay.  She said once that these babies kinda belong to the whole ward.
   Her Mom was scheduled to fly in on June 11, but Thursday when the doctor said they needed to get the babies here on Saturday, they bumped her Mom's flight up to Friday.  Here is the proud Grandmother letting the two big brothers, Joseph 6, and Dallin 4, get their first look at their new sister and brother.

Here's the proud papa holding the two precious bundles of joy.

On Saturday, when all this was happening at the hospital with the Marklands, Walt was asked to do several sealings. Even though it was our day with no shift at the temple, we spent several hours there.
   Here is the photo of one of the couples he sealed along with their 3 precious little boys...the 9 and 6 year old are in the photo.  The three year old was tuckered out and had gone to sleep.

And someone snapped a photo of us before we went up to our apartment.

So I guess we had a few photos after all for this post.
Saturday we also got to visit with the stake president and his wife from the Chalchuapa Stake, Presidente y Hna. Siguenza. We have not had a chance to speak at their stake conference yet.  They are about two hours from the temple.

As I was hurrying to one of the sealings, this big brother was taking a photo of his little brother by the temple. I asked if I could also take a photo of them.

Also Saturday, June 8, was my sister's birthday.

Happy Birthday, Janice.  As I said in her birthday letter: "One year closer to retirement."  Here is Janice at her granddaughter Jasmine's high school graduation on May 30.  Janice has had the primary care of our aged Mother these many years while Walt and I have been serving these 4 missions together.  Janice, you have been a jewel in caring for Mom and all the details it entails.  I know Daddy is smiling down from heaven on you for all you have done and do for his eternal sweetheart.

On Wednesday evening, toward the end of our day with no shift, we got a call from the temple that someone wanted to come and see us.  It was Ruth Budge's nephew, Jason McBride, the son of her brother Rex. Jason had served his mission here in El Salvador 2004-2006 and had come back to visit his converts and friends.  So that was a serendipity.

He was with two of his converts. We served them some apple tarts and soda.  We have a book for visitors to sign who visit the temple president's apartment.  It's getting quite full after almost two years here.

Tuesday I got a photo of Walt doing his daily exercises. The look on his face shows how he does not enjoy exercising.

He got a photo of me on the stationery exercise bike.  We both like exercise about the same.

Monday, June 3, was the Gringa Brunch Farewell for Nancy Thompson, Traci McKay, and Celeste Mecham. Traci and Celeste were at "family day" at their kids' school.
Left to right: Laura Wegkamp Cook, Marilee Clark, Lisa Wegkamp, Delena Markland, Janis Nielsen, Nancy Thompson, Eileen Petersen, Shaulee Curtis.  In front are Mailee Curtis and Kelsey Cook.  Thanks, Shaulee, for hosting.
And thanks, Delena for driving us three from the temple grounds. None of us knew--not even you--that you'd be having your babies within 5 days! 

Monday ended with a great family home evening at Clarks, with Elder Clark teaching us about "We're Trying To Be Like Jesus..." to store up treasures in heaven, making and keeping covenants, and always increasing in spirituality. Hna. Clark served delicious cheesecake at the end.  I've had that song in my head all week.... "I'm trying to be like Jesus, I'm following God's command...."

And that's another week for us here in San Salvador, El Salvador.
We hope you have had a great week wherever you are.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.
Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration.
We love the Book of Mormon, the many truths it teaches us, and that it's being Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
We are grateful for our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and for His Atonement.
We are thankful for today's Prophet for the entire world, President Thomas S. Monson.
And I am thankful for my "novio" Walt Petersen, who is my eternal sweetheart and husband.
     In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

It's June...

♪♫June is bustin’ out all over♫♪♫♪

       …all over the meadows and the hills,

         …buds are bustin’ outa bushes and

           …the rompin’ river pushes all the

              …little wheels that wheel beside the mill.

Here we are - Saturday, June 1st, 2013...

We were  up at 3:00 a.m., opened the temple at 4:00 a.m., and had 8 sisters receive their temple endowment, and 5 brothers.

Plus many of the sessions were overflowing.

We wish it could be that busy in the temple every day.

Today, Sunday, June 2 we spoke at two sessions of the San Salvador El Salvador Stake Conference.
The first one -- 9:00-11:00 -- was at the Barrio America - which I think is their stake center.
Here we are with Elder Ricardo Valladares, Area 70 from Tegucigalpa, Honduras who presided at the conference.  We had been with him several times in the Nicaragua Managua Mission when he was the Mission President in 2004-2006 when we were serving as the Area Medical Advisors (well I was a helper to the Medical Advisor).

After a delicious lunch they served right after this first session, we drove an hour to Zacatecoluca for the afternoon session - 2:00-4:00. (I practiced all day on pronouncing it correctly and I finally got it:  Zaca - teco - luca, said really, really fast.)

Above: Walt even liked the drink made from the juice of strawberries and watermelon.
(Most know that he doesn't like watermelon because his Grampa Bide didn't like it.)
Our guides for the day were Herbert Castillo y Daniella Hernández.
They've been married 5 months.  He has been a member for four years, and she a member for 2 months.  They are a darling couple.
Many people have told us that she is a famous singer here in El Salvador.  She is very beautiful in person and spirit, and also very humble.  We had a delightful day with them.
Here they are with Elder Valladares.

Someone asked me to take a photo of the stake choir after the conference was over.  The 21 hermanas and 13 hermanos sang beautifully.

Here is the stake presidency and their clerks with Elder Valladares.

Here is the stake president's wife and three children.

Here are some scenes as we were driving away from the Chapel at Zacatecoluca.
The choir posed outside.

Presidente Manuel López and his two daughters.
His young son was asleep inside with Hna. López.

The two daughters were thrilled to meet Daniella Hernández in person.

These missionaries brought investigators to the conference.
We drove by them as we were about 15 miles from Zacatecoluca.
Walt stopped and asked if they needed a ride.  They were just on their way to pick up their investigators and catch a bus on in.

The stake had brought a bus over from San Salvador with the stake leaders. And now they're loading up for the hour drive back.

We took a photo of Herbert and Daniella on the terrace of our apartment.  We so appreciated their taking their full Sunday to help guide us to the two different chapels today.
We asked them how they met.  She was "Brigitta" in The Sound of Music when she was 14. That's when he first saw her.  He's waited low these many years for her to grow up.

And here we are at the end of a busy but rewarding Sabbath day in El Salvador.  

We hope you have had a rewarding Sabbath Day also.
P.S. 
I finally got all our grandparents' photos added to last Monday's Memorial Day Blog (except my Grandfather Albertson--no photo.)