The 40th Anniversary Tour or Boompa Goes to Disneyland

Happy Anniversary #40? Where did the time go?

Well blog readers, today is September 1, 2016.  Forty years ago today, 9:00 a.m., Karl and I were married/sealed by Bro. John Sipkema in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It was a beautiful day, a Wednesday.  Following the temple ceremony, we did the picture thing around the temple grounds, we had a nice wedding luncheon at the Lion House and greeted guests at a reception that night also at the Lion House.

We honeymooned in San Francisco and it was then that I knew how much Karl really loved me.  We hit all of the touristy spots and on a drive near the bay we stopped at a red light and Karl told me to jump out of the car and take a picture.  I obeyed and took the picture.  As I turned to walk back to the car, the light changed and there I stood, stranded on a street corner in San Francisco with only a camera in hand.  Didn't know what to do or where to go or what to do - no cell phones.  I started walking in the direction Karl was headed, hoping he would turnaround or stop or something and come to find me.  Some time later, I saw him at a distance down this lonely street walking toward me. He did come back for me!!  From that day on, I knew  . . . . . . . .

Oh my goodness!

When my parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, we had a party at TGI Friday's on Foothill Drive.  I thought they were so old.  And, never did I think that Karl and I would someday arrive at the forty year milestone.

Well, we are now hear and no worse for wear.  It's certainly a different perspective now.  The days in the future are significantly fewer than those in the past and I couldn't be more blessed.  Our family began with two and now there are twelve.  We have had an amazing journey and look forward to the future with optimism and excitement for things yet to come.

One of these days, I hope to write about some of the ups and downs, the highs and lows of 40 years together for all the blog world to read.  But for now, just know that I love my family - Karl, Annie, Haley, Willie, Ross, James, Elliott, Wyatt, Molly, Jack and Quin.  I love Sunday dinners, Grandma Camp, hanging out, talking, laughing, celebrating birthdays and holidays, Disneyland, church, helping others, watching basketball games, trips to McDonalds (Diet Coke central), and pretty much anything that includes any one or all of the people mentioned above.

Home a month and all is well!

So my sweet son is home safe and sound from the land of Lietuva.  He is healthy and strong and on his way to taking steps and making plans for the future.

Returning home from missionary services, two year away from the USA, requires visiting the dentist, the doctor, the dermatologist and more.  It means getting reinstated at the U, meeting with an adviser and facing the most difficult challenge of finding a job.  In the middle of all the doing it also means going through your room from top to bottom and trying to find missing clothes and shoes and basketball shorts.

The most important thing is that Willie served strong and hard from the beginning to the end.  He came home an experienced young man ready for the next steps necessary to shape his future to be the best ever.

Love him!

I spared Karl's life -----

So it's difficult to get to sleep on Sunday nights because I am so excited to get the Monday morning email from my missionary son, Elder Petersen.  He is close to the finish line as far as missionary service goes and I can't wait for his return.

We received an email from the mission president some weeks ago that Willie's return date is March 3, 2016.  I figured we would get his travel plans about a month ahead and we have been speculating on travel itinerary and time of arrival for a few weeks now.  On Sunday night, I emailed the mission secretary, Sister Anderson, and asked about travel plans.  I wrestled with sleep all night and finally got up at 4:00 a.m. for so to check my email.  Needless to say, early Monday morning, 4:46 a.m., came a reply to my request from Sister Anderson with a copy of the travel itinerary.  Excited beyond description, I got back in bed and excitedly told Karl that the travel plans had arrived.  He rolled over to tell me that he got them a few days ago!  What!  Travel plans were sent and he said NOTHING to me about them!!!!  I was so upset that I slugged him hard and made him get up, go to the computer, and forward me the email he had been sent.  Arggggggg!!!!!!

After a few days in the dog house, I was able to forgive him and I spared his life, once again.  He obviously had no idea how important that little bit of information was to me. 

Elder Petersen will leave Riga, Latvia around 7:30 a.m., Thursday, March 3, 2016.  He will travel from Riga to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Minneapolis/St. Paul, and then from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Salt Lake City.  Oh what a joyous day it will be.

My mother's magnet collection . . . .

You can tell a lot about people by the kinds of magnets they put on their refrigerators.  Just before the holidays, sometime in mid-November, my sisters and I gathered to do the pre-holiday cleaning at my parents home.  Dad is pretty much a minimalist and can get by with very little.  Mom on the other hand loved stuff!  Each time we do a deep cleaning, Dad has us get rid of a few more things.

My responsibility this go around was the kitchen.  I started at one end with my cleaning supplies and followed the perimeter of the kitchen.  When I got to the refrigerator, I took all of the magnets off so I could wipe it down. It was easy to see that each one represented something important to my mother. Rather then toss them away, I decided to reorganize and this is the result.

You can see for yourself the variety of magnets and that really do tell an interesting story of mom's interests and loves - from Disneyland to the University of Utah, the Pledge of Allegiance to pandas and hummingbirds.  She visited many of the places represented by the magnets vicariously - Washington DC, France, Russia, Switzerland and West Virginia.  Mom loved music and if you mentioned a random word, she had a song to go with it.  I think Christmas was her favorite holiday and Yellowstone was a favorite place to go for a long drive.  She was proud to be an American and was pretty much addicted to Diet Coke.  All of these things are represented on the fridge.

On the side of the fridge were some of her "hand-made" magnets with messages that she probably got from a Relief Society lesson or something at church.  These magnets were not to be cluttered among the others because they represented her faith and love and commitment to family.  

What's on your fridge?