One Week and Ready!

We are at the final countdown with just one week until that son of mine reports for missionary duty.  Annie and Haley (mostly Annie) have prepared a "12 days before your mission" extravaganza for Willie.  Each day begins with a nice poem and includes a nice gift or activity.  We set everything up on the couch and so far the prizes have been:

 

Day 12 - 2/14: stationary, address book, stamps

Day 11 - 2/15: vitamins and vitamin d

Day 10 - 2/16: Band-Aids and mini first aid kit

Day 9 -   2/17: Tylenol and Advil

Day 8  -  2/18: mini umbrella

Day 7  -  2/19: Wednesday night dinner with grandpa and some sort of yummy treat - at mom's house.

2 Weeks (minus 1 day)

The time is creeping by as we prepare for Willie's mission.  It's exciting to be part of it all.  I have never been a missionary "Mom" before and I am, enjoying every minute of the preparation.

We have reviewed the checklists and guidelines over and over; and Willie has completed on online assessment of his preparation.  According to the missionary website, he is 80% ready to go.  By today I think that will be 91%!

50% Prepared

91% Prepared

Three Weeks!

Four Weeks from Today!

Four weeks from today is a big day for the Petersens! 

That's the day Willie reports to the Provo MTC to start his official service as a missionary.  We still have so much to do to get ready for everything. 

Most of the clothes shopping is done; just working on getting the little things purchased and ready to pack.  Getting a missionary ready for service is not an easy thing to do.  I am so glad we have had a few months to get things done.

We've had some fun getting ready.  We've been spending Friday afternoons together going to Mr. Mac's and the LDS Distribution center (ha ha).  Mostly we drive around listening to weird songs on the 60's station.  So, we were driving down Redwood Road and "What's new Pussycat" by Tom Jones came on.  The song is insane and we laughed like crazy listening to the words, you know, "You and your pussycat nose, wo-a-wo-a!"  Crazy lyrics and crazy singer.

We've taken the same pair of suit pants to Mr. Mac's 3 times and we are still waiting for the right length to happen. Getting the right fit on the new underwear at the church store has required repeat trips, too.  There are too many fabrics to choose from and you can't open the package to look at what you are getting.   But, I think we are getting closer to the fabrics Willie likes and the right combination of tops and bottoms. 

Willie is reading and memorizing all 900+ pages of the B of M, D & C, a 1937 publication of the Missionary Handbook (he found at Grandpa's house), and more.  He is also practicing the ukulele for a future musical number and teaching himself to speak Lithuanian with the CDs he got for his birthday.  In his spare time, he is doing some tutoring work at Hunter, Kearns High and Kearns Junior, Taylorsville High School and West Lake Junior and he plays weird games on the iPad.  He's been to the dentist twice this week and comes to visit me at work every now and then.  It's been fun getting ready and spending time hanging out. 

 

Some of the things left on our list:

umbrella
clothes hangers
twin size sheets (2)
sunscreen, lip balm (I think they mean chap stick)
alarm clock - no music playing components
passport holder (for wearing close to the body)
voltage/electrical adaptor
thermal underwear
24 month supply of vitamin D
moleskin
duct tape

Why I like Sugarhouse

Every now and again, I take a break from the office and get out to visit a school or even better just simply go for a drive.  I usually end up in Sugarhouse.  It's not too far from my office.  It's a nice little community tucked away in the southeast corner of Salt Lake City.  I can't drive through the area without reminiscing about days gone by.  My grandparents lived close to Sugarhouse; Dr. Newton's office was there and and after a visit to either place it was common to stop by Snelgroves for a yummy ice cream cone, a sundae or a malt or NuCrisp Popcorn for an individual bag of buttered or caramel popcorn.  I could never figure out why the bag of caramel popcorn was smaller in quantity than the butter.

I remember going to the only Sugarhouse department store, Keith O'Brien's (KOB).  Grandpa Eccles' sister Deloras worked there for years.  Both my grandmothers shopped there.  Granite Furniture and Southeast Furniture were the only places to buy furniture, appliances, carpet, and more.  You could set up accounts at either store (90 days same as cash or longer) for purchases as small as $100.  Walker Bank was just across the street from Granite Furniture and I remember going there with Grandma Eccles a few times.


At Christmastime, Santa was always waiting to visit with little ones in a little shed-like house on the Sugarhouse diagonal (2100 S 1100 E).  And we always drove through the Blaine Street and Christmas Street neighborhoods to see the lights.

It's been nearly fifty years since many of those memories were made and they are still fresh in my mind when I take time to escape the office and take a nice warm ride down a memory lane -- 21st South through Sugarhouse.


I like the new features of Sugarhouse -- Barnes and Noble shopping area, Sundance Catalog Store, Sugarhouse Park, the Dodo Restaurant, Schmidt's Bakery and the newly rebuilt McDonald's.  I guess the bottom line is that Sugarhouse is one of those comfort places I like to visit again and again.

2014 is Here!

It's hard to believe that just a little over two weeks ago we celebrated Christmas.  It just about kills me off every year getting ready for the big day and then it's over in a matter of hours.  I do enjoy all of the preparation; and it's so fun to see and feel the excitement that comes with all that's involved.

This was a long week at the office.  After two weeks off with some sleeping in, eating out, spending time with family, etc., getting back in the routine of the 5:45 a.m. alarm was not that exciting. But, we did it and survived!

Willie is patiently waiting his mission report date - February 26!  He and I ran some errands today (mid-day lunch break for me) and picked up a few things for the mission.  He misses school.  If he were in school this semester he said he would probably be taking four science classes.  He loves math and science and writing and really enjoyed his business class last semester. He started two part-time jobs this week in the schools -- AVID tutoring in the morning and credit recovery tutoring in the afternoon. (With the high turnover of hourly school personnel, there's always something available.) He is also finding time to do the crazy INSANITY exercise routine and is getting into studying Lithuanian. (His birthday present finally arrived - Lithuanian language CDs.) Plus, he's been to my office a few times this week and that's been fun.

Molly and Jack hung out with us last night (their parents were working late).  I love all of my grandchillins so much - even more when I have them without their parents.  We have amazing conversations!  Molly is a jabber box and says the craziest things.  Grandpa Huber hasn't been feeling well and she was concerned about him, "Grandma," she said, "why is, why is, why is your dad sick?  What is wrong with him?"  We talked about great-grandpa and I told her he is feeling much better.  Then at dinner, she needed something on the table closer to Grandpa Karl than she could reach.  Instead of asking him to get what she needed, she said, "Grandma, will you tell Karl to get me . . . .?"  Kids are funny and when they get to that age of figuring out names and identities conversations are so entertaining.

Thank you for the photo, Annie!

Well, it's Friday night -- Friday nights are not as busy for us as they have been in 3-4 previous years.  We are home in our respective spaces just hanging out.  I am sitting on the couch in the family room watching HGTV Dream Home 2014; Karl is reading, somewhere; and Willie is downstairs watching a variety of basketball games.  We are happy, healthy, and thankful for all of the blessings and opportunities of 2013 hoping that we will be blessed likewise in 2014.  If you are reading this, know that we love you and hope that your 2014 is a year of blessings and opportunity!

Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

Merry Christmas!

My Christmas Wish For You

by Ruth Kephart

My Christmas wish for you, my friend

Is not a simple one

For I wish you hope and joy and peace,

Days filled with warmth and sun.

I wish you love and friendship, too

Throughout the coming year,

Lots of laughter and happiness

To fill your world with cheer.

May you count your blessings, one by one

And when totaled by the lot

May you find all you've been given,

To be more than what you sought.

May your journeys be short, your burdens light

May your spirit never grow old,

May all your clouds have silver linings

And your rainbows pots of gold.

I wish this all and so much more

May all your dreams come true,

May you have a Merry Christmas, friend

And a Happy New Year, too.

She's Home!

My sweet niece is home!  She has been serving an LDS mission in Paraguay.  She left balmy Paraguay and entered a winter wonderland in Salt Lake City late Thursday night. 

It didn't take long to start the transition to non missionary life.  She sent me a text last night with her new phone number.  Meranda is an amazing niece and we are so happy to have her home safe and sound.  There is so much in store for her as she takes the next steps in her life!

The longest day!

Today was absolutely the longest work day in many days.  It started out with snow-packed and slippery roads, power outages at intersections, and a slow drive to work.  The radio kept me (and all of the other drivers) informed about road closures, airport closures, accidents and more.  After 2, yes 2, hours to make an 11 mile drive, I was wiped out and not ready to get going on anything.  The clocked ticked by and finally at 3:30 I wished everyone a nice evening and headed home.  Oh my goodness!

December!

I need to record the events and experiences of the past few months.  If I don't, I am not likely to remember them at all or tell anyone about them. I am home chilling for a few hours before my meeting schedule begins for the day.  I have a pretty amazing life filled with blessings of family, good health, associates, work, church service and more that lead to ongoing happiness, purpose, meaning and substance.

Family Party

Saturday, December 7, we hosted the annual Petersen Family Christmas Party.  We had a good crowd but were missing more family than in previous years.  Annie created the menu, Haley and I were support staff and everyone there had a nice family evening which included several rounds of TREE (Bingo for Christmas) with prizes for all.

Who'd have thought . . . 

I grew up in a small community only 1.9 miles from where I currently live.  It was a pretty positive upbringing for the most part, not perfect, but good parents and religion moved all 8 kids in the family along. Last week, Friday (December 6), I sat on a pretty high profile panel of education, workforce, and government leaders to talk about the future of young people using Pathway to Prosperity as our reference.  The author of the Harvard document was the key panelist.  The panel was organized to speak with attendees of the national ACTE conference (Association of Career and Technical Education) held in Las Vegas.  It was a pretty amazing experience, to say the least.

In October, I made a lightning-speed trip to New York City to sit on a panel of large district, school counseling leaders from across the country at the Fall Forum of the College Board.  My charge there was to share how school counseling is experiencing a transformation to emphasis the importance of college and career readiness for all students. While right downtown in NYC I found my way to the top of the Empire State Building to the center of Rockefeller Plaza.  I had an interesting cabbie, Vido, who provided a travel/historical dialog to the airport. 

Grands!

Having now five grandchildren is quite an accomplishment and so much fun.  I had some alone time with all of them after Thanksgiving. What cute little chillins!  Elliott is so smart and wants to be helpful and has a million questions and ideas.  Wyatt is very strong-willed and a little on the stubborn side but so endearing.  Molly is my "golden granddaughter" and she is always so good when it's just the two of us.  Jackity-Jack is s sweet little boy who manages to understand and communicate in his own language.  And, Quinn is my chubby-wubby who patiently waits for me to look his way to share a huge smile. 

Lithuanian Express

Willie's Fantasy Basketball Team is affectionately call the Lithuanian Express. Preparing a missionary is a new thing for all of us.  When the "call" came in September, I thought "why so much time to prepare"?  Now, with just a little over two months from MTC time, I am feeling a little pressure.  Willie is ready! Now, we just need to get the shopping done -- for two years!  We are all excited to send a missionary off; but our excitement pales to what Willie is feeling.  He's ready!

U of U Student

One semester down and seven or eight to go.  With concurrent and AP credit and one semester nearly completed, Willie has enough credit to be considered a sophomore!  It's amazing how he has made the transition from high school to the college scene.  He's focused, he studies hard, and it has been a good life prep program to give him some substance to draw from as he moves to a new life experience.

The day after Thanksgiving

So, it's the day after Thanksgiving and a beautiful day!  Not sure about how the rest of the world celebrated but we had a huge group at Dad's for dinner.  I think there were close to 50!  We overprepared and over planned and there was delicious turkey and all the fixins for all; and seconds, and thirds, too.

It was a great day!

50 years ago, and I can still remember . . .

I was in third grade and at recess at Webster School in Magna, Utah.  When we returned to class, Mrs. Thacker reported that everyone would be going home early because President Kennedy had been shot and killed and Mrs. Kennedy wanted all students sent home from school, all students across the country.  I was very sad; I liked the Kennedys. Not too many months earlier, President Kennedy was in Salt Lake City and visited with Mormon church leaders.  His motorcade was scheduled to head to the airport after the meeting going west on North Temple.  Mom and Dad loaded the five girls in the car and we headed to SLC to find a parking spot on the side of the road to watch the motorcade.  I remember the event pretty vividly -- black fancy convertible with the President inside, waving.

November 22 is my cousin Scott's birthday and back in 1963, a birthday was a time for family to gather and this birthday on a very somber day was no different.  However, the excitement of a birthday party was stifled a little as the grownups in the room talked about the events of the day and watched the recaps on a black and white TV.  Some important family members were missing that evening, Grandma and Grandpa Eccles. They were in Pittsburg, PA visiting Uncle Blaine and his family.  I remember feeling very nervous that they weren't there.  I was worried that they would get shot and killed.

The days that followed were heavy -- no school until after the funeral.  Hours were spent watching TV and listening to the radio.  As much as was possible 50 years ago was broadcast so all of the US could be involved.  I will never forget the funeral procession, Mrs. Kennedy and the kids and others walked to Arlington Cemetery accompanying the horse-drawn carriage with the casket.

Fast forward and as an adult I have visited Dallas, Dealey Plaza and the Schoolbook Depository building; I have walked the path taken by the funeral cortege to Arlington and viewed the eternal flame at the Kennedy graves site.  I have visited the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. Then and now when November 22 rolls around I remember very vividly the day President Kennedy was assassinated.  It was a very sad and solemn then and feels that way 50 years later.

First Snow!

Yesterday was a beautiful Indian summer day nearly 70 degrees and clear sky.  This morning we awoke to a quiet snowstorm with over an inch on the grass. It's a peaceful snow storm - no wind or ice just jumbo sized flakes and the sidewalks and roads are still warm enough there's no need to shovel.  It's one of those days where you just want to stay home and make cookies.

Life is good!

I live in a small neighborhood in a nice home among hard working middle class type people.  I have an amazing job, I go to church on Sunday, I am nice to most everyone, and I have good health and blessings (too many to track or count). However, the most amazing and important pieces that make the puzzle of my life complete are my family members -- Karl, the kids and kids-in-law, grandchillins, my dad (and Mom and Ardith), siblings and siblings-in-law, many nieces and nephews, adopted family members (they know who they are), and others . . . .   At the end of the day, family matters more than anything.

I usually start my grocery list on Saturday night after I get home from the store and realize everything I forgot to buy.  My grocery list was on the desk in the kitchen on Sunday and that's the day all the family comes to dinner.  After work today, I needed to add something to my list and there on the paper Elliott had written his name.  Grandson #1 is into leaving notes here and there.  A couple of weeks ago, he left two sticky notes on my dresser "I (image of a heart) you".  A heart warming and tender feeling consumes me when I see his awkward first grade handwriting messages, just for me!  It's stuff like this that makes my life complete!  I don't know why Elliott added his name to my grocery list, but just the fact that it is there will remind me to get him and all of the kids a special something when I go shopping.

Life is good!

Birthdays usually come and go, but not this year

So, I celebrated another birthday with family and others unlike ever before.  Cards in the mail, gifts and cards delivered in person, visits at home and the office from family and friends, text messages and phone calls, random people wishing me "Happy Birthday" -- awesome for me, but a little out of the ordinary.  Then the truth came out!  Willie posted a couple of pictures announcing to the social media world that I was celebrating a birthday.  Go figure -  he has a "following" and they and others let me know they knew.

So this afternoon, I was at the credit union and the transaction took a little longer than usual.  When the teller returned she said, "I noticed you just celebrated a birthday, and I have a gift for you."  She sent a card through the drive-up tube and in it was a $2 bill.  I am not implying that the teller is on Willie's social media circuit, but it was a random occurrence.

Thank you to everyone for a great birthday - obviously still celebrating!

October is a good month!

I turned the calendar from September to October and thought - October is a good month! It's kind of confusing because it is the tenth month but its root is "octo" meaning eight.  I guess it was the eighth month in the ancient days.  January and October always start on the same day of the month (interesting).

National Pizza Month

National Popcorn Popping Month

Special Days 

Independence Days for Cyprus, Croatia, and Nigeria

Stock's Anniversary - 10-9-8

Columbus Day

Thanksgiving in Canada

Halloween

I like the fall colors of October - orange, brown, red, yellow.
I like fall activities -- football games, soccer games, sitting outside on Sunday afternoon, driving to see the fall leaves in the mountains, . . .
I like that I get to celebrate my birthday in October.

Looks like a missionary to me!

If you read the Petersen family blogs you are likely to know by now that Willie has a mission call.  He will be serving in the Baltic States Mission - Lithuania.  It's pretty exciting and a great opportunity for Willie, our family, and friends, and ward members, and others.

Missionary service is a pretty amazing life activity.  Making a commitment to go away from what you're used to and comfortable with for two years is one commitment; taking on the responsibility of inviting others to "come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end," is a tall order to take on.  Like so many in our church, Willie will take it on and give it his best.


Willie is maturing and growing up more every day and really looking like a missionary!

Happy Birthday, Mom

Another year has come and gone and it's Mom's birthday - but not without a celebration.  Mom had this thing about keeping the deceased around and alive in our minds and hearts.  She always recognized the birthdays and other events of those who had passed on.  These days always included a story or two and a visit to the graves of those closest to us (in relation and distance).

All in the family who could met at Mom's grave this evening.  We put some flowers on her grave, Dad said a few words and then gave a nice prayer.  Then we (42 of us) headed to Crown Burger for food and good company. It was a nice evening and I didn't have to cook or clean up afterwards.

Not a day goes by that I don't miss Mom.  Most days come and go with a thought here or there.  Some days are just tough - no getting around it.  On rare occasions I sense she is close by like when I leave Dad's late at night and drive home in the quiet dark.  A tear or two will well up in my eyes and I feel a warmth and a feeling that she is not too far away and thanking me for checking in on Dad.

Happy 83rd Birthday, Mom!  Love you!

Rainy Days and Sunday