Great Aunt Elva's Funeral

This morning, I was able to attend my Great Aunt Elva Peterson Hackwell's funeral in Ogden. It was a blessing to me being able to be there. When I arrived, I was relieved to see my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Jon walking in the building. I was excited to see my Aunt LaRae and Uncle Lyle in the foyer when I walked in (they received permission to attend the funeral from their zone leader-- they are serving a full time mission in the Family History Library in Salt Lake). I went in and talked to my dad's cousin, Kay, Elva's daughter.

I have great memories of Aunt Elva (my Grandpa Peterson's sister) at our Peterson Family Christmas parties. She was always dressed just beautifully with every hair in place. She was a former kindergarten teacher also and so we had that connection.

It was so good to be with family! When I went back into the foyer, my sweet grandma had arrived along with my Aunt Tamara. A few minutes later, my Aunt Jami came in, she had drive down from Idaho. I attended the family prayer along with my grandma, aunts and uncles. During the funeral, I was sitting on a row together with my Grandma Peterson, my aunts and uncles. During the funeral, I was pretty emotional because I felt the strength of my Peterson family-- they were filling that void of my parents. I felt of their strength and love and I could not control my emotions very well.

Aunt Elva's funeral was beautiful. Her grandson, Erik, sang one of my favorite hymns (especially the words and meaning in Spanish) "Abide with Me" (in Spanish, the title is "Acompaname" or accompany me-- I just love thinking of that closeness). Roger, Elva's grandson-in-law gave a beautiful talk and her son, Richard's talk was wonderful (I think he ought to add his talk to his mother's memory page on familysearch.org). Richard shared tons of memories of his mother and father and how they met and stories of my Great Grandfather Peterson.

After we walked out of the funeral, I gave my Aunt Jami a hug and just started bawling again. I was finally composed enough to tell my aunts and uncles how they were strengthening me in my parents absence. They then understood why I was having such a hard time during the funeral. I told my aunt, " I just need an aunt hug" and I have been known to ask a wonderful friend, Linda Wayment, in my ward for a "mom hug" on at lease one occasion in the past few months. I am very blessed to have wonderful family in my life-- family who loves me no matter what-- family who would do anything for me -- family who has know me my entire life. What a great blessing eternal extended families are! I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for reminding me of the great love of family!

Peterson Family Christmas Party

The Peterson Family party was very different this year—but in a good way. 

My parents are on their mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The party was at Rebecca and Joe's home in Grantsville. They had their office set up with FaceTime, so we all took turns going in to talk to Mom and Dad before lunch. (We started the party at 11:30 so it would be 8:30 p.m. for my parents--so they could join us for a bit of the party).  We had a wonderful lunch of soups and rolls. During lunch, the BYU/Utah bowl game was on which was rather depressing for some of us (others were ecstatic).  

This year, we decided not to buy presents for one another-- we decided instead to give all the money we would have spent to my nephew Conner to help pay for his adoption fees. I don't think we missed this part of the party at all-- maybe we missed the adult game just a smidge (there's always next year). The Adult Game has been a Peterson tradition for as long as I can remember.

The Saran Wrap Candy Bar game-- Paeton is cheering on Mallory as Easton is trying to get doubles!!

Brittney unwrapping as fast as she can

Hayley enjoying some Skittles she won while wrapping herself in the Saran Wrap

Since we didn’t do presents, we had a lot of fun playing games—for those who wanted to play. We played the Candy Bar Game (all wrapped in Saran Wrap), Silent Night Bingo, Christmas Scattegories, Christmas Family Feud, the Candy Bar and oven mitt game (not sure of its name—it took forever for all of us to get our candy bars open and eaten), the doughnut on a string game (there were a few good videos taken I think) and a Pie in the Face game.

Hayley and Brittney eating their doughnuts!

Hayley and Brittney (using her hands a little bit)

Brittney finishing up-- I think she had glaze all over her face!

Brayden and Colten's race-- Colten won- hands down. His doughnut was gone in 58 seconds!!!

Conner feeding Mallory her doughnut-- Conner was really nice and held the string pretty short to guide the doughnut into Mallory's mouth.

Liz and Mallory watching Hayley trying to open her Hershey bar during the Candy Bar and Mitt Game

Mallory trying to open her candy bar

One thing we didn’t do, that I wished we would have, was to reenact the Nativity. We laughed and had a great time together!

Thanksgiving 2015

We had a yummy Thanksgiving Dinner with my family this year! We had smoked turkey (deliciously made by Doug), turkey, ham, mashed potatoes (we made enough for an army--I think we peeled and mashed 50 potatoes this morning---waaaay tooooo many), gravy, stuffing, salads, jello, sweet potatoes, homemade yummy rolls, corn, carrots, brussel sprouts (I tried some for the first time--not bad), and pies (Peanut Butter pie, Banana Cream pie, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Pie, Caramel Chocolate Pie, and many others! Everything was so good! There was plenty to eat and plenty of leftovers! We all ate well! We ate at Grandma Wood's church in Roy. The kitchen was being remodeled so we had to bring everything in crock pots. Luckily, the fridge was still working and one sink worked. 

Mallory in line with Chloe, Jared and Jacob

Aleece, Scott, Grandma Wood and Tera

Aleece, John, Chloe, and Arika

Leah, Jacob, Mallory, Conner and Reeghan

Sarah, Trent, Erin, Scott, Dad, David, Ezra, Tera

Ryder, Doug, Brayden and Colten

Mom, Grandma Wood, Brittney, Liz and Jared

Emma, Ella, Griffin, Kadee, Paeton, Hayley, Kaitlin, Justin

Andrew and AJ

Ella, Kadee, Hayley and Kaitlin

Ella, Kadee, Paeton, Hayley and Kaitlin

Brittney's meager plate of food

Grandma Wood

Scott taking a snooze

After dinner, the kids played futsol, basketball and lightening. Some took naps while some of us played games. We had a wonderful time with family counting our blessings!

Elder Ronald and Sister Shauna Peterson Farewell and Setting Apart

Today my parents spoke in the Grantsville 15th Ward before they enter the Missionary Training Center tomorrow before going to the Democratic Republic of the Congo Lubumbashi Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They will be serving for 23 months as Office Support in this French speaking mission.

We went to our own Sacrament Meeting and then hurried to Grantsville to hear my parents speak. We arrived during the Sacrament (we knew we would be late), and snuck into the back.

My mom spoke about the temple, forgiveness and the Atonement. She used many experiences form her calling in the Relief Society Presidency at the Tooele County Jail. One thing I wrote down was, "the temple is not for perfect people--it is for us trying to work toward perfection".  She also taught us not to judge others, to forgive others and to allow others to change. I loved the quote she shared from Elaine Cannon, "when the prophet speaks, the debate is over."

My dad spoke a lot about the DRC. He said that this mission has been 44 years in the making and 44 years of preparation.  He spoke about how the new apostle, Elder Renlend spoke about the challenges in the DRC soon after he was called to the Quorum of the Twelve. One member in the DRC said, "We have the gospel of Jesus Christ" when asked about challenges--the gospel totally gives the peace and hope.  My dad mentioned that he wants "No empty chairs" when we return to our Heavenly Father--he wants each and every family member there.  I loved how my dad said, "attend the temple to really understand Heavenly Father's plan."

After Sacrament Meeting, my parents were set apart as full time missionaries by their Stake President. I wrote down a few things from their blessings.

Shauna Peterson:

• talents and gifts to share with those you will serve
• sweet experience
• Heavenly Father prepared you and your husband to serve the people of the Congo
• Blessed with help
• enabling power of the Atonement
• anxieties would go away and be replaced with a measure of God's love
• develop other gifts
• tongue loosened to share feelings of your heart
• people will feel of your goodness and love of the gospel
• worries of home and family, children and grandchildren will go away
• set apart from the things of this world
• listen well--listen to those who have keys-- Mission president has keys and will teach you
• help other sisters feel of the love Heavenly Father has for them
• Show others a husband and wife relationship
• blessed with good health
• protected from the elements and things of the world

Ronald Peterson:

• blessed with a tremendous amount of knowledge--of how the priesthood works
• example to help wards and branches and stakes
• language help and understanding of culture
• seek to understand people first
• first listen
• speak what comes to mind with power and authority and love
• reach out to those who need strengthened
• remember power of the priesthood
• be prepared to use priesthood at all times
• ordinances of the gospel will strengthen home and family
• take counsel well
• all will be well at home
• share experiences with family--spiritual experiences through letters
• protected-- protected from the evil of this world
• protected from elements
• strength to do hard work and to adjust to the difference in the weather
• Heavenly Father loves you and He is grateful for your service
• put forth best effort
• love those you serve

We enjoyed a luncheon at Rebecca and Joe's home afterward with family and friends. We didn't leave until almost 9 p.m.  It was a great day!

Peterson Family Pictures

The Entire Family

Sarah, John, Aleece, Scott, Erin, Shauna, Ron, Leslie, Doug, Shayna, James
Trent, Joe, Rebecca, Tera, David, Jared, Liz, Rachael, Klint

PETERSON FAMILY:
Aleece, Erin, Shauna, Ron, Leslie, Sarah, Shayna
Rebecca, David, Jared, Rachael

JARED'S FAMILY:
Leah, Jared, Liz, Colten
Andrew, Jacob, Justin, Emma

MY FAMILY:
Brittney, Hayley, Scott, Erin, Mallory

ALEECE'S FAMILY:
Aleece, John
AJ, Arika, Kaitlin

LESLIE'S FAMILY:
Kaydee, Brayden, Conner, Doug
Griffin, Leslie, Ryder

DAVID'S FAMILY:
Ella, Tera, David, Ezra

SARAH'S FAMILY:
Reeghan, Trent, Sarah, Paetan
Easton, Stratton

RACHAEL'S FAMILY:
Olivia, Klint, Rachael, Kortney, Russell

REBECCA's FAMILY:
Wesley, Joe, Grady, Rebecca, Chloe

COUSIN SHAYNA'S FAMILY:
Nyah, Shayna, James Kenzie, Mason, Graham

My Grandma Betty Wood

My Mom Shauna and Grandma Betty

MY PARENTS:
Ron and Shauna

The Great-Grandchildren with Betty Wood

The Grandchildren with Shauna and Ron

Becca, Joe and Wesley's Special Day

My youngest sister, Rebecca and her husband Joe went through the temple on October 11th and then they were sealed together and then sealed to their little boy, Wesley in the Manti Temple. It was such a special day and I am so glad I was able to go (thank you Scott for staying home with the girls and holding down the fort!!). We are so excited for you two!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

It started to snow while we were outside the temple taking pictures-so we didn't get many. Wesley, Joe, Becca and Dad

A Miraculous Photo Opportunity

David, Leslie, Aleece, Jared, Sarah, Rachael, Erin

Rebecca, Mom and Dad

Another wonderful thing happened today too! Mine entire family was all together in one room! We couldn't remember the last time all of us were together---so we had to take a picture (it has been at least a year and possibly two). We just didn't have Scott, Tera and all the grandkids and granddogs to take a complete family picture--that will be for another day!