A Great Week!

Last Sunday, Mindy and Eric came over and Mindy showed me how to find family history names to take to the temple.  I found about 10 (first time) that just needed the sealings done, so on Wednesday, we went to the Mt. Timpanogos temple and did the names, plus others.  The names were from both the Choate and Petersen sides of the family!  While we were there, the sealer told us about a man who came in the summer with a stack of family names that his 11 year old daughter had researched and printed off on the computer for their family to do.  Amazing-11 years old!

Todd and Kent went to the symphony at Abravanel Hall for an amazing concert.  

Apparently David Archuleta was also there.  They had a great time!

Luke loves playing with his dad!

On Friday, we loaded up in the car and drove to Idaho Falls for Fall Break.  

Tim found a lovely hotel right by the Idaho Falls temple with a great view of the river.

There were ducks, geese, and swans everywhere.

Breathtaking with all the fall colors!

We had a nice breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, melon, muffins, orange juice, etc, and then went for a swim.

There was a nice hot tub, pool, and sauna.

Luke LOVES to swim!

Then we drove to Rexburg and saw Brian in the flesh!

We took him grocery shopping at Broulims and had a nice visit.  They had a lot of interesting foods!

These are a few of my favorite things: a toilet plunger, soap that smells like honeydew melon, and yakisoba!

It was a beautiful day and so amazing to see our son again!

After helping him put away groceries, we decided to have lunch and then head back.  Amy wasn't feeling too well so we will do Yellowstone another time.  It was a wonderful trip and we had a smooth ride home.  Amy is sleeping away working on getting better!

Brian's letter:

I loved being with you last week for conference! It was one of the greatest weekends I've had for a while. This week was super. Super busy. On Tuesday I ate some old garlic, and after walking to the temple to switch my work Schedule, and trying to apply for a job on campus, I threw up! But it's clean now. On Tuesday I took a Math test, and got an 88% and after that I decided that I needed to plan homework and study. So I started that, and on Friday I took a science test, and got a 100%. I even guessed on a lot of problems...
On the weekend we had some "homework parties" which were basically hang-outs when everybody brings their friends, homework, and food and then just talk and listen to music, or watch movies. Homework parties are not super effective. We also had a pool party and I started working at the temple! It was very weird working at the temple Saturday mornings, because there was one old person in the baptistry, but there were 8 young men that did everything. I am pretty sure that I was the oldest one there.
Now I am preparing my lesson for church! Talk to you soon!
Love you!

Mom's letter:

Conference weekend was so very very amazing.  I keep reflecting on it and it makes me smile.  

After you left, we made root beer shaved ice with Eric & Mindy's kids.  Then everyone started coughing.  Mindy and I were doing family history work on the computer.  We found about 14 names that hadn't been sealed to parents yet and so this coming Wednesday night, Eric and Mindy are coming over.  Amy will watch kids while we all go to the temple to do the sealings for our own family names!  Can't wait, it will be neat.  This is my first time researching my own family names and taking them to the temple.  It's the best!

Your dad caught a bit of a cold, but he kept going all week long because he had parent/teacher conferences, etc and it was a busy week.  We went to Kenzie Draper's wedding reception and it was beautiful. Saturday, Will Robertson's dad came over and he and your dad started working on Will's roof.  They got about 3/4th done with the North side.  Your dad really enjoyed visiting with Dave Robertson about life.  It was good.

Last night, we watched the five Choate kiddos while Eric and Mindy went to the BYU game.  We watched Star Wars: A New Hope.  Jaxon loved it. We made chocolate chip cookies.  It was fun.

Today, I am starting with a bit of a sore throat and cough.  I've been taking it easy.

Glad to hear you are doing well there.  We LOVE getting the pictures and notes from you and connecting for family scripture reading time.

Thank you for your great example, prayers, and for all you do.

Love you much!

Mom

Dad's letter:

Friday LaNae checked out Star Wars: A New Hope from the library, and we watch it with with Todd, and even Luke for a little while. I think he heard his name being called (in the film), and came to see who was calling him! Haha!

Saturday morning we took Luke for a walk. He used his roller skates. At one point there were two guys walking towards us with a huge dog. Luke started to get anxious. LaNae got between us and the dog, and explained to the two guys that Luke has autism, and that he is afraid of dogs. I physically had to hold him from running away. Finally they passed us, and Luke relaxed. About 10 seconds later one of the guys turned around and shouted, "I respect you as parents!" Haha.

Will’s father Dave came by at around noon and started working on the roofs. I jumped out there to help as soon as we noticed he was out there. He had not yet gotten up on the roof. Kindly, his plan was to first finish our roof. It just took about 30 minutes. We threw up the ridging vents and ridging that went on top of that. Looks amazing now. I asked him about out vents. He said we would just need to nail down any exposed areas, and put black jack on them.

After finishing our roof (I still need to finish the vents), we went on to finish ¾ of the back of Will’s roof. Physically, it was hard work, but emotionally, it was awesome. Will’s father Dave surprised me several times by talking about exactly what I was thinking. First, I was thinking about some of our family trials. Out of the blue, Dave began telling me that things would be alright with our family. Then, he proceeded to talk about his own family, and things that some of his children have gone through. But, he said the gospel brings the greatest peace. The Lord will take care of you. Wow. It felt like I was talking to my own father for a while.

I began thinking about my own father. Then, Dave asked, “How long has it been since you lost your father?” Wait! How did he know what I was thinking about? I ask him. He said he didn’t know, but maybe someone else did. I felt a warm feeling, as he told me that he didn’t know my father well, but that he knew he was a good man. I told him about my dad. It was an amazing conversation. Again he told me that the gospel is where we find real peace. Very uplifting conversation.  

Finished working on the roof at 5pm and cleaned up. Then had some soup and took a nap and slept a couple hours. Finished Lesson 40 mnemonics and sent them to Tuttle. Four more to go. 

Got a call from Cindy today, and visited for while. I'm blessed to have the best siblings. Wendy is out of the hospital. They apparently found medicine that works with her. They are treating her liver, and managing her pain. She is home now, but needs to basically stay in bed for two weeks.

Last week's "ponderize" scripture was: Matthew 5:14–16: Let your light so shine. Any thoughts about last week's scripture? I loved the opportunity to ponder on it throughout the week. 

It kind of goes along with the painting you like that was in Grandpa and Grandma's house. Do you remember that one. I'd love to get a copy of it someday.

This week's "ponderize" scripture is: Matthew 11:28–30 "Come unto me."

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.