February Favored

I chose this title because favored has the meaning of endowed with special advantages or gifts and providing preferential treatment as part of it's definition. I felt like that's what February was like.

For our Relief Society Night Mtg. we had a Heritage Night. I shared a picture of the children's cupboard and rocking chair I'd acquired from an acquaintance that knew my Grandpa Petersen. He had made the items for her, but she doesn't have any grandkids and wanted me to have them because she thought I'd appreciate them more because my Grandpa made them! Pretty sweet huh? Keepsakes for sure!

Dale and I went and spent a weekend in Oakley, ID playing with and visiting the Mallory crew. We took Lindsay, Titan and Eloise with us as well. The cousins had a lot of fun reconnecting.

We got to see both Jaxon and Kennlyn play in their basketball games. Both scored for their team and did real well on the court. They were fun to watch. Amie helped coach Kennlyn's team, as well as was a key factor in getting the Oakley Rec Basketball up and going last year. That's my girl! See a need, fill a need.

Jaxson's team took 1st place in Oakley's Recreation Basketball at the end of the season. He got the award for good passing to the open man, gives 110% and super dribbler. He had an awesome coach, that truly loved all the boys. Kennlyn's age group didn't do a tournament, but she got a basketball. That made her happy.

Matt helps coach the Oakley HS girls team and they took 3rd place in their region. Basketball goodness just runs in the Mallory family.

We also went to church with the Mallory's and Matt used his Priesthood authority and gave Mazin a beautiful blessing. Mazin will officially be known as Mazin Ray Mallory. He's a Mazin ray of sunshine in their family! :)

As we all know, February is the month of love, and boy did I feel the love! Dale and I went to a High Priest Valentines Dinner at Beehive Grill and as part of the program, Dale sang the song "I Can't Last A Day Without You" it was pretty special, and a fun evening.

Then on Valentines Day I got a beautiful bouquet of roses and we went and ate at The Bluebird Restaurant and then saw the play, Romeo & Juliet, put on by The Youth Shakespearean Group. Love was in the air!

I ushered Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang at the Eccles and Dale and I went and saw The Music Man, put on by the Four Seasons Theatre Group, at Sky View. Both were great. I am always in awe at what talent we have here in the valley.

Dale and I also went to Provo and toured the new Provo City Center Temple. The building was at one time the Provo Tabernacle, but then it burned down. The church rebuilt it trying to keep it as much as possible as the way it looked, but made it into a temple. It is beautiful! We stopped and tended for Garrett and Zandra on our way home so they could have a date out with just those two. I think we all won that night! Being a grandma is pretty fun.

Lindsay and the kids also went to the Provo City Center Temple Open House with her sister, Ginny and her kids, who came for a visit.

On a sadder note, I had to attend three funerals this month. One was that of a dear lady from our ward that has had Alzheimer's Disease for quite awhile. She was a sweet lady though and reminded me a lot of my mom.

The other two were my mom's youngest brother, Dean Hadfield, who passed away from Alzheimer's at 87 and my dad's older sister, Norma Petersen Watts, who just got tired and worn out. She was 99!! The funerals were back to back.

Now on Mom's side of the family there's only two left. My Aunt Vonda that's 96, and Uncle Max, that's 91.

On Dad's side, he just has his youngest sister, Aunt Edna Mae, living that's 83 (I think?).

It was good to see and visit with an aunt and cousins that I hadn't seen in a long time though.

Dan Thomson, Dan and Leslie Rivers, Marcia AhMu,LeiMomi Garidner,
and Lori Petersen ?? (Can't remember her married name or her husbands name) Tells you how long it's been since I've seen some of my cousins huh.

Dale went skiing at the new ski resort with Andrew, Lindsay, and kids, and Garrett, Zandra.

I got to get in some bonding time with little Jorie alone this time.

Dale also skied at Cherry Peak with our ward and again with the Logan, UT Married Student Second Stake. Andrew and the kids joined us that night, while Andrew was doing ski patrolling on the hill.

Dale got a new church calling to serve on the high council of the Logan Utah Married Student Second Stake. I was asked to attend with him as well and speak with him. (I'm not real sure I'm thrilled about the speaking part though) So far, from what we've seen and felt, it will be a very rewarding and growing experience for both of us.

Nate and Kim are still in the thick of work and finding some fun. They're definitely putting the miles on their car as well as their bodies with travels, hikes and runs.

Speaking of being in the thick of things, Danica is loving her upper division art classes. She's learning to do digital painting (done on a tablet or computer) as well as getting in some travel herself.

She went to San Diego over their Spring Break with some friends. Like St. George didn't give her enough sun?

                                     

She also had a good friend from home, Kimmery Day, pay her a visit for a bit. They climbed Angel's Landing in Zions Canyon and just hung out.

Garrett and Zandra got out and enjoyed the sunshine in the mountains at Park City. The rented some cross-country skis and a baby carrier that was on skis for Jorie and just had some family fun.

Zandra's folks came by for a visit as well, to get to know their cute grand-daughter better.
Garrett and Zandra have been looking for a place to call home, but so far haven't found the match. They're not giving up though.

They are balancing work with fun as well.

Andrew's been working in Michigan and Wisconsin this month. He had a little eye opener when the saw cut down a tree and took the power line with it. It knocked out the power in the town for a bit, but all was well. He's gotta keep the job a little exciting, right? We're just glad he made it back home safe. Live and learn.

We celebrated Eloise's 3rd birthday this month as well.

She's quite the gal 3 going on 13! Those little ones just grow up way too fast!

Februarys weather was all over the place. We had snow, fog, and sunshine all in one day even. Pretty crazy stuff. Welcome to Cache Valley, right?

I felt like all in all though, the special advantages that came with this month were all to do with the time we spent together with family. Love is family.