September Savvy

Did you know that September always begins on the same day of the week as December, but never ends on the same day of the week as any other month? Interesting, huh? 

We started out the month by remembering my dad, Silvin LaMoyle Petersen, who would be 102 if he were still here on earth with us.  Oh, how I miss my daddy's smile, hugs, and kisses.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Dad and Mom ...love you and cherish the time I had with you.

It is also mom's; birthday in the middle of the month, who would be 103 if she were with us here on earth. Mom taught me homemaking skills, that I'm now passing onto my kids. I miss her laugh, her cooking, and her hugs and kisses. 

I was blessed with the best and cherish the legacy they left for our family.

Dale and I started out the month at Bear Lake, by staying in our trailer, at Sun Outdoors RV Resort. We had the Mallory's join us for the weekend and played Pickleball, card games, ate, visited, watched an awesome fireworks show, and even got in some dancing on the beach.

Dale took Langston & Mazin fishing in the Garden City Pond and they caught a couple of fish as well. The weather was a bit chilly at times, but we were in good company.

In conjunction with observing and remembering those who were killed on 9/11 in our country back in 2001, our area held a Day of Service. The cities of North Logan, Smithfield and Hyde Park worked together to give the citizens an opportunity to serve in different forms. Smithfield and Hyde Park had volunteers from the Cache Valley Humanitarian Center on hand for people to come and prepare the plastic grocery store bags so that they could be used to be made into sleeping mats on the looms in the center. Dale and I helped oversee the Hyde Park area. We had it set up in the basement of the Hyde Park Civic Center. Those that came flattened, folded, cut, and tied bags together to make chains to be used on the looms in the Center. They could also write a Thank You card to any of our local firefighters, policemen & women, EMT's, and hospital staff.

We had a great turn-out and we feel that it went pretty smooth. We were serving for 5 hours, but it was worth it to see friends and families join together for a good cause. Our city also gave citizens the chance to help clear a hiking trail up Hyde Park Canyon, and two days later they hosted a blood drive. 

We are a blessed country and live in a great area. 

Dale & I also had the opportunity to help at the CVHC by working with executives from Schriber Cheese. They had some meetings here and wanted to give back to the community some of their time by serving at the Center. There was 40+ people happily and busily working at flattening, cutting, tying, and weaving on the loom. It was a bit crowded, but we accomplished a lot in the time they were there. 

We also helped a Youth Group serve in the Center. They found their niche and did quite well in their work.

With September comes corn on the cob, and with corn, comes the time to do freezer corn. This year we invited all the local kids if they wanted to do freezer corn and they did! So, we had 70 dozen of ears of corn to husk, clean, cut off the cob, prepare and bag! 

Many hands make light work and after a 10:30am start, we got everyone's done and the garage and house cleaned up by 11:00pm!! There's nothing more satisfying than having a shelf full of frozen corn in the freezer in Dale's eyes. 

We had help from Amie's whole family and a couple of Kennlyn's friends, Lindsay, Zandra and some of her friends, Danica, Jason & June. All went home with their ice chests full of corn to go in their freezers as well. 

With 7 of our 11 grandkids playing soccer for the fall season, we've been trying to go see at least 2 games for each child. Amie is coaching or co-coaching all of her kids, Andrew has Eloise playing, Garrett is coaching Jorie's team, and Luke is also playing. They're keeping us busy!!

I ushered at the Eccles Theater for the production of "Ragtime" it was put on by Music Theater West and I'd say it was just as good as any New York show I've seen. It was a powerful story and had some great voices doing the singing. What a blessing our area has to have the talent that we do.

Dale & I loaded up the trailer and headed over the mountain to spend some time at Bear Lakes Sun Outdoors Resort (which used to be Blue Water Resort). The weather was a bit wet, but that didn't stop Dale from getting in some fly fishing on the Logan River. He was able to catch some in the rain too!

We got a in a walk on the beach as well.

Andrew and Lindsay pulled their trailer over and joined us for a weekend of away time. It was rainy most of the time they were with us, but when it cleared up for a bit, we got in some pickleball and a few walks. 

I took some time out and went to our nighborhoods Lunch Bunch activity. We ate at a newer restaurant, JO JO's. It was really good. They serve rice or noodle bowls. The ladies in the group are the best. It's always nice to get together with friends.

Dale and I couldn't miss Danica's big achievement from 10 years ago. We headed back to her old college, Iowa Western Community College, in Council Bluff, Iowa and were able to see her soccer team be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Both the girls and boys soccer team took nationals the same year. Danica's team went to nationals both years she was there. They took 3rd place her first year.

When we arrived we met up with Jason and Danica and went to Valda's Pumpkin Patch with a couple of the gals that were on her team. That place was amazing and so fun for the young and old. We ate dinner there and got in all we could. Fun times!

The next day we met up with more girls and some of the parents from the team at an apple orchard/picnic/play area and visited and had lunch together. 

After that we went into Omaha and met another gal from her team. We checked out some of the places that Danica loved to visit when she was going to school. We also found a cool play area for June and Elenore (one of the gals on the teams kids), which was pretty cool. 

While we were out and about it was pretty hot and humid. 

Come to find out it was record-breaking temperatures for this time of the year. (it was in the mid 90's). 

We got back to the hotel and got ready for the big event. 

It was fun seeing the campus again and how it has changed for the better, as well as seeing the girls on her team, her coaches, and some of the parents. Great memories were remembered.

They had a nice program and dinner. Then had those being honored speak. It was nice to hear memories, praises, and feel the love the coach had for the girls.

Then the next day those that could play (Danica didn't, being pregnant) played in an alumni game with the boys and girls teams. It was fun to watch. After that we toured the campus and the girls got to visit their locker room and in their locker was their collage soccer jersey. 

They watched highlights from the championship game and relished in the victory once again. 

After that we went to the boy's football game where they were recognized at half-time. Then Jason & Danica headed to the airport and Dale, and I headed toward Richmond, Missouri, where we would be spending the night. 

We decided while we were out in this area that we'd go see the sights we missed in Missouri when we were delayed two days on our Church History tour last summer. 

We tried to see the Hawn's Mill Massacre site and a Pioneer cemetery where Peter Whitmer was buried but it got dark, so we only saw countryside. But we did get to see a beautiful sunset.

Missouri is a beautiful state and the people in the country take great care of their land. Everything was well maintained and groomed to the road.

The next morning after breakfast, we headed out again to see the Richmond Cemetery and Hawn's Mill Massacre site, the cemetery, and the Far West temple site.

Again, it was so pretty, green, and with ponds all over the area. Standing on these sites when innocent people were brutally killed because of their religion; where some of these brave and valiant pioneers and leaders of the church were buried; and seeing land that had been dedicated, and where the rock cornerstones were imbedded in the ground for a temple to be built, although it was never built because again the saints were driven out of the area by mobs; gave me a feeling of gratitude for the early saints and all they endured. Also, knowing that a temple will be built at the site I was standing on before the Second Coming of Christ tugged at my heart. 

From there, we headed to Kansas City, MO where we were able to visit the Liberty Jail, Adam-Ondi-Ahman and the Kansas City Temple.

Both the Liberty Jail and Adam-Ondi-Ahman held a special feeling. While the prophet Joseph Smith was being jailed in March 1839, he received reports of the suffering of the exiled Latter-day Saints, he exclaimed, “O God, where art thou?” and prayed, “Remember thy suffering saints, O our God.” It was here where he received revelations that are contained in the Doctrine & Covenants. 

After Joseph's release from the jail Joseph Smith knew the people needed for find a place to find peace and safety, so he, and a group of Church leaders, found a beautiful spot in Davis County near the Grand River with abundant water, wild game, and grass-covered prairies. Speaking of a prominent knoll in the area called Spring Hill, the Lord in a revelation explained that He had named it “Adam-ondi-Ahman” because “it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people.” (D & C 116).

As we were walking on the paths, we saw two white tailed deer leap out of the bush and run through the field. It held a special peace. I thought it was interesting that signs saying "Please stay on the path as sightings of snakes have been reported in the area". It made me think that Satan is still working to pull members away from the Church's teachings. 

Our Church owns thousands of acres in this area in preparation for when Christ returns to the earth. The grounds are well taken care of, and the cornfields are planted and harvested yearly by farmers who work the land. So beautiful.

The Kansas City temple was bigger than I thought it would be. The grounds were still very alive and colorful. If you look closely, you will see a twig from an olive tree on the windows and etched in the stone.  Olives represent peace. They are a symbol of God's covenants with man. 

From Kansas City we drove to Independence, MO to stay for our last night in Missouri.

While in Independence we went to the Independence Visitors Center of the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where we saw and heard recordings of what the saints endured here. We also saw the land and the cornerstones that are embedded in the ground just across the street. This land has been dedicated for a temple to be built on, but due to more persecution, the Saints were driven out of Independence as well.

While excavating for the foundation of a temple in 1929, the Church of Christ discovered the northeast and southeast cornerstone markers. The Great Depression set in shortly thereafter, and the temple was never built, but the stones are now on display in the lawn by the headquarters building for the Church of Christ.

In 1971, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated a visitors' center, which offers insight into the significance of the past and future of the area.

Prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, a magnificent edifice—the New Jerusalem Temple—will be erected on the location of the Temple Lot. Another place where I felt my heart touched by the Holy Spirit.

                               

We got a bite to eat some lunch and then went to the Harry S Truman Museum and Library. Mr. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States. Truman was elected vice president in the 1944 presidential election and assumed the presidency upon Roosevelt's death. It was only when Truman assumed the presidency that he was informed about the ongoing Manhattan Project and the atomic bomb. Truman authorized the first and only use of nuclear weapons in the war against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Truman presided over the onset of the Cold War in 1947. He oversaw the Berlin Airlift and Marshall Plan in 1948. With the involvement of the US in the Korean War of 1950–1953, South Korea repelled the invasion by North Korea.

It was very interesting to learn about his tenure as President of the United States.

It was a nice trip, and we were glad we got to support Danica as well as get to finish off our Church History tour.  

Nate helped Diana celebrate her birthday in high fashion. They got in a climb and then Nate took her out for a nice birthday dinner. Happy Birthday Diana!  Here's to many more!

As I said earlier the Mallory's are into soccer!! Kennlyn is the manager for the Green Canyon Girls soccer team and practices with them. She also got glasses, they look pretty good on her, don't you think?

Jaxson took a cute gal to the Homecoming Dance with his guy group. They had fun going boating for the day, had a nice dinner with a beautiful view of the valley and hung out at the dance. 

With the time that Andrew's been home from work, he got busy and recruited Dale to help him get in the sprinkler system in their yard. The next time he's home he hopes to lay sod.

Garrett celebrated his birthday this month with Zandra and the kids. Happy Birthday Garrett!! We hope you have a wonderful year.

Luke invited Dale & I to his school for Grandparent's Day. We met his Grandma Gloria there as well. We read a book together, and shared experiences from our childhood in an activity, listened to him sing some songs and do a dance and then we danced with him! It was fun to see Luke's eyes light up in excitement when he saw his grandparents as he walked in. That alone made the trip to Mountain Green worth it.

The next day we headed over the mountains to the south and went and saw both Luke and Jorie play in their soccer games. They're both improving and loving the game. Garrett's not doing bad playing the part of Jorie's coach either. It was fun watching them.

We had some dinner with them and then Garrett took us over to Pineview Reservoir and the kids had some fun on a ski tube and Dale and Garrett got in a pretty good ski ride before dark. The weather was a bit chilly, but they said the water was pretty warm really. I didn't have my suit, so I played flag girl. Dale borrowed one from Garrett. 

When we got back to their house, we had some dessert and then read a book to Luke and the kids went to bed. We played a game of Rummy Cube with Garret and Zandra and then headed home. It was a fun full day.

The Hassell's have been out on the water probably more than any of us with their boat this summer. They know how to find fun in the sun.

Danica loves sunflowers so they visited a patch of them and got some fun family pictures. 

They also got their work-out room done in the basement of their new house. It looks pretty legit I'd say. Working out in a home gym sounds inviting to me, how about you?

This month also honored National Daughter and Son Day in it. So, I'm posting pictures of my awesome kids and those that married into our family to top it off. Love you all!!

Back in late spring Dale, Amie, Langston, Mazin and I helped out my friend Shey Call, who works for the company, Kimbell. We were all in a short commercial for Kimberbell. They were doing a clip on a new quilting idea for fall. The commercial just went out this month. To view it you could try going to You Tube and looking up Kimberbell fall video, maybe ;)

I got a few still shots from the clip. I have to say that it wasn't as bad to do as I thought it would be. Having the kids with us made it easier for me to be more natural

In local news, Logan City dedicated the Logan Downtown Stan & Carol Laub Plaza. It's been in the works for a couple of years. The hope is that it revitalizes the downtown area.

Quoting Holly Daines, the Mayor of Logan City --"We finally have the opportunity to do a ribbon-cutting for the Center Block Plaza. We have waited a long time for this, worked hard to plan it, design it, build it, and have it be a quality space for our citizens for a long time to come. It's a gathering place, it will bring people downtown all year-around. We have the skating rink for spring and winter to bring people in, and in the cold winter months, there's a fire pit that will be on to warm up the skaters. In the summer there's a stage for performances as well. 

The Paza has been named the Carol and Jim Laub Plaza because of their generous donation to help make all this happen".

Logan also got the recognition of being ranked as the happiest state in the country!! 

No wonder our valley is growing, words getting out how wonderful it is to live here.

I guess we need to share the joy.

In Church news for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Our dear prophet, Russell M. Nelson turned 99years old. He is the oldest living prophet the church has had.

Happy Birthday Pres. Nelson!!

The Church also finished the renovation of the St. George Temple and will be hosting an Open House for all to go through it until the middle of Oct. This temple was one of the early pioneer temples.  

It's been a wonderful month full of adventure, fun, family and memories.