February Fun

February is known as the month for love so.......here's a true act of family love,,,,,,,,

My older sister, DeAnn, who moved to South Carolina last Spring, lined up a Siblings dinner for all of the Silvin LaMoyle and Amy Petersen kids to get together. 

DeAnn and Steve flew, my older brother, Craig and Janet, who are living in Washington, UT and my younger sister, Tanya, who lives in Blackfoot, ID drove to The Beehive Grill in Logan, UT. to join up with my other brothers; Larry and his wife Glee, Kim and his wife, Kathy, Danny and his wife Terry, and Dale and I, who all live in the Cache Valley/Logan area, for a tasty meal and visiting. 

DeAnn had us each share a memory we had that involved one or more of our siblings after we had eaten and we visited some. We wanted to get a group picture and discuss the plans the Sparks' family had for the Petersen Reunion they're planning this year, so after our meal and visiting ended we went to Danny and Terry's house in River Heights, UT to visit a bit more and to get some pictures. 

I feel deeply blessed to be part of this family. Each one of my siblings hold a big chunk of my heart in different ways. I sure love this crew.

February is also the month for the Winter Olympics!!!!

The first event of the Olympic games was the Men's Alpine skiing with the Women's Alpine skiing starting the next day. A veteran USA skier, Lindsay Vonn, a comeback hopeful who worked hard to get to the Olympics again got airlifted off the mountain after her second trial run. The doctors said she had a tear in her ACL. They did what they could to get her back on the mountain and when it came to race time she started out of the gate strong, but Vonn got rocked into the air by a bump, causing her to clip the fourth gate which while trying to regain her balance in mid-air made her land awkwardly with her skis perpendicular to the fall line, ensuring a brutal fall. She was again airlifted off the hill, but this time wasn't able to get back on the mountain to compete in the Olympic games. A sad moment for the USA ski team. Those athletes work so hard to win.

        

Dale and I were able to watch some of the Parade of the Athletes and the Opening Exercises as well, Boy, what a spectacular event. 

                       

                  

                                 

I was able to usher at the USU sponsored BANFF film festival at the Eccles. It's about the beautiful outdoors, and people make short films about people doing amazing things in the outdoors. They also had prizes from vendors that were given out. Their are some pretty cool stories out there to be shared. I thought of Nate's accomplishments as I was watching two different films. One about Ultra running and another about rock climbing. There was also one showing a guy doing some pretty wild backcountry skiing and could see Nate doing that too. Maybe someone should make a movie about Nate. :) 

For an early Valentine's date, Dale and I went to the temple and did sealings and then went to dinner. We were at Andrew & Lindsay's on Valentine's. We also went to the USU vs Fresno St. game, where they had "Spectrum Magic" t-shirts on all the seats for us to wear. The Spectrum was almost full, and our guys pulled through with a 91-78 win. So fun to watch!

The next day we left for Washington, UT to spent 6 days and 5 nights with Andrew & Lindsay. The Mallory's caravaned south with us because Kennlyn, Langston, and Mazin are all playing in a big soccer tournament in the area. Amie helps coach Langston and  Kennlyn and coaches Mazins team. We pulled our Razor with us, so that we could go on a few rides with Andrew and the kids. 

While we were there we went to the Red Cliffs Temple with Andrew, and the Mallory's the morning of Valentine's Day and did an endowment session. What a beautiful morning it was and spent with some pretty good people. The temple is only about 10 min. away from Andrew's home. 

   

We went to two of Langston's games and two of Kennlyn's games to help out Amie with getting kids to games. We got to see my nephew, Ryan Petersen's son, Tate, play against Langston's team. We also got in a little visit with Ryan, who was their coach. That was pretty neat. 

Below: #44 white, Langston #22, ref, Tate in the white

We went to three of Mazin's games due to him being in a championship game. He played goalie, which he seldom plays, all 3 games due to him having a bad cold and kept all 3 games scoreless with the help of his team. They ended up winning the championship game too! Good job coach Amie, and goalie Mazin, and team United!!

     

Andrew and Dale went on a bike ride along some of the many bike trails that the area offers to see some of the beauty this area offers, as well as took the ATVs to Sand Hollow and went on a ride to enjoy the mild temperatures that come with the area. The weather was quite mild during the afternoons., but chilly in the mornings and evenings. 

Most of the group went on an ATV ride up to Pierce Fort in an area not too far from where Andrew lives. We stopped at a trail head and walked up to the fort and around the area a bit before heading back to get to a soccer game. It was a nice sunny day. 

We also took a hike to the top of a smaller mountain called, Shinob Kibe, that was used as a navigation marker that was for when the airmail routes started up in the United States.  At the flag we hiked to, was a concrete piece shaped like a big arrow pointing the way for the pilots to travel for the route. These arrows used to be all over the United States to help the pilots in their routes, but because of WW11, but they took most of the arrows out so that the enemy wouldn't try to intercept our communication routes.  Pretty cool, huh?

It was a bit rocky, but you could see a good view of the area on top. 

Nora was a trooper and walked the whole way down by herself wearing open-back slip-on shoes

Dale and I took Eloise out to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants, Zao, for an early birthday date and then we met up with Andrew and the kids at Bahama Bucks Shaved Ice for a treat the last night we were there. I'd have to say that was a pretty tasty way to end our stay. 

I brought the bug that Mazin and Amie were ending with back with me on the trip home, the next day I had chills and was coughing a LOT. This is the first cold I've had since 2024!! We also woke up to 12 in. of snow on the ground!! It finally looks like winter!! It's pretty cold as well. The skiers are to flocking to the mountains to use up all the time they can while we have snow!

That white stuff sure is pretty though. 

President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints added another Apostle to fill the Quorum of the Twelve since Jeffrey R. Holland passed away. The new apostle is Elder Clark G. Gilbert. From a news article: The 55-year-old Gilbert was called by Pres. Oaks and the other members of the governing First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He has served as a general authority Seventy since April 2021 and as education commissioner since August 2021. It will be good to get to know him in this upcoming General Conference maybe (if he talks).

Andrew and Titan headed north to our house just two days after we left them. Andrew had an appt. with his ENT Dr. and a work meeting at Stonefire (their restaurant), and Titan got his braces taken off! Well worth the drive for that one. Titan's all smiles now!!

We had tickets to go see the production of Mary Poppins put on by the Green Canyon High School drama department. We had three Young Women in it from our ward, with one being Mary Poppins, so we got Andrew & Titan tickets and went to the performance. It was VERY well done and fun to watoh. we sat on the first row of the back row section, so that if I started coughing, I could get out quick. I only needed to get out once, but did cough some, so I'm glad we were in the back. 

We got home and had ice cream and played 3-13 before going to bed. You can't stay with Grandpa & Grandma without playing cards. They left the next morning, so it really was a quick trip for them.

    

After about a week of coughing, I calmed down enough that I could get out some. I helped at the CVHC and ushered at the Led Zeppagin, a tribute band for Led Zeppelin, who was an English Rock Band formed in London in 1968, widely regarded as one of the most influential groups in music history. 

Nate and Diana found time to put together the puzzle we gave them for Christmas. Funny thing, Dale and I haven't put the one we had made for us together yet!! Maybe we had better get on that, huh!

Langston, Matt & Amie's second son got ordained as a Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood. He will now help prepare and clean-up the sacrament table and can pass the sacrament as well. 

He also got braces on his teeth and is still sporting a smile. Like his cousin, Titan, he'll be enduring the braces for a while, but it will be worth it in the end. 

Elder Mallory shared this in some of his letters: Another week down. I got 5 months left and we are giving it all we got. My zone is absolutely cooking right now and it's awesome to see. This week we were able to go to our other area and work. We found a lady that was super interested that had some kids. Later in the night she said her husband didn't want her to text us. We went back to their house to meet him, and he didn't want us there. I was ticked. This guy just doesn't want to be happy or what? Oh well. On Sunday we had a friend that is blind come to church. He wants to get baptized but just needs to get married first. He is listening to the Book of Mormon and is all in. It's awesome to see and hear his testimony. 

We had zone conference and got to play volleyball. Got in the finals with my team but then we lost. Imma miss the mission. But I'll have another mission when I get home. 

What's good everyone! Another week went by. Such a good week honestly. Lets start it off. 

Saturday: got to go to the temple! The temple isn't in our mission so it's super cool to be able to go. We went with our converts and it was a great experience. Got to do baptisms for the dead and Mariana was getting sentimental because she got to baptize her grandma who died. Super cool and fun experience.

Sunday: awesome day! Sophia and Arturo got baptized! A lot of things happened. 

The way we found Sophia was amazing. We were contacting houses and then a couple shouted at us. Hey, it's really late. We're going to tell your mission president your still out. *it was 7:30*. Then they started to leave and I yelled at them and said can we visit you guys. And then we went in and got to eat with them. Then we went with them another time and found their daughter who is 16. Who wasn't a member. The mom is a member and the dad isn't, but he can't get baptized because they aren't married and the mom's old husband won't divorce her. Sophia was super ready to be baptized. Her parents after her baptism thanked me for wanting food or we never would have met them.

Arturo. He is our Christmas miracle. We found him on Christmas, and he has had a whole bunch of problems in his life. Was super alcoholic but wanted to change his life. He started a new life yesterday. Great guy. Gunna miss him and his friend Gerardo. Gerardo isn't human. I have only met him 1 time clean from drugs and alcohol. Super crazy and funny but got to change his life.

Another friend that i used to teach got baptized. He speaks fluent English.

The crazy thing is we had 2 new people come to church that didn't live in our area. They then went to the baptism of my friend and loved it. Then we had transfers in the night, and I am going to the area where one of the people that came to church lives. So, she will hopefully get baptized. We asked her last night, and she said I could do it. So, we will see.

Super awesome week.

Andrew's daughter, Eloise is officially a teenager! Happy Birthday Eloise! We love you!

Andrew and Titan were able to meet up with Garrett's crew for lunch as they were heading back from our house to head back to St. George. So glad our kids enjoy getting together when they can.

Garrett's also been busy helping to make dreams come true for new homeowners to get into a home. You've gotta work for pay for the play and he's doing it. Way to go Hansen Team!

When the Hassell's were in St. George the week after we left, Danica and the kids got to spend some time with Andrew and the girls. They met at the local Aquatic Center for some fun I have a feeling that they'll see a lot more of the Hassell crew than we will now with Jason's dad and mom both having a place to stay when they want to get in a golf game or sometime in the sun. 

To start the month off full of fun, the Hassell's spend some time with some of Jason's siblings at Bear Lake and then took the kids skiing at Beaver Mountain. This was Brokk's first time on skies. They both did great and enjoyed some decent snow due to the recent storm. Happy Birthday Jason!! We love having you in our family. 

They also took the kids ice skating at the place the Olympics used for their speed skating events with work friends.

June made her first Valentines box with a little help from mom, for her preschool party. Also, when they were in town on Valentine's Day they saw a big sign that gave away a rose for anyone with the name of June, so they stopped in and got June a rose! 

They got away to St. George to help Jason's dad, Steve, have a fun birthday as well. They went golfing, got in some hiking, and enjoyed the sunshine. 

Jason won the Guild Mortgage Rhino Award with Guild Mortgage. His hard work is paying off as well. 

We had some deadly avalanches in Utah due to the big storm as well as some mountain storms too. People just wanted to get out in the snow and enjoy winter, but the conditions weren't good for that in a lot of areas. The news was asking people to be aware of certain terrains and to not ski or snowmobile in the backcountry areas with certain slopes. Sad deal. 

On a better note, we found out that Utah was recognized as the 11th most educated state in the United States. SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Utah ranked just shy of the top 10 for the most educated states in the nation.

According to a WalletHub report, Utah ranked 11th out of the most educated states. Coming top tier were Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maryland. The study analyzed the percentage of high school and higher education diploma holders and the quality of the education within the state. States with a higher share of adults with high school diplomas and post-secondary degrees fared better in the rankings. Researchers also considered educational attainment gaps and the quality of schools and universities While Utah ranked 11th overall, it came in second for the highest percentage of adults with college experience.

The USA Men's Hockey Team had another "Miracle on the Ice" experience in the Olympics. 

The Men's USA Hockey team took Gold over Canada. From a new sarticle: Canada had not lost an Olympic game involving NHL players since the 2010 Vancouver Games, when the Americans defeated the Canadians in round-robin play. Canada got revenge in overtime of that tournament, winning on a Golden Goal by Sidney Crosby. Four years later, it defeated Sweden for gold.

Pandemonium broke out after Jake Hughes’ goal; the players leaping onto the ice in waves, tossing equipment into the sky, bearhugging the New Jersey Devils forward along the wall in front of the penalty box.

The Team USA goal song, “Free Bird,” played in the background, fighting with the “USA, USA,” chants from the crowd.

“There is no better feeling in the world,” said U.S. defenseman Charlie McAvoy, wrapped in an American flag. “This is that. I can’t wait to see the footage of what happened after we scored because it was a complete blackout, who I was hugging, where I was going.

“It was just euphoria, man. I can’t even explain what I was feeling. Just pure joy.”

Utah also was a key player in the Olympics. We had 56 men or women athletes that reside in Utah, and more that had ties to Utah through attending college here. The Olympics ended with USA taking home 33 medals, the most ever won in a Winter Olympics. 

Final 2026 Winter Olympics medal standings:

1. Norway: 41 Total (18 Gold, 12 Silver, 11 Bronze)
2. United States: 33 Total (12 Gold, 12 Silver, 9 Bronze)
3. Italy: 30 Total (10 Gold, 6 Silver, 14 Bronze)

WAY TO GO TEAM USA!!

Something else pretty crazy is this is what it looked like at the end of the month. We need more snow!

 

        

Shiffrin and Alpine Skiers Shine Bright

Shiffrin’s heart-thumping gold medal triumph in the women’s slalom on Cortina’s Olympia delle Tofane piste marked her third career Olympic gold medal, making her the most decorated U.S. Alpine skier in Olympic history. The Colorado ski racing superstar is both the youngest athlete to win Olympic slalom gold (age 18 at Sochi 2014) and now the oldest, as she dominated her preferred technical event, crossing the line with a mind-blowing 1.5-second margin of victory at age 30.

The U.S. Ski Team star admitted she was scared of the moment, achieving her first Olympic title without her father, who died tragically in February 2020. She opened up and shared her wide-ranging emotions at the Cortina news conference, while also displaying her kind and humble nature, commending her fellow U.S. teammates.

“We’re so grateful for so many wonderful moments these Olympics. We started it out with Breezy (Johnson) getting an Olympic gold in downhill, and everyone was so inspired, and then Paula (Moltzan) and Jackie (Wiles) medaling too,” Shiffrin said.

A Golden Moment for USA Women's Hockey

For the ultra-determined U.S. women’s ice hockey squad, led by team captain and five-time Olympic medalist Hilary Knight, Keller’s amazing moves left a Canadian defender useless, as she slammed home a backhander, 4:07 into sudden-death overtime. Keller’s ‘Golden Goal’ vaulted Team USA past perennial rival Canada, instantly sending the squad, and an entire nation, into sudden euphoria.

"I'm lost for words. This is an incredible feeling, and I love these girls so much,” said the 29-year-old defenseman Keller. “This group deserves it. The effort and the faith that we kept through this four-year journey is something very special.”

For Team USA women’s hockey, the Italian Olympic victory marked their third team gold medal across eight Olympic tournaments dating to Nagano 1998, all versus rival Canada.

Lemley and U.S. Freestylers Soar Through the Italian Air

The 20-year-old bumps skier Lemley not only dashed and soared to gold in the individual moguls event in Livigno, but also added a bronze in the Olympic debut of dual moguls.

Rebounding from an ACL tear that forced her to sit out all of last season, the Vail, Colorado native dazzled, defeating her more experienced teammate Jaelin Kauf, the Beijing 2022 silver medalist, to the top of the podium, for a 1-2 U.S. finish.

Lemley commented about her gold medal falling off its ribbon during a celebration: “They fixed it. It’s been a trend here, I guess, the medals falling off. Hopefully, mine will stay on. I’ll be careful.” 

The Miracle on Ice Revisited?

With the final weekend of Olympic action on tap in Milano, Cortina, and the other Italian venue clusters, approximately 20 medal events remain.

Team USA’s best hopes for more gold certainly comes in the men’s hockey tournament, with North American fans and hockey aficionados hoping for and expecting a Sunday gold medal showdown as Austin Matthews, Quinn Hughes, and the always rugged and entertaining Tkachuk brothers lead the red, white, and blue charge.