4th of July Celebration went off with a BANG!

I walked with Sister Crump Tuesday morning and then we went back to her apartment and ate breakfast that Elder Crump had prepared for us. 
 

That evening, I went with Sister and Elder Klaass to a 4th of July festival in Springfield which is a neighboring town across the river.  We walked along looking at the vendors, petting zoo, music groups, and food trucks.  The Klaass’s had a Hawaiian teriyaki chicken bowl.  I opted for a pulled pork sandwich.

We watched the Abba Cadabra concert.  This musical group is the “Ultimate ABBA Tribute” 

The park was jam-packed with people.  We scooted into a small spot to watch the fireworks which was a little behind some trees over the river but never-the-less was loud and colorful.   Make me feel like a kid again.

It has been a pretty normal week after the festivities of Tuesday.  Had a few medical problems to help with but nothing too major other than a fractured wrist with a bike accident.  All is well and will heal with time.  

Wednesday morning I changed up my walk a bit and walked the hills of my neighborhood.  The moon was still big and bright.

I have told the sister missionaries a story about my NYC Mission and how my apartment was a stop-over for many things (I encouraged these stop overs) but often to use the toilet.  I began joking with the sisters when they would ask if they could use my bathroom that I only charged a quarter and they could leave it on the sink.   One day I went in there and found 4-5 quarters lying on the sink.  It gave me a giggle!

It had been a while since I had shared that story but Wednesday, Sister Crouch came into my office and gave me a big hug.  We chatted for a minute and as she walked out, she tossed a quarter on my desk.  It made me laugh but also made me near tears because it touched my heart to know that she had liked my story and let me know it in this way.  To top it off, as she left the main office for the day a couple of hours later, she again tossed another quarter onto my desk.  It absolutely made my day!!!

Thursday was Sister West’s birthday so her companion brought cake to the office to share with the social media missionaries and seniors working in the office.  Of course I got a slice of cake too.  Always a blast to be with the missionaries.

I was served my very own piece of cake by Sister Sutherland

Great group of missionaries

Sister Sutherland and I, as I’ve mentioned before, either often appear in the office in polka dots or similar colors.  Thursday it was green day.  I had to tease her a bit with my grouchy face when she asked if we could get a picture.  I am soon going to have to make this a Petersen/Sutherland blog.  LOL

Friday  evening I had a dinner date with four sisters.  We ate a Mucho Gusto which is a Mexican food restaurant similar to Café Rio.  Fun evening.

Sisters Sutherland, Eastman, Palmer, and Cummings

Saturday morning I walked with Sister and Elder Crump along Amazon Creek through the wetland area.    I did a load of laundry and then Sister Cornelius called to invite me to go for a ride with them to visit the senior missionaries who oversee Camp Alpine which is a Church camp for young women, scouts, wards, stakes or even individual family outings.  It is about an hour drive from Eugene.  

President and Sister Cornelius are new here so they are trying to get to know the missionaries in the mission.  It was a pleasant outing for me and gave me the opportunity to get better acquainted with them.

Elder and Sister Talanoa, President and Sister Cornelius, Sister and Elder Asay

Saturday evening I went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse with three sisters.  Always a delight to be with the missionaries and to get to know them and share in their experiences.

Sisters Stohl, Jeffords, Hadfield 

As I reflected today on the week, I thought of a message that one of our missionaries, Elder Canyon Zwemke, posted on our Mission Messenger Page.  It was touching to me so I asked him if I could share it here on my blog.   

“Not long ago my friend Milton D. Oilar gave an awesome speech for the 4th of July! 

The 4th is a super special day where we're reminded of the freedoms that we get to enjoy every single day as Americans! However, as I'm sure you've heard, freedom isn't free. More often than not, freedom requires a large sacrifice from someone or something to achieve.

Through the sacrifice of brave men and women willing to die for the freedom of themselves and family, America came to be. This is similar to another who wasn't afraid to die for a good cause.

Jesus Christ was willing to lay down His life to provide freedom for a cause even bigger than the colonist's independence. He suffered, died and rose again to provide everyone who will ever live freedom from the pains of sin and the bands of death.

John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

As we remember those who sacrificed so much to give us all the freedoms we enjoy, let us remember our Savior, who won the greatest fight but never raised a weapon. I know because of Him, there's no trial or obstacle in life that we can't overcome through the greatest love that ever was!”

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends

I walked on the beach this week:

I’m always amazed at the way the water makes patterns in the sand

Pretty good sized crab

As I mentioned in my blog last week, Deanne, my daughter, and her husband, Jeff, along with my two grandchildren, Rory and Cody arrived on Saturday, June 24th.  We had a good Sunday together and then they left for Yachats on the coast of Oregon on Monday.  I had some obligations on Monday and Tuesday so I didn’t join them until Tuesday evening.  We spent Tuesday through Thursday together playing on the beach and enjoying the cool, comfortable weather.  It was in the high 50’s-60’s in the day time so it was PERFECT for this polar bear!

Our rental house in the woods.

Just across the road, down these steps, and across the rocks and I was on the beach!!

Pretty flowers along the path to the beach

Grandma and Rory in the Pacific 

AND in the Atlantic when she came to visit while I was serving in NYC

We returned to Eugene on Friday afternoon.  Jeff and Deanne went on a date Friday evening and the kids and I went to the park to play.

A lot of playground equipment to play on but the most fun thing they did
 was slide down a little hill on a piece of cardboard they found

Saturday afternoon, I attended a baptism.  The elders invited me to attend.  It was a beautiful, spiritual experience.  A mother and her teenage daughter and son were baptized.  

Later Rory, Cody and I went to Alton Baker Park where we walked across the river to the statue of the heron.  

We walked around the pond and admired the ducks and geese.  Rory is begging her parents to buy her some baby ducks now.  She is in love?

Park beauties

We met Deanne and Jeff for pizza.  Didn’t get any pictures though.  

Sunday morning they left me to begin their drive home.  After they left and when I came home from church, my apartment was so empty and quiet.  I miss having family with me.   I’m grateful that they were able to come.

Back to mission business:

Monday our mission president and his wife, President and Sister Weekes, took the office senior couples and me to lunch. 
 

Sister Sutherland and our polka dot clothes.  We seem to do this frequently.  LOL

Tuesday noonish, President and Sister Weekes picked up the new mission president and his wife, President and Sister Cornelius at the airport and brought them to the office.  The Weekes then left the mission to go home.  It is always difficult to say good bye to people that you have served with even if it has only been 3 months that I have been here.  However, I am looking forward to serving with President and Sister Cornelius.  We met with them and some of the zone and district leaders and some of the sister training leaders for an hour or so and introduced ourselves.

On the left: President and Sister Cornelius and to the right: President and Sister Weekes

The missionaries have been fairly well this week.  I averaged about 2 calls per day which was good since I had intermittent phone service on the coast.  I had good reception on the beach but poor reception in our rental house.  If I walked to the end of the driveway, I got some reception;  at least enough to carry on business and care for the missionaries.  When I wasn’t on the beach, I would walk to an area where there was service every 30-45 minutes.  It worked out ok.  

I know I say it almost every week, but my family is my life.  At the baptism on Saturday, the printed program stated that “Families Can Be Together Forever”.  

As I watched that mother and her children be baptized, the Spirit testified to me that these words are true.  Because of temple blessings, ordinances and covenants, and because of our Savior and his resurrection, we can have the opportunity to live for eternity with our families.

I love the words of this Primary song:

Families Can Be Together Forever

I have a fam’ly here on earth.

They are so good to me.

I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

Fam’lies can be together forever

Through Heav’nly Father’s plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.

While I am in my early years,

I’ll prepare most carefully,

So I can marry in God’s temple for eternity.

Fam’lies can be together forever

Through Heav’nly Father’s plan.

I always want to be with my own family,

And the Lord has shown me how I can.

The Lord has shown me how I can.

I pray that you will have a wonderful week.

I love my Savior.

I love you my family and friends.