More of Paris

A few more vacation photos:

Happy Father's Day 2008

15 June 2008

I wish to me, my good father, the fathers of our grandchildren, and all others who are fathers a Happy Father’s Day. It is a wonderful opportunity to be a father. I am so thankful for the sweet mother of our children – Louise is a beacon of strength to me and our family. I have had great joy in seeing our babies grow and develop and especially develop testimonies of all that is composed of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

It has certainly been an emotional roller coaster week. It was on the 7th when we found out about Janae’s ALS diagnosis. It was Sunday evening when Steven said to both Louise and I that we needed a blessing. At that point I have told some that I felt 80 years old and had a 150 pound weight on my back. I welcomed the invitation. About two-thirds the way through the blessing, I felt the weight lifted and replaced with assurance that God knows what is going on and His Son has experienced the pain of our suffering so they will take care of our family. Thanks to Steven for bearing and honoring the priesthood. It is interesting that Kristen has shared with us that as she entered the Stephenson home on the 8th (Sunday), the turmoil that she had been feeling was replaced by a calm and that all would be well. She does not know exactly what is “well” but she does know that it will be His will.

Lindsay and Brynn took us to the Frankfurt airport, we thankfully had an uneventful trip home on Monday, Carleton picked us up at the airport, and then we drove to Jeff and Janae’s home. We had a nice one hour visit where we were able to visit with Janae and Jeff and reassure them that we love and care for them. Janae is a very caring and a spiritually sensitive woman. The visit reassured us that “all will be well”.

I had some teary moments at work as I shared with some friends about Janae’s condition. I do appreciate the care and concern that has been shared by many of my co-workers, our friends and neighbors. I don’t even ask God “why”. Janae has led a very healthy life style, is an excellent athlete, has a young family, is way younger than average to get ALS – I do not believe that it is going to do any good to ask why. However, we are asking for a miracle. We don't know whether it will be with Janae’s health or our family’s spiritual well being and ability to be united in the challenge that lies before us. The miracle will come so we need to recognize it.

We are thankful that Charles and Kristen were able to arrive with their boys on Sunday. We enjoy them and appreciate experiences that we have with them. The Stephenson’s came up on Thursday and Friday. We all went to Bear Lake on Friday. It was cool, as was expected, but we did enjoy playing with the children in the sand and visiting.

I had the memo announcing my retirement on 30 June distributed on Tuesday. I started two years ago to seriously plan for that moment. I assembled my spreadsheets and I felt late last year that the cash flow numbers were still satisfactory as I looked out past age 70. I recommended the date and conditions in early February and they were largely met. I feel my departure is a win-win for me and my employer.

Prior to going to Europe, Jared pulled me aside and asked how I knew when I loved Louise enough to ask her to marry me. Oh how being with Lisa has changed our Jared! He has come out from his shy shell to begin to become the man that I knew would emerge. He is caring and does things that show his care and concern. While we were gone they purchased rings. Although I have not yet visited with him this morning, Jared’s plan was to last night officially ask Lisa to marry him as they went on a picnic in Salt Lake’s Red Butte Gardens. The family is happy for him.

Mother's Day, 11 May 2008

Come eat with us at the Indian Oven!! No more funny little tables but a real restaurant.











Thoughts on Mother's Day by Martin:

11 May 2008

Martin Peterson

It is a quiet, beautiful Sunday morning in Hyde Park, Utah. The green lawn is refreshing in concert with the pansies that Louise has in a planter on our patio. The apple trees are just starting to come out in bloom as is our neighbor’s pear tree. My radish and lettuce seeds and onion sets that I planted almost two weeks ago are up. I will likely plant the rest of our garden this week.

It is Mother’s Day. I have put the beef roast, carrots, and potatoes in a slow cooker for our supper. I have also made some brownies for us as well as to take to my folks this evening. I am so grateful for my mother and the mother of our children and our mother daughters. I consider myself to be very blessed to know that an unending eternal chain exists between those generations. I am eternally grateful to a loving God who made all of this possible.

I have gained so much from the women in my life. My mother taught me to work, to respect and work with others, and to have self-confidence. My sweet wife is a ray of sunshine in and outside of our home. I read today in the Church News that the word enthusiasm has a Greek root in entheos (in god) meaning “having God in us” or “being inspired by God”. Louise is the epitome of enthusiastic diligence. Our daughters (including Lindsey) are good mothers in every sense of the word and I am very proud of them.

Sheri Dew and Julie Beck, the current Relief Society president, are two women that I learn from every time I read their talks. Sister Dew spoke in the recent Women’s Conference at BYU on women’s influence for good. The five principles women need to understand are (1) Women have more influence that they think, (2) Righteous influence is a spiritual gift, (3) Having influence is not about elevating self but about lifting others, (4) It isn’t possible NOT to have influence, and (5) Women of God have influence that has no limit and no end. If I have the opportunity of sharing parting thoughts to a group of ThermoFisher employees, I am going to say that item #3 applies in the workplace and to my future activities.

My current work path is set. I signed and submitted an agreement this week. It is not yet public (Louise and our children’s families are the only ones that know) but June 30 is my last day. My work activities are becoming fewer all of the time so I saw a need this last Friday of a critical and rather visible project so I volunteered to head it up. I will be able to complete it by the time I leave. I believe an honest employee means an involved employee.

Other -- Well, I am prepared to teach my Gospel Doctrine class about Mosiah 7-11 (role of a seer, importance of remembering God in all that we do, and recognizing the blessings that come to us when we listen to the prophet). We will likely visit with Liz Allred this evening about what to see while we are in Paris with Steve’s family the first week of June. I spent yesterday teaching fifteen boy scouts about the Personal Management merit badge, mowing Berry Foster’s lawn (recovering from where he tore his quad muscle from his knee), and going to a community play with Louise.

Steve and Lindsay Beach Videos

Here are the videos that Lindsay put on Youtube of Brynne at the beach.

Steve and Lindsay

This is from the recent Email Steve sent out.

USS Reagan

Yes, we visited the USS Reagan. DJ, Reagan, and I went on a field trip (USS Reagan, Reagan Elementary, and Reagan Risk--the name was well represented). We saw everything from the flight deck to the bridge to what we THOUGHT were the missiles (but were really extra fuel tanks).

California Risks