Cheer Pictures

Cheer pictures were taken September 20th but we got them October 8

Varsity Captains

Hannah(game day), Emma/Pam(social), Paige(competition), Avynlea(Captain), Natalie(social), Annie(competition) and Roree(game day)

Varsity

top picture Avy is second from the right bottom row and bottom picture she is kneeling 3 over from the right

Avynlea is 3 over bottom right

Avynlea is 9 over from the left

Avynlea is in the upper left corner in the bottom picture and three over in the upper left corner in the top picture

Avynlea is in the second group from the right

Varsity and JV 

top picture Avynlea is middle row 5 from the right

bottom picture Avynlea is middle row 4 from the right

Juniors; Varsity and JV

Avy is 5th from right

 

Pink Out Game

 Friday October 8 was the pink out game for Meridian. Every year in the month of October one game is the pink out game for Breast Cancer Awareness and the cheerleaders wear pink. Avynlea got a few pictures with her friends before the game driving to the game.

Natalie, Parker, Allen and Avynlea

This was also Senior night and because Avynlea's back base is a Senior they got to do a really cool stunt that they have been working on. Avynlea was really excited about it and it looked really cool while she was doing it. I am glad that she is learning so much and having so much fun, she is really fun to watch!

After the game she got a picture with her friend Colton

In the bottom picture Avynlea has no idea who this kid is with the pizza box. He came over while she and Colton were trying to take their picture and was talking to Colton so they took a picture with him in it. Fun times.

Ryker's Missionary Plaque

Rykers missionary plaque was dropped off on Wednesday and Brother Elder asked us to add a picture of Ryker ad then give it back so they can hang it in the church. I picked one of the pictures I had taken outside the Temple before he left and Kefford added it to the plaque. I think it looks great and will look really nice hanging in the church for the next two years.

Rylee wanted a picture with the plaque before it was sent off, she is a goofball.

 

Elder Peterson Week 5

This past week was a wild one. Or at least I think it was, it's hard to remember without my journal. The days kind of melt together in my head. Regardless, let me share my highlights.

Chronologically, I think the miracle happened first, so sit back and enjoy the story. 

Elder Paulsen and I were doing our comp study when it just began to feel odd, like we needed to be doing something else. I brought this to his attention and he told me to pray about it. As I was praying I remembered this tree and bus stop that had seemed somewhat significant when I saw it a week ago. We came to the conclusion that we should go there. When we parked and then walked over to sit by this tree I was a little confused, no one was there and I didn't exactly know what to do next. I looked at Elder Paulsen and said "now what?" He nodded at two men across the busy road and suggested we go talk to them. We went over and asked if they needed help with anything, but the shook their heads and basically shooed us away. I was seriously confused at this point, but I knew that the spirit had prompted us to come to this intersection, so I reminded myself to have faith. Just then I saw a guy sitting at the bus stop across from the tree and I shrugged and said "what about him?" We approached this man who quite frankly looked pretty unapproachable. We started to have a conversation with him and I was astonished. After asking how his day had been, he responded by saying blessed. How so? I asked, and he began to testify of the Savior on the spot. Without even bringing up religion, this man, Isador, began talking about how important it is to trust in Christ, even bringing up the story of Moses and the Brass Serpent. We talked for a while and then Elder Paulsen got his number when he had to leave.

I can't even begin to express how amazing this was to me. I had been constantly telling myself to have faith in Christ, even if what I feel I'm supposed to do is confusing or beyond my understanding. Isador addressed this concern of mine perfectly and his testimony has strengthened mine greatly. There were a lot more little details, but for simplicity's sake, I've written it short. 

Sometimes we don't understand the things we're supposed to do, but that doesn't matter. All that matters is that we have faith in our all-knowing Heavenly Father, and we will always end up where we need to be. We're still trying to contact him, of course the number doesn't seem to work. But I'm sure we'll find him again.

After that incredible experience the rest of my week seems kind of lame in comparison (except conference). We had more appointments fall through and we've done a lot of street contacting. We actually gave a Book of Mormon to an awesome old guy named Michael. He kept telling us these wild conspiracy theories, so we had to keep relating things back to the gospel  good times though. 

Conference was amazing, of course. We watched it at the church on Saturday and then we were invited over to watch the Sunday sessions at a member's, the Alpers. They fed us breakfast and lunch, it was great. Then they had us sign a notebook that had a bunch of other Missionary's names.

Speaking of signing things... I had a brilliant idea. I bought these black 10 dollar knock-off crocs at Walmart and I'm having everyone in my District sign them. I'll put a picture below. I had Sister Lake put my name on the front of them, because her handwriting is way better than mine.

Anyway, that's all I've really got right now. I could tell the story of how I got a soccer ball to the shin, stomach, chest, and face (all at about 100 mph) but this is already long enough. I love you guys and I want you to know that I'm having a great time. There's no joy like that of bringing others to the knowledge of the Gospel. I've seen people literally light up at the news that they can be forgiven for all of their sins through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It's real, I know it is and I pray that all of you know too.

Until next time, 

Elder Peterson

1) Houston sunsets are beautiful

2) Elder Westover holding Elder Prisbrey (the second r is silent. It sounds like Frisbee).

3) My incredible biscuits that Elder Paulsen complained about. But then he ate about 5 of them.

4) the "crocs." There will be a lot more signatures later. 

Homecoming Dance

Saturday night was the Homecoming dance. Avynlea was really anxious about it and was not really wanting to go anymore. We did our best to hype her up and keep her positive and it worked. Arin Lamb did her nails for her which was fun and I did her har while she did her own makeup. She wore the dress that Kenedy wore to Homecoming her senior year and it fit her perfectly, I think it fit even better than it fit Kenedy. I told Avynlea since she was using a dress we already had the I would buy her new shoes for the dance. Unfortunately she forgot to look for shoes and Thursday had me going around to all the shops looking for silver flats without any success. I finally told Avynlea that she was going to have to wear the silver flats that Kenedy left when she went to college. I am glad we had those, they were actually the same shoes Kenedy wore with this dress so it all worked out, thank heavens!

Once she was all ready we took a few pictures, Avynlea did not want me to take a lot so I didn't. 

Kyle came to pick her up at about 5:20. He was supposed to come at 4:45 then he changed it to 4:50 than 5:00 then 5:15 and finally he arrived at 5:20. I had to get to the school to help with getting the shoe check I was in charge of ready and had to be there at 5:30. I couldn't wait any longer and had just opened the garage door to leave when he finally showed up. I took a picture of Avynlea trying to pin on his boutonniere and then I left when Kefford took over because she was struggling. I knew I would see them at the dance so while I didn't want to leave it was ok cause I was going to see them later.

They met up with his friends group to get pictures and it was a big group. Avynlea didn't know most of them but she did know Ellie who is on the cheer team with her and I know Avynlea was glad to have a friend in the group. Ellie is the redhead on the end in the burgundy dress. At the dance I saw Avynlea a couple times. Once when they first arrived and I talked with her and Kyle for a minute. She said pictures went well but most of the pictures were taken of the other kids which was fine. Later I saw her with Ellie and they said they were having a really great time and were dancing in the middle where all the fun was being had. 

At the end of the dance all the cheerleaders had to stay after to clean up. Clean up takes a lot less time then setting up and we were all done within a half hour. Avynlea and Ellie both felt bad about their dates having to stay while they cleaned up but the guys were good sports about it and didn't mind it. When Avynlea was apologizing to Kyle later about it he said it was not a big deal and he didn't have to pay for tickets to the dance so it was all fine. Since this event is put on by cheer the girls and their dates get free tickets so it is good business to take a cheerleader to the dance.

After clean up we were finally able to get a picture of Avynlea, Natalie and Paige.

Whether the dance is in the gym(freshman year) or on the turf(this year) the girls are not allowed to wear any type of heel for fear of damage to the floor or turf. Freshman year the shoe check was a mess and there was not any organization and no order to how or where the shoes were placed. When all the kids started coming in at the end of the dance to get their shoes it was a scavenger hunt trying to find the right shoes and was so stressful. This year Amy and I took over the shoes check and I came up with a system that worked perfectly. Before the dance we taped the ticket to the bleachers and then as the girls would give us their shoes we would put them in order rip off half the ticket and give it to them. We had order and organization and finding their shoes at the end of the night was a breeze. Diana called Amy at the beginning of the night to see if we needed help and I told her yes, it worked really well with the three of us and was the perfect amount.

Diana, Amy and Elizabeth

 

Homecoming Pep Rally and Game

October 1: I got to go the Meridian High School this morning to watch Avynlea and the rest of her team perform at the Homecoming Pep Rally Assembly. Usually the Assemblys are held in the gym but with covid they decided to hold it outside on the turf. I got there early to get a seat and normally in the gym I would sit in the Senior section which is right in front of the action. As I and a couple of other Moms were sitting there one of the Student Council members came and asked us to move to the far end of the stadium. They did not have enough room in that area for the Seniors and visitors. No worries I got pictures as the girls were practicing so I was able to just watch them perform from the side and Avynlea did great! I love watching her perform the cheers, dances and stunts!

Student Council introduced their new "Mascot" Big Blue. WE can't have a Warrior mascot because that is racist, so dumb, and I believe the school has been wanting a mascot as a hype man and this is what they came up with. After the assembly Avynlea wanted me to take a picture with her friends and Big Blue. As I was taking the picture she started laughing and afterwards came and told me its because she is pretty sure Big Blue is her Homecoming date Kyle. His identity is a secret so nobody except Admin and I suppose Student Council knows for sure but Avynlea is pretty sure it is Kyle because of his height and the way he was walking and holding his head.

Paige, Avynlea, Big Blue, Natalie, Hailey and Dreya

Later that night Kefford and I went to the Homecoming game, Meridian vs Skyview. The first half Meridian was not doing so good and let Skyview score a touchdown but Meridian pulled it around for the second half and won 15-7. It was a good game and I loved watching the game and Avynlea. My friend Jeni Lindley and her daughter Makenna came to watch the game and sat with us. It was fun to visit with her throughout the game.

Natalie, Avynlea and Paige

Avynlea, Natalie and Paige

They were placed in a triangle for their spots in their sideline formation and one of them snapped a picture of their boxes.

What a great night and after last years sad Homecoming game lackluster thanks to covid it was so fun to have it back to normal, they even got to do the burning of the M after the game. Kefford and I chose to get out while we could and did not stick around for that.