Last Lacrosse Game

Kenedy and Tyler are doing a civil ceremony because a lot of his side are non-members and we all feel it is important to include them. They are doing the sealing the day after. So for the civil wedding I found plans on Etsy for a wedding arbor that we really liked and Kefford was able to build it. This is the picture I took before we stained it of the finished product and it looks so good! I love it, Kefford did such a good job and I am excited to be able to have Kenedy and Tyler use it at their wedding.

Rylee and I have been super excited ever since a library was announced for our area. Finally it has been completed and when I found out they were having their grand opening I had to take Rylee. As soon as we were able Rylee, Kefford and I headed over to the library to check it out. It is a beautiful new library with a lot of potential and I am excited to have one so much closer and faster to get to.

Rylee had her last game of the season and Alison was able to come and watch which was so fun. It was cold and rainy and luckily I had a blanket and Alison brought an umbrella to huddle under. The girls did not win the game and ended the season without any wins but this was the best they have ever played and all of them did a really great job. I am proud of this team for their hard work and for them not letting their frustrations set them back and I am so glad they have coaches who care more about learning and teamwork then making the girls feel bad for not winning, they are very encouraging.

The next day we had ballet practice at the studio and we had coloring pages and blocks for the girls to play with while waiting. They were so cute and my girls did such a good job performing their dance at the practice. 

 

Senior Prom!

Avynlea went to her Senior Prom with Carson. I thought she looked beautiful in her green dress and she was able to successfully pin on a boutonnière. Carson plays basketball for Owyhee and I thought it was kind of funny that he was wearing his State Basketball ring, might as well wear it if you got it I guess.

 

They were in a group with basketball boys from Meridian which was fun for Avynlea to know all of them plus her bestie Sadie was in the group which made it extra fun. Avynlea had a great time at the dance and enjoyed her last Prom of High School.

Elder Peterson Week 85

I have left Vidor... I am really sad about it. I apologize for writing this so late, but yesterday was SUPER busy and I did not have any time to sit down and write an email. I also don't have a lot of time this morning, so this one will be lame.

I got transferred to the Pine Trails, Cloverleaf area in the Summerwood zone. I don't have any special assignment, which I'm happy about. I'm just senior companion. My companion is Elder Green from Ogden, Utah. He's been out for almost 6 months. I'm happy to not be in leadership right now, because I just want to work and focus on my area. No more mail runs or nightly meetings. Just serving in Cloverleaf. The apartment is actually kinda nice. It could use some vacuuming and dusting, but I am comfortable here.

I used Monday to say goodbye to some people in Vidor and seriously, I'm going to miss that place. I learned a lot in the time I was serving there. But, now it's time for change. I've got 3 months left, which means this is probably my last area. It's time to shake off the dust and work until I drop. God lives and this is His work. The church is true! 

Now I'm gonna eat my breakfast burrito.

-Elder Peterson

A kid in Vidor has this mariokart hotwheels track and I'm super jealous.

Las Vegas Cheer Competition

The last cheer competition was in a couple of days and Fierce put on one last showcase. It was held at Mountain View and since this was the end after each team performed the coaches gave them banners and did awards. All of the teams did great but I was there to watch Avynlea's team Panthers and they did amazing. They have put in so much work and practice and it was fun to watch them. After Panther performed the Coaches gave the girls banners and then they highlighted the Seniors and gave them Senior gift baskets. Avynlea has had such a positive time with this team and I am happy that she had the opportunity to experience cheer being fun and rewarding. I am also glad that this was a mid-season team and that she is done because I thought High School cheer was expensive, club cheer is an entirely different ball game when it comes to expense, it is not cheap at all, quite the opposite. So it was good while it lasted and it is good to move on.

All of the Seniors got Senior Baskets filled with Panther merch, candy and gift cards. Randi also had Senior sashes for them all and every girl on each team got a small Panthers banner. 

Avynlea and Dreya                                Avynlea and Moo

Avynlea got pictures with her coaches whom she loves and who really helped push her to be the best she could be. 

Coach Allie                                Coach Austin

Coach Randi

Here is a picture of all three teams plus Coaches, not bad for a year one startup midseason team!

Thursday after school Kefford, Avynlea and I drove to Utah, we stoped in to see Joshua's family and then we went to Emilys where we stayed the night. The next morning us three along with Kenedy drove to Vegas for Avynlea's cheer comp. While we were driving Whitney and Dustin called to see if we would be willing to check out a boat for them that they were wanting to buy. It was about 20 minutes out of our way which was not terrible so we drove straight there. Once we got there All of us went inside but Avynlea who was feeling a little sick. She stayed outside to throw up in a bush and she got a little scratched up in the process.

Once we got the boat checked out and sent Dustin and Whitney the approval that it was fine we headed over to our hotel to check in. We got a room in the Hampton Inn which was a little bit off the strip but within waling distance of the strip. We chose it because it was cheaper and because we got free breakfast which is always a good thing.

After we got checked in Avynlea and Kenedy went down to the pool for a bit while Kefford and I chilled in the room, I was rally tired and just wanted to lay down. Once all that was accomplished we headed out and walked over to the strip. We saw some fun things including a duck and Avynlea met up with her teammates for a little bit. We got dinner at The Shake Shack and then walked down to the Venetian so the girls could see the inside with the fun architecture and water canal with the boats.

The next morning we drove over to the Planet Hollywood where the cheer competition was at. It was a long day of sitting and waiting for our teams to compete. To me is wasn't as fun as a High School Competition and I was pretty bored. Kenedy had her iPad and was reading conference talks and watching Real Housewives of SaltLake. and Kefford was in and out doing his own thing After a while I realized we had free wifi in the hotel and I put on Disney+ and watched Dance Moms in between routines. It helped a lot to pass the time, we were there all day.

Finally Panthers got to compete and they did really well, they had one stunt kind of go down but not completely so they didn't hit zero but they were really close and they looked better then any of the other teams in their division.

We had made reservations to go eat at the Hard Rock Cafe after the competition but Avynlea's coaches called a last minute practice that night for 6:30 which meant Avy could not come with us. I was bummed because I wanted us all four together but it was what it was and we got food to take back to her. Kenedy, Kefford and I had an enjoyable dinner, we sat outside on their balcony and it was fun to eat and watch the Vegas nightlife. After we ate we went to the M&M store and rode the Coke elevator, nothing super exciting we were just killing time until Avynlea was done. Finally her practice was over and we went back to get her and then headed to our Hotel.

The next day, Sunday, we had another long day of competing. This is another difference between Club and High School cheer. High School has one day of competition unless it is nationals, club does two days. The downside is that is another long day you have to sit watching teams compete you don't care about but the upside is you have another chance to compete your routine which is good. 

The extra practice the night before must have been a good idea because our team killed it this day! They hit zero, this is the best I have seen them perform and they won first in their division!! It was a good day and a good way for Avynlea to end her Cheer career! Before they announced awards we went outside of the Hotel to take some pictures of and with Avynlea.

Avynlea and Dreya

Avynlea and Kenedy

First Pace Champion Team!

Avynlea is on the bottom row kneeling first from the left side.

Celebrating the Win!

Hannah, Avynlea and Dreya

Team Panthers

Avynlea and Bella                                   Kaisley and Avynlea

We got a picture of all the Seniors and then the Seniors did a group hug. It was pretty emotional for the girls especially for the Seniors, for most of them this will be their last time cheering and competing. It was a bitter sweet day.

Avynlea, Mallory, Rori, Kaisley, Hannah, Andreya

 

Powder Puff take 2

Student Council decided to do a spring Powder Puff game for the girls who wanted to participate in the last one but couldn't because of fall sports. Avynlea decided to participate again but I couldn't be there because I had something else I had to be at, I can't remember what but it had to have been something I couldn't miss because I would have loved to have been at the game. Kefford and Rylee went to go watch, Avynlea did good but the Senior team lost to the Juniors which was a bummer. I like that Avynlea wanted to participate and has done Powder Puff every year that they put it on. She can get into serious beast mode when she plays and it has been fun to watch. She is number 0 in the pictures.

Carson came to the game prepared to ask Avynlea to Prom, he had a side for if they won and a side for if they lost, good thing he was prepared. Carson is a Senior at Owyhee and he and Avynlea got to know each other through mutual friends. He is on the basketball team or was I guess since the season is over and his nickname is sticks. He is apparently quite popular at Owyhee and Rylee's friends were pretty impressed when she told them Avynlea was going to Prom with him.

Kenedy sent a picture from her work Bridal Shower. The staff at her school threw her a little celebratory party which was super fun for her.

 

Elder Peterson Week 84

Alright, last week was a long email. This one will not be that long, I am very tired from playing pickleball... I should have written this earlier. 

Here goes...

This past week we had three blitzes. That's a lot, in case you don't know. On Tuesday we blitzed with Elder Alexander and Elder Livingston. Elder Alexander and I had a great time. Not a ton happened, but I was able to get to know him and we have a lot in common. I told him that he will probably be a zone leader at some point, since he will be among the most experienced when the new mission president comes in July. I think that freaked him out a bit . He's a great missionary.

On Thursday we had a day long blitz with the APs. Elder Frogley and I had a great day. We contacted a ton of people and we were able to catch up a bit. I can't completely tell if he enjoys being an assistant, but he is the man for the job. I am constantly impressed by how good of a missionary he has become. I like to think that I've become a good one as well. About 20 months ago he and I were just about to start training at the MTC. It has been a life changing year and a half, for both of us.

On Friday we did a day long blitz with the Elders in Welsh, Louisiana. Elder Shelley and I were able to find several people who are wanting to learn more. We also spent an hour helping a recent convert get his pickup running again. In a Walmart parking lot. It took a while, but we got him going. We then had a really cool study with him. He got baptized last December (I think) and he has already read the Book of Mormon 3 times and has started Doctrine and Covenants. He's past section 60 now. He has a really cool testimony and incredible faith. 

We had a really cool experience on Saturday. We were walking away from one of our friends home (he wasn't home) and his neighbor waved at us. We had briefly spoken with him once, but he didn't seem to care too much about what we were doing and we were in the middle of a lesson with our friend. The friend was Micah. Anyway, we waved back and then kept walking. After a bit of walking I felt like we needed to go back and talk to him. I didn't really think that made a lot of sense, especially since we had already walked a good distance away. BUT, I've learned at this point that promptings don't have to make sense. Just do it. So we went back and knocked on his door. He didn't seem too surprised to see us come back and was really cool. We introduced ourselves further and talked a little about what we do. He said that he was busy at the moment, but interested. He told us to come get him the next time we meet with Micah. His name is Ryan. We said you betcha, and shook hands. We haven't met with Micah again yet, but I'm really excited too.

BUT WAIT, I'm not done with this story.

I also felt like it wouldn't hurt to stop by one of our recent online referalls on the way to a ward event. Brian, the referally, lived a little out of the way, but not bad. We had tried calling the number we got, 3 different times and we tried texting. We got nothing though. I was thinking we'd just go over and hear that he isn't actually interested and then go on with our night. We stopped by and he said we had accidently filled out the wrong ad! (twice, apparently (no such thing as coincidence...)) We started talking to him anyway, asking about what he does for work and what he was looking for that led to our ads. He said that he wants to study theology and was looking for something that could help. We talked about the Bible for a bit and how we both love it and enjoy learning more about it. At one point in the discussion he threw away the cigarette that he had been smoking and commented that he has been trying to stop smoking. We kept talking, but later Elder Gale brought up that comment and told him that what we do has helped countless people stop smoking. He was very interested and invited us to come back on Tuesday to tell him more. Good job Elder Gale for following that prompting!

The Spirit knows what he's doing. Trust him!

Anyway, that's all I've got energy for. I hope y'all have a great week!

- Elder Peterson

National Parks Concert for Rylee and Friends

Rylee and her Lacrosse friends Avery and Clara went to a National Parks concert Saturday night. Clara drove them to the concert and they had a lot of fun. I don't know anything about this band but Rylee was really excited about it and going with her friends so I am glad she was bale to go. Avery is the blonde with the head scarf in the pictures and Clara is the brunette. I am also glad that Rylee has made such good friends through Lacrosse and is branching out in her friendships.