Elder Peterson Week 88

   I quote that for the subject because I've been thinking about obedience a lot lately. There's too many people that think finding loopholes is fine or that  occasional disobedience is fine. It is forgivable, but if we are to become like Jesus Christ our very nature must change and we must become strictly obedient to every commandment. The world tells us that we are weird and abnormal when we do this, but God's people are a peculiar people. Exodus 19:5 "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine." Forget the flimsy trends of the world and put on the armor of God, walking with and as Jesus Christ. 

     We've had a very productive week, and I strongly believe that we had things to do because we've been tightening up on rules. Donald has been progressing very well and his friend has started joining in on lessons. Donald has committed to get baptized as well. Initially it was for the 3rd of June, but he's going to have some surgeries, so tonight we moved it to the 10th. They both came to church yesterday and loved it. Ray is pretty knowledgeable in the Bible, I was impressed with him during Sunday School. We also had our friend Danny show too. Which is awesome, because the guy is in a wheelchair (because he doesn't have feet anymore) and actually has an excuse that's almost valid. He came and loved it. It was great.

    We went out last night to do some finding and it turned into a strange night. We didn’t come across anyone who wanted to learn more about our message, but we did meet an old guy who seemed like he was going to bash us until he realized that we are christian. He also showed us the stitches on his hand from where a cat bit him. Hmm. 

     Then, later, we had this random guy on a go-kart pull up next to us as while we were walking and he started talking to us. 15 minutes later, we left. The dude was literally crazy. He was telling us that the bible we read from is wrong and that we need to get the bible that has a zipper. Some stuff about fish falling from the sky and that Jesus is 4 different races and that the United States actually has 100 states. Oh, and some stuff about bread made from corn. He said it’s all in the bible though. I asked where in the bible and he just kept rambling. It was actually pretty funny. These two dudes on horses trotted by while he was ranting and I just about pinched myself. I thought I must have been dreaming. Wacky stuff.

That's all I've got though... 

Y'all are awesome! Have a good week!

-Elder Peterson

Here's some pictures from our zoo trip today. Also a landfill that looks like a normal hill and really made me miss mountains.

Elevated Dance Spring Recital

Almost immediately after Seminary Graduation I had to go to Boise for the Elevated Dance Project Spring Recital. I had such a fun year with these kids and love them so much. I probably say this every year but the end of the dance year is so bitter sweet. I love watching them perform on stage to see how far they have come but I also know I won't be seeing most of these kids again and that makes me sad. 

This year the ballet was "A Mid-Summer Nights Dream" and my class were magical dancing trees. I wasn't thrilled with our assignment but the dance I choreographed rocked and the girls costumes were really pretty, I was also relieved that they didn't have nay weird head pieces, I was really nervous about that.

l-r: Kaylie, Italia, Scarlett, Blakeslee, Violet, Emily, Bethany, Decklyn, Angel, Elizabeth, Madeline and Simon

After the ballet my tiny tots class got to perform their dance and I ws so grateful they were first to go. They danced to "Rainbow Connection" and were so cute, I loved this group of littles and will miss the ones I won't have next year. 

l-r: Katherine, Aiden,Elizabeth, Arina, Laine, Poppy, Hayden, Ella and Madeline

After the tiny tots my Kinderfstars performed their tap-dance to "Great Balls of Fire". Their costumes were perfect and they did such a great job on stage, I couldn't have asked for better and I am so proud of all of these sweet dancers.

back row l-r: Kaylie, Italia, Scarlett, Madeline, Elizabeth, Simon and Bethany

bottom row l-r: Angel, Decklyn, Violet, Blakeslee and Emily

I loved having Simon in class this year, I have had his big sister Kate the past couple of years and it was fun to have Simon. He was a talker and talked a lot but loved giving me hugs and telling me I love you, such a sweet little angel of a boy.

I only had dances in the first recital and it was nice to be able to get done and leave without staying so late. Stephanie had to stay for the second show but we got a picture together before I left, I really love her and am so grateful for her and our friendship.

 

Seminary Graduation

Avynlea went Sturgeon fishing at Swan Lake with her friends Austin and Taylor. They caught a really big fish and it freaks me out a little looking at the picture of her and Austin holding it but Avynlea said it wasn't a big deal and that she had a lot of fun.

Joshua sent a picture of Amos using the gift Avynlea gave him for Christmas. I am glad he loves it and that he has such a big sand area to play with it in his backyard.

Saturday morning was Avynlea's seminary graduation. Our Bishop wasn't able to be there and so Kefford and I went up when it was the kids from our Ward getting their diplomas, I wasn't prepared for that but I was happy to be up there to give Avynlea a hug when she came across with her Diploma. 

I am super proud of Avynlea for her dedication of Seminary Attendance and for her willingness to participate and be a leader the years she was asked to lead. She is such an awesome example and is so good at sharing her light.

Rylee, Avynlea, Kefford and Elizabeth

Avynlea, Sadie and Madison

Rylee wanted a picture with Avynlea and of course they had to goof around for the pictures.

Avynlea and Rylee

Kefford then also had to do some silly pictures

Elizabeth, Avynlea and Kefford

After taking pictures outside we went back in and I got a picture of Avynlea with the other graduates form the Bainbridge Ward

Addy Bjorn, Avynlea and Kaitlyn Lindley

 

Graduation walk through at Chaparral

Thursday Avynlea and some of her classmates got to do a Graduation walk through at Chaparral Elementary School. I loved this when Kenedy was able to do it, Ryker wasn't able to because of covid so it was really exciting that Avynlea got to do this. Rylee went with me and while we were waiting in the hall as the elementary kids were lining up they were a little unruly, not bad but it was a little chaotic. The music teacher ws out here and he started singing "take me out to the ballgame" with the kids all quickly joining in. It was clearly a song they sung a lot in music class and during the "root, root, root" part they said "for the Cougars" their school mascot rather than "the home team" which was super cute. Being back in the Avynlea's elementary school with her so close to graduating High School made me emotional and I got a little teary listening to the kids sing. 

The graduates finally came through and it was fun and emotional to watch Avynlea walking through the halls of her elementary school in her cap and gown. 

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Once they had their walk though the little kids all went back to class and the graduates were able to go visit their old classrooms and teachers. Paige wanted to hurry to the elementary school where her Mom works so she could see her in her clans gown so we took a picture of Avy and her friends since elementary school in front of the cougar mascot.

Paige, Avynlea, Rose and Sadie

The girls got to see Mr Ceniga their fifth grade teacher as wells Miss Allen who was a Student Teacher in their class and is now teaching at Chaparral. 

We were hoping to be able to see Mrs Pitchford Avynlea's 2nd grade teacher and one of our favorites but she was out that day. She still has the name sign that Avynlea gifted her back in 2013 and that was super fun to see. 

Avynlea, Rose and Sadie

 

Lacrosse Banquet

Wednesday night was Rylee's end of the season Lacrosse Banquet. It was fun to be able to go and celebrate Rylee and her athletic achievements. It was a potluck dinner and when we got there Rylee wanted to sit with her teammates, that was fine but it was just me because Kefford couldn't make it and I didn't know a lot of the parents. Luckily I was able to sit with the Laing's and the Olsen's who used to be in our ward, it was nice to have some familiar faces and to not be alone.

Rylee got the Athletic Scholar award as well as her Varsity Letter which was very exciting for her. I love that she has found a sport that she enjoys and has friends on this team. She has loved playing Lacrosse this year and is excited to play more next year.

                           Avery and Rylee                                           Coach Abby, Rylee and Coach Meg
 

Elder Peterson Week 87

I did get a bag of Sour Patch Kids. It's a big bag. One of the Spanish missionaries gave it to me. Gracias.

             We've been teaching a really cool guy named Donald. His current living situation doesn't make it very easy to meet in person, so our lessons have been over the phone. He is a super cool guy though. He's got such a deep love for Jesus Christ and for learning about the gospel. He's been feasting on the Book of Mormon and has been taking lots of notes. We had a lesson yesterday that went great. He told us about how he loved watching our church on Zoom and can't wait to come in person. As we were starting I felt prompted to ask my mom if she would like to join the phone lesson and share her testimony. I knew she would be nervous, but she agreed anyway. We talked about the Plan of Salvation with Donald and then my mom shared her testimony at the end. It was AWESOME! I didn't even think about this when I felt prompted to ask her, but my sister had just gotten married and my mom had a lot of her family around. The Plan of Salvation is about families, so the Spirit knew that my mom would have special feelings about it right now. Her testimony brought the Spirit in such a strong way and Donald loved hearing it. That was the first time I've ever had two phones going in a lesson, but it worked so well . We're super excited about how that lesson went and we're grateful that my mom was willing to share her light.

            Speaking of mothers, happy Mother's Day to any moms out there! Our ward had a BBQ for all the mothers on Friday and it was super fun. All the men served their food and then a Mariachi band came and performed for a while. I don't think I've ever seen one in person, so I had a great time. It was strange, though, when one older woman asked them to play the baby shark song... oh well, it was funny. Our friend Robyn was able to come to the BBQ too. We talked with her yesterday after church and asked if she's been thinking about baptism. She said that she has and that she knows she needs to pick a date. So we scheduled her baptism for the 27th. We're praying that nothing comes up, because she doesn't seem to completely understand how great of a priority this should be and she tends to be a bit flakey .

            Mother's Day was great, I enjoyed talking to my mom. I also got to see a lot of my extended family that I haven't seen in a while. It was awesome. I would go on about how much I love my mom, but I already wrote her a letter with all that. And besides, there's not enough time to write all of it here. Suffice it to say, God knew that I needed (and still need) my mom. She's been the greatest influence in my life besides the Godhead. And I owe a lot of my knowledge about the Savior to her as well anyway. It's been very difficult to be away from her for this long, but I know I'm where she wants me to be. I love her and can't wait to see her in person again in a couple of months.

            It's been a great week, I hope y'all are doing well. Have a great week!

- Elder Peterson

That's me and mom down there.

Kenedy and Tyler get Married!

I thought really hard about how I wanted to do their wedding photos, whether I wanted to put them all in our family blog books or have a separate wedding album and I decided I wanted a separate wedding album made for me to keep. I didn't want to pass the day without at least recognizing the wedding so I am adding a picture from the day of their civil ceremony on May 12th and a picture from the day they got sealed May 13th. Both days were really special and fun and we are so happy to welcome Ty into the family.