Friday Moms Day

 

I am one of the middle children in my family but I often find myself taking on the roll of the oldest child because my older siblings do not step up. It was no different with this weekend. I initiated the idea of us all getting together for the weekend. I planned the menu with some input and bought the food with the expectations we would all chip in and I would get paid back, I did. I also planned out what we were going to do that weekend and organized it all. Friday morning the day of Mom's birth we went to Brandons, her favorite place to eat breakfast. The one she frequents was randomly closed so we went to the other location and luckily they had room for us. It turned out the first one lost their power which is why they were closed. We all had yummy food and even though Mom said not to we did tell the waitress we were celebrating her birthday. She was one of three in the restaurant who were celebrating which was funny and took a little of the spotlight off of her. The waitstaff would bring out some ice cream and sing and by the time it got to Mom the rest of the crowd in the restaurant had lost some interest. 

After breakfast we went to the Mall to get some Candy from See's Moms favorite chocolate place. While there we spotted a Japanese store filled with little machines like gumboil machines but they all had different trinkets in them. I took a picture to send to Avynlea.

Elizabeth, Heather, Erin, Emily, Joshua, Stephanie, Ashleigh, Andrew and Mom. I am not sure where Jeremy was hiding but he managed to not be in this picture the bum.

After the mall we went to Mom's and hung out and visited. Joshua had his scanning machine that was left at Mom's so he and Andrew started scanning her pictures to digitize them It was fun to look through the old family pictures. I found these pictures I had sent Mom when Kenedy was a baby and took pictures of them to send to her. Believe it or not but the cur win my hair in these pictures is my natural curl. I think I have spent too many years straightening it to have it be like that right now but I bet if I worked at it I could restore the curl. I am just not sure it is worth the time and energy right yet.

I like this picture of Dad that was taken when they came for Kenedy's Blessing. In my family we grew up saying family prayer at night and then after the prayer we would have to say something nice about the person next to us. some of my younger siblings started this thing where they would say about my Dad," I love Dad because he likes green because he drawswell like Roswell, get it?" Because Roswell New Mexico is rumored to have the aliens. It was just something funny they would say and so when they saw this Roswell sign in Idaho they had to stop to get a picture of him with it.

Mom got a cake mix, frosting and a heart shaped cake pan for her birthday from her friend Sharon. She got a cake the night before at her party but I thought she should have one on her birthday so I used her items to make her this delicious cake which she loved.

Party for Mom

Heather and Ashleigh set up a plan to take mom to dinner the night before her birthday. By this time all of my siblings had gathered and joined me at Ashleighs house except for Heather who was bringing mom over. We were throwing mom a party in the Clubhouse of Ashleighs neighborhood and so during the day we had gone over and decorated and got our party stuff set up. I ordered the food from Raisin' Cane's which is one of Mom's favorite places and Stephanie and Jeremy went with me to pick it up. We took it to the clubhouse, dropped it off and then ran back to Ashleighs to get there before Mom arrived. As they got closer Heather told Ashleigh they were almost there and she told them she needed a little bit more time because Andrew Brown was not home yet so to park and then come in. parking is pretty limited around Ashleighs neighborhood and it took them a while to find a spot but finally they did and Mom and Heather were able to come inside. All of us siblings lined up and were waiting for Mom to come in and when she did she was pretty surprised. When she saw me her one comment was "But you went home", hahaha no I did not. It was a good surprise and after she got over her shock we headed over to the clubhouse where we had grandkids and her closest friends waiting.

Ashleigh worked hard all day making a delicious lemon cake for Mom's birthday. I got to eat the caramelized bits that she cut off and sample the lemon filling and frosting. It was really good and looked super cute as well. She also made confetti cupcakes for those who might not like Lemon. Erin put together a Candy Bar and filled it was yummy candy and chocolate and peanut butter dipped pretzels she got from Trader Joes that were so good. I loved those a lot!

I got a small piñata because what's a party without a piñata, Ashleigh picked me up some fun sized packs of skittles while she was at the store to put inside and I also got permission from her kids to put in some of their way leftover Halloween candy. I was able to talk them into it by letting them know as the only little kids at the party they were the ones that would be getting the candy so they would just get their candy back anyway. Mom got a couple of sacks at the piñata and then Atticus and Abigail were able to hit it. We did not have a way to hang it so Andrew volunteered to hold it and he did not get hit which was good, hahaha.

Mom loves Hot Dogs and Heather got her a hat from Weinerschnizels that said.. "not a party 'til the weiners come out" She wore it for a couple of minutes before taking it off for good, hahaha

After gifts, food, cake and lots of conversations we took some pictures.

Elizabeth and Ashleigh

Elizabeth, Joshua, Ashleigh, Stephanie and Heather 

Erin, Jeremy, Elizabeth, Mom , Andrew, Stephanie, Jeremy, Ashleigh, Emily and Heather

Jeremy Jr, Erin, Alec, Jaylynn, Elizabeth, Jeremy, Mom, Andrew, Joshua, Stephanie, Atticus, Abigail, Ashleigh, Emily, Dillon, Andrew Brown, Heather and Anita

Connie, Mom and MaryBeth

Elizabeth and Jeremy

Elizabeth and Anita

Erin, Emily, Stephanie, Anita, Elizabeth, Ashleigh and Heather 

It was a great party and Mom was really surprised and happy. She said that her sister Jeri called her a week ago and in the conversation told her she was sorry she wouldn't be able to make it to her party. Mom was confused and said she didn't have a party planned and I think at that point maybe Jeri realized she wasn't supposed to say anything and she said well your kids will probably do something for your 80th but Mom said no she didn't think so. Mom told us that she would have thought more on it and suspected we had something planned because of the conversation with Jeri but when I "left to fly home" she realized we did not have anything happening. That was a big part of my plan to throw her off, why would I go home if  we had something planned for her birthday. Moms 80th was a super success!

Abigail and Atticus and Ice Cream with Mom

 I got to spend some fun time with Abigail and Atticus. Ashleigh would come over about every other day and obviously would bring her kids with her so we got some fun times together. Tuesday mornings Mom usually goes over to Ashleighs and watches Abigail while Ashleigh takes Atticus to music class and then she will come back, switch kids and Mom would then have Atticus to watch while Abigail goes to her music class. The second Tuesday I was there Ashleigh was able to just take both kids and so no extra help was needed but the first Tuesday I went over to her house on my own to watch them because Mom just had surgery and was not up to going anywhere. I had fun with them and liked that I was able to help Ashleigh while also spending time with Abi and Atticus. I got these pictures of Heather and I with Abigail  and Atticus while they were over on Sunday.

I did Heatherfs hair for church and I thought it turned out pretty cute. 

Abigail at the park.

We were going through all of Moms pictures and this one of Heather and I was found. 

I pretended that my flight was leaving Wednesday and we had planned an entire ruse where that Ashleigh would "Take"me to the airport button reality I was going to her house for the night so we could surprise Mom for her birthday. I thought me "leaving"before her birthday would confuse her and throw her off the scent of any plans we had. Inn keeping with the ruse I suggested going out for ice cream Tuesday night so we could celebrate her birthday before I had to leave. We went to ColdStone and it was very delicious and I had fun eating ice cream with Mom and Heather. 

Sister Peterson Week 48

Yay hi everyone! 

Sorry this is pretty late, and kinda long.

It has been SO COLD here... and that plus missionary work is a little difficult. But we do our best.

えき - eki

train station

This transfer our mission has set a goal to do missionary work at 1,000 ekis. To reach our goal every area should accomplish about 16 ekis. We also have to do 6 total man hours at each one for it to count, so that would be 3 hours of finding for me and MacDonald 姉妹. I was super excited about this goal because missionary work has been pretty slow for us over here in Toyama, so this gives us something to do! That is until we got done with about 2 ekis, and 100% "no"s. Mix that in with the attrocious weather and actual blizzards we were walking through. Its hard, and I wish I could say I am being dramatic, but I know that every effort counts. Even if I dont get to see my efforts counting! God always pulls through!! We will keep trudging through this challenge and look for the mini miracles God gives us!

Yesterday was my birthday! Yay! It was lots of fun! We went to stake conference in Kanazawa and we got to see all the missionaries in our zone there! It is always a good time seeing other missionaries, especially because it is only MacDonald 姉妹 and I out here in Toyama. 

️JJ and Paul were also able to come to stake conference!! It was really fun to introduce them to so many people and help them make friends with so many more members! Please keep praying for them!!

We were also able to visit some people with one of our favorite members, Suzuki 姉妹! We went to Hamaiさん's house and had a great time. She is not a member and is not interested in the church, but is good friends with some of our members. We always give her a spiritual thought at the end of our visits (because we are missionaries, its what we do) but the messages never seem to really touch her. Except this one. Amazing Japanese fluent MacDonald 姉妹 shared D&C 84:88 and testified of angels and God's love in our lives. I then asked Hamaiさん if she has ever felt angels in her life. She told us about her grandparents, then started talking about us and her member friends. She got really happy and said that whenever she is around us she feels super happy. Suzuki 姉妹 explained to her that it was the spirit that she feels. Even though this was not some revolutionary baptism moment, I think it got God's love thinking in her brain. Birthday miracle!!!

D&C 84:88

And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

This is our miracle scripture! I love this scripture because I imagine being in a big Jesus Christ bubble. He will always be with us, before us, and after us. When we have this perspective on life, we can see His hand more often. There are also angels all around us, helping us out. I know I have seen so many in my lifetime. It all depends on us and if we are living worthly and actively seeking for these things, we will find them!

God loves you!

I love you!

Make it a good week!

<3 Peterson 姉妹

02/03/2025

p.s. thank you for all the birthday wishes! They really meant a lot!

Latest creation woop

The cutest couple EVER

Hehe Hamaiさん and Suzuki 姉妹

"IM 20"

This. Was. Miserable.

Happy 20th Birthday Avynlea!

Avynlea had her 20th Birthday Japan! I was sad we couldn't be there to celebrate with her but I was able to get a package sent with some, hopefully, fun things. The one thing she requested was boxing gloves so she and her companion could box each other. I didn't question it Just got her some gloves. Kefford has a patient whose Dad makes trios to Japan pretty frequently and he was going close to Avy's birthday and said he would take a package for us.He was only going as far as Tokyo but he sent it from Tokyo to her and it only cost $8, if we would have sent it from the US it would have been closer to $100 so I am grateful he took it was made it so much cheaper for us to send. In addition to the gloves I sent candy, cross-stitch kits, stuff to make cupcakes, gum and other odds and ends. She was happy and appreciated all of it.

 

I was in California on her birthday but at home in Idaho Kefford and Rylee made a cake after church in honor of Avynlea's birthday. 

I am glad I was able to talk to her and that she had a good birthday. her companion and her Elder and Sister friends helped make her day really special and I am glad for that.

5 things I love about Avynlea

• Obviously I love that Avynlea chose to serve the Lord by going on a mission. It has not been an easy ride for her but I have seen so much growth in her. Her testimony and love for her Savior have grown so much and I am so impressed with all that she is doing to keep strengthening them. Her perseverance to keep going despite all of the struggles she has had have been inspiring to me and I am just so proud of her.
• Avynlea has managed to maintain her sense of Humor while on her mission and I love listening to her laugh and hearing all the funny things she has to say. She is so funny and such a joy to talk to on the phone.
• I think Avynlea is a good listener and has really been a source of strength for me when I have talked to her about things I am struggling with. She is able to listen to me and lets me know the things I need to hear. I love that I am able to talk to her and that she can give me good advice. 
• Avynlea is a fun and happy person to be around. She has had some really hard companions and while she knows it is safe to vent to us she keeps the frustration put away with her companions. She is kind and loving and tries hard to maintain positivity and stay upbeat no matter the situation
• Avynlea is a hard worker and takes pride in doing a good job. She gets out and talks to people and loves to share the Gospel. I am so impressed with how much Japanese she has learned and know how hard she has worked to get to where she is at. 

Hazels Recital and Down in California

Jan 25th: Hazel had a ballet recital that she had told us about and I made sure for her to let us know when her performance was so we could go and watch. She had her mom send us the invite and on that Saturday Rylee and I headed to the venue to watch her perform. When we got there we stood in line to get tickets only for them to tell us that it was cash only. I did not have cash on me and feeling a little dejected we started to head out not knowing what to do. After we walked maybe 10 yards away we had someone call out to us and it was a lady saying she had extra tickets and wanted to give them to us. I offered to Venmo her but she wouldn't accept any money, it was so nice of her and such a relief that we did not have to miss the recital trying to find cash.

Hazel did a beautiful job dancing and I enjoyed being able to watch her. Two of her little sisters, Emmaline and Eliza, were also in the recital and it was fun to watch them as well.

Jan. 26: Mom was scheduled to have shoulder surgery in December but it was postponed because the Dr was sick that morning. It was really disappointing but they were able to reschedule for January 25th. It worked out that I was able to fly down the day after her surgery to help her in her recovery. Us siblings were planning on all getting together around February 7th in California to surprise Mom for her 80th birthday. I had tickets to be there for her birthday and was staying an extra week. But since her surgery was close to her birthday I changed my flight to fly down two weeks before to help her and then I would stay through her Birthday.

I spent the week making my Mom food and helping her with the ice machine, putting it on her shoulder as needed. I was told to do it every hour and I started with that but then I would ask my Mom if she wanted the ice and she would say no that she was ok. She kept telling me know and I was thinking that she was doing good and didn't need it but she was thinking I didn't want to be bothered in putting it on her so she would tell me she didn't need it. What I needed to do was just not ask and kept putting the ice on every hour. Once I learned that we were not communicating right I stopped asking and just starting putting the ice on her. 

There is a tendon in her shoulder that was not working and Mom has not been able to lift her arm for quite a while, this surgery was supposed to fix that. A couple of days after the surgery Mom got the Drs notes in regard to the surgery and learned that the surgery did not work and they were not able to fix the tendon for whatever reason. This was a big blow to my Mom and caused her some understandable frustrations and depression. Here she is just having had surgery to fix something she was been struggling with for a while only to find out it was basically a pointless surgery. 

I was there for two weeks and while Heather was working it was just me and my Mom. Ashleigh came over but every there day and Jeremy stopped in after work which was nice. I got into a pretty good routine of working out in my Moms living room but I craved being outside and getting some walking in. On Friday January 31, when Ashleigh was there with her kids and Jeremy was there I talked them into going on a walk around the block with me. It was so nice to get out and be with my siblings and enjoy the fresh air.

 

Saturday morning, February 1,  Erin, Jeremy, Heather and I are able to talk Mom into going to Brandon's for Breakfast. We had a good time at the restaurant and it was nice to get mom out of the house.

I brought my Roller Skates to California with me and later that day Ashleigh and her kids, Heather and I went to the park to Roller Skate. Jeremy came along on his bike and Erin also came to be with us. I had so much fun skating with my sisters and skating outside. My Moms house is on a slight hill with the park being down towards the bottom of it. I put my skates on at the house thinking I could skate down to the park but I very quickly realized I was not confident enough in my skating and balancing to skate down to the park. Ashleigh was walking down in front of me so I grabbed onto her and used her to help guide me down. It was funny and I liked that she was willing to help me out.

Elizabeth, Heather and Ashleigh 

Jeremy, Elizabeth, Heather and Ashleigh

Elizabeth, Heather, Jeremy, Atticus, Abigail and Ashleigh

After Breakfast Heather and I started our fast since the next day was Fast Sunday. When Andrew Brown came over after his Saturday activities to be with his family as it got closer to dinner time conversations started going on about what to do for dinner. Somehow the dinner they planned turned into a big deal meal with them planning an elaborate meal and since Heather and I were fasting we did not want to be around all that delicious food so we left for some fun time with just us. We went and got our nails done, she got a manicure and I got a pedicure. After our nails we went over to Barnes and Noble to browse and walk around. Once enough time had gone by we went back to Moms to find them just getting done with eating so we went into Heathers room to watch The Middle. It was annoying for them to plan a big deal dinner knowing that we were fasting but I had fun getting out and being with Heather.