Its been a very busy summer with so much going on that I haven't seemed to have any spare time to put my memories on paper. And now, school has restarted and before long the leaves will be falling! The older I get the faster the time seems to go and I just want to hang on to every minute, relishing time spent with friends and family! A problem I have is that when I wait so long between posts, I don't always remember things and often forget to take pictures (this jogs my memory, you see). So, if I've had a fun adventure with any of you, and it's not here, it's just a matter of senioritis!
I have a chance every now and then to serve in my ward. I have a calling on the Compassionate Service Committee with the specific assignment of working with new moms, arranging for a few meals as needed. We also like to take a quilt with us for the baby. My friend, Maxine, is a whiz with creating them and I just get to choose the fabrics and then take the finished product as we make a visit.
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| Me, Maxine, and Camla |
I had two granddaughters graduate from high school this Spring. Delaney in May and Karlie in June. Delaney is going to Southern Oregon University and Karlie to BYU. Karlie came to live with me the middle of July so that she could have a better pick of her employment for the school year and will move into Helaman Halls (Chipman) the end of August.
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| Sue, Karlie, Duerk Brewer at Karlie's graduation |
I always love it when missionaries I knew in Armenia get married. Congratulations to Lisa Ferguson and her new husband, Aaron Webster
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| Me, Lisa and Aaron Webster...a beautiful June bride! |
I love flowers, so took a picture of this lovely arrangement at one of our Relief Society activities. I think Maxine might have had her hand in it.
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| God certainly knows how to make beautiful things |
I have some wonderful friends who live in my neighborhood. It's always fun to do lunch and visit up at Vicky's cabin.
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| Mona, Joyce, Marian, Gayle, Vickie, Me, Pat, Shar and Norma |
This was the summer of our Family Reunion in Oregon. It was very memorable and especially because all of my children and grandchildren were there...AND WE GOT PICTURES! (only 1000 or so). I'm not sharing all of them, so no worries.
John and JaneAnne were in charge and they did a fantastic job of organizing everything. It was wonderful!
I flew up on July 3rd, just in time to celebrate Emily's 27th birthday, and the reunion officially started on the 5th. We rented a house (occupied by all the girls 8 to 15, and boys 8 to 11, Sue and Duerk, Alisa and Brett, Jana and Mike) and between JaneAnnes (all the kids 16 and older), and John's (all the boys, 12 to 15 plus me, Rob & Tamsen & Truman) everyone had a place to sleep. I'm not sure how much rest was had, but a lot of fun did happen.
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| Anna holding Daisy, Joseph and Emily |
The rest of the family started gathering on the 4th and 5th. There were 42 of us all together. It's a miracle when we can all be together. The oldest ones were only able to stay for the long weekend, but that made it so great!
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Cousins getting acquainted, Joseph, Anna, Ivy, Ashley, Hewitt, Liv, Hewitt
Duerk, Alana, August, Berit and Julie |
The first event was a river rafting trip down the White Salmon River. A stop to see beautiful Multnomah Falls was also on the agenda. I opted for the safer shores but all those who went had a blast and some even went over a water fall. I went with all those who were too young (under 10) to the Portland Zoo. I love seeing the big animals and watching the grands get excited about what they were doing.
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| Truman, Lukas, August, Merit, Kiefer |
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| Truman, August, Lukas, Merit, Emily, Hannah Tew, Kiefer |
The weather was a little overcast but fairly typical for Oregon, so gave a more accurate picture of what we experienced for so many years.
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| Hiking up to the falls |
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| Leif, Joseph, Colten, Rob, Ashley, Liv, Ivy, Alana, Lindsey, Hewitt, Anna, Julie, Burke, Tosh |
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| Oregon's mysterious beauty |
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| Stuart, Burke, Anders, Leif, Anna, Colten, Ashley, Julie, Hewitt, Tosh, Lindsey, Alana |
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| Delaney, Kate, Joseph, Karlie, Burke, Anders |
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| Shooting the rapids on White Salmon River |
Sunday was a day for church and pictures and even a little bingo (a tradition from Watkins' Family reunions).
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| LtoR Rob Peterson family, Larsens, Olsen/Petersons, John Petersons, Maughans, Brewers |
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| Me and the grandkids |
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| Me and my children |
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| Peterson Family in our Reunion t-shirts (minus Jake and Kenzie) |
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| Playing bingo in John;s backyard |
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| JaneAnne and Alisa keeping track of numbers and prizes |
Monday was our 4 T day. A day to get acquainted with Portland by trail, train, trolley and tram. It's an experience moving that many people about in the city, but so worth it. Highlights were Powell's books and playing the piano on the trail, beautiful views, good food and fun.We had a lot of questions about our T-shirts and what we were doing. I'm not sure what PPP exactly stands for but maybe Peterson, Portland, Patti, Perfect, jk. The states of Oregon, Utah and Arizona are contained within the P's as that is where our family is currently living.
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| Riding the tram |
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| Playing the piano on the trail (this is Leif, but many other grands tried it out) |
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| Karlie enjoying some sushi for lunch (notice the states with the P's) |
Tuesday was a trip to the Oregon Coast for some beach time and a visit to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. It ended with a trip to the berry fields for some hands on picking.
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| Jana, John and Sue at Oceanside Beach |
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| Josef, Julie and Tosh |
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| A little beach volleyball |
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| Sisters, Alisa, JaneAnne, Jana and Sue |
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| Rob and John |
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| Me and Sue |
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| Kiefer at the tunnel at the beach |
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| Inside the Tillamook Cheese Factory |
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| Family photo at the Tillamook Cheese Factory |
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| Cousins enjoying Tillamook ice cream |
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| Cousins picking berries in the rainy fields |
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| Josef, Ivy and Julie, successful berry pickers |
Wednesday was a visit to Silver Creek Falls and then a picnic pot luck in Bush Park to mingle with old friends from our Salem days.It was 30 years ago, we were having a surprise party for Rog's 50th birthday at the same location. Sort of a reprise in memory of Rog who would have been 80 on July 11th. We didn't take a lot of pictures at the park but enjoyed seeing our friends who stopped by: Bill Claussen, Dianne & Neil Lathen, Heidi & Dennis Graves, Mike & Arel Grimshaw, Bill & Becky Farr, Sally, Rich & Travis Workman, Sue & Alan Wynn, Pat & Andy & Eric Hilverda (w Lexie & Rogue), Matt Grimes family, Annie Marges, Ingra Sorenson, Ann Papworth & Katherine Lounsbury, and Kelly Hawkins Honyak. So fun !
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| Saw a field of flowers on our drive to Silver Creek |
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| Silver Creek Falls |
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| Hikers behind the falls |
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| Silver Creek Falls |
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| Me with Ivy and Anna (they were buddies) |
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| Everyone survived the hike |
Even Emily did the Hike. So proud of her!
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| John and Emily |
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| Kelly H Honyak with John and JaneAnne at Bush Park |
That concludes our wonderful Family Reunion. So many memories. The next day, most of our family (except Rob's) headed for their own homes. We had a wedding to attend up in Lacey, Washington in the afternoon of the 11th, but had time for one more tennis game.
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| Me, Burke, Hewitt and Anna (tough competitors) |
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| Having some fun at Natalie Peterson's reception |
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| The Petersons supporting one another at family functions is a great idea! |
Its been a wonderful summer so far, so busy, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss a moment! I love my family.
