Lissy@college.fun

Amy passed these photos on.  So glad that Lissy's enjoying BYU and drinking in all of the opportunities and spirit of the experience!  Here are a few quotes from her.

"I can't believe I made it to this amazing university, everyday I meet new people form different places, and I feel like everyone is here for a reason.....I feel like this is the funnest time of my life, and I am going to take full advantage of it."

110925 Peter's Week

Fall is in the air...fruit is on the vine...and the branches.  One of my apple tree is LOADED with apples this fall...the other is empty.  Going to borrow Amy's juicer to make some cider for freezing.  I think my back is improving.  I worked from home Thursday and Friday but by Friday night wanted to get out so I went for a haircut.  I kept thinking that it was just nerve pain and I could control it but about three quarters through the haircut, I turned white and started sweating and was either going to throw up or pass out! Kind of freaked out the stylist but standing up and walking 10 steps and it started to go away.  She wanted to cut the rest while I was standing up!  Sitting was torture. 

Saturday was an adventurous day.  Dan stayed over Friday night and we got up and went to the plane.  I laid down in his seat to get there and then buckled in upright to taxi and take off.  Dan then flew all the way to St. George while I stretched out and then took over to land.  We had a good day looking at a few places that might make good investments or places to winter.  Had lunch with Zan and Ricky and saw his parent's house and the pomegranate trees that they planted.  Then flew back the same way we flew with with Dan flying most of the way.  Great shot of the Tushar Mountains.  We still had daylight and fuel when we reached Nephi so Dan shot a couple of landings and takeoffs.  (Trying to convince him to buy part of the plane!).  Landed in Provo just as the sun dropped below the horizon.  Good day! 

Sunday night I went to my friends Jim & Amy's house and they had a book on treating your back. I read through it while there and it perfectly described the pain I had so when I got home, I did the initial batch of exercises and felt some immediate benefit!  I slept well and even though the pain came back anytime I sat today, it wasn't anywhere near as severe.  I'm hopeful that it continues to help.  The book said that most pain will be gone in the first couple of days and then be completely gone in a couple of weeks.  So...very grateful for some progress and looking forward being able to drive to Idaho for conference weekend! (And get the plane to Logan for annual).  

And very excited for the news of Frank & Melissa's new baby, grandchild #50, on the way! 

Reflections on Turning 56

Yowzaaaa! I've been 56 for a week now...seems like much longer.  What was that saying, "Exercise doesn't make you live longer, it just seems longer!" I think you could say the same thing for pain.  I'm such a wimp! Under pain (or the thought of having it for a while) I crumble....no patience, no niceness, no motivation, no hope, no joy in serving, no sense of work accomplishment.  I can honestly say that work and church this week have been a pain in the arse! (that's mainly where it's been hurting anytime I sit and I sit a lot for both!).  But...I do have more empathy and I'm saddened by the fact that many close to us live with pain all the time.  Mom in her feet and hands and wrists and Dad and his back and Aunt Helen and her back and Dan and his sinus and Kent and his head and Steve and his knee and Amy and her body and so many more.  I really, really wish you all to be well and pain free! 

So the week of my birthday, I visited the physical therapist, the massage therapist and the chiropractor.  The day of my birthday I locked myself out of my office (forgetful) and misplaced my wallet--I truly felt the effects of old age...especially working with a bunch of twenty and thirty somethings! Last night, Alan Shields and I went to dinner the much of the conversation was on pains and therapies--we've become old! 

BUT, it was a great day!  I heard from many of you and had many well wishers! The Hulmes invited me for dinner and root beer floats.  The Hunters and Littlefields brought brownies and ice cream.  Megan and Alex brought strawberry shortcake and and excellent time was had by all.  I only remembered to take a picture at the end and you can see my new roommates Grant and Clay.  I work with Grant and they are great guys.  

So thanks everyone for thinking of me...I'm so glad I came to live with you all!  Wonderful to see Elder Webb enroute to departure yesterday and all the family.  I stopped by the Greene's last night and great to spend time with Stephen, Anna and Jessica.  

Love you all SO MUCH!!!

Peter 

A few shots from the last couple of weeks.  The new cover I made for the airplane.  Cabbages planted around the dead ash tree at the Idaho house (thanks Mom!). Birthday guests. My standing desk at home.  Stretching/resting my back at the office.  

Time Lapse... A Farewell Larsen

From Paula....

Time Lapse

 

Sitting at the computer here in the kitchen I see the room littered with left overs from sending Larsen off to the MTC.  His hour booklet where he kept his hours working for the farm sits here by the computer, his school backpack sits empty by the stairs, a pair of woven sandals, a sweatshirt left behind for Boston and an empty space in the house where he's ate, slept and kept us company for the past several months.  Today is a day to contemplate.

 

Two days ago at 7 p.m. we pulled into the drive way of Stake Pres. Harper in Malta, Id. It was  unusual to have so many of our children there but Stuart, Hayden and Gordon assisted in setting Larsen apart while Jessica took notes and Boston and I listened.  

 

Heading to Utah afterwards,  Larsen made phone calls for the last time on his phone all down the Wasatch front making appts to see Family members one more time.  Frank and Melissa greeted us on the front porch with open arms and popcorn,  Steven and Shannon and family weloomed us with hugs and white chocolate chip cookies and Oreos before we arrived at Anna's for supper at 11 pm.  

 

Wednesday morning  more family accomodations stopping to see Peter at work. Ginny, Michael and family served us banana bread and milk at their home with Amy and Erica coming to say goodbye.  It was a great brief reunion before heading to the MTC. 

 

Joking and laughing about the upcoming seperation we soon became rounding the corner at the MTC. Cars were lined up along the curb with blinkers on.  Each with a missionary clad in dark suit and white shirt sitting anxiously in the back or front seat of the car of loved ones or friends.  One elder is delivered in style in a convertable sports car while others are packed with numerous family and friends in vans, suburbans and cars for the brief goodbye on the curb.   

 

Missionaries already in the MTC line the side walk waiting to greet the new elders and sisters.  A few are waving.  At first I think they know us or at least Larsen until I realize they are programed to wave, like beauty queens in a parade, to make us feel welcome.  Gordon pulls his Dodge Ram super cab into the space the orange clad worker directs us to and Larsen gets out.  We all pile out; Gordon and myself, Anna, little Francie, Jessica, Boston, Hayden and Stuart, acutely aware we are privy to a unique experience as we assist him in getting his bags out of the back of the truck and onto the sidewalk.  An elder  heading to the Philippines on his mission is assigned to show Elder Webb the way.  This elder's only been out 7 weeks. 

 

Elder Webb hugs each of us now.We take pictures and hug again. With a smile he waves goodbye and turns his back on us pulling his large brown suitcase on wheels towards the MTC, his bags draped over his shoulder, head down looking intent on following the elder at his side. I note we all happily cry a little. I'm glad of it as it allows us to vent a few of our emotions in this interesting change of life.  My greatest concern in his absence?  That things will change. That we won't be the same when we are back together again.  But my hope and comfort is that despite the time lapse in the next two years our love for each other has been complete... and that can't change.   

 

   

 

 

Elder Larsen Webb enters the MTC!!!

These pictures are obviously not at the MTC (they're outside my office at HireVue), but the family and Elder Webb were on their way to the MTC for a 1 pm check in.  His mission will be awesome because he is AWESOME!!!! Good luck!

Elder Larsen Webb speaking before leaving for Mexico Mission

Hi All! Got a message tonight from Elder Larsen Webb (along with a happy birthday song from him and other vocalists singing at Boston's game) letting us all know that he will be speaking Sunday in Sacrament meeting starting at 11:45 am in the Raft River building.  There will be a dinner afterwards at the Webb home and all are welcome to attend! 

Dad and Steve biking today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqdahNZMubc

Made My Week

(sorry this is late forwarding...hectic week! - peter)

From Paula....

A couple of days ago I was washing dishes at the sink when Larsen came in excited. "Peter's here!" he exlaimed.  Puzzled, I followed him out the back door onto the lawn where Gordon had paused the lawn mower and was pointing up to the sky.  Looking up I saw Peter sliding through the sky in his Mooney just over the top of the shop and grain bins.  Like a happy kid on his bike he circled two or three times around the farm.   My heart beat fast as I waved from the ground dancing excitedly as he dipped his wings ever so slightly and headed back towards Pocatello.  It made my week.  Thanks Peter for taking time to come see us.

 

Like giant billows our house heaves in and out as family comes and goes. All rooms are empty then all rooms are full and overflowing to the trampoline, .  Don and Greshen, Emily, Grant, Abby and Macey came for the weekend in hopes to catch the Pomerelle Star Party.  The clouds overshadowed the mountain come viewing time so we headed up Heglar Canyon in the white Ford van and enjoyed hoagie sandwiches, chips and an assortment of coupon goodies Greshen bought for nearly free.  We told stories around a crackling fire until late into the night. I love our family.

 

Larsen and Anna fly out Tuesday morning for Albuquerque to meet Jessica.  They will take a tour of Anna's mission before heading up to Cortez where Larsen worked for the summer last year.  Jessica will spend nearly a month before heading back to Texas again. I love her visits.  Clayton is doing well in Iraq.  She hears from him 2-3 times a week.  She has been teaching early morning seminary with a team teacher.

 

Stuart, Larsen and Hayden have been on hauling crews.  Stuart hauls grain to Agri-Source in Rupert while Hayden and Larsen are on the chopping crew for 3rd crop hay.

 

And Gordon continues to oversee preg-checking and sorting, culling cows and hauling them to market .  

 

Boston finished 2x a day football practice and has been raking hay and hauling with his brothers.  He gets to start school tomorrow as a sophomore this year. 

 

Madeleine, Hayden's fiancee flies in on Thursday from CA to stay for a week and a half before heading to Italy for a study abroad. It will be good to have her here with Hayden. 

 

I'm finishing up an article on the Oakley Ranch Rodeo, one of the toughest and highest paid rodes of its kind in the Western circuit.  A ranch rodeo competes in events the regular working cowboys do all day; branding, doctoring, loading and roping.  The pro-rodeos we watch at fair time are a stream lined version of what really goes on.  It's been fun working with true blue cowboys.  They have their own lingo and often I've had them repeat phrases to understand what their saying.  "Short go" and "Long go" are words that mean the long drawn out competitions during the day and the short go is the final competion at night that determines the winners . 

 

The Pumpkin Party is taking shape for this year.  If you'd like to attend, put Saturday, October 22  on your calendar and RSVP.  Maple Bars will be one of the highlights this year along with the Pumpkin Treasure Hunt. 

 

 It's been fun writing to you and I hope all is going well with you. 

 

Happy Trails to You

 

                  Paula 

 

 

 Here are a few shots from the plane as described above!

Pictures from Peter

So...very late posting last week. Friday night Labor day weekend and waiting for the parking lot on I-15 headed south to drain a little.  A few shots from last week.  First...Mom's raspberry shortcake with ice cream!!!! Oh, so yummy! Then some shots of squash, turnip and tomatoes from my Idaho garden stir fried with some sausage.  Then breakfast (don't you just agree that people that take pictures of their food have no life??!!??) of hot orange juice with lime and a couple of Mom's special bran muffins.  (Am I making Jessica, the food artist photographer wannabe, jealous?) Then, a picture of the sun reflecting off Bear Lake on the flight back to Utah.  Then a picture of White Pine Lake (last week's hike) from the air.  And finally, the building where I go to church. 

New carpet in the plane and looks nice.  Project this weekend is to wash and clean outside, take pictures and put it up for sale but, like the house, probably won't sell! Would be nice to sell but won't be disappointed if it doesn't.

Cheers,

Peter