Here are some videos of the house we are looking at for Jared and Julianna

TREK

Elena & Kacie - Home Depot parking lot, this is the beginning

 We survived the TREK!!!
Before the youth started, your Dad encouraged them to have an M&M experience.  (Magnificent & Marvelous)  They all had that!!


We will be getting more pictures to share later, but in the mean time, enjoy these Ü

Kacie - ready for an incredible journey

Elena - all smiles and determined to walk all the way!

Kacie & Kayla with the 1st of 3 shirt they made for the Trek

The YO Ranch was beautiful.  Prior to getting to this spot, the youth had an incredible ravine to cross.

Here comes the handcarts

It was wonderful being there with the youth.  Kacie and Elena did great!!!  The first day after about a mile of walking, they made Elena stop.  She obeyed with a smile, but inside a little sad.  It made her all the more determined to walk the whole way on the next two days which she did!!!

The most incredible experience came on the 2nd day when all the men and boys in camp were sent to serve missions.  The girls were left to pull the handcarts by themselves for several miles.  Each handcart had 3-4 girls pulling it.  At the end of the women's pull, these girls had to pull the handcarts up a steep, rocky cliff.  The boys and men were lined up along the cliff and they were not allowed to touch the handcarts or help in anyway.  They just had to stand silently and watch. 

As the first group of girls struggled, it tugged at your heart and made you cry.  When they got to the top, they turned around and ran down the hill to help the next cart along the way.  You had girls running back and forth helping cart after cart.  Most of the men and boys were crying as they watched this event take place.  It was a powerful example of service and knowing there are times when we have to be the Lord's hands to help others along the way.

When Elena's group when up the hill, her new "brothers" were sobbing knowing how bad her knee was and yet, she was able to help pull that cart up the steep embankment.


It was truly a Magnificent, Marvelous and Miraculous experience for all!!

BIG WEEK

It is Spring Break Ü

To begin the week, Allan and a few friends braved the coolness of the pool and went swimming bringing home our first sunburned boy.

Tamiflu to the rescue for my little Aimee has the flu.  We got medicine and the doctor was so kind to inform me that when and if the others come down with the flu, just call him and he will prescribe more Tamiflu for the family.

TREK!!! Dad, Elena, Kacie and I are on our way to the YO Ranch up near Kerrville, TX.  It should be loads of fun and the weather is forecasted to be cloudy all week with no rain and temperature in the 60-80 range.  I've posted pictures of our buckets which contain our life possessions for the week and Elena relaxing this morning playing Mario Sunshine before she gives up the comforts of home and leaves our faithful watch dog to care over the remaining family along with Grandma and Grandpa Foote.

One cool family history story to share...  It turns out that on my Grandpa Petersen's side of the family, Andrew Rose, who was baptized by the Prophet Joseph Smith, was on the same wagon train going West with Warren Foote who is on your Dad's side of the family.  Warren Foote was the captain over 100 and Andrew Rose being in his 70's, died along the trail just before they reached Winter Quarters.  At the time of his passing, the wagon train was in desperate need of meat and when they stopped to bury Father Rose as they referred to him, they were able to find lots of buffalo. Ü

Catch Up Events

The last two weeks have been full of exciting events.  Kacie received a 1st division rating on both of her solo and her ensemble the beginning of this month.  Darin discovered that we finally have a tree he can climb in and enjoyed the warmth of the Texas sun. Aimee took pleasure in relaxing on a nice blanket in the yard and Elena just enjoyed life in general.  We miss Yoko, but I found some pictures as she enjoyed riding on a trailer loaded with her belongings and her packing her bags for her trip back to Hong Kong.

 

 

 

 

Wow!  Time is flying by on me.

Yoko, our dear friend who has been staying with us, is back in Hong Kong.  We pray that all is going well for her.  She will be going to Provo in the fall to begin the PhD program in Psychology. 

My YW Camp meeting was a wonderful success and the girls are fired up about our Two Steppin' Home theme.

Elena and I took our trip to Dallas to meet with Dr. Cooper.  While traveling up, I had my first tire blow out experience.  It was 7:30 in the morning and raining.  We got to the side of the road and I was so grateful to have road side assistance come and fix our tire.  We were also blessed to be 13 miles away from the nearest discount tire.

We learned that a meniscus transplant would not be a good fix for Elena's knee, but the doctor made a couple of other suggestions that we are following.