December 4, 2011

Before I write more-our baby boy's due date is February 11th (they moved it up a little). With the holidays it will come very soon!

While this past month has been very stressful with Saki not working it has also been one where the Lord has been able to use Saki to bless the lives of others in ways he would not be able to if he was working. He has been a strength and a help to me, to the missionaries, his parents and extended family at a time of need. I am glad he is caring and concerned about others and desires to help where he is needed! I love my husband with all my heart, and it is difficult for me to share him with others-but in this imperfect world we all have roles to fulfill. May I do mine as patiently and loyally as Saki does his. . .

We were thrilled this Thanksgiving to have Samuel (my youngest brother) be able to spend some time with us! He returned from his mission in July and though things were a bit hectic, we were able to do some fun sightseeing and spend time together. Samuel is an amazing young man-I really enjoy your spirit Samuel! All my brothers are so unique and such a joy to me! I had to laugh that Glenn kept calling him Grandma Peterson. . . The kids were sad to drop him off in Sacramento. We also got to see Thomas and Lisa and Lisa's family! I want post some photos of this when I get a chance....I did find my camera under the carseat Samuel!

And on a belated note-Saki's dad had a birthday in November-here's some photos! Mere had just woken up... The kids made a hot cocoa mug with their handprints on it and helped me make a carrot cake. Saki and his dad love hot cocoa! Also, our cat boxer, Mere at the Oakland temple-Samuel was taking photos and Mere really wanted to be in some :) A birthday cake for a friend.

November 6, 2011

Well-a week into November! Time flies! Trying to do things with the kids, with Saki and many other things to accomplish at church and at home. I am learning how to better balance-or rather how to be satisfied with not accomplishing everything in one sitting, but rather in increments. We have been talking a lot about Family History and Temple Work-it's our Relief Society Goal this year and just doing it can be hard. All things in our lives we have to make the time to do, though luckily it doesn't have to be all at once or all now. I am working on journaling. I would like to work with Saki on some things with his family history and I know there's much to be done on mine. We went to the winter fair fundraiser at the school near us-it's a bit event! They had lots of home made games, plus crafts, two sledding trails, booksale, bakesale, I was impressed how many things there were. . The kids loved it and Mere wasn't even scared of the big slide when she got to the top!

Here's some compelling quotes I included in my RS lesson at church today:

“One of the Lord’s purposes in organizing the Relief Society was to prepare His daughters for the greater blessings of the priesthood found in the ordinances and covenants of the temple. The … sisters in Nauvoo anticipated the completion of the temple with great excitement, for they knew. . . that the endowment would bring them ‘out of darkness into marvelous light.’”7 Cleave unto the Covenants BARBARA THOMPSON Oct 2011

“If you have been to the temple for yourselves and if you live within relatively close proximity to a temple, your sacrifice could be setting aside the time in your busy lives to visit the temple regularly.” Our Prophet President Thomas S. Monson

 "This blessing of being “born again… through ordinances”[4] is obtained only as we live for it—in a continual effort of obedience and service that strengthens the ties of covenant with which we are freely and lovingly bound to our Heavenly Father. Only in this way may we gradually experience an increasing measure of the joy of becoming all that He now is." My dad

May we all strive to learn about our ancestors whether we are church members or not, and may we all go do that temple work being willing to make that sacrifice in time and the effort to learn more fully from what is provided within the temple!

Here's some photos of our jack-o-lantern (we didn't go trick or treating, but we did hand out candy corn rice crispie treats to our neighbors-Mere was to excited to wait for them to come to the door, so seeing them outside she hand delivered!) And her and I ate some candy our neighbor threw to us across the balcony. I have to say I'm sad that since I've been married we've never had lots, usually none, of trick-or-treaters... Also the winter fair fundraiser at the elementary school. Also a impromptu photo shoot before church-Mere was being quite cooperative, Glenn was antsy...