Veterans Day

Yesterday we got to celebrate a little bit of our lives that we usually don't. Veterans day is both a scary and proud day for me. It always reminds me of how proud I am of Travis. That he took a year out of his life to serve and defend this great nation. Travis is an amazing solider, and a really handsome one too. The scary part of the day is that I realize we could have to do that all again. Travis has three years left in the guard, and really at any time he could get called up again to serve his country. I feel like there is a boulder sitting in the pit of my stomach just thinking about it.
Yesterday Travis got to do something really neat. Gunnison Middle School always holds a great Veterans Day program and yesterday Travis was asked to be a part of it. The whole thing was wonderful.The band played The Armed Forces Melody that song always carries with it a great patriotic feeling. Then President Wyatt of Snow College spoke. He did an amazing job. He talked about the pirates of Tripoli and how we were captured on Halloween day. He had every ones attention the entire time he spoke. Then came Travis' turn. I will admit that I did not even make it through his introduction before I was in tears. I am so proud of Travis he did a wonderful job. He had put together a slide show of his deployment from the time he got his orders to the last setting sun he say before he left Iraq. I know that I am biased but when I looked around that room everyone of those little kids was hooked on what my husband had to say. Travis told him that he was seventeen when he joined the military that is only three years older then most of those middle school kids.
I am so grateful for Travis and his willingness to serve this country. Even though that year in Iraq was the hardest thing ever for both of us, it was truly a blessing, and I don't think we would be married today if it wasn't for that year. I was talking to Kera, Travis sister, and we were both saying that we appreciate Veterans Day more now then we ever have before in our lives. So to all the Veterans and especially my own. Thank You!

First Meet

This weekend was one of a lot of stress and fun for me. I competed in my first Forensics Meet Ever. The meet was held at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls. We left Thursday afternoon and drove the six hours. We all went to bed early because the next morning was full of last minute preparations and practices, at one we headed over to the college and the craziness began. I was entered into three events. IPDA which is a style of debate.Extemp where you are given a topic, thirty minutes to prepare, and then you must give a seven minute speech, and lastly a persuasive speech that I had prepared before hand on world hunger and what Americans can do to help.
I was really busy because I was double entered in Round A, so after Thursday night I went home with blisters on my feet, and a headache from debating the pros and or cons of the new heath care reform all day. Friday we headed straight over to the college and rounds started right at eight. I am really bad at the acting events so I sat those out and had a couple hours in the morning to prep for my huge rush in the afternoon.
Well here are the results. In my extemp I took second in two of my rounds and third in the other. Which is okay because I was going up against four year seasoned veterans. In IPDA I went undefeated in all of my five placing rounds. That means that I got a bye into the quarter finals with three other contestants. I lost my quarter finals match by one point. I was up against a boy that I had won earlier. Our resolution. Resolve, it is foolish to count the eggs before the hatching occurs. Take it for what you want it to mean. But I did get a little tiny trophey.
I had a blast last weekend. I love the Adrenalin rush that comes with debate. The whole team did awesome and I think that the new Snow College Forensic Team started off with a big bang. Here is a picture of the whole team, and I have to give a big thanks to Malyanda our coach without her we would have never made it this far!

Super Date

Travis and I finally found some time to celebrate our Anniversary and go on a Super Date. To fully appreciate the weekend you have to know some background. Since I was a little girl I have always wanted to spend my honeymoon night at the Little America in Salt Lake. We used to go there when I was a little girl and I thought that it was so magical. I shared this with Travis before our wedding and he called up there to get a reservation for the night of our wedding, and we were told we could not stay there because neither of us were 21 and that is the mandatory age for check in. My little girl dreams were broken. Travis remember how much I wanted to stay there so this year with him being 21 he reserved us a really nice room.
It was so nice to be able to get away from all the stress that school and other obligations bring and just be with Travis. We had an exciting event happen while we were there. For the first time in my 20 years on the earth I went underwater successfully with out plugging my nose. I have always had this fear of water up my nose, so I am a definite nose plugger. Travis just did not think that this would do so we spent a half hour on Friday night in the pool working on me going under with out plugging my nose and I made some major progress I must say. Then we just went back to the room and relaxed, ordered in some room service, and had some Travis and Meagan time. The next day we had breakfast with my sister Erin and her husband Whit who happened to be spending the night at the Little America as well. We did not know they were staying there until 7:00 on Friday night so that was a little treat.
Around one on Saturday we made our way over to the State Fair. It was a lot of fun. We were able to spend some time with friends that we don't get to see very often, we had homemade ice cream that had been churned by a tractor, watched our first ever truck pulling contest, went through little hands on the farm, and then the highlight of the day. We were able to ride the Big Yellow Slide. Travis and I went on it with my sister Emy and some of her state officer team. This is a picture of all of us lining up to go down the slide. The lady that was running the ride was a little worried about all of us going down at the same time. We finally got all ready at the top of the slide and pushed off. The reason that I am lagging so far behind is that I got scared when she said push and just sat there at the top for a minute until Travis yelled up to me that I better get my little potato sack moving. The slide is so fun and by the bottom you are going really fast and catching some major air.
The weekend and the super date where both great. Travis and I have both needed some stress free, together, and lounge around time.

HE'S BACK

He's Back and I mean my pappa. That funny man that would start water fights with the kids on our block, the man who had the biggest super soaker at the ward water fights, the ballerina from the talent show performing in his water pants and a tied church shirt. That man made a stunning reappearance into the Peterson house on Friday afternoon. MY DAD HAD HIS SURGERY. He is doing amazing when we walked in on Friday that light was back in his eyes the one that I had told you was being hidden with pain. His feet are warm! That is a big thing for my dad. A few weeks ago we tried to describe what his feet felt like when you touched them the best example is baby powder in a rubber glove. They were cold and kind of chalky. Now they feel like feet and they are warm. He can't have his device on all the time until tomorrow, but he says that even a few minutes remove the pain for hours!
I learned a lesson this week one that I am a little embarrassed to admit because it took me so long. I learned that Heavenly Father is in control. That he has a plan and things will happen how he wants them to and on his time. We don't know why we had to wait, but now we realize that there was a reason and maybe only our Father in Heaven knows why. My testimony was also reinforced that our prayers really are listened to, and when we fast those special blessings our granted. I have never prayed for anything so hard in my life or fasted with more conviction. My faith has been tested and strengthened so much during this process, and their have been people all along the way helping with that. Travis has been a vocal and a silent rock. He is always there and I love him so much for just being the man and priesthood holder that he is.
My mom has been amazing. I don't know what I would have done if I was her. Even imagining seeing Travis like that makes me feel queezy, but she stayed strong for the whole family. There were also so many great people praying and fasting for us. We love you all so much and you really helped and made a huge difference.
Lastly there is my pappa. I don't know how you stayed so strong. You experienced something I can not even imagine and you remained so tough. Thank you for having so much faith and for using that faith to keep yourself and our family strong. You have been the best dad that anyone could have, you are always giving of yourself, and I am so glad that this time you could be given something that will make your life better and easier. Oh ya and Welcome Back!

A Little Glimmer of Hope

A few months ago I wrote some posts about my dad. So much has happened since then and there is finally a glimmer of hope for my family and my sweet pappa. Most of you know that my dad has struggled with a nerve condition for well as long as I can actually remember. I knew when I was a little girl that my dad was different he was a special dad. Not only because he was always quoting movies, or starting water fights with the neighbor hood kids, but there was always something in his eyes hidden behind the permanent smile. I figured out as a teenager that the hidden stare was caused from pain, pain that my pappa kept silent from his children and friends. It was not until last year that I realized how bad the pain was.
For a year we have been waiting, praying, fasting, and just having faith that a solution to my dads pain would come. He has been scheduled for surgery many times, but the hospital always fell through. Things are changing in my pappa's life too. My dad is going to be a grandpa of a cute little boy Erin is expecting in January. When my dad found out he was estatic, but then he turned sober and said all I want is to be able to be a great grandpappa, to run and play with my grandkids.
I am happy to report that we are one step closer to my dads goal. Yesterday he found out that he has been scheduled for real this time. Next Friday September 4th second surgery of the day he will be wheeled in at 9:30. This may seem like a simple thing. A surgery people have them all the time. This is not a surgery though. This is a blessing one that means more to me than anything in the world. I have always been my daddy's little girls. Since I was two and tasted near beer and said that tastes good, my mom just handed me over to him and said you deal with her. I guess that always stuck. I love my dad more then words can express. I always tell Travis that my dad was my first true love and always will be.
I am so grateful that this is finally happening for my pappa. Not only am I so excited because he will get his wish, and that his body will no longer be putting a huge stop on the things he wants to do. But I am mostly happy that when I look in my pappa's eyes, that even through that permanent smile that they hold I won't be able to see that pain anymore. Just my pappa, his happiness, joy for life, and the love that he has for his family. This will not end everything, but it will make life so much better and I am so grateful for that.

It's Snowing Again

Yes I did steal the title of this post from the back of a Snow College T-Shirt, but hey I am seeing alot of them this week. Travis and I officially went back to school on Wednesday. To be completely honest with you I am LOVING IT! We both are!
This summer was a great one. We were able to do a lot of fun things with family and friends, but to be honest during a normal work week Travis and I did not really see each other a whole lot. We would wake up, work, eat, clean the house, sleep. That was it. We are so glad to be back into a routine, and one that includes us seeing a lot more of each other. It has also been great to see some of our old friends from last year, and it is an added bonus to have sweet cousin McKell and her friend Marci only living a block away.
So yes our summer is over, and it is snowing again in our lives, but we are surely looking forward to this change in climate!

Living the Happily Ever After

A true love story has unfolded over the years. People around got a small glimpse into the fairy tale, but many do not know the whole story of the cattle barons daughter and the sheepherders grand son (that is what my dad calls us). It started many many years ago with a girl the age of 15. She had traveled to the far away land of Gunnison to cheer for Juab's basketball team. While on her journey she had dropped a single cheer bag into the isle. During half time a very good looking 16 year old stood up and walked out of the gym. The girl watched the boy he had on a tan carhartt, a black cowboy hats, and those Wranglers! The girl thought little of the boy after he left, and continued talking with her friends. After the half time show had ended the girl stood back up to resume her duties as a "spirit leader". It was then that she noticed the boy was walking back in, and how good looking he really was. He quietly walked past her and gave her a smile that could make any girls knees weak. It was then that he tripped over that single cheer bag. The girl just stared at him. He then, while laying on the ground, tipped up that hat and said "Well sorry about that darlen" and smiled that weak in the knees smile again. The girl just giggled as the boy walked off. Who knew she had just met her prince charming.
It was a year latter when she met the next person that would help carry the story of this fairy tale. The girl was at a banquet, one that required a blue corduroy jacket, but a banquet all the same, when a very charming old man sat next to her. Throughout the course of their meal the girl learned that the man was a sheep owner from Mayfeild. Throughout the remainder of the meal they chatted politely but it was when dessert was served that the conversation shifted. The charming man said you know I have a grandson that does this whole FFA stuff. He is pretty good looking I bet I could get him to take out a cute little farmer girl like you. I think he is in to that kind of stuff. Again the girl just giggled and said Thank you Jack, if I ever need a date I will for sure give you a call.
Another year passed, and the girls sister visited Gunnison High School to teach a class. She walked into the senior boys Agriculture class and said you boys are going to help me with a little problem. The boys straightened up because they were all gentleman of course and said what do you need. The older sister spoke and said my sisters boyfriend is just a "joker" and i don't want him taking her to the ball (homecoming). So one of you boys are going to take her. The sheep herders grandson thought about it for a moment and said what the heck I'll do it. The boy did call the girl but they never made it to the ball that year, some things happened and the "joker" did take the girl.
This started the raise in our story though the girl and the boy started texting and they meet official for the first time in May of 2006. The boy got off his white horse (okay out of the white truck,) in all of his armor ( army uniform). The girl really did go weak in the knees this time good thing she was setting down. After this though the girl thought nothing of it. He had another maiden and her another joker.
It was six months later on a cold fall day when the girls phone rang again. She answered and there was the knight. He had just returned from basic training and would like to take her out on another date. They went out for real on October 22, 2007. A few weeks later on November 11 they had the best first kiss I think there ever has been. By December 22 the pair had fallen in love and the boy uttered the first I love you under the twinkling of the Christmas Tree.
The girl and the boy learned later that this knight had been called off to battle he boarded the the plane and left his family and the girl behind. The continued to write and love each other more. It was on March 22 that the knight asked the girl if she would be with him forever in front of a castle (at Disneyland).
On August 2, 2008 the knight took the girl through the castle she has always wanted to visit and she got to wear a gorgeous white gown. They made a special covenant before the King, Heavenly Father so that could start their own kingdom some day. The knight really made the cattle barons daughter feel like a princess for the day, and well has continued to for the past year. And that is the beginning of our happily ever after and the tale of a truly great love story.