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!