Anna's Wedding

I've been terrible at blogging lately. Mostly because work has consumed a large part of my life and when I do get a moment free I'm sleeping, doing laundry, the dishes, spending time with Ben, etc. All good excuses, but I'll try to be better at keeping it updated.

Today I have to take a moment to blog about the funnest wedding reception that I've EVER been to. A few weeks ago my cousin Anna got married and had a dinner party at a garden house in Highland. This is what it looked like:

It was so beautiful. Anna and Jared her husband had planned everything so well. The program consisted of toasts, dinner, dancing, and then dessert. They even had an Italian soda bar and photo booth! Ben and I had a blast! If I had had more money to do our wedding I would have done it just like that. It was a party.

With my amazing cousins and sisters
(L to R: Cindy, Julia, me, Anna, Laura and Rachelle)

My cousin Rochelle is one of my heroes

With my mom and sisters, Laura and Julia

Ben and I had a lot of fun in the photo booth

Maybe a little too much fun? :)

This was the filmstrip that printed from the photo booth for all the guests.
Thanks to Anna and Jared for a great party and congratulations.
We're so happy for you both!

Ward Choir

Today we sang in the ward choir for Stake Conference. We've been attending practices for weeks, but I think Ben's email below best summarizes how we really felt about the situation. Let's just put it this way: if the ward choir director wasn't such a nice person, we wouldn't have done it. Especially since it wasn't until the second practice that I found out what p and f in the music mean-- thanks to the soprano prodigy sitting next to me. I just hope we get an Olympic size pool in our mansion in heaven for this one.


Dear East Elder's quorum,

I have a true confession to make to all of you: I can't sing. I can't read the music, I can't hit the notes and I'm virtually tone-deaf. I can think of a gazillion different things I would rather do than sing in an organized situation. I avoided choir in my younger days simply because I don't have an affinity toward public humiliation; I am not an advocate of torture.

That said, I have some fairly alarming news for you: I have been singing in the ward choir in preparation for Stake Conference on Sunday. Now, this is not my first choice of ways to spend my time in life, in truth, it falls near the bottom of my list of things that I might perhaps want to accomplish later in life, say, when I turn 97. However, much to the chagrin of those musical marvels in our ward, I am singing in the choir.

I know some of you reading this email participated in choir in high school. Maybe you even dabbled in choir in college. To you, I raise my glass of pink lemonade. Well done. There may be others of you who know you can sing and don't like to make others look bad; don't worry, most of us who can't sing already do that for ourselves. And there may be others like me who can't carry a tune in a bucket, and, indeed, our singing may cause listeners to necessitate a bucket in which to unceremoniously deposit their lunch. That's beside the point. What I'm trying to say is this: the ward choir needs male voices for Sunday-- mostly to cover up the damage I am inadvertently causing within their ranks.

In a last ditch effort I'm writing to extend a most cordial invitation to the elders of the east quorum. On Sunday at 8:45 in the Smith Field House, the ward choir is practicing for the last time before stake conference. The music is inspiring, and, if you have an ounce of musical inclination, very simple. Even if you haven't attended any of the previous practices, you are a welcome addition. I don't know where you fall in the categories of singers, but the choir could definitely use your voice. I invite you to come.

Best,

Ben Petersen
(the secretary)

It's more than just a pit-stop off the freeway

Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park

For the first two years of college, Ben attended Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. He's always had a soft spot in his heart for the school and city because he really enjoyed his time there. That's why we've always had the small town on our list of "Must See Places", after Hawaii and Cancun. But since Cedar City is a slightly cheaper vacation, we thought we should make the effort to visit there first.

Our opportunity came last week when Ben was asked to film the BYU Special Olympics team for the Center for Service and Learning. We left early Thursday morning and arrived in time for Ben to film some of the olympic events as well as opening ceremonies. It was so inspirational to see the individuals with special needs so excited to participate. My favorite events to watch were the assisted walks/dashes since family members were right by the side of the participant on the track, cheering them on the whole way. In the evening Ben took me to his favorite restaurant in Cedar, The Pastry Pub.

That night we stayed in New Harmony at my Uncle Scott and Aunt Jane's house. It is a beautiful home in a great area. In the morning we slept in, then after my uncle made us breakfast we drove up Kolob Canyons to do a short hike. It's a beautiful canyon and worth a stop. Later in the day Ben showed me around SUU campus. It was good because I always imagined it to be old and a little ghetto... but it's actually a very nice school with a beautiful campus.

On our hike. Ben was practicing with the camera and I was modeling...

but then the flies came. I hope you like the contrast in pose as much as I did.
I'm trying to swat the flies away of course.

We drove home Friday afternoon (since I had to work Friday night) but had such a fun time in Cedar City. So there's our tourism plug for this year. That is until we make it to Hawaii or Cancun.

Memorial Day

Today I realized that if I don't blog soon, my husband may take over this site :) Although I really have appreciated having a man's perspective on the past few posts. Ben has inadvertently inspired me with his recent blogging to: 1. Update my wardrobe to compete with his broadcast journalism friends (see his fashion post) and 2. Use the phrase "fiscal year" more often. I don't know what it means, but it makes every blog post sound more intelligent :) Just teasing love.

What I really wanted to talk about today is a few thoughts I've had about Memorial Day. My cousin Circe's blog inspired me. My grandmother Freda's 95th birthday is this week and we're having a party for her tomorrow. As a gift, I've been putting together a slide show. It's been interesting to view her life through pictures. Ben and I love this one:

My grandmother Freda is the one on the left. I think she might have even gotten in trouble with her mom for taking a picture showing her knees, but I think it's hilarious. And it shows her spunk.

But the great thing is, through her pictures I've seen the legacy she's left. She never wavered in her testimony even though she grew up in a small town in Montana with few members. When she married my grandfather, he wasn't a member but he went on to be a Stake Patriarch. She was raised during the Great Depression, then raised three young boys alone for 18 months while my grandfather was in the Pacific in WWII. She had seven great children, one of whom is my wonderful mother. She also served in the church her whole life, including going on a mission with my grandfather to Canada.

My grandmother and mom

Ben once said, "You honor your ancestors by living a life they would be proud of." I love that. My grandma Freda came from pioneer ancestors. I'm sure they'd be proud of the life she lived, but would they be proud of my life? I hope so. I think it's something I can always strive toward.

In the meantime, I'll just focus on living the best life I can this year. I mean, this fiscal year. Or whatever :)

Washington, D.C.

Back by popular demand! This is Ben again. I have no desire to write a post today, or in the next fiscal year, but I wanted to share this little video with our blessed blog audience. This is just a quick compilation of some of the video I shot while we were in D.C. One of these days I'll put it all into a documentary, but for now, this is all you're gettin'. Enjoy!

3 Sets of Clothes

Athena is at work tonight. This means I'm at home waiting for 11:00 when I can go to bed and wait for her to snuggle up to me at 5:30 a.m. Sometimes she is an emotional wreck when she gets home. Working in the E.R. is not a teddy bear's picnic for either party, no ma'am. Imagine me, the unsuspecting, sleeping husband trying to deal with an emotional, tired wife at 5:30 a.m. Sometimes it looks more like a grizzly bear's picnic. Needless to say, we love each other and the E.R. sometimes requires that we be patient with each other-- that or stockpile bear mace. However, I'll make the E.R. a post for another day--say--next year sometime when I post again. I feel like blogging is mostly a woman's sport, but I don't mind dabbling in this neck of the woods from time to time. I just need to remember to beat sticks against the trees to avoid any sort of unwanted encounters with the native wildlife. That said, I wander into this unknown forest of blogger bears, with the nearly concrete assumption that my audience is nearly almost, if not completely and entirely, female. Hence, I address what I feel to be a personal male flaw, in hopes to gain insight and understanding. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and encouraged.

My topic of discussion today is clothing. Perhaps my inspiration comes from a friend's blog www.xothelookbook.com. She was in the broadcast journalism program with me and was always impeccably dressed. I suppose this qualifies her to write a blog dedicated to the art of dressing well. The other inspiration for this post comes from a recent perusal of the "Petersen Palooza Blog." I realized after looking at the many pictures that Athena has posted, that it appears that I have/wear approximately three sets of clothes. Funny thing is, that's about accurate. Clothes really aren't my thing. If one were to examine the clothing that is currently in my closet and the clothing that was in my closet, say, seven years ago, there are few disparities between the two; yes, they are nearly identical. The fact of the matter is, I have been wearing the same clothes for a long time. Assuming I don't get typhoid fever and lose a bunch of weight, I will probably be wearing the same clothes until they fall apart or until my children steal them because the styles from the early part of this millennium have finally come back in vogue.


You see, I just don't worry too much about clothes. I have my favorite pair of shorts from the DI, my brother's pants that fit just right, a couple shirts that fit like a dream, and my beloved blue jacket that I picked up at a BYU lost and found sale. I watch styles float past my island of fashion disregard and I don't seem to mind. If my old clothes make me happy, why would I spend money on new ones? And if I did spend money on new clothes, what would I buy? Where would I buy it? What if I ended up hating my new wardrobe? The uncertainty of the entire endeavor is enough to discourage this fashion flop from even driving past a mall with thoughts of stopping.

My alternative to fashion and purchasing new clothing is simple: marriage. By marrying a style savvy woman, I have effectively evaded all malls and shopping trips, as well as the difficult decisions made in department stores. New clothing simply appears. Imagine that! Indeed, marrying Athena has brought previously unprecedented feng shui and renewed chi to my side of the closet. I declare in solemn solemnity that I have approximately two new items of clothing in my wardrobe-- a 200% increase over the last fiscal year. Yes, this whole marriage thing could change the entire face of the faded t-shirt section in the closet. It could mean I return my brother's sweaters so expertly pilfered after my mission. It could ring in a new era of style and suave debonair delight. It could mean my secret affinity for finding sweet old clothes at the DI is over. It could mean there will be more variety and style in the clothing I wear in the pictures on our blog. It could mean I lose my favorite belt that has served me since 8th grade or the t-shirt from my junior year of high school. Yes, this is serious business. While I know my old clothes won't last forever, I'm not sure what the future holds for my wardrobe. Perhaps I'll start wearing camouflage in order to sneak up on the styles before they sneak up on me. I've heard overalls never go out of style-- maybe therein lies my fashion future. The only thing I know is that my favorite pair of pants is starting to wear at the knee and Athena keeps suggesting we buy me some new clothes. Does that mean she wants me to go shopping with her? Do I make a go at it alone? The trepidation has me petrified. For now, I'll just keep wearing my faded clothes and hope overalls go on sale soon. The front pockets on those puppies would sure be nice for storing loose change and bear mace.
Ben

Tomorrow the World Will End

Today I'm going to put a plug in for this great book I've been reading lately: the Bible.

When I was a missionary, I had a problem. I didn't know exactly what I thought about the Bible. I mean, I believed it, I testified of it... but I think I only believed parts of it. Or better said, I believed the Book of Mormon more.

Why did I feel that way? In many countries of the world people have the Bible yet they still live in sin and unbelief. I saw it daily on my mission. Do you believe in the Bible? Yes. Will you marry your boyfriend then? No. But don't you know it says in the Bible that fornication is a sin? So what? Trust me, it happened more than once. And the poor Bible, I blamed it for all the disbelief I saw. I think I thought, "If this really is a book of God, how can it cause such confusion?"

Image courtesy of USAtoday.com

Speaking of which, did you know the world is going to end tomorrow? No seriously, look it up. People have quit their jobs, stopped paying the bills, and are out proclaiming in the streets. How do they know? Well, they applied a complicated math equation to the Bible, and voila! they found out the date of the end of the world is May 21, 2011.

So following my pattern, I should be frustrated and disappointed in the Bible today, right? Except that after Ben and I married, I expressed my doubts to him and he made a simple suggestion. Read it. Study it. Find out for yourself.

So since last year I've been reading. I began with the New Testament and am now into Deuteronomy of the Old Testament. And I'm loving it. Okay, I may have skimmed some of the chapters explaining animal sacrifice, but I can't believe how much I'm learning. After a lifetime of church activity I thought I knew the Bible, but I really didn't understand it at all. I'm beginning to believe it to the degree that I used to proclaim I did.

And if anyone else decides you want to read it too, don't do it alone. There are great supplemental materials to help with understanding and application. Jesus the Christ is a wonderful resource when reading the New Testament. And for the Old Testament I got the Student Manuals at the Church Distribution Center (the old testament is divided in two). I read it along with the scriptures every day and it helps me to get so much more out of my study.

So there's my religious soapbox for the day. Now excuse me while I go enjoy the last day of the world.