Sunday, October 11, 2015
ChristiAnne and Scott
ChristiAnne and Scott started seeing each other a little before our family trip to ski in Colorado for Christmas. They were officially "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" in April of 2015 before ChristiAnne came out to Texas for a month. ChristiAnne met Scott's parents this weekend and fell in love with his fun and enthusiastic mother. Sister Sonne took these pictures of them in Provo Canyon.
Six flags over Texas
Lara took the day off work as did Isaac and took Diana and Tennessee to Six Flaggs for their reading rewards.
Summer in Utah 2015
We spent the month of August and the last part of July 2015 in Utah while our home was painted and carpeted.
Joseph Jay Peterson
Joseph Jay Peterson was born at 3:40am on September 22, 2015. He weighed 11 pounds and 4 ounces and was 23 inches long. He is a snuggly sweet perfect little baby.
At two weeks old he is finally back to his birth weight but we lost some of that amazing chubbasaurusness.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Psychiatric patients in Africa, by Dad
Monday , July 6th had to be one of the wildest experiences of my life. I hopped in the back of a local police truck,(if you could call it that) with 7 police officers and went searching for psychotic individuals that are roaming the streets of Juba not connected with society and not able to take care of themselves. Driving in the back of the truck was about as close as you get to a real live video game. I am not quite sure I have ever felt that nervous. The further and further we got away from town, I was beginning to wonder if they had already had their first patient – ME. We finally identified our first individual. He was walking around the marketplace on the outskirts of town completely naked. Not one piece of clothing. He had horrible open sores all over his body with flies covering each of them. I seriously could not believe my eyes. It took the police a little while to convince him to get into the back of the truck. It had to be 100 degrees outside, I know I have the sunburn to show it. The police officers themselves were hesitant to touch him and it took some coaxing/yelling form the senior officers to the junior officers to lift him into the back of the truck. I was searching for something he could sit down on but there was nothing. He would not sit down, which I would not blame him as the metal truck bed had to be burning. They forced him to sit down naked on the back of the bed. He had to burn his rear end. I road in the back of the truck with him. We ended up picking up 4 others. None of which had family to take care of them, nowhere to live, no one to love them or miss them. I seriously never believed this existed in the 21st century, but unfortunately it does. It was comforting to see what GEMS and Dr. Atong are doing for them. They give them a bath, a haircut, new clothes or clothes period, a hot meal, and a shot that will last for a month.
Working with Polio Survivors
While working with the Polio Survivors I walked across the street to talk to two young women walking into town. I had an interpreter with me. I asked where are you headed? They answered we are headed into town to but some food. I asked how long have you been walking, they answered about 4 hours. Each of them were carrying a child which honestly they wrap them up so well I could not tell. I often wonder how hot the children get with the sun beating down on them wrapped up they way they are, but then I had to assume those mothers know best. I also realized what a blessing it would be for that child to hear the constant beating of their mothers heart. What a bonding experience, unfortunately in our sophisticated fast pace life we end up giving up so much without realizing it. Anyways, they had not eaten in over a day and were carrying $1.50US of items on their heads to buy some food in the market place. They had both knelt down prior to leaving that morning and prayed to God that He would provide. I gave them each $10US which should feed both of their families for 2 weeks. They could not believe it and thanked me and praised God over and over. They said I was answer to the prayer. I can only imagine there are hundreds and thousands of mothers in that same position all over South Sudan.
Attached is their picture.
The Women of Northern Bahr al Ghazal
I believe the most moving and touching experience of the trip was hearing of the day to day decisions that many of the women living in NBG have to make. Decisions that we would not even consider or could even imagine a mother would have to be placed in. When one has to go to sleep at night or should I say try to go to sleep because of the lack of food and water, it puts a whole knew meaning to sleep apnea. In the US we have difficulty sleeping because we have indigestion from eating too much too late in the evening. We can’t sleep because our minds are trying to solve the problems of the overstimulated lives we live. How would you like to go to sleep at night and not be able to sleep because your mind is trying to figure out where you might find food or water tomorrow? Or even worse, do you take your newly born child 2 days into the nearest town to get medical attention or leave your 2 year-old sick child, not know if they will be alive or not when you return.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Father's Day/Dad's birthday
I We celebrated Father's Day and Dad's Birthday on the same day this year because dad will be in Africa next week on his birthday.
He requested chicken and dumplings for dinner and we all gathered round to celebrate with him. Even ChristiAnne FaceTimed in to join the celebration.
Dad opened all his presents. There were two yellow ties, a white Eddie Bauer tee shirt, and a white Nike golf hat. These are the regular presents he gets every year for Father's Day, his birthday and Christmas. We also got him a mosquito net, a three pronged power converter, sunscreen, beef jerky, power bars, and a money fanny pack with RFID so nobody can steal his identity while he is traveling next week. We ate cheesecake and sang a terribly harmonic rendition of Happy Birthdsy, as is the Peterson family rendition.
6/27/2015
Hi Lara,
I have arrived in Juba. Thank you so much for the email. I have tears pouring down my face. Thanks for the encouragement. This place is far more 3rd world than I had imagined. It is going to be hard physically, spiritually, and emotionally. It is definitely not a joy ride, and I am not sure at this point if I would bring my family. I sure love you! Always, Dad
On 6/27/15, 11:10 AM, "Lara Peterson" <laralarisse.petey@gmail.com> wrote:
>Happy Birthday Daddy!!
>
>I can't believe how fast time has flown. Only yesterday it seems like we were wrestling around in the family room with your green blanket. Or building car tunnels in the sand box, or building a "tree house" in our back yard. I love you so much Dad, and it's only appropriate that Father's Day is a week before your birthday because you have always been the most wonderful kind and caring father there is. Although at times my struggles and hardships might have made you feel under-qualified for the task at hand, you always tried your hardest to figure it out.
>
>You are an inspiration to me Dad. You are a great example of someone who pushes forward with faith, not knowing beforehand what he should do. I've always watched in awe as you over come the impossible time and time again. You've taught me hat anything is possible, so long as you have faith. I've been able to realize and recognize my father in heaven because of my father here on earth. You showed me what a great father is, and therefore I was able to understand who my Heavenly Father is.
>
>You're going to do great things in Africa. It's going to be hard both physically and emotionally, but you'll be doing the Lords work. If you can get through your mission, Africa will be a breeze. I love you Dad and I Know that Heavenly Father will take care of you.
>
>I love you dad,
>
>Love Lara
I have arrived in Juba. Thank you so much for the email. I have tears pouring down my face. Thanks for the encouragement. This place is far more 3rd world than I had imagined. It is going to be hard physically, spiritually, and emotionally. It is definitely not a joy ride, and I am not sure at this point if I would bring my family. I sure love you! Always, Dad
On 6/27/15, 11:10 AM, "Lara Peterson" <laralarisse.petey@gmail.com> wrote:
>Happy Birthday Daddy!!
>
>I can't believe how fast time has flown. Only yesterday it seems like we were wrestling around in the family room with your green blanket. Or building car tunnels in the sand box, or building a "tree house" in our back yard. I love you so much Dad, and it's only appropriate that Father's Day is a week before your birthday because you have always been the most wonderful kind and caring father there is. Although at times my struggles and hardships might have made you feel under-qualified for the task at hand, you always tried your hardest to figure it out.
>
>You are an inspiration to me Dad. You are a great example of someone who pushes forward with faith, not knowing beforehand what he should do. I've always watched in awe as you over come the impossible time and time again. You've taught me hat anything is possible, so long as you have faith. I've been able to realize and recognize my father in heaven because of my father here on earth. You showed me what a great father is, and therefore I was able to understand who my Heavenly Father is.
>
>You're going to do great things in Africa. It's going to be hard both physically and emotionally, but you'll be doing the Lords work. If you can get through your mission, Africa will be a breeze. I love you Dad and I Know that Heavenly Father will take care of you.
>
>I love you dad,
>
>Love Lara
The Flower Mound CAC
Grandma and grandpa Robbins bought us all a membership to the CAC in Flower Mound Texas. We have used it every day. We love to sit under the big sixty gallon bucket and get pummeled by the water.
Isaac works there and we have so much fun stalking him in the most respectful manner possible. He is super attentive and mom can't be more pleased with what a hard worker he is. It was fun to catch him giving Jeffrey a little grin out of the corner of his eye as Jeffrey splashed and played in the water feature.
Mom's 43rd birthday.
I got to start my birthday early on Sunday night because everyone was home. They serenaded me to Happy Birthday in the very harmonic but slightly crazy Peterson way. We had cheesecake and cards, that always make me cry, and wonderful presents. I got the cutest pair of earrings and a matching necklace that I love so much. Diana got me a mock wedding ring since I can't wear my original one due to swelling. Everyone got me the cutest black nightgown that is so so comfortable. Dad let me buy a real diamond ring that will fit until the end of the pregnancy. (It was on sale for $50 at Walmart)
We went to the Nail Spa with Lara and Tennessee and Rachel to get manicures and pedicures. Rachel and Tennessee got manis. Lara and I got pedicures. I got my eyebrows waxed. It was amazing. The water was so warm and relaxing and the chairs that rubbed our backs were so amazing. I didn't want to get up.
Friday, June 12, 2015
Tyler Weisse comes to visit Lara
Apparently Lara and Tyler have had crushes on each other since they were 14. Tyler called Lara the day he got home from his mission in Brazil. They Snapchatted, sent text messages, talked in the phone, and FaceTimed until late into the night for two months and then Tyler decided to come visit our family for a four day weekend.
Lara was nervous but soon after Tyler arrived everyone was treating him like one of the family. Jeffrey loved him and sat by him at church and played with him all weekend long. Tyler never got tired of the attention from all eleven of us.
Dad and Codi and Isaac and Jonathan and Tyler had a rousing game of hacks sac dodge ball running throughout the house. Tyler let mom win her first game of Pirates Dice, and we had an amazing day at the watermark together.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
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