Taylor and her new specs

So with school starting August 24th, I am registering Taylor and Fenix for school of course last minute. I realize Taylor needs to get three shots before we can get her schedule. Sooooo, we get a quick doctors appointment, when we go in they check weight, height, blood pressure and then ask Taylor if she has had a eye test lately. She says yah....Luckily they check anyway and wow she cannot see!!! (I have asked her a million times if she can see the board okay, and the answer is yes everytime) So Taylor now wears glasses....She picked out a trendy pair and looks super cute in them.....

Our family is expanding!!!

So you're thinking we are having another baby...Sorry to dissapoint but we found ourselves a puppy! We found him on Craigslist of all places, his owners could no longer keep him because they were moving. He is 4 years old and his name is Rufus, we call him Rufie and he is a pure bread boxer. Fenix loves animals and has such a special little bff bond with Rufie. He's such a great dog and we were so lucky to find him.

Temporarily Bidding Farewell

On July 6th, 2009 our family celebrated the life of E. Taylor Petersen. Grandma did an awesome job preparing for Pa Ta's services and everything was wonderful, I know he is so proud in heaven. The service at the church was very emotional for everyone and then we proceeded to his grave dedication in Springdale, Utah. Since Pa Ta was retired Air Force, the Americam Legion provided a 21 gun salute in honor of his military service. They then folded the United States flag that draped his coffin and presented it to grandma Norma Petersen. Matthew Walden played Taps as the American legion prepared for the 21 gun salute. It was a beautiful and well deserved service.

IN HONOR OF A SPIRITUAL GIANT

On July 3oth, 2009 E. Taylor Petersen peacefully passed away. We all were able to prepare for his passing so we did get to say goodbye and give him air hugs, as Taylor (Harris) called them. However, it still was not easy to say our final goodbye's at his memorial service and gravesite dedication service.

Grandpa Petersen or Pa Ta, as the grandchildren and great grandchildren called him, led an accomplished life. He was a convert to the church and dedicated his life to living the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served and retired in the United States Air Force, then he went on to becomming an institute director, retiring again and then serving an LDS mission with his wife Norma in Hawaii. He was a great father to five beatiful children, and a loving grandfather to 14 grandchildren and 16 great grand children.



Brett was the first grandson and has many wonderful memories with his pa ta. Brett speaks of a time when he was in high school, he took a trip with pa ta to Helper. Pa ta told stories of when he worked in the coal mine, and about his dad getting black lung from working in the coal mine. There was coal in the hills that was on fire underground, the heat would escape thru cracks in the ground and the deer would bed on the cracks to stay warm in the winter. He also had great memories, of stories of Ivan Triphones the scarey man of Helper Utah. Brett also recalls the great support pa ta and grandma gave him on his mission and as he served in Iraq. Brett is proud to have served in the military during wartime, as his grandfather Harris, grandpa Petersen and dad have.



Last Thanksgiving when we visited with grandma and grandpa Petersen, I had a lovely conversation with grandpa. One I will remember always. He mentioned to me that he had lived in Helper, which I then answered that my mom grew up in Helper as well. I had never been there so I had no idea how big or small the town was. He mentioned that Helper was very small and asked the names of my grandparents. I explained that my grandfather had passed away when my mom was very young due to a heart attack in the mines and my grandma was killed when I was very young by a drunk driver. I gave him their names and he immediately knew who they were. I never knew anything about my mothers family and he was able to tell me a little bit about them. This was so neat for me to hear and I left that day feeling closer to grandpa because he was able to tell me things, I never knew.

We will all miss our Pa ta so much, however it's such a comfort knowing he is with his mom and dad and little sister, in heaven. He's no longer in pain and depending on his family to care for him. The gospel is so wonderful because it gives us this strength to keep going, to continue living our lives to follow the great example of the legacy that our beloved Pa ta left behind.

We love you Pa Ta and we will miss you.

In loving memory of a loving husband, father, grandparent, friend and true Latter Day Saint.

As I sit here by the ocean,

My thoughts are of my loved ones, so very far away.

My heart is filled with deep emotion,

I feel moved apon to pray.



May God bless them in my absense,

And protect them each passing day.

Until they are once again in my presence,

Of these things I do pray.



May life's trials and tribulations

Always continue to pass them by.

That only love, honor and adoration

Will be given to God on high.



Let them know how I love them,

More than anything I know.

Not showing my love is the problem,

When in their presence I go.



Time goes by, however, so slowly,

And soon I shall be with them again.

May I return to them kindly

Master of all that I am.



That this life may be one of happiness,

And joy as life can be.

That we may rise together, as

A close eternal family.



(Poem was dedicated from Taylor Petersen to his loving wife, Norma and Teri Lyn, Linda, Michelle, Mark and Pamela)