Peterson People

Well, life has been quite busy. Tis’ the season as they say. Working a few nights during the week has proved so much better for our family, but I suddenly feel busier. I worked last night and the kids went to school, they had a good day, picked them up at 1 so they could take naps at home. I am so grateful for their health right now. When everyone has been sick it really makes you appreciate wellness.

Mesha had an orchestra concert tonight, we are so proud of her. She is fourth chair in the symphonic orchestra of twelve in her section. The concert was nice, my friend down the street watched the kids so we could actually sit and listen, wow, what a novel idea. It’s such a privilege to do things like that, normally I am wrestling Emerie and Owen, their tippy cups, the stroller, and a bag of animal crackers in the very back trying hard to hear and watch. It was really nice tonight, thanks Carissa.

On the way to the concert I noticed how nice the house looked. Stephan put lights on the roof, Mesha and I decorated the bushes and the porch. This is our third Christmas in this home, but the first with Christmas lights. It has been my “dream” to get the lights up on our home, and tonight I felt so happy to see them. I guess it may sound cheesy but Christmas lights epitomize all things special about family and the holidays. It was a very nostalgic moment for me, remembering thoughts and feelings about Christmas time, Dad decorating our home with lights. I suddenly feel all grown up. My parents are thinking: it’s about time:) So i’ve included some blurry pics of our lights.

And the Bobby Hill thing. I just love him, but I am starting to loose that loving feeling. You see sometimes I have a husky voice, I would describe it as lower, raspy, sexy voice, but my husband has found an opportunity to make fun of me. After the orchestra concert we were trying to decide who was going to pick up the kids and who was taking Mesha for a carmel sundae, below is our conversation:

• Stephan: Do you want to get the kids?
• Me: Yes I have to give something to Carissa.
• Mesha: Ahhhh, mom I want to go in the car with you.
• Me: (using sexy, raspy, lower voice naturally without trying) No, Dad is going to take you for ice cream, you guys meet me at her house.
• Stephan: Come on Mesh, Bobby Hill has spoken.

It’s not funny after the first time Stephan. I think it’s more Demi More than Bobby Hill.

I think I may need to balance my blog a bit. Sometimes when I write I get a little deep, and now I am feeling the need for some comic relief. So, having said that, remember that old Saturday night live segment, “Deep Thoughts?” Well I am going to start another reoccouring blog post called, “Deep Thoughts”, by Ro Landy.

Here goes:

Sometimes, when I walk into a public place like the doctor’s office or grocery store, and I feel like people are starring at me…I pass gas really loud and then blame it on my imaginary dog “stinky”. I point at him and scold him for not saying excuse me, then we both laugh so hard we pee our pants. Not stinky though, because he doesn’t wear any pants, he’s a dog.

What a sweet, sweet, world, MU is now hopefully number one and played a hec of a game. Amazing crowd, great ball. And we didn’t even freeze our tails off. MU fans are so much fun and the KU folks packed up and went home before the end of the game as you can see from the pictures. We saw a few fights, one guy went so far as to yell obscenities at the KU team and then proceed to start a verbal war of words with some innocent little gal wearing KU colors a few rows from him. Otherwise, the game was awesome and we had a good time tailgating and rooting for Ryan and the other MU players. I guess it’s on to San Antonio to kick some Sooner tail, see ya in Texas boys!

A few of the posters I remember:

1. Mangino ate my other poster.
2. MU defeat the dark side ( with a picture of Jabba the Hut)
3. Thursday roast turkey for diner, Friday cold turkey for dinner, Saturday.., fried Jayhawk!!

We have this amazing tree in our backyard. In the fall it turns an amazing shade of burnt orange and crimson and I was able to capture some beautiful pictures of Emerie Grace by it. I love the fall, this particular day it was like 70 degrees and our last official nice day of the year. From here on out it will be cold, cold, cold. This tree and these pictures remind me of the poem by Robert Frost, “Nothing gold can stay”, a rather sad take on life I guess but it reminds me to remember and cherish these days, when my children are young and full of life and energy.

Nothing Gold Can Stay- Robert Frost

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

It has been too long since we spent much time with my mother’s family. So we packed up and headed to Bethany for Thanksgiving day. We got to see Leo and Sharol and their two sons, my cousins, Ryan and Brad, my uncle Galen and his wife Elizabeth and their two sons Sam and Jacob. Sharol’s family was also there so we had a huge feast and good times. We had a little bit of snow which was nice, but it was freezing up there. We are looking forward to going to the KU vs. MU border showdown with them on Saturday. My cousin Ryan is starting left guard for the Tigers which makes it all the more exciting, GO MU!!!!! AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

More than words can write, tonight I am grateful. When looking out life’s window I see many things to learn from. At work I see people who are hurting and need someone to care, at home I see a loving family that I wouldn’t want to live without, in the world I laugh and cry and make mistakes, but in the end I am…grateful.

Here is my top five for this year at Thanksgiving:

1. My God
2. My Family
3. My life experiences
4. My mistakes/achievemnets
5. My future

Does number one sound boring to you? He is the beginning and the end, my reason for waking in the morning, my best friend. I think that sums up my relationship with Him. I need God, yes He is my crutch, my wheelchair, my walker, my cane, etc. I don’t consider it a weakness to need God, unless you would consider it a weakness to need water, air, food, etc. I think we are, in fact, created for relationship with Him.

My Family, they give me strength, passion, and joy. I love to be with them, they are my favorite people in the world. This includes immediate and extended, and those friends that are like family. These people challenge me and motivate me. A couple people I really miss right now…Julie, Nina, Kim(sis), Jeff and Joanna, the list goes on. If you are a friend just know that I am thankful for you. My daughters bring me laughter and fun, I can’t wait for them to become women so we can bake together, have coffee, and visit, go shopping and talk about men. I want to leave a legacy for them. My son is my little heartbeat. I look at him and my heart jumps. My husband, although we have only known each other for 6 years, I remember thinking of him when I was a girl, daydreaming about my future husband. He is fun and funny, he is strong and soft, he is my true friend and partner in this life. I know we were meant to be together.

My life experiences have enabled me to be able to relate to many different kinds of people, and for that I am truly thankful. I have taken many pearls from life that I hope to use as I continue the journey.

Mistakes only define us if we let them, otherwise they change us and make us stronger. I am in the process of becoming stronger everyday. My mistakes have only served as stepping stones to better places. I hope that I am learning everyday to continue to learn from my mistakes and keep achieving more than I ever dreamed of.

My future. That is in God’s hands, a beautiful place to be.