July!!!

We ended June and started July in Florida.  What?   Florida?  Yes that is right. Our grandson Corbin was baptized on the 24th and the mission president said that that was a good reason to be excused for a couple of weeks.   We didn't argue!!  It was a wonderful time spending time with the Beazers and playing with the grand-kids.  Iris and Elder Pete became best buds.

The baptism was beautiful.  Lots of friends from the ward were there supporting them along with the 2 sets of Grandparents from a long ways away.

There was a big wind/rain storm while we were there.  I don't think it was ever classified as a tornado, but it sure felt like one and the destruction made it look like one.

The kids love playing in the pool.  It amazes me how good they can take care of themselves in the water.  They had a couple of pool parties while we were there.  It helped the 95 degree weather be a little more tolerable.

And then we went underground and explored some caverns.  They loved the coolness and the excitement of all the beautiful shapes and features that had been created.

We ended the stay after a private fireworks extravaganza with some friends.

So ended a lovely visit with our beautiful family in Florida.

Once we got home it was pretty intense slipping back into what was needed here. Louise's cancer has continued to worsen and she entered the hospital unable to walk -- the day after we left.  So we joined with the team that was supporting her and giving her the love and attention that she needed while in the hospital.  When she entered the Dr. told them that she could have hours or days.  So they didn't expect her to still be here when we got back and they were taking turns staying the night with her.  I joined the team and have been spending every other night at the hospital.   Well, we have been back 2 1/2 weeks and she is still going strong.  Cancer has taken it's tole, and she will never go home.  But she is still chipper and spreading love to all those around her.

Sherbrooke has a great summer festival called "Fete de Lac" or festival of the lake.  They have a big lake in the center of town and a large park that surrounds it.  For 6 days they have this party in the park, and it ends every evening with fireworks. Yep, you heard that correct.  6 nights in a row with amazing fireworks.  It is a fun concept too...  they have a competition!!!  So companies and groups from all across Canada, and even the USA compete for the best show.  We heard 3 nights worth clear across town at our apartment, we attended the party one night and watched on the grass, we drove close by and watched the next night from the a neighborhood, and I watched it from the hospital the last night.    

 They had a carnival/arcade/midway that could rival Lagoon for some of the excitement.

 The biggest collection of blowup toys I have ever seen.

 I must say...  I have fallen in love with another food that is not good for me.  Fresh potato chips.  Made while you watch.  I hope that you can see in this pic.  He has a drill in his hand.  He attaches a potato to the drill and then pushes it through a slicer that cuts paper thin slices as he turns it with the drill.  So it is long curls of very thin slices.  OH MY    YUM.   After it is fried to a delectable crisp, they give you a paper sack full and send you off to the topping table....  every potato chip flavor you can imagine and then some.  I preferred mine with just plain ketchup.  Elder Pete doctored his up.  Have I said YUM yet!!

 and then of course the fireworks.  I could show you picture after picture, but it is just not the same without the music, people, booms, and awes!!!

We went to a farmer's roadside stand and look what we came home with!!!  it was such a gold mine.  And the strawberries were so sweet we were both sighing as we ate them!!

On that same trip we stopped at the surprise waterfall we blogged about a couple of months ago.  The water levels are really low now, but the fall was still beautiful.  We hiked to the bottom of it (which we couldn't do during high water)  and got a few better pics of it....  but it is so hidden in trees and cliffs, it is hard to show you the immensity of it.

 Remember we said that the falls split...  this is the south fork

 this is the north fork

another shot of the north fork

and this is the hill we had to climb down and up to see it from the bottom.  Elder Petersen was using his finest bushwhacking skills to get these shots.

I was going to wait until the last of the month to finish this post....  but it is getting WAY too long and we have things happening next weekend that will make it even longer....  So you get only until the 23rd of this month....  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA!!!   and we will give you more in a couple of weeks.

Have a great Utah holiday!! 

Elder and Seour Petersen