St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans

 After I got home from my super fun weekend in Vegas with Shelley, it was time to start celebrating St. Patrick’s day. It was also Dr. Seuss week at school so each day had a theme. We had crazy hair day and crazy sock day, crazy hat day and pajama day… I could not keep all the days straight and it’s a wonder we made it to school on time at all. On Thursday, we didn’t have MCO rehearsal so I took the kids to Disney. Once you make a reservation, you get penalized if you don’t cancel. I picked up the kids from school and we drove straight to Disney and when we got there, I realized that Ella wasn’t feeling well and she had a fever! I gave her some Advil and bundled her up and we stayed for just a couple hours. Ray and Jack ran around while I snuggled Ella and we grabbed some dinner at pizza planet. It was actually a really nice night. Parker stayed to hang out with friends. Liam is moving to St. George so he and his brother came over and Natalie and her friend came over. They each ditched Parker during the visit to go make out in the car. Parker was humiliated and felt terribly. Poor guy. What is with these teenagers??????

Tuesday I had a dentist appointment and Shannon took my kids home from school. It took me 2 hours to drive home in rush hour traffic but luckily I had a good book and some McNuggets to get me through. Wednesday I had Bookclub with my mom and Angel came too which was fun! Friday I went out with some school moms for Mexican food and good conversation. I was seriously gone for 5 hours which was way too long but it was fun. It’s nice to get together without kids sometimes and just talk!

Saturday, Jack had a soccer game and scored a goal! Way to go Jack! He played so well- best on the team! And I’m so proud of him! We worked in the yard and did a few house projects and Jon came over for a couple of hours in between Brody’s soccer games which was fun. That night, Tanner attended a gala and I know he’s wonderful when the heck he’s going to get a raise for the new position he’s in.

Sunday was chill and Parker said goodbye to his friend Liam at church. We snuggled and enjoyed a nice relaxing Sunday even though it was daylight savings and we felt like we were getting extra early. We played a game together as a family- trying to be better about weekly family game night.

The week before actual St. Patrick’s day was fun at school. I love how Mrs. Kliss goes all out for the holiday! But Ray had a hard week. On Monday, she got sent to the principals office for wrapping her arms around Jillian’s neck. The supervisor thought she was choking her. Then I got a rude note from her teacher (which was surprising because I NEVER hear from her). She totally misreads Rayleigh and clearly doesn’t like me. So I just ignored her. But it broke my heart and poor Ray has been having such a hard time being strong and going to school. I’m trying to give her things to look forward to. So on Tuesday, we went to Yogurtland after school and I let her stay home on Wednesday. I told her it was a mental health day and she couldn’t be on screens. So she reorganized her room and decorated her bed for St. Patrick’s day! She worked so hard and was so proud. It was so cute!

Wednesday we had our fun annual “Gold Hunt” at the park put on by Haley. I invited everyone I knew and brought four of the kids’ friends from school. Another mom brought her kids from school, too, and Amanda came all the way from Yucaipa! We’ve been in touch a little more recently because she’s going on the MCO tour, too. I was soooo glad to have other friends there because it’s still so awkward with Haley and April and especially Erika. That afternoon we got In n Out and I took Jack to soccer and it was a fun day!

Thursday, for a “thing to look forward to” for Ray, we went to my parent’s house after MCO. We all LOVE doing this. The kids are so chill at the end of a big day. They take showers and we eat some food and I love that chance to talk to my parents and catch up. They are so loving and supporting and encouraging. NOTHING beats being with them. It’s the best!!!

Friday was the Rondo school dance and it felt so good to cut loose! We survived the week and I was so proud of Rayleigh because I know it was NOT easy. We got all dressed up and headed to the community center and the dance was amazing! It was all decked out like a wedding reception with a taco guy, donut guy, cotton candy, Photo Booths, and balloon gal, and a DJ! All our friends were there and I danced the night away while the kids played. The vibes were vibing and it was a great night! Tanner met us there, too, which was awesome. I haven’t danced and danced like that in YEARS and it felt sooo good! We all slept so well that night.

But of course, the next morning we had to wake up early for Jack’s soccer game. We let the rest of the kids sleep and just Tanner and I went. It’s really a nice way to start the day, on the field in the sunshine. Their team lost again but Jack had fun and he truly is the best player! We then grabbed the girls and headed to the church for a stake primary Easter activity which was really cute but had a tiny turn out. I feel so badly for our stake! But the kids had fun. We did some chores and took my car to get serviced. I spent a couple hours writing my talk and then Tanner and I had an epic date!

Finally, I planned something that really got Tanner excited. We went to the Anaheim Packing District and got a few bites to eat before heading into our super secret, speak easy restaurant reservation. We felt so cool and it was really fun! We ordered mocktails that might have had alcohol? They were disgusting. We chatted and had a nice time. Tanner was impressed with my date idea so that was a win! While we were gone, the kids made a leprechaun trap.

Sunday was St. Patrick’s day and sadly, we didn’t catch a leprechaun. But he did send the kids on a treasure hunt and they had a fun morning. I got myself and the kids ready and headed to the church a little early (on time) for my talk. I loved writing this talk and truly enjoyed giving it. It was nice to get a few compliments and luckily Tanner made it on time despite him just waking up when I was leaving. Tanner taught Sunday School and I sat in on the Bishop’s lesson on chastity. Fun! We had corned beef and cabbage for dinner which had been in the crock pot for over 24 hours. It was delicious. We had rainbow jello and sherbet for dessert and watched the movie Wonka. We sat in the hot tub, played a funny game, and then watched another movie, Irish Wish, before reading and bedtime. It was a super nice day!

I love this time of year when everything is green, the weather gets warmer, and luck is in the air. I love our traditions and spending time together as a family. I am honestly expecting miracles as I try my hardest to do and teach correct principles to my children. I want Tanner to get a raise, Parker to be offered every possibility as he enter’s adulthood, want Ray to be strong and resilient while keeping her heart of gold, I want Jack to be a light to his friends and those around him, and I want Ella to be watched over and protected. But still, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world- and that’s the truth!

St. Patrick’s Day Talk 3-17-2014

Good morning brothers and sisters and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I’d like to start off with a little back story about my family and myself. My name is Chandra Peterson. My maiden name is Bullock so it’s like Sandra Bullock. For some reason this has been a challenge for people to get right. I was born April 30th, 1984 and for all you who aren’t a whiz at math, that’s almost 40 years ago. My 40th birthday is coming up next month and I cannot wait. Ever since I was a teenager, I have been looking forward to turning 40. In my young, naive mind, 40 was when you finally had life all figured out. You’re married, you’ve born all your children, you have a home and have established some roots…. When you’re 40, life is practically perfect and lined up. Right???? 

That’s what I’m hoping for when I turn 40 because up until now I’ve had basically nothing figured out and I’ve been flying by the seat of my pants. When I was 16, a man I really look up to was driving me home after a night of babysitting and I was complaining to him that I didn’t think I’d ever get married. There were NO boys worth dating and I was doomed to spinsterhood. He assured me that I would someday meet a good guy- just be patient and keep working towards my goals. I was married 3 years later when I was 19 years old. Tanner and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary on April 2nd. We were married in the San Diego temple and spent the first 3 years of our married life living in Las Vegas. I graduated from UNLV with a degree in Health Physics with an emphasis in Ultrasound. Our oldest child is Parker who is 16 and an awesome young man. Rayleigh came 6 years later and is the light of our lives. Jack shot down from heaven 18 months after Rayleigh and keeps us all laughing every day. And sweet little Ella is our caboose and the princess in our family. We moved to Eastvale almost 10 years ago which is crazy to think about. We had moved around a lot before settling in Eastvale- 10 times in 10 years and to 5 different states! But we love living in Southern California and we aren’t leaving anytime soon.

Because today is St Patrick’s Day, I’d like to give a brief history about this holiday. Did you know that St Patrick was actually a Christian missionary who originally came from England? Some accounts claim that he used the shamrock to visualize the trinity; or, in other words, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. A leprechaun is a mythical miniature man whose tales have been told in Irish oral stories for centuries. Irish folktales describe leprechauns as crotchety, solitary, but mischievous creatures. Leprechauns were said to be shoemakers who stockpiled their profits of gold in pots and hid them at the end of rainbows or scattered them around forests, mountains, or rocks. Initially, the creature was red, but in the 20th century, everything Irish was associated with the green color, including leprechauns. Some believe that leprechauns turned green to blend with grass and leaves as a form of camouflage. The tiny mystical man remains elusive to date, but children (and adults) may try and trap the sneaky fellow on the eve before St. Patrick’s Day. It’s lucky to catch a leprechaun because, legend has it, that he will grant you 3 wishes and share with you his pots of gold. I don’t know about you, but I could use all the luck I can get! We set out a trap every year, but that sneaky fellow always seems to get away.

As I’ve been thinking about this talk and thinking about St Patrick’s Day, I wanted to trace my family history back to Ireland. My Great Great Grandma, Anna Cassidy, was born in Ireland in 1848. Unfortunately, not much is known about her journey from Ireland to America. She died in Chicago in 1899. I do know that she married a man named James O’Neill and had 2 beautiful daughters named Daisy and Dolly. Daisy and Dolly were both fun and outgoing and musical. They would sing and dance together and were the life of the party. Daisy was my maternal grandfather’s mother and she passed away when my grandfather was 9 years old in 1925. My grandpa was raised by relatives in the Chicago area and attended the Catholic Church occasionally. Now, if any of you remember my last talk, I spoke about my maternal grandmother who’s first husband tragically died in a plane crash shortly after their first baby was born. She met my Mom’s father at the top of the Hotel Utah (now the Joseph Smith building) one romantic evening during WW2 while he was on leave with the airforce. Rena and Richard (or Bud as he was nick named) were set up on a date and fell in love at first sight. They danced the night away and each felt so lucky to have found the other. They were married on June 24th 1944. Because this was at the height of WW2, Bud’s responsibilities to fight for America did not cease and he was required to be stationed away from Rena almost immediately after their wedding. I’m sure my grandma felt relieved to have found and married such an outstanding man who lovingly accepted her son as his own and honestly and fully gave his heart to her. Bud was a man of true character and benevolence and deserved the grace, beauty, and heart of Rena, as well. 

But, disaster struck just 3 months later when a horrific accent occurred. He never told his children about it and it was only recently that I learned of this miraculous event. Here is the original news article written on September 21st, 1944. 

The headline reads: Lieutenant “Bud “Zeigler narrowly escapes death in Alaska.

“Word has been received in St. Charles of a harrowing experience, almost taking the life of Lieutenant Richard “Bud“ Ziegler, former assistant manager of the Hotel Baker, and now a member of the army Air Force stationed in Alaska.

About September 1st, lieutenant Ziegler, and five officers were snowbound in one of the treacherous passes in the mountain terrain near the arctic Circle. Due to Extreme cold weather and heavy snowstorms not expected this early in the fall, the group had little provisions and no arctic clothing, therefore suffering greatly from exposure. After 14 hours, a rescue party arrived and evacuation was started. BUT Almost halfway back to their base, the reconnaissance car in which lieutenant Ziegler was a passenger slid off the roadway, over the side of a mountain, rolling over 17 times and coming to rest on a ledge overlooking 1000 foot drop into a chasm of ice and snow. Army ambulances were summoned by other members of the rescue party and in 10 hours reached the scene of the accident to take the injured to the army hospital. Bud is now convalescing, and his Saint Charles friends are in hopes that he will soon be in perfect health and his fine self again.”

Well, he WAS his fine self again! He and my grandma raised my uncle and my mom in St Charles, IL where he managed the properties of the legendary Col. Edward J.Baker, including the historic Hotel Baker. He served as president of the Hospital Board of Trustees. And he built and operated his own hotel management company. He was known as a person who’s words never wounded. He was baptized a member of the Church when my mom was 5 years old and sealed to his wife and family on my parent’s wedding day. 

So, was it luck that saved him on that icy cliff? The good, old luck of the Irish? Or perhaps a miracle? What makes something “lucky” and what makes it a miracle? I believe it is God’s hand. We see miracles all over in the scriptures. 

God parting the Red Sea for Moses

God pouring down manna from Heaven to feed Moses people after they fled from Egypt.

Joseph Smith’s first vision and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, life to the dead.

Do we too often succumb to that false belief that we aren’t lucky? That we’ve never experienced the kind of miracles we read about in the scriptures? Or that other people seem to have all the luck even though we desperately want it too? 

Sister Reynolds who was 1st counselor in the general primary taught in April 2001, 

‘Just as important as these “mighty miracles” are the smaller “private miracles” that teach each of us to have faith in the Lord. These come as we recognize and heed the promptings of the Spirit in our lives.

I am grateful for a teacher who encouraged his students to keep a journal of the whisperings or promptings of the Spirit in their lives. He directed us to note what we felt and what resulted. Little things became evident. 

One day I was frantically trying to complete some assignments and prepare for a trip. I had just been down to the laundry area of the dorm to move my clothes from the washer to the dryer. Unfortunately, all the dryers were in use, and they all had many minutes to go. I went back upstairs discouraged, knowing by the time those dryers finished, I had to be on the road. I had barely returned to my room when I felt prompted to go back downstairs and check the laundry again. Foolishness, I thought—I had just been there, and I didn’t have time. But because I was trying to listen, I went. Two of the dryers were empty—and I was able to meet all my commitments. 

Could the Lord possibly have been concerned about smoothing my way in such a small but, to me, important matter? I have learned since through many such experiences that the Lord will help us in every aspect of our lives when we are trying to serve Him and do His will.

I believe that all of us can bear witness to these small miracles. We know children who pray for help to find a lost item and find it. We know of young people who gather the courage to stand as a witness of God and feel His sustaining hand. We know friends who pay their tithing with the last of their money and then, through a miracle, find themselves able to pay their tuition or their rent or somehow obtain food for their family. We can share experiences of prayers answered and priesthood blessings that gave courage, brought comfort, or restored health. These daily miracles acquaint us with the hand of the Lord in our lives.’

Years ago when I was struggling to get my children dressed and out the door to be on time to church, I was anxiously praying that we would make it on time for the sacrament. That day, I felt especially dependent on renewing those sacred covenants. But it seemed like no matter how hard I tried, we were going to be late. As we were all buckled up and strapped in, we pulled out of the drive way and I continued to pray we would make it in time. We hit every green light and when we arrived, a baby blessing had just ended and the sacrament hymn was being played. This was a miracle to me. God heard my heartfelt plea and in that moment, I knew He loved me.

There will always be miracles as long as there are people of faith. President Russell M. Nelson has taught that we should “seek and expect miracles.” “The Lord will bless you with miracles if you believe in Him, ‘doubting nothing’. Do the spiritual work to seek miracles. Prayerfully ask God to help you exercise that kind of faith.”

Miracles are around us every day. Elder Ronald A. Rasband explained: “Many of you have witnessed miracles, more than you realize. They may seem small in comparison to Jesus raising the dead. But the magnitude does not distinguish a miracle, only that it came from God.”

One of the most important things we can do is record these tender mercies from the Lord. 

So, my challenge to you today is to take a few moments every day, or maybe once a week, to write down your experiences in witnessing the Lord’s hand in your life. I have a testimony that He IS in the details of the details of the details of our lives. He Lives. He loves each and every one of us. And His arm is outstretched still. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.