Sorry for All the Posts...

Ok, so I haven't posted very much over the past month. There has been a lot going on. So I am apologizing now. I'M SORRY!

There are quite a few posts after this one. I hope you enjoy them, I still have one from this past weekend. However, I have to go fishing and take pictures tonight, I will have to post the remaining later.

In Memory of Connor Shawn Peterson...

I love this picture...Connor felt comfort in the arms of his father.

Daddy's Hands

Connor Shawn Peterson passed away peacefully Sunday, April 25th, 2010 at the age of 4 yrs old.

This last week was filled with the Spirit. I was down in Parowan, UT at a dance competition with Ember and family. I had a prompting from the Spirit that we needed to leave right after the competition so I could be home by Sunday morning for my meetings. All Saturday I just thought about Connor, what he meant to me, the blessing that this little boy gave me and what I saw through his eyes. I thought about Mindy and Shawn, how our ward has come together in their time of need and witnessed the works of the Lord.

Sunday morning came and my alarm went off, instead of turning it off and snuggling with Donovan and just had a strong impression that I needed to get up right then and get ready. Here it was a little after 8am and I was almost completely ready for my 9am meeting. First, I am never ready until about 5 minutes before the meeting and here it is now 8:30am and I am ready and willing to head out the door. Right when I was all finished getting ready I received a phone call. One that I had been ready for and then again not. Jeri was on the other line telling me that Connor had passed away earlier that morning and she was about to go over and see Shawn and Mindy. I mentioned that I was ready and would love to come if I could. She said that she would be right over.

This visit with the Peterson's I will never forget, it truly was amazing. The Spirit was so strong. I have never felt the Spirit like I did that morning. Connor was snuggled peacefully in his mother arms, he looked just like an Angel. So beautiful. Jeri and I visited with Mindy while the family was gathering around. After we left is when emotions started pouring in. This was a sad day, then again, what an amazing experience, what an awesome knowledge of the gospel and that they will be a family again. That now Connor has his seat right next to the Lord, that he is perfect once again! I love this gospel and the sacrifice the Lord and our Brother Jesus Christ gave for us as he died on the cross only to be resurrected and live again.

Wednesday was Connors funeral. It was beautiful. The weather wasn't cooperating very well all morning. However, the viewing was perfect and a lot of people attended. I am so proud of Ember, I pulled her out of school and she ran the nursery. At times there where tons of kids and others it was just her and one other. The kids loved it and so did she. She was a great help for the Peterson's on a day they needed her. The funeral was Spirit filled and just a great way to learn more about Connors life and the amazing family he was sent to live with here on Earth. After the funeral they put Connor into the back of a Firetruck and drove off. I bet Connor was giggling up in Heaven when he saw where is Dad was placing him for the trip over to the cemetery! I had prayed all day along...and I know others did to, that the rain and snow would clear up so they could lay little Connor to rest. The rain and snow did let up and Mindy said that it was a happy time. That they remembered Connor. Raygan released a dove and said it was a beautiful time for their family. After the cemetery they came back for the luncheon and sat, talked and enjoyed the time with their family. It was a beautiful day filled with the spirit.

This little boy was amazing. The Spirit that I felt ever time I was around him was just out of this world. I am truly blessed to have known him, he has shown me so many things with out saying a word. I love this little Spirit, he will be missed. It was great to have the opportunity to take some pitures of him (it was cold), and he did so well. I am truly blessed to have the Peterson's in my life and for the many wonderful things I have learned from them. They are truly giving people that think of others in their time of need. They are loved.

Connor you will be missed, but I know you are enjoying your life with your Heavenly Father.

Competition Down in Parowan, UT...

I loved this picture and had to throw it in. Ashlynn took the picture only to say "Daddy I couldn't see your head!"

Our annual trip down south for one of Ember's dance recitals. This one was no different, Ember and I were dropped off at the school for the competition and the girls and daddy went off and did there own thing. This year the competition was down in Parowan. I old Donovan that there were some really cool petroglyphs just outside the city. This is what Donovan had to say "No, I think they will be a waste of time heading over there." Well, after dropping off Ember and I he called a good buddie of his Jon and told him where we were. This was Jon on the other end of the phone "Dude, there are some really cool petroglyphs just outside of town." LOL, I just think it funny that I knew what I was talking about. I told Donovan I wouldn't send him some place that wasn't cool. Anyway, here are the pictures from their trip to the petroglyphs and the Parowan Gap.

Ember did really good at her competition, however, there is some improvement that needs to be done. I think they should have spaced the competitions a little more in order for practices that are needed. Oh well.

Shooting in the Desert Near the Town of Vernon...

Donovan REALLY wanted to get out and shoot guns this weekend along with a little fishing. Here are some pictures of our little outting. Ember did amazing! She actually shot the bullseye! She is a great shot, she takes after her Mom.

Vernon Reservoir...

Ember posing on a rock!

The girlies trying to help their Daddy.

Kenzie looking so cute!

I love the view! How gorgeous!

We decided Spring Break weekend since Ember didn't have dance practice that we would take advantage of one of the few beautiful spring days outside. We are so happy we did. We headed out to Vernon, UT, a place in the middle of nowhere. We found this really cute reservoir, fishing for Daddy and wadding in the water for the girls. It was a lot of fun and the weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. After the lake Donovan wanted to shoot, so we took off into the desert.

The Things Ashlynn Thinks are Cute...

All I have to say is that I was so happy to see it was a washable marker and not one of my permanent ones! She is such a silly little girl!

Relief Society Birthday Party...

My centerpiece...with the help of Jeri's tree limbs, and lovely blue camping kettle!

This was one of my favorite Relief Society get togethers! We had a Birthday Party celebrating the early sisters of the church and the forming of the Relief Society. My birthday is in August, so Jeri and I came up with the idea of a 'camping' theme. It was great, I pulled out all my favorite camping things and some of Donovans in order to get the perfect centerpeice. It turned out so very cute!

Jami did such an amazing job! I thought that it was such a great idea about each sister telling how they got their name. It was interesting to see how many didn't have middle names. There were funny stories and it was just a great way to remember the new faces with the meanings behind their names.

Just a little thing about me that I shared was: how I got my name...ok, so ultrasound machines were not the best 31 years ago. So after the ultrasound my moms doctor said that I was going to be a boy. The heartbeat and how she was carrying showed everything boy. Well, even in delivery the doctor was still saying she would be having a boy. So my mom and dad decided to name me Joshua Slade...well the Lord had other plans for my parents. I came out ME! So, right then and their they had to change my name...and THAT IS HOW I BECAME JENNIFER LEIGH!

Embers' Italy 6th Grade World's Fair Project...

Here is the display that Ember and 2 other classmates did on Italy for the 6th grade World's Fair.

Ember and Meridith in front of their display.

Ember loving her display, she was so excited to use Her Daddy's salami!

Some kids weren't to sure of the salami tasting.

I am so proud of Ember, she REALLY worked hard on this project. She had to have everything done at certain times through out the month of April. Then as a the final draft and display board came about the teacher wanted the parents to type it for their kids (for a service). Her service for me was babysitting her younger sisters. Then after the draft she had to meet with her group and make up the display board. They did an amazing job incorporating Italy's flag colors as the backdrop. They did a great job! I am very proud of Ember and how much she has grown!