Reunion Day 2 at the Homestead

The morning started with Nelson Sandberg/Denver Acey sharing a few thoughts about his book that he just had published.

Next Michael Sandberg shared what he has been working on with his new job at the church.  It's a pamphlet called "My Family Stories That Bring Us Together".  Basically, they are moving to a more family story focus then the pie charts and diagrams of Genealogy Family History.

This way people can feel the spirit while retelling their own stories.

Michael even had photo's for people to paste in their own books.

It rained just a bit but the venue was perfect.  I could watch my kids play in the bounce house, sand pit or just run around yet I could sit and relax.

We had fancy Canadian candy and chips

People went swimming in the hotel pool.  You could even do swimming in the hot pool in the crater.

The originals chatted and the night ended with Greg's famous grilled chicken. 

Bowling at BYU

The family stopped at the Cougar Eat and dined, then headed down for bowling.  Such a fun activity!

 This could just be me, but Sam was the bell of the ball, due to his cuteness. I didn't hold him pretty much the whole reunion. 

 Thanks to cousin Greg, I saw this cuteness. 

The evening ended with BYU brownies and ice cream at the park. 

Provo/Homestead Reunion, August 8-Day 1

The reunion started with a trip to the Provo Temple at noon.  I, the author, might have missed this but rumor has it a good time was had by all.  There was also youth baptisms for the youth!

 Next, we had a guided tour through the MOA.  It was mostly for the kids.  They decorated baskets and the adults talked...not a bad situation if you ask me.

There was a beautiful quilt display in the basement.  My personal favorite was the costumes from movies display.  It was shocking to see how tiny Hollywood women are.

Just saying...

Happy, 77th Wedding Anniversary, Ivar and Mildred!

Wedding Day!

Submitted by Charlotte Bluemlein
 

How Big is Your Jesus? by Ella Petersson

This is a article that my Aunt Ella Charlotta Sandberg Peterson wrote in 1973 for a Swedish Christian magazine.   I've always been kind of interested in her because our names were so similar and now because we both have such a strong belief in Christ.

Ella Charlotta Sandberg Peterson is on the far right. This is the Carl and Klara's family (except for Ivar and Sven, who were in the US).-brought to you by Charlotte Bluemlein

HOW BIG IS YOUR JESUS?

by

Ella Petersson

(Written in Swedish and translated by Sven Sandberg)

In our little chapel we have a large painting on the wall back of the altar. It is the well-known scene of Jesus knocking at the door. Painted in soft mellow colors the picture gives an impression of goodness, love and peace. I never tire of looking at it. I have a feeling that it talks to me. If I am afraid or uneasy about something, I hear the words: "Be of good cheer and fear not for I am with you." When I come tired and discouraged to the service my eyes seek Jesus's, and I seem to hear him say: "Come to me all you that are tired and heavy laden, and I will give you peace."   When I come happy and with a song in my heart, I hear: "Rejoice, again I say, rejoice in the Lord."

One Saturday evening my little grandson, three years old, was with me when I went to the chapel to decorate the altar with flowers. When he entered and saw the painting he stood there by the door awhile still and quiet and just looked. Then he asked me many, many questions about the picture and all the details, and I tried to explain it all as simply as I could. We then talked for a while about Jesus like we had done many times before.

The next time he came with me he hopped and skipped up to the altar as fast as he could, stretched up his little hand and happily shouted: "Hi! Jesus." How would you have reacted? I got just a little bit shook up for it then to me seemed almost sacrilegious, so I said: "Honey, I really don't think you should greet Jesus in that manner." He then asked how he should do it and I couldn't think of an answer. To his second, "How Grandma?" I lamely replied that he could say, "Good day, Jesus."

When we came to the chapel a week later he slowly walked up to the altar; bowed deeply" and said: "Good day, Jesus." He showed no happiness over seeing Jesus again like he had the time before, and I then realized that I had made a very big mistake, and it was a lesson to me that I will never forget. I think that we should come to Jesus like the little boy did the first time. Jesus was not stiff and formal. When he cured the lame he said: "Take your bed and go." After awakening Lazarus from the dead simply: "Untie him and let him go."

I think that Jesus wants us to be ourselves for he knows us well, our faults as well as our good points. Well-chosen words are not the most important thing when we pray. What counts is that we pray sincerely from the very innermost of our being. Prayer with clasped hands is not enough. We must also act. "Plowman pray with your hand upon the plow when you pray for the crop. We should pray often. It is possible to pray while doing the day’s work. I have done this for many years. I pray while peeling potatoes, doing the dishes, cleaning the home. One can always speak to God. He understands.

Now back to the painting on the wall back of the altar. I had a new little girl come to my Sunday School class who, when she first saw the picture exclaimed: “My! What a big Jesus you have. At home we only have a little one." -- What kind of Jesus have you got? Do you have a big powerful one that you can trust, confess and pray to? One that is an important factor in your life? Or do you have a little Jesus that you keep hidden, one that you are just a little bit ashamed of, but you do take him out and pray to him when things get really difficult? At other times you get along very well without him. But –in the Bible it says: "He that confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father. But the one that denies me, him I will also deny before my Father that is in Heaven."

This article was first published in a Swedish Christian magazine in 1973. The author, Ella Petersson, is my sister.