THE BAY with the 1000 ISLANDS

On Friday Elder Bushman chose to drive over to Webster Beach on Lake Ontario.  On our way there we noticed Oklahoma Beach on the map, so we drove there first.  It was a street address!

This picture was taken from a private drive way.  So we did not get out of the car to explore.

This is Oklahoma Beach street from a private drive...ha....the people that live on Oklahoma Beach on Lake Ontario have a beautiful view of the Lake.  We two missionary Okies found that we best move on to Webster Beach where we could explore some.

This is a path out to the Lake on Webster Beach.

We found Eli's name written on a part of the fencing as we walked along

There was lots of moss and cracks in the rocks.  In between the rocks we saw a family of minks.  They eat fish and the remains of fish that people leave behind at the park.

They looked really cute.

This is at the end of the pier walk

 Elder Bushman looking at Lake Ontario.

This is my first attempt to add a video...Tanner and Elizabeth left Grandpa a yoyo and he has really enjoyed doing tricks with it!  I obviously don't know how to download this yet, but enjoy what you can see!  This reminds me of the pictures that Harry Potter collected!  He is good with walking the yoyo!

On Saturday we drove with the Perron's to Alexandria Bay, New York to experience the 1000 Islands.

There are really 1864 islands on the St. Lawrence Seaway.  To be counted as an island the land must have at least one tree on it!  Some Islands are claimed by the United States and some by Canada. "Thousand Island dressing was named for the chain of islands by the actress who popularized the dressing, May Irwin, stating that she thought the chopped vegetables in the dressing looked like the Thousand Islands region."  Anyone for salad?  The St. Lawrence river flows into the Atlantic Ocean from Lake Ontario.  We rode on the Uncle Sam Boat.  

 We were touring with Elder Vernon (Durg) and Sister Kathy Perron from Hailey, Idaho

  We toured the Singer Castle on Dark Island 

located 9 miles downriver at Chippewa Bay.  The castle was built at the turn of the 19th century by F

rederick Bourne, President of the Singer Sewing Machine Company for use as a "hunting lodge" and 

remains fully furnished just as it was during its heyday.  

It is amazing to see an island with a huge home on it....
This area is beautiful! When our boat tour was complete we went out to lunch and Art and Kathy had Reuben sandwiches with 1000 Island dressing.  I had a burnt bacon burger and Durg had a fish sandwich.  We then parted ways and drove to the Wards we were assigned to visit on Sunday.   The Parron's go to Lowville, NY where they spend the night with an elderly lady in their Ward.   We spent the evening in Syracuse, New York on our way to Cortland.  

Sunday  morning I taught our last temple preparation class.  All but one of our class members have been to the temple to do baptism's.  We enjoyed being with them in this class that lasted seven weeks.  We hope to be able to be with them in the Palmyra Temple many more times in the future. Elder Bushman taught the High Priest's Priesthood Quorum class also. 

 Then we stayed for a fireside about patriarchal blessings by Brother Kerr, the new Patriarch for the Syracuse Stake.  He gave his first blessing ever to one of the Moss children.  Several other ward members also followed and received their blessings.  Our love and prayers are with our new Patriarch  Kerr as he begins his life long office.

"Patriarchs are humble men. They are students of the scriptures. They stand before God as the means whereby the blessings of heaven can flow from that eternal source to the recipient on whose head rests the hands of the patriarch. He may not be a man of letters, a possessor of worldly wealth, or a holder of distinguished office. He, however, must be blessed with priesthood power and personal purity. To reach to heaven for divine guidance and inspiration, a patriarch is to be a man of love, a man of compassion, a man of judgment, a man of God."

“Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers.”

—Thomas S. Monson

I find it interesting that we can receive a blessing to help us on our journey here.  I was 15 or 16 when I received my patriarchal blessing.  This blessing opened the door to my understanding of many things.  I have been following the counsel of this blessing for over 50 years.  I am grateful to a patriarch that blessed me with The Lord's teachings for my own life.
Just like Joseph Smith received "The First Vision", we can receive our own vision of our potential in this life.

"Every worthy, baptized member is entitled to and should receive a patriarchal blessing, which provides inspired direction from the Lord. Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection".

 

Have you received or read your own blessing lately?

This weekend is my High School 50th Celebration of our "Class of 1964" graduation.
I hope all my former classmates have a grand time celebrating.  I am thankful to my own "Patriarch Moss" who gave me such a nice blessing while I was still in high school.

This morning as I finished swimming I walked out into the hall of Pal-Mac High School and three teens were parking their bikes in the hall.  They were on the swim team and they are practicing today.  As I hobbled down to the exit,  I pondered those awesome years when I was in high school and had energy and vitality.  This was the age I received my own Patriarchal Blessing.   I am still needing to remember the things I myself learned as a teen.  Someday I will graduate again ....  "It's Me Lord, It's Me, Standing in the need of Prayer"....origin unknown
Thank's to Sister Glave, in our Relief Society Class, I have been blessed to listen to this song on You Tube.

  If you haven't been blessed to understand your potential in this life, there is a Patriarch who can bless you with The Lord's teachings just for you.  Ask your Bishop today for a recommend to receive this blessing.
"not my brother, nor my sister,  but It's me O Lord...."
Enjoy your last days of July 2014!