LEAVES ARE FALLING ON THE GROUND

Elder Bushman requested I drive to downtown Palmyra and purchase Sub sandwiches for our supper.  He is busy watching football games on this afternoon of Saturday, 25 October 2014.  He swore off watching football after the BYU, Boise game last evening!  It lasted till about three this afternoon Ha!  

As I drove up Cananadaigua Road there was a wind billowing and fall leaves were everywhere. 

They were piled up on the curbs and the wind was whipping away at the hills. 

The leaves were falling on the car from the trees and it was simply beautiful.  "Leaves are falling all around, on the housetops on the ground ".  As I came into the door of the Inn several leaves followed me inside. "Leaves are falling on my nose,  on my head and hands and toes". (Moiselle Renstrom 1889-1956)  I picked them up and put them back outside!  I love driving on the roads when the leaves are billowing down off the trees! 

This is how the Sacred Grove looked in the late winter and early spring as the Hathaway Brook flowed through the area with the winter grass.

The leaves are now falling and the beauty of summer is fading.

Just as this season of winter is beginning...our season with all the missionaries, we arrived with, has come to an end.  Just like the leaves, the missionary couples are departing from this area.  This is a group photo of all missionaries whom we have served with this summer.  Thank you to each of you for your examples, dedication and friendships.  We will miss those of you who are "leafing" more than we can say.  You hold a place in our hearts now and always.  "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" (Jeremiah E. Rankin 1828-1904)

May we follow the example of our brother Joseph and learn from the grove and hill surrounding Palmyra, NY.

We thank brother Joseph for going to the Hill Cumorah, each September for four years, to  receive instructions from Moroni.  As he received the call to translate the Book of Mormon, we too have been given the opportunity to translate for ourselves the book of our own lives.  

Moroni stands as a sentinel that is calling us to The House of The Lord.  

We, who are in the winter of our lives, are serving within these sacred walls per Joseph's example.  "Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy course above". (Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing by John Wyeth)

We hope you, like Joseph Smith, will go to The House of The Lord that his faithfulness has provided for us.  May you choose to attend each month and not just in September.  May you not wait till the winter of your life to commit to do so.  There is much to learn in The House of The Lord.

"Holiness To The Lord"

Those who have gone "home" before you are longing for you to return.  Let us all be prepared to do so when we "leaf" this earth life.

Our next door neighbors, The Bardo's whom we are going to miss so much, took these photo's on their last day of temple service.
This is the view just above the entry doors of the temple.

This is the view outside the clear window of the temple looking toward the Sacred Grove.

President Cahoon in our Monday closing meeting left us with the words of this beautiful hymn
as song by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Come, let us anew our journey pursue,
Roll round with the year,
And never stand still till the Master appear.
His adorable will let us gladly fulfill,
And our talents improve
By the patience of hope and the labor of love,
By the patience of hope and the labor of love.

Our life as a dream, our time as a stream
Glide swiftly away,
And the fugutive moment refuses to stay;
For the arrow is flown and the moments are gone.
The millenial year
Presses on to our view, and eternity's here,
Presses on to our view, and eternity's here.

Oh, that each in the day of His coming may say.
"I have fought my way thru;
I have finished the work thou didst give me to do."
Oh, that each from his Lord may receive the glad word:
"Well and faithfully done;
Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne;
Enter into my joy and sit down on my throne."

The missionaries, that are leafing, have been so kind to us.  They have been sharing their talents with us.  The Morris's presented us with this beautiful handiwork of Sister Morris.  We will treasure this gift always.  Thank you for your kindness.  Isn't this a beautiful masterpiece of crocheting.

Sunday, 26 October 2014
The Young Women did the Sacrament Program today.  Several in our Sunday School Class gave talks and then they all sang in a choir.  All the meetings went well today and I learned a lot.
This is a picture of some of the Relief Society Sisters reminding everyone to Read The Book of Mormon!  Then you can know for yourself if it is true.  Each of us in this photo believes the Book of Mormon is true, we have read the book and asked Our Heavenly Father if it is true.  We believe.  The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

Also on our Monday evening farewell each of the Presidency spoke with us.

 Because of their faithfulness and dedication, each of us have been blessed to serve here too.

President Brighton and his wife served a mission in Ireland.  

They left us with this beautiful Irish Blessing as sung by Roma Downey

 (click on the words An Irish Blessing)
An Irish Blessing
May the blessing of light be upon you, light on the outside light on the inside

With God's sunlight shining on you may your heart glow with warmth like a turf

fire that welcomes friends and strangers alike

May the light of the Lord shine from your eyes like a candle in the window

welcoming the weary traveler

May the blessing of God's soft rain be upon you, falling gently on your head

refreshing your soul with the sweetness of little flowers newly blooming

May the strength of the winds of heaven bless you, carrying the rain to wash your

spirit clean, sparkling after in the sunlight

May the blessing of God's earth be on you, and as your walk the roads may you 

always have a kind word for those you meet

May you understand the strength and power of God in a thunderstorm in winter and the quiet beauty of creation in the calm of a summer's sunset

And may you come to realize the insignificant as you may seem in this great

universe - you are an important part of God's plan.

May he watch over you and keep you safe from harm

WE ARE GOING TO MISS ALL THE MISSIONARIES LEAVING THIS WEEK.

This mission has been like a dream

 Jacob 7:26 And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream.

 We drove into the Palmyra Inn parking lot on Tuesday, 28th of October 2014 after serving in the temple.  Elder Bushman said, "This is harder than I thought...look all the missionaries cars are gone." The remainder of the missionaries all left for home this morning while we were in the temple.  This is a bitter sweet day for us all.  Thank you for your examples and friendship.  May The Lord Bless each of you on your travels home.  "God be with you till we meet again."

You "leaf" an imprint in our hearts!

Time to go on a bike ride with The Christensen's before they drive away in the sunset too...see you later!  Hug's to each of you and our family too.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG

                     I am writing this blog on the afternoon before the BYU game with Boise.                  BYU                 Boise State

Because we like you!
Friday, October 24, 2014
Go BYU!
Our grandchildren went to Texas for Fall Break.  We were able to see these pictures on facebook.  We are so thankful for the media that helps us to keep in contact with our family.  Aren't these just the cutest people.  There were four of our grandchildren missing in the group photo.  We are so thankful that they want to visit each other.  We love each of our grandchildren so much!

On Sunday the 19th of October 2014 we drove to Cortland, NY.  The leaves were still so pretty, but it was very chilly outdoors.  We took these pictures as we were driving.  On our way home there were some snow flurries in the air...What, What?  No wonder it felt so chilly out!

After the meetings we took the Sacrament out to the Carmen family.  Brother Hyde was there visiting them also.    Brother Carmen has been trying to walk per doctors request, so walked out to the mailbox.  He leaned down to pet one of his cats and the cat bit his hand.  He now has an infected right hand...never ending.  Elder Bushman and Brother Hyde gave him a blessing before we left.  We have grown to love this family.  They have so many challenges, but are such troupers.  Marie takes such good care of her parents.  The gospel is a strength for this family and on Sunday we were thankful for the assignment Bishop Skanlin gave us to visit them.  We wish we had the power to make their heavy burdens lighter.

When we returned back to Palmyra we had a visit from the Perron's.  They gave us this beautiful loaf of bread.  Their mission ends this next week.  We will miss all the missionaries that are going home.

Thank you Elder and Sister Perron for the bread and for your great examples.

On Sunday evening the Rochester Mormon Choir had a program at the Palmyra Stake Center.  President Francis spoke.  He is our assigned mission president.  The Choir focused their songs on Prayer and the music was so touching to our souls.  The theme was Hastening the Work.

President Francis reminded us of little Jessica McClure who fell down a 22 foot well in her Aunt's back yard, in Midland Texas, on Wednesday, October 14, 1987.  She was trapped there for 58 hours while America prayed for her safety.  Jessica sang "Winnie The Pooh" while her rescuers worked to save her life.  She was rescued on the evening of October 16th.  She has a scar on her forehead, had to have 15 surgeries for various complications  from being trapped for three days without food and water.  She lost a toe on her right foot.  President Francis talked about Jessica's story to emphasize that The Lord knows each of us and he does hear our prayers.  We are loved and must remember that as we go through the difficulties of this life.  This is a photo of President Arthur R. Francis & his wife Shari.  Thank you, President Francis for your words of wisdom.

Monday, October 20th was the best day ever.  We had a Home Evening at President & Sister Cahoon's.  He is the second counselor in the Palmyra Temple Presidency.  He is an apple producer..and he took the missionaries on a tour of their family plant.  Sister Cahoon had their home all decorated for a wonderful pot luck dinner with us all.

President Thomas B. Brighton III and his wife Linda are the Palmyra New York Temple President and Matron.  They were kind enough to invite us, along with Duane and Dahnelle Smith to ride along with them to Wolcott, NY where the Cahoon farm is.  We had a great visit with them all and we all returned with full bellies, a new knowledge of apple processing and a 5 lb. bag of Gala crisp apples compliments of Pres. & Sr. Cahoon.  Thank you President and Sister Brighton for inviting us on that awesome drive.  We enjoyed seeing how your GPS works too!

So here are just a few of the fun pictures we took at the Cahoon's.  This witch welcomed us at the entrance to their home.

We entered into a beautiful home that was ready to serve over 50 people a fantastic meal.

 President Cahoon, Elder Henderson and Siste Bardo listening to all the visiting going on by the dessert table.

A group photo of several of our favorite Elder's and Sisters waiting for the blessing on the food.

Elder Mayo welcoming everyone to our evening event.  We ate and then drove out to the Cahoon Farm and processing plant.

This is a little history of the Cahoon farm you can read up about on the internet.
"Donald Cahoon Sr. purchased the original 100-acre home farm in 1943 located in western New York State, near Lake Ontario, just outside the small village of Wolcott. It is situated on some of the best fruit growing property in the world. Donald Sr. was a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in agriculture. With his wife Marjorie, they raised 10 children on the homestead. The farm.s original products were general agriculture. Donald Sr. soon decided to focus on growing only fruit. He eventually realized that in order to obtain the best return for his fruit, he needed to market his fruit in processed form to area bakeries. He then set out traveling upstate New York in his panel truck delivering to bakeries, while Marjorie took care of the books and those 10 kids."

President  Donald Cahoon Jr. is visiting with Elder Bushman as we await everyone's arrival.  President informed us we would need to wear hair nets and take off our jewelry.

He taught us about his childhood and "working with" his dad.  He told us the business's history and then took us through this door on the most interesting tour.

 Their apples are diced and frozen and sold to bakeries.  I thought it most interesting that the process is done one apple at a time...very interesting!

Thank you President and Sister Cahoon for teaching us such a marvelous example of kindness and generosity at home evening and for sharing your home with us for one night.  We will be forever knowledgeable now about our apple eating and picking.   

APPLES, APPLES, APPLES ARE NICE TO CRUCH!  AT BREAKFAST TIME, AND SUPPER AND FOR LUNCH!

Elder Bushman eats an apple for lunch every day.  He found this a most interesting evening.

We moved to room 101 in the Palmyra Inn on the 21st of October 2014.  We now are in a Suite with two bedrooms and a living area.  Wow...we are in shock at how much space we have!  Elder Bushman can not get used to the noise above us...so has requested we move upstairs again...Ha!  Will we ever be settled before winter descends?   We will let you know if we are mobile again.

 All the 6 months missionaries will be gone by the end of next week.  We had a luncheon with them yesterday here in the Inn and it was almost heartbreaking.  I have grown to love these fellow missionaries we have served with.  We have just finished our 6th month and are now on the downhill slide...for 6 months more.  How quickly time flies when we are having fun.







We pray this blog finds everyone enjoying this beautiful fall weather.  We hope all are doing good.  We learned that a friend and personal physician Dr. Goff lost their 20 year old son to a heart disease this week.  Our love and prayers go out to their family.  We want each of our children to know we love you so very much.  May you never, ever doubt this.  Hug's to each of you.

Mom and Dad
Elder and Sister Bushman

THE REFINERS FIRE...

Happy Birthday to our Grandson Luke...he turned 5 on the 15th of October!  We love our Luke!  He and his family and his Uncle Ryan's family traveled to Austin, Texas to visit the cousin's and relatives there for fall break.  We hope you had a good visit Lukey!

To celebrate his birthday we drove to Rochester, NY with the Christensen's after we finished our temple service.  We went to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.  Overlooking the picturesque "Genesee" River, Dinosaur BBQ Rochester is located in the heart of Rochester in the former Lehigh Valley Railroad Station, built in 1905.

We sat in the front booth and enjoyed watching the people.  It was a really busy place.  They have live music, so Elder Bushman couldn't hear us talking to him very well.

We ordered pork ribs...and they were yummy!  You should have seen the pail of bones we left...spooky!

The Station is located near the High Falls District.  They have great Bar-B-Que!  Thank's for finding this interesting eatery, Elder Christensen.

This was the view of the "Genesee" River by where we parked the car.

Friday morning we drove back down to Naples, NY to look at the leaves again with the Christensen's.   The leaves were changed all along the hill on Bristol Mountain. 

 Across the street had not quite hit the peak yet.  However, it was all beautiful.

I purchased an Acorn Squash at Joseph's Wayside Market in Naples, NY.  I cooked it on Saturday afternoon with brown sugar and maple syrup...and I added sausage to it, Yummy!  Elder Bushman would not even taste it...he chose a Sub sandwich instead.  He missed out on a delicious lunch!

This was a beautiful dahlia flower outside the diner where we had soup and salad in Naples, NY.

We drove past this grape orchard by Cananadaigua Lake.  We saw a tractor harvesting the grapes, so Elder Christensen drove back to see how they harvested them.  This big tractor shakes them off the vines and then the tractor behind collects the grapes and puts them in big crates.

The tractor drove them down the road where they were loaded on a semi truck and shipped to a winery or a Welches Grape Juice plant.  It was so awesome to watch this process.  So glad farmer, Elder Christensen, was driving.

We saw this earth shelter home on a road to Naples NY.  Look at the wind mill on the left of the house, nice.  They must mow their roof just like we do at the Oklahoma house, Ha!

Elder Bushman enjoys driving past this home in Canandaigua, NY.  It is a beautiful remodeled home.

 Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday and Thursday and Friday evening we have been enjoying serving in the temple.  On Saturday we met many of the members of the Cortland Ward to do 8:00 AM baptisms.  Some of our Sunday School class participated.  Elder Bushman took this picture of some of the group outside the Palmyra Temple when their service was completed.   We were so proud of all of them for attending...we felt like doting grandparents!  Thank's to each of you for your examples and sacrifice for others!  Can you see His Image in Their Countenance?

During a prayer meeting, in the temple, this week a sister read a poem called "The Silversmith"

The Silversmith

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to study the scriptures. While reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse:

"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver [Malachi 3:3]"

One lady proposed to visit a silversmith, and report to them on what he said about the subject. She went accordingly, and without telling the object of her errand, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver.

After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "But Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"

"Oh, yes madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eyes steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure.

Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "When do you know the process is complete?"

"Why, that is quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished."

-- Author Unknown

"Likewise, God is willing to refine us until he sees His image reflected on our actions and thoughts."

This is a beautiful leaf we saw in The Sacred Grove last Sunday.  

This picture of the Palmyra Temple is an evening view from The Sacred Grove.

Friday morning was Elder Bushman's Uncle Paul R. Peel's funeral.  Some of the family included these pictures on facebook so we could share in the farewell of one of our favorite uncles.  We are sure Uncle Paul approved of the final ride in his grandson's pickup.  His son also made his casket.  It is beautiful.

 

Uncle Paul's "Paul Bearers" put their boutonnieres on the casket before the dedication of the grave.  Our love and prayers are with Uncle Paul's family at this time.  Hug's "Till We Meet Again" Uncle Paul.

I forgot to include this waterfall we walked up to see with the Hutto's last week.  This picture was taken at Watkin's Glen State Park.  Thank you Karen for encouraging me to climb this high to see the back of this waterfall!

I wish to close this blog with the words of James E. Faust (April 1979 conference)

"I wish to speak this morning to all, but especially to those who feel they have had more trials, sorrows, pricks, and thorns than they can bear and in their adversity are almost drowned in the waters of bitterness. My message is intended as one of hope, strength, and deliverance. I speak of the refiner’s fire.

Into every life there come the painful, despairing days of adversity and buffeting. There seems to be a full measure of anguish, sorrow, and often heartbreak for everyone, including those who earnestly seek to do right and be faithful. The thorns that prick, that stick in the flesh, that hurt, often change lives which seem robbed of significance and hope. This change comes about through a refining process which often seems cruel and hard. In this way the soul can become like soft clay in the hands of the Master in building lives of faith, usefulness, beauty, and strength. For some, the refiner’s fire causes a loss of belief and faith in God, but those with eternal perspective understand that such refining is part of the perfection process.

In our extremities, it is possible to become born again, born anew, renewed in heart and spirit. We no longer ride with the flow of the crowd, but instead we enjoy the promise of Isaiah to be renewed in our strength and “mount up with wings as eagles” (Isa. 40:31).

I hope those of you who read this will look up this talk and study it.  

Elder Bushman and Sister Bushman send our love and prayers to each of you during this fall season...may we each endure "the refiners fire".

"When we pluck the roses, we find we often cannot avoid the thorns which spring from the same stem.

Out of the refiner’s fire can come a glorious deliverance. It can be a noble and lasting rebirth. The price to become acquainted with God will have been paid. There can come a sacred peace. There will be a reawakening of dormant, inner resources. A comfortable cloak of righteousness will be drawn around us to protect us and to keep us warm spiritually. Self-pity will vanish as our blessings are counted.

I now wish to conclude by testifying concerning Jesus as the Christ and the Divine Redeemer. He lives! His are the sweet words of eternal life. He is the Son of the Living God. This is his holy work and glory. This is his church. It is true. I am most grateful for this sacred knowledge. It is my cherished privilege and duty to so testify, which I humbly do. In the hallowed name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen."