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.
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.
Because of their faithfulness and dedication, each of us have been blessed to serve here too.
An Irish Blessing
May the blessing of light be upon you, light on the outside light on the inside
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.
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.
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