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."