EIGHT, SEVEN...SIX......

EIGHT:

MONDAY, 6 April 2015
We walked into the Sacred Grove for possibly the last time on this mission.  We pondered if Joseph's Vision occurred on April 6th also.  We know it was in the early spring.  This is what the grove looked like today as seen by the eyes of Elder and Sister Bushman.
The creek was overflowing it's banks with the water from the melting snow.

Some of the trees are trying to bud.

There was snow still on the west side of the grove.

Is this what the grove looked like when Joseph went in to pray?

Elder Bushman and I walked very carefully on the icy path.  We aren't as sure footed at this age.

 The sun was shinning through the trees.

We found a sign of spring in these lovely purple crocus.

Our selfie in the Sacred Grove

 We crossed over the bridge of water, again, as we left this Sacred Grove.

We had a delicious ham dinner & all the trimmings this evening fixed by the Temple Presidency.  Sister Brighton was hurting after working so hard for us.  She has a really bad back right now.  We appreciate all the effort in our behalf and are so sad this was our farewell dinner.  The Presidency presented us with these temple drawings.  They announced that the Neeley, Neeley, and Bushman's were leaving.  We sounded like an organized bunch of lawyers!  Elder and Sister Neeley also presented us with a photo album of the summer missionaries.  Thank you Neeley's for all your efforts in our behalf.  We have been so blessed to serve with all these lovely couples.

 Elder Bushman and I had our picture taken by the picture of the Teton's, a little glimpse of heaven, on the President's basement wall!

 We had a speaker who taught us of the importance of this day, April 6th.

 He showed several video clips by our leaders.  He did an excellent job.  He taught us to watch for symbols and then ponder all the meaning behind them.

The Presidency received their own favorite pictures of this area...from The Neeley's.  We have been so blessed to serve with this great group of leaders.

Our evening concluded with a video of Elder Jon Neeley singing "I Believe" from The Book of Mormon.  He is posting it on YouTube on April 6th 2015, because "He Believes".  We all loved that he recorded this great song.  We too believe just as Jon's video shows.  Happy Birthday to Our Savior, Jesus Christ, on this beautiful Spring Day, of 6 April 2015, in Palmyra New York!  The Palmyra Temple was the 100th temple announced by the Church.  It was the 77th dedication of a modern temple.
Enjoy "I Believe" Parody from The Book of Mormon

SEVEN:

TUESDAY, 7 April 2015
We served at the early session of the temple, this morning.  We were there by 5:30 AM and the Session began at 6:00 AM.  When that session ended, our shift co-ordinators, the Adams gave us other assignments for the morning.  At the prayer meeting President Broadbent spoke of the importance of this week, in this area.  He described the Moon carvings around the top of the temple.  They follow the Lunar Year.  They begin on April 6th 2000 and follow around the temple to December 28, 2000.
The middle moon begins by the Celestial windows.  This moon was on April 6, 2000 the date of the Temple dedication.  The Lunar moons go clockwise around the temple and end with the moon on the right December 28, 2000.

There is one Lunar carving, out of sequence, it was on the eve of Joseph & Hyrum Smith's martyrdom.  This was June 27, 1844.  This is outside the windows just south of President Brighton's temple office.  It is the carving on the left in this photo.  It is above the middle window in the mens dressing room.

The Adam's brought a birthday cake to celebrate the founding of the Palmyra Temple 15 years ago yesterday, on Jesus Christ's Birthday.  Thank you for sharing this delicious cake Brother and Sister Adams.  One of our young returned missionary sisters, Sister Chilson, was five years old at this dedication.  As a Primary Student she signed a rock with her name.  As the temple was under construction the walkway was lined with rocks all the children in the Palmyra area had signed their names to.  This was one of her fun memories.  Now she is an ordinance worker.  What delightful memories this week has brought to us all.

SIX:
WEDNESDAY, 8 April 2015
It was raining when I went to the pool at 6:00 AM this morning.  This area is so blessed with lovely moisture.  I keep thinking of all the wild fires we experience in Oklahoma in the summers.  We need to have the blessings of some of this New York water in the mid south part of the ol' US of A.

We served in the PM shift in the temple.  We had two lovely families attend baptistry last evening.  That was part of my shift and was delightful to serve in there.  Sister Black asked me to show her how to replace broken zippers in the jump suits we use there and the initiatory suits...so I took a minute and taught her.  She is to be the next matron in October.  I don't thing she will have a problem with the mending.  She has made 7 wedding dresses and is working on one for a granddaughter now.  I hear from others that her work is superb.  She cooks too...she will be a great asset to this hungry and busy temple.  Our love and prayers are with the Blacks as they prepare and await this new experience. They have big shoes to fill as the Presidency now is unstoppable in their energy and greatness of their callings.  Love them all!
Elder Bushman completed his final assignment as Sealer in the Palmyra Temple this evening.  Sister Domm gave us a little farewell gift.  We were very gracious with everyone as they told us goodbye on this Wednesday shift, then I came home and cried!
It rained most of the day.  The snow is quickly disappearing.
FIVE:
THURSDAY, 9 April 2015
This is our double shift day.  We begin at 8:30 to 1:00 PM and then I do the office while Elder Bushman is an Ordinance worker from 4:30-9:30 PM

On April 9, 1865 — 150 years ago Thursday — the Civil War came to a close with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union Army at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

The Civil War was the cause of more than 630,000 deaths, making it America's deadliest war.  This is a picture of the Presidential Candidates in 1860, the last election year before the Civil War.  Lincoln Won the Presidential Election.

From left: Abraham Lincoln, Republican Party; John C. Breckenridge (my relative), of Kentucky, the Southern half of the Democratic party; and Senator Stephen A. Douglas, the Northern half of the Democratic Party.

Sister Flint brought me a jar of Maple Cream from Mohler's in Wyoming, New York....Thank you Sister Flint!  This cream and the tomato plants too, will travel home with me to Oklahoma, to be enjoyed together this summer.  We are going to miss all the local workers and missionaries we have been blessed to serve with in the Palmyra Temple.  Blessings to each of you.  Saying goodbye is so difficult.  We have been blessed with so many friends for always!

Today was the last time room 201 , in the Inn, will be cleaned with us residing there.  Thank you to all the housekeepers who have cleaned our room for us.  We have enjoyed this service and the wonderful "sisters" who have cared for us over the months.  These swans were on the end of our bed today.   Ha!   Thank you, for the towel artistry!  We love the extra towel gifts we have been treated to.  You all are too kind!

FOUR:

FRIDAY, 10 APRIL 2015

We rode with the Neeley's to Rochester, NY.  We went to lunch for our final day together.  Their final shift, in the temple, is this evening.  We went to Jines Restaraunt.

This is our farewell dinner with David and Karen Neeley.  Thank you Dave for taking the time to plan this.  Thank you for your friendship and examples.

We enjoyed being with the Neeley and Neeley firm.

 Thank you, Jon and Lynette Neeley, for all you have done to make this such a great mission.  Thank you for lunch, for the video's, for the pondering of the greatness of this mission and for the many, many memories of games, parties and stories of this marvelous area and the happenings here.

The Kruckenberg's, The Sanders, The Roundy's, Sister Domm, Sister Flint, Patty Bowen and The McGarry's have given us parting gifts.  We have received so many lovely cards and notes.  We are in awe of the examples of the good people surrounding us in this area.  May The Lord's blessings be with each of you as we go our separate ways...
Then to end a perfect day we went to the Yellow Mills Diner with my, most favorite, cousin Bruce and his wife Ka'ren Nickell.  They gave us a ride in their new automobile with all the bells and whistles...that they are still learning to use. Ha!  The Lord has been so good to us and put us in an environment where I have gotten to know this cousin of mine.  Thank you for your great example and faith, Bruce.  I wish this wonderful couple success, joy and peace in the years to come.  We love them both with all our hearts.  Family is forever!  Elder Bushman was giving Ka'ren a hard time about eating all her dinner!  Thank you for a lovely dinner at the Diner!

THREE:
SATURDAY, 11 April 2015
Oh, shuckey darn!  The final day to serve in the Palmyra Temple Mission is here.  We serve the AM shift and the Mid day shift and we are done...what will become of us?
We walked into the temple and our Cortland Ward members were there for baptisms.  Seeing some of our Sunday School students  and the Young Women leaders that were there was so touching to me.  If I doubt The Lord loves me again, I must remember the beautiful feeling I had as I looked at these faithful youth in the temple, on the last day of our service to the Lord.   As we got out of our car to enter the temple...the car next to us was being unloaded too and it was our Bishopric and the Young Men leaders.  The Lord is kind to us..just a couple of Okie missionaries who were blessed with a tender mercy from The Lord.  I am thankful for the teachings The Lord blessed us with as we served in His House.
The Schwendiman's, (he is the President of the Hill Cumorah Pagent) were the coordinators this afternoon and they gave us yummy fudge, photo's of the temple they took and framed for us...a scarf she crocheted for me...just all kinds of goodies.  We got some more cards from people also.
We met The Cahoon's at Wendy's and had dinner with them.  It was especially difficult to say goodbye to this faithful couple.

 These are just more pictures that I want to keep.  This is a lemon pie that President Cahoon enjoyed on Saturday of conference...Sister Cahoon doesn't even like lemon pie, but she makes it for her husband and yes, he ate several pieces.  It was really a good pie too...as Art and I discovered.

Pictures inside the Inn Elevator...that I rode several times a day...I know I am weird, but wanted to remember this.

These trees are at the entrance to the temple.  The bark is falling loose from the trees.  They are just unique and I want to remember them.

Today is the end of Passover..and the end of this temple service..."free at last"!  Ha!  Now what do we do...OH, we head into the Promised Land, once again...Hello OKLAHOMA!

TWO:
SUNDAY, 12 April 2015
The sky is blue as we prepare to drive to Cortland Ward this morning.  It is a beautiful Sabbath Day.  The temperature was up to 70 today!  Today is also our Granddaughter Lily's 11the Birthday.  Happy Birthday to Lily!  So being the sister with all these brothers...what did she want for her birthday?  Why a quiver of arrow's and a new bow of course!  She was out shooting with her dad when we phoned her to wish her a happy birthday.

We had a good Fast Meeting today.  Elder Bushman bore his testimony.  I just had the hardest time with the tears today so just tried to hold it together.  I finally did thank everyone in our Relief Society meeting, but it was such an emotional farewell.  Elder Bushman took tons of photo's of everyone.  I may put them on a later blog, but for today I had the best picture ever...of our Sunday School class.  We love these young people with all our hearts.  We pray for their health, happiness and peace.  They are so knowledgeable and such great examples for each other.  We were missing several of our students today.  Our hearts will hold each of them dear for years to come.  Blessings to the Youth of The Cortland Ward.  Our future is in good hands with these future leaders!

The Cortland Ward held a linger longer after our meeting as a farewell for us and for Elder Flattery.  They gave us a card with notes from everyone, and a feast fit for a King!  Bishop Scanlon wrote a poem for us which I may include later.  We thank each of you for your kind words and loving examples.  Our hearts are so full and tender with memories and hope tonight.  We have so many friends from this lovely ward.  We consider this a second family that we have been blessed to be a part of. Our drive back to the Inn was peaceful.
We ended this day with a farewell visit at President Brighton's.  They gave us sherbet and lemon cake.  They told us about their visit to Washington D. C.  They went to the Library of Congress and saw and looked through the turned down pages of the Book of Mormon that President Lincoln had checked out.  He had the book for 6 months.  Thank you for sharing this picture with us President and Sister Brighton.  This was a special way to end our tutelage under your care.  Thank you for all you taught us and for the great examples you both are.  Palmyra Temple district is truly blessed because of your service and dedication.  We appreciate learning from you both.

 
ONE:
ZERO:
MONDAY, 13 April 2015
We packed and were on the road by 12:30 PM.  We are headed home.  Thank's for the memories Palmyra, New York!  Our Mission is all done....the end!
Hug's to each of you,
Elder and Sister Bushman
Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene  

THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN!

TUESDAY, 31 March 2015

We served in the temple this morning.  It was a great day with lots & lots of baptisms, and lots and lots of laundry.  We had three people come to receive their own endowments.  There was a daughter with her parents.  They all were sealed together after their session.  Elder Bushman was the sealer.  This is most likely his last live sealing unless we are lucky enough to learn that the Layburn boys fiance' makes it in from Cape Verde, Africa.  Life is full of so many challenges.  We have been blessed as we have served in the Palmyra Temple.

I met two lovely couples as I sat in the greeter chair in the entryway of the temple.  I met a gentleman and his wife that used to both live in Rexburg.  They knew my Uncle Max.  He had been their Stake President.  It is a small world in the church.   This brother is now a Chaplin at Fort Brag.  He is being sent to Afghanistan for 6 months, so he and his wife came to the temple.  Our love and prayers are with their family as he departs to fulfill this difficult assignment.  

I also met Clark and Christine Gilbert.  They have 8 children and were visiting this area before Brother Gilbert begins his new assignment as 16th President of BYU Idaho.  He will begin his first day as President on 13 April.  That is the day that we will be packing as our mission concludes that same week.  Our love and prayers go with the Gilbert's also.  Congratulations to the BYU Idaho students as they receive this lovely family as their leaders.  You just never know whom you will meet in the Palmyra Temple.

Our Daughter, Heather's, sister-in-law Megan gave birth to a still born son today.  Our heart aches for Megan and Tom.  May The Lord comfort them both.  Too sad.

WEDNESDAY, 1 April, 2015

APRIL FOOL'S DAY

I am sad that we have such a foolish holiday to begin this important week in Christiandom.

So April begins and we are on the countdown to the 14th when we will depart this beautiful State of New York and the fingerlakes.
The ice on the roof totally got into the diner at the Inn.  The equipment was moved into the recreation room while the diner ceiling gets repaired.  April Fools to the diner...yuck.

This room works good.  The Inn is adaptable.

I decided that I would keep some memories of this 2nd home (April Fools) away from home.  This is looking outside from the living area.  There is still lots of snow, but there is a beautiful blue sky!  Spring?  April Fools!

I need to remember this tiny kitchen that I was so grateful for.

The laundry room... the important part of these facilities!

"Are we not all beggars?"
"19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?"
Mosiah 4:19 (Book of Mormon)

WE BELIEVE!

Elder Bushman and I will be forever thankful for our experiences at the Palmyra Inn.  God has been very protective and kind to us as we served as missionaries in the Palmyra Temple.  

So on this April 1st we rode with the Chamberlain's to Pultneyville, NY to eat at a fine restaurant by the bay.  See Lake Ontario in the background.  It was a good idea...but the Grill is only open on Friday and Saturday in the winter months.

So we drove to Captain Jack's Tavern in Sodus Point.   This is a photo of Elder and Sister Chamberlain by Lake Ontario.

Here we are in Captain Jack's

We had a great April Fool's meal at the Tavern!

We served in the temple this evening.
THURSDAY,  2 April 2015
Served in the office this morning and ordinance workers in the evening shift.
We returned to a clean home...best part of living in the Inn.  The main housekeeper Kristy did our room today.  She left us a towel gift.  Such talent must be acknowledged!  Thank you Kristy, that made our whole week...too beautiful!  You do know that swan's mate for life?...love this.  It is going to be with great sorrow that I return to my OKLAHOMA bathroom cleaning responsibilities!  Thank you to the Inn keepers for their kindness.

It was raining, big time, when we departed the temple last evening....great snow melting evidence!

FRIDAY, 3 April 2015

Good Friday

Laundry and then a bonus day.  We traveled with the Elder and Sister McGarry to Skaneateles Lake, NY.

On our way we drove through Auburn, NY.  We went to the home of William H. Seward.  After reading the book "The Lincoln Hypothysis" Mr. Seward's family seems more interesting.

An assassination attempt was made on Seward's life the same evening that Lincoln was killed.  That story is a interesting likeness to Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum.  This is the home of William H. Seward.

This is his Carriage House

 We are smiling because this house is almost as big as the Inn where we now are residing!

We were so surprised when we arrived at the Lake..it is still frozen!  Burr....

We walked the McGarry's up to Thayer Park.  

 Sister McGarry took our photo in the fog.

Elder Bushman and I want to get a birdhouse like this when we return home for all the birds in our area!

 We talked the two Elders into posing by this great sign...ha!

We walked down to the pier and had some young, energetic, youth take our picture.  The ice is melting behind us, but the lake is still frozen.

We watched several people, last summer, climb down these stairs and dive into the lake to swim...not today!

This was a good way to spend this Good Friday.  As we ponder the final hours of Our Savior Jesus Christ and the somber days till Easter Morning.  The Countdown has Begun!  We will prepare to listen to the teachings of our leaders for the next two days.  

SATURDAY, 4 April, 2015

We awoke to snowflakes this morning.  They only lasted for about an hour and now the sky is blue.  Today is the graveside service for baby boy Maples.  Our thoughts have been with Megan and Tom since this sweet son was delivered.  Our love and prayers will be with them as they go through this difficult day.  I ponder Easter and the blessings of the Saviors Resurrection celebration tomorrow.  I am looking out at a tree from the Inn window.  There are buds forming on the branches.  Winter is past and new life is beginning to appear.  It is so difficult to share the hope I witness in the growth of this tree.  I pray for blessings to be with the Maples and Hansen family this weekend.  May each of us feel of our Saviors love.

We drove up to Wolcott, NY and spent the day with President and Sister Cahoon.  They were so gracious to invite us to watch conference in their home.  They had hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls ready when we walked in the door...and the day was a feast of words and food from then on.

 We were greeted in the entry way by the Easter Bunnies!

 Our invitation occurred because we had not eaten a white hot dog while serving on this mission.  They were very yummy.  They must be eaten with a certain mustard and a special bread!  Yes, they are delicious...a New York Dawg!

We stayed through the Priesthood Session.  President Monson spoke and that was a special treat for the day.  Our Prophet wiggled his ears on this day before Easter, Ha!

President Marc Clay, Stake President of the Syracuse NY Stake, was called as an Area Authority 70!

Congratulations President Clay.  We are thankful we could serve under you as missionaries in the Cortland Ward.  

My younger Sister Linda Hilliard's son Mike and his wife Veronica received a new little son Mason Wade Hilliard!  That makes 6 grandchildren for Dennis and Linda.   We are so thankful that mother and baby are fine. Congratulations!

SUNDAY, 5 April 2015

Happy Easter everyone!

Happy Birthday to Elijah Ewing Bushman our 12 year old Grandson!  His sister Hannah is posing with him.

Sunday Conference was sooooo good.  President Monson announced three new temples, Ivory Coast, Haiti, Thailand!  We had a great visit with President and Sister Cahoon and their daughter JoLene and her husband, Dave.  We had a very wonderful Easter today.  We spoke with some of our children.  It snowed most of the day, but was a beautiful snow too.

The Cahoon's put on a great feast & of course being in their company was the best....as you can see I brought a relish tray, Ha!

Love these pictures!

Life just seems to get better when you are older, right? 

What was that you said Sister Cahoon?  We love this couple.  Life is good.

MONDAY, 6 April 2015

It was 38 degrees when I drug my weary body to the pool to swim this morning.  There was frost on the windshield, but it was just a lovely Spring morning and the birds were singing loudly!

Elder and Sister Batty were eating in the diner when I arrived back to the Inn.  Sister Batty gave me one of the hats she makes for the homeless.  Appropriate since we will be homeless for a couple of weeks after leaving the Inn!  The countdown has begun.  Thank you, Sister Batty, I love this hat.  You are so kind!  Our love and prayers are with you as you continue to serve in the Palmyra Temple.  They are from Lindon, Utah.

Happy Birthday to Jesus today.  Also, today is when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized in 1830, in Fayette, NY.  Section 21 in the Doctrine and Covenants was received and Joseph Smith was ordained as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator.  And because of both of these events The Palmyra New York Temple was dedicated on this day in 2000!  We have many blessings to ponder from this weekend and this mission.  We are thankful to participate in this great restoration process.  Happy Birthday to Our Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessings to each of you and to The United States of America.

Hurrah for Israel!

This is a picture of the Palmyra New York temple  as seen from The Sacred Grove in the Fall.

Hugs to you, and each of you.  The countdown has begun for us.  Please keep us in your prayers as we conclude this glorious mission.  Our Home Evening tonight is our farewell dinner, with all the missionaries, in President and Sister Brighton's basement.  "God be with you till we meet again."

Grandma Gene & Grandpa Arthur

Elder and Sister Bushman