IRISH BLESSINGS

AN IRISH PRAYER:    May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May                 God hold you in the hollow of his hand."                                                We had a lovely home evening at President and Sister Brighton's.  Thank you to all the Neeley's and Brighton's for all the preparation for a memorable evening.  They set a wonderful table and filled our bodies with a great Irish meal of corned beef and cabbage and all the trimmings.

 

 President and Sister Brighton were the mission President in Ireland for 3 years...2001-2003.

 We all enjoyed visiting as we learned the Irish customs.

 We have new missionaries in our midst.  Elder and Sister Batty are on the front left of this lively group.

 Elder and Sister Bird are at the head of this table. 

 Elder and Sister Sanders at the back right of this group invited us to the movie Cinderella.  Art declined, so guess I will have to see it when one of the grandchildren's parents purchase it...hint, hint!

Elder McGarry is a true Irish man.  This is Sister Brighton's hat that she refused to wear...so...

 Elder Sanders tried it on backwards so we could see "the wearin' o' the green".

 President Brighton loves the Irish people and loves his littl' hat!

After dinner we listened to The Celtic Woman perform on a DVD.  They were awesome. 

The concert was performed live at Slane Castle in Ireland.  They are going to perform in Rochester this summer for our friends in New York.  You can also watch them on YouTube.

President told us how Joseph Smith organized The Church in New York.  President had worked to get The Church recognized in Ireland and one of the Stake President's (a farmer from a small community) was to sign the papers one weekend.  He never showed, so President Tom Brighton organized The Church in Ireland!  His signature is on the papers that legalized The Church in Ireland in 2001.

He also told us how The Catholic Church would not let The Church Microfilm the Irish Parish Records.  After 9/11 when the Ambassador's daughter was visiting in New York City, he lost contact with her for several hours.  The sorrow of that day and the feelings the Ambassador felt when he thought he had lost his child, softened his heart and he called President Brighton and opened the records for microfilming.  These were only two of the many blessings The Brighton's received on their Irish mission.  

Today was also the 185th anniversary of the printing of The Book of Mormon.  This is a view of the room where the book was bound in The Grandin Building in downtown Palmyra NY.

I had one more memory from our Oklahoma vacation.  This was the best memory ever and I can't believe I did not record it.  When we went to the 3rd Ward to visit, my dear friend, Angela Montoya came up to me and told me that she and her husband and family had gone to the temple in February!  Her daughter got married in February too.  The Montoya's received their endowments on 7 February 2015 and were able to attend their daughters wedding in Utah.  Their family was sealed on 19 February 2015 in the Salt Lake Temple!  Finally!  I was so excited for them and we held each other and cried as she told me.  This made our mission even more meaningful for me.  I have been friends with Angela for many years now, and praying that they would choose to go to the temple.  My heart is so touched by the choices they recently made.

Hurrah for The Montoya Family.

WEDNESDAY, 25 March 2015
A lovely day in Palmyra.  Temp. might reach 50!  When I swam this morning I had to scrape ice off the windshield before I could drive to the pool.  The snow is melting, yes!
In keeping with the theme of Irish Blessings, Dave & Karen Neeley took us to lunch at the Cole Tower today, a true blessing.  

We got our training in Salt Lake with them.  They are from Salt Lake and were both teachers till they retired.  They are great examples and we are going to really miss them.  They had never served in the temple and now they are old pro's...love you both.  Thank you for taking an afternoon to be with us.

This is the old Elder and Sister they lunched with...it was raining as we drove back to the Inn.

We served in the temple this evening.  It was a long night.  Kind of like the weather in Oklahoma.

We learned there were tornado's at home.  A trailer park got destroyed in Sand Springs, OK.  A tornado hit the same place in Moore, OK that was destroyed last year.  So sad how Spring has come to the middle of the United States.  We do not like tornado weather.  There were some Irish Blessings in the storm.  Not sure who took this photo...it was on facebook.  It is in OKC, OK.

My daughter, Heather, took this photo of a double rainbow just north east of our homes.  We were protected from the storms.  Today the snow doesn't seem so dreary in Palmyra, New York.

Prayers are being said for the people of Oklahoma.

THURSDAY, 26 March 2015

We served in the temple in the AM.  Sister Flint asked her husband to start some tomato plants for me.  He doesn't even like tomatoes, but he grows these orange tomatoes that are yummy.  This is a photo of the starts he planted for me.  They are sitting on a heating pad!  I will be taking them home to Oklahoma with me.  Everyone pray I can get them home safely and grow them.  I am just so touched that Brother & Sister Flint are growing these for us.  I am blessed!  Thank you Brother and Sister Flint, you are so very kind!

It was snowing, huge flakes, when we left the temple.  We are serving in the temple office, together, this evening.  It is supposto snow all evening.  This is the storm that passed over Oklahoma yesterday.

FRIDAY, 27 March 2015

Today we did errands etc.  We have had snow flurries off and on all day.

Elder Bushman got the brakes fixed on the car.  I did laundry and started reading the book "The Lincoln Hypothesis" which is very good.  President Brighton loaned it to me.  We ate dinner at the Yellow Mills Diner.  I always think of Malcolm and Fay when we eat there.  It will be fun to visit with them again someday. 

#BecauseHeLives

SATURDAY, 28 March, 2015

Served all day and came home exhausted.  Watched the Women's Conference on the computer.  It was great.  Thank's to our leaders in SLC, UT.  

PALM SUNDAY, 29 March 2015

Ward conference in Cortland.  President Clay and the Stake and Ward leaders did a great job.

OK OKC Stake also had a conference.  The Ward we will return home to is no longer Village Ward, but OKC 7th Ward.  We will be going to the Surrey Hills Building by the OKC Temple.  This is a longer drive for us, but not as long as from Palmyra, NY to Cortland, NY Ha!

It was over 40 degrees in New York today, we were above freezing!

The Hutchinson's invited us and the Tranquill family for dinner.  They had a feast for us.  We thank them for their kindness.  After dinner we took cake and The Sacrament to the Carman family.  We had a good visit with them and said our goodbyes which was difficult.  We arrived back at Palmyra just before 7:00 PM.  We had a very spiritual day.  Hurrah for Israel.

MONDAY, 30 March 2015

Spring (freezing) break in Palmyra schools...no swimming for me this week.

We chose to go to the Everson's Maple Farm on Bunker Hill Road in Clifton Springs, NY.  Of course it was freezing out.  This is the group who braved the cold.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JON G NEELEY TODAY!

The syrup was cooking down in the Sugar House...and the steam smelled delicious!

 Two of the Everson's grandchildren who helped with the tour.  One hammered in the dripper in the log and the other attached the bucket so we could see how this all works.

 We all peeked in the buckets along the path and tasted the clear sap...it tasted like sweet water.

They also have a path were the trees are connected to piping and it drains into the silver tank at the bottom of the hill.  The sap is then taken to the sugar house where it is boiled down to syrup

The man in the brown coat was our tour guide with his helpers of course.

This bucket was full to the top.

When the warmer weather comes then the tapping of the trees will be over.  Elder Bushman and I are now back at the Inn trying to thaw out from this grand tour this morning.   Mr. Everson gave us a tiny bible that he got from his 6 year old granddaughter this week when she "found Jesus".  This is a good week to remember the blessings of "finding Jesus".  I didn't know He was lost.  I hope if you have lost Jesus that you too receive the Irish Blessings of finding Jesus this week.  So I close this blog as I read the personal Bible shared by the Everson's grandaughter so I too can find Jesus on this week of His final days on earth.  May you feel His comfort and assurance as you serve Him this week. 

Blessings to each of you.  Please remember you are loved.

Grandma and Grandpa Bushman

Elder and Sister Bushman

VACATION IS OVER...BACK TO SERVING

MONDAY, 16 March 2015

We flew home from Oklahoma today.  We had a great two weeks visiting our children and grandchildren.

Things to remember from these vacation days:

We saw Bruce Nickell in Rochester airport as we were preparing to leave for Oklahoma.  He was on his way to Roy, Utah for his fathers funeral.  We would have liked to have been two places at once.  We are keeping him and Brenda Sewell's family in our prayers.  My cousin Brenda passed away March 8, 2015 after a long struggle with cancer.  She was 51.
My sister, Linda, was taking a granddaughter to St. Louis to a doctor and side swiped a truck and destroyed her mini van.  She and the grandchildren were sent to a local hospital to be checked over.  Her daughter Tara was sent to St. Louis and spent the night in a hospital.  All were miraculously saved and had lots of soar muscles and bruises but no broken bones.
Brother Barnett's father was not so lucky.  Brother Barnett is in the Village Ward bishopric.  He had to fly to New Zealand where his parents were vacationing.  His parents as well as another couple, the Peterson's, all from Richfield Utah, were vacationing in New Zealand together.  The father side swiped a truck and Barnett's mother and both the Peterson's died in the accident.  Brother Barnett's father had to pay a fine but was released to escort his wife's body home.  I found it so touching that the Kiwi people in the Ward where this happened held a memorial service for these Saints.  Over 700 New Zealand Saints attended the memorial service to support Richard Barnett in his hour of need.  Our prayers are with this family.

We had a wonderful time celebrating our son Ryan's, our granddaughter Elizabeth, and our grandson Leif's birthdays.  

Leif was baptized March 14, 2013
Sarah played beautiful prelude music and hymns. Todd lead the singing and Elizabeth sang "I know that my Savior loves me" and they all did a most excellent job.   

It was great to visit with Leif's Hansen grandparents, Todd & his family and Eric and his children, Alona (a niece)and her family.  We spent a week staying with Heather and her family and a week with Ryan and his family.
Missing our son Troy, but blessed to visit with our four others:

We are so blessed.
Missing three other grandchildren..but blessed with 11 to visit:

 Mike kindly filled a cavity for me during this busy time.

We went to the Village Ward and OKC Third Ward Churches.  It was good to see Ward family members again.

We learned that Wendy's parents are serving a mission at the OKC Storehouse.  They started their mission in March 2014 and will finish in March 2016.

Wendy and Cecily are in India this week working with Orphaned Children.

I swam every morning at the YMCA!
I finished  reading The Order of the Sarah Prine Series
These is my Words
Sarah's Quilt
The Star Garden
These books were great.
“A vivid picture of one woman’s true grit on the frontier.” 
Dallas Morning News These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901
The Church announced the New Palmyra President and Matron

Rollo Edward Black, 75, Pittsford Ward, Palmyra New York Stake, called as president of the Palmyra New York Temple, succeeding President Thomas B. Brighton. President Black’s wife, Ann Gilbert Black, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Linda E. Brighton. He serves as public affairs director for the Palmyra New York Area and as a sealer in the Palmyra New York Temple. He has served as a counselor in the Palmyra New York Temple presidency, stake president, bishop, mission president’s counselor and senior couple missionary. A retired future systems development director for the Eastman Kodak Company, he was born in Salt Lake City to Edward Ferris and Alice Rose Ames Black.

Sister Black serves as a ward Relief Society compassionate service coordinator and as a temple ordinance worker. She has served in a stake Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women presidency, ward Primary president, stake missionary and as a senior couple missionary. She was born in Bancroft, Idaho, to Jesse Layton and Virginia Flinders Gilbert.

And so here we are on TUESDAY, 17 March 2015

Happy St. Patricks Day

Happy 173rd Birthday to the Relief Society Organization

We are serving in the Palmyra Temple this morning.  There is still snow all over Palmyra, but the parking lots are clean and all the icicles have melted off the buildings.  There is a chill in the air, but we can see the bulbs are beginning to grow out of the ground in the temple gardens.  There are signs of Spring on this Day of Green!  I was asked to give the thought in Prayer meeting so I told of my experience at Leif's Baptism when Heavenly Father taught me the love Jesus had for His childhood cousin John the Baptist.  He went to John, in the wilderness, to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness,  to be blessed in the ordinance of baptism, by His cousin before He began His ministry.  Family's are forever and Heavenly Father acknowledged this baptism, "This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased".  John was six months older than his cousin Jesus.  John baptized Jesus in the River Jordan.

 Leif had ten of his cousins with him at his baptism.  He was baptized in the Edmond, OK Ward building where his own mother was baptized.

WEDNESDAY, 18 March 2015
I spoke too soon yesterday.  The signs of Spring are gone today.  We awoke to snow everywhere.  It is 9 AM as I write this and the lake effect snow is still falling.  It is beautiful.  We are wondering if we will see Spring weather before we depart next month.  Today that does not seem likely.  The FM Truck was just pulling into the temple parking lot to plow it out as I drove by on my way back from swimming this morning.
"I'm dreaming of a White Easter"

THURSDAY, 19 March 2015

We served in the temple the AM & PM shifts.  I volunteered in the office in the PM.  The three main computers crashed and we rebooted and could not get them working again.  I was serving with Sister Stockman.  We called Salt Lake and they walked us through things...nothing, so President Cahoon said he would call in the computer expert on Friday morning.  We had everything recorded and cleaned up.  We just hope they have the computers going again on Friday evening.  Also we saw that the stamp still had 2014 on it...ug!  Never ending!

FRIDAY, 20 March 2015

The pool is now open on Friday mornings, Hurrah!  I swam for an hour.  It was awesome.  It is now 10:45 AM and I just finished laundry and some indexing & we prepared our Sunday School lesson. "How can I recognize the difference between truth and error"?  Art has gone to gas and wash the car.  I just looked out the window and it is snowing (truth)....again...oh and today is the first day of Spring (error?), Ha!  I guess I will wrap up in a blanket and try and read "Prayers for Sale", but know I will take a little nap.

Vernal Equinox
“From the end spring new beginnings.” --Pliny the Elder

Elder Arthur Vern Bushman
He is my Sunshine on a Cloudy Day!
SATURDAY, 21 March 2015
We serve the AM and Mid Day shifts.  Baptistry and laundry is our lot this day.  Bring it on.  Well, my age is showing, after shutting down the office, in the temple serving with Sister Clark, we came back to the Inn.  I ate some leftovers and sat down to read  around 5 PM and woke up at 8:30 PM.  Elder Bushman is watching the basketball tournaments and sad that BYU lost the first game and didn't move on.  I caught a cold in OK and have had a cough every since.  Since I was feeling lousy we had prayer and I went back to sleep.  I missed attending a visit at the Monyahan's where Sister Neeley was giving her presentation of Emma again.  I felt badly that I couldn't stay awake, but have reached my limit today. 
Sister Nita Stormann, the Relief Society President, in Cortland Ward, gave me a gift at the temple yesterday.  I was so touched.  She made these gloves and scarf for me.  Thank you, so much, Nita.  I am so blessed to know you and the Sisters in Cortland.  Thank you for your kindness and example.

 SUNDAY, 22 March 2015
We awoke to snow this morning...it is snowing in Springtime in Palmyra...
I had a great rest last evening.  I still have a tickle in my throat and a cough, but feel good.  We are off to Cortland Ward in a frill of snowflakes.  Perhaps we will return in rain or sunshine...we will see.  I wore my scarf today as we drove to Cortland in another snowstorm!  We returned in sunshine and a flurry of blue sky and clouds.  Life is good, the meetings were good.  

 We met Elder and Sister Batty when we returned to the Inn.  They are from Utah and are here for a year.  They are residing in our old room, 232, in the Inn.
MONDAY, 23 March 2015
Lake effect snow flurries as I drove to the swimming pool today.  It was 17 degrees.  On the way back to the Inn there was this huge orange ball in the blue sky.  Oh...the Sun is Shinning! I swam for an hour, now I need a nap!
We are having home evening at the Brighton's this evening.  Pictures later.
Have a good week everyone and remember to hug your children and tell them you love them!
Grandma Gene & Grandpa Arthur
Elder & Sister Bushman

TEMPLE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE

TUESDAY, 24 February 2015

I went swimming today.  Yay!  However, it was -12 degrees when I drove to the High School.  It was even colder driving back to the Inn after I had finished.

We cleaned and cleaned at the temple today.  We scrubbed down the front coat closets and the entry way wood and then waxed it all down.  I helped Sister Cahoon do tons of laundry.  We did the shower curtains in the locker rooms for both workers and baptistry patrons along with about 5 loads of other washing.  I did more chandelier sconces and cleaned up wheel chairs. We scrubbed 10 shoe mats that were full of snowy salt where patrons leave their shoes before entering the temple, on snowy days.  Elder Bushman washed and wiped down the marble surrounding the lower part of the baptismal font.  We ate donuts and cake and sandwiches and just had a great time Spring Cleaning  The House for The Lord. I helped clean out the umbrella stands and checked to make sure all the umbrellas were workable.  We threw two away and put about 10 in the give away bag.  It was a fun and exhausting day.  It really brought back memories of cleaning house for my Nana.  She taught me how to work hard and see great results.  Thank you Nana!  We returned to the Inn and I did laundry here while Elder Bushman went and gassed the car for our drive tomorrow.  Now it is vacation time, in the cold!
MONDAY, 2 March 2015
Things to remember from last week.
  We went with the Roberson family to Doug's Fish Fry in Cortland, NY.  It was yummy and so fun to be with our Sunday School Student Katelyn and her parents and 4 siblings.  They are the nicest family and we are going to miss them terribly.

We traveled to Long Island, NY to visit Elder Jeffrey & Sister Wendy Bushman.  They were so kind to us.  We watched movies, played cards, went to Institute class,  Played Ping Pong with the champ...Elder Jeff Bushman, Relief Society evening activity, Jones Beach, Copenhagen Bakery and Cafe and to the American Airpower Museum where Josie the Riveter worked past her 90's!  Thank's for the great visit.  I will forever be grateful that I watched "Ephriam's Rescue" this weekend.  I have hope again.  It snowed most the time we have been gone, but it wasn't as cold in Long Island.  Elder Bushman taught about the Atonement in Institute.  Both Elder Bushman and I learned again from his knowledge.

Aren't they a cute Missionary Couple?

It was interesting to be on tour where so many planes and war decisions were made in this area of the United States.  This Museum was very informative.

Elder Arthur Bushman would make a great pilot!

 Elder Jeffrey Bushman looks a little calmer...this plane was so noisy inside.  As you can see on the side 12 targets were right on during WW II.  Sad part of war memories.

 This poster took my breath away for a minute.

Wendy was a great hostess and took us to Jones Beach so I could get some sea shells...we had to pry them up from the icy sandy beach, but I got some fun shells & we got to see the Atlantic Ocean and the sun shone and the wind blew.

My Dad's sister Idona lost her husband, Scott Gene Nickell on February 26th.  They live in Roy, Utah and have been married almost 58 years.  Bruce Nickell, their 2nd child, lives here in Palmyra, NY.  So sorry for your loss Bruce.  We hope all goes well at your Dad's Service and that you all have peaceful memories.  Our love and prayers are with each of you.

March 1 was my little sister Cindy's Birthday.  We hope she had the best birthday ever.  She lives in Pocatello, Idaho and we understand it was snowing on her birthday there too.  Love you Cindy!

We had a great Sabbath Day in Cortland Ward yesterday.  Of course it snowed all day yesterday.
Brother and Sister Lawrence invited us to their vintage home for dinner.  They have a lovely home and fed us a great supper.  Their home is over 100 years old. They have the Elders residing in an apartment in the upstairs of their home.  That was fun to learn.  Brother Lawrence will be retiring soon and their lives will be changing.  They have a 5th wheel that will soon become their second home as they travel the US.  Thank you for your kindness and friendship.  We are so thankful we have gotten to know you two better.  They are an awesome couple.

Brother and Sister Leyburn surprised us with a departing gift.  We have had their two daughters in our Sunday School class and have loved getting to know this family.  Their son is hoping to have Elder Bushman perform his marriage before we leave.  His fiancee lives in Cape Verde, Africa and has applied for a visa several months ago...so far she has not made it here to begin her new life.  We sure hope it happens soon.  Thank you, so much, Brother and Sister Leyburn for the gift.  We will treasure these items always.  Doesn't Michael do such beautiful work...love these pens and vase.

We took a detour on our drive Saturday and went past Harmony, NY where the Church is building a new visitor's site.  This is where Emma and Joseph lived when times got difficult in Palmyra.  They lost their first child here.  Joseph had several revelations here and kept translating the Book of Mormon.  They are rebuilding the home that Joseph and Emma purchased for $200.00 on 13 1/2 acres of land.  The Aaronic Priesthood was restored on the banks of the Susquehanna River here and JOHN THE BAPTIST directed Joseph to baptize Oliver Cowdery, and then Oliver to baptize Joseph & to bless each with the Aaronic Priesthood.  Before John left he explained that the Melchizedek Priesthood would also be restored again soon.  From this site the blessings of The Lord were restored.

The new visitors center will be built in the new Harmony Ward Building.

The sky was a beautiful blue as we drove here.  It was still about 20 degrees outdoors, but we were thankful the sun was shining as we looked at the Priesthood Monument...just in case we never return to see the end results of this site.

As we drove home yesterday the sky was gray and it snowed all the way back to Palmyra...and is snowing as I write this.

If our plane can leave Rochester, NY, in the morning, we are on our way to our Grandson Leif's baptism.  Oklahoma is cold too, so I guess I will wear my snow boots home!  We hope each of you have a great week.  We are so thankful that the temple is getting cleaned up and prepared for another 6 months of service.  It is quite the experience to help clean The Lord's House.  We are grateful for all these experiences.

We received a beautiful picture of our Granddaughter Hannah with her Dad Troy on their Daddy-Daughter dance evening.  Love you both!

Remember to tell your children you love them.  Be kind and remember who you are.  Hug's to each of you.

Elder and Sister Bushman

Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene