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