PART OF THE INN CROWD?

Sunday, 7 December 2014

First Presidency Christmas Devotional set the tone for this Christmas Season

 Thank you to each speaker for your words & the Choir & Orchestra for the beautiful music.  

"We Thank Thee O' God For A Prophet"

Merry Christmas to all.

Monday, 8, December 2014

Six sets of Missionaries set out for Corning New York this morning.  We were going on a tour of the Corning Museum of Glass.  We had a delightful time together.  These couples are such a delight to be with on this excursion and serving in the temple together also.  Thanks to each of you for your friendship.

 We thought we might purchase the world in glass till we saw the price!  This was a exceptional piece of glass Josh Simpson!

 We were fascinated with the fiber optic demonstration and we bought this fountain tree to use as our Christmas Tree this year.  I wonder what The Brother of Jared thinks about the glass fiber optic light, created by Corning Glass, in this land of promise he traveled to? #BookOfMormon Ether 3:6

 This glass tree was awesome!

 We liked the light display on this tree.

 Grandpa was waiting for everyone to finish shopping.

 This is what grandpa looks like through a glass bulb filled with water!

 A glass penguin that we watched a lady create at a "Hot Glass Show Demonstration".

 Elder Bushman and I walking toward a curved section of glass.

 The group when we first entered the museum as were were deciding when to go to lunch, of course.

 Dave and Karen Neeley won a beautiful blue glass blown serving dish.  We watched the glass blowers create this masterpiece.

 Merry Christmas from Corning Museum of Glass.

 Elder Bushman looking through the magnifying lenses &....a submarine glimpse of the City of Corning outside the museum.

Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Today is my Aunt Laraines 69th birthday.
Happy Birthday Aunt Laraine!

We spent the morning serving in the Palmyra Temple.  I served in the office and Elder Bushman served as sealer.  I ended up phoning SLC Temple Department about our telephone still not working.  After we got the problem fixed the Brother that helped me asked if I would do him a favor?  I said, "of course".  He told me his son was on a mission here and was coming to the temple on Saturday.  He said, "would you please find him and tell him hi from his Dad"? "Also tell him I love, love, love him very much".  He choked as he said this and I could tell he was teary eyed.  Just in case I miss this young Elder, I wrote a note and attached it to the clothing list this son is borrowing when he arrives at the temple.  This is one reason that serving in the temple brings me such joy.  This devoted father made my day!
We learned that President and Sister Cahoon were not going home when the temple closed as they were to be the Presidency for the evening session also, so we asked if we could treat them to a Christmas Dinner...Bushman style.  Of course, I forgot to take pictures, but President Cahoon drove us all out to the Village of Newark, New York.  We went to Wendy's where Elder Bushman and I had hamburgers with all the trimmings including fries.  President Cahoon had a baked potato...no wonder he is so trim.  Sister Cahoon had a small salad smothered with chili!  It looked delicious...I just found what I will order next time.

President said he only ate a potato so he could have dessert.  We headed to his favorite yogurt store next.  We all enjoyed a good amount of frozen yogurt...Elder Bushman ate the smallest...he is so not into mixing foods.  President and I had a huge bunch of whipping cream on ours...now he knows how to eat yogurt.  Thanks for having lunch with us!  We will have to get together again for New Years!  Merry Christmas!

   We spent a peaceful evening in the Inn while the Cahoons worked off their lunch by serving in the evening at the temple! Aren't they just the cutest couple?  They both are hard workers too and they both enjoy skiing...and are headed to the slopes soon.  They have way more energy than me.  We pray The Lord blesses The Palmyra Temple Presidency, now and during 2015, with health and peace, as they serve in His House.

Wednesday, 10 December 2014
I had to remove ice from the windows of the auto before driving to the pool to swim this morning.  It started to snow when I was walking into the high school...this is promising to be a winter snowstorm.  It is beautiful.  We serve in the temple this evening, but for now we are warm and cozy in the Inn.
 I saw this thought provoking sign on facebook.  I wonder if it will count to be a part of the INN CROWD that serves with the STABLE FEW?  Ha!

The temple was closed because of the storm.  We are hunkered down in the Inn enjoying the evening.  This is a picture looking out the dining room window.

Stepping down the grand staircase to look out the front doors of the Inn.

Burr!

Looking at the Winter Wonderland!

We stayed up to watch BYU & Utah last evening play basketball.  BYU lost by only a couple of points...it was a great game, but we are in mourning today and needed a nap because the game didn't end till almost midnight New York time.  Sorry BYU...we still love you and will be rooting for you on Saturday!  Sister Westfall and Elder Bushman discussed the game tonight before serving in the temple.  They will be ready to cheer you on by Saturday.

Thursday, 11 December 2014
We drove, carefully, to the temple this morning.  It took Elder Bushman almost an hour to dig the car out and clean it off.  We received 18 inches of snow by this morning.    This is a bunch of snow that a plow cleared off in the temple parking lot.  I am mesmerized by the beauty of the snow...but it is too cold for me at this age!  Ha.

Elder John Neeley took this picture on the Hill Cumorah yesterday.

Friday, 12 December 2014
Jeffrey & Wendy Bushman spent the evening with us on their way to Long Island, New York.  They are serving a year long CES mission.  Thank you for visiting with us!

Saturday 13 December 2014
We served all day in the Palmyra Temple.  Elder Bushman preformed 3 sealings.  The McDonald daughter, formerly from Oklahoma, was also married today.  We learned her mother is a sister to Karen Nickell!  Some good friends, whom we served in the OKC Temple with, The Adairs, were here for the wedding also.  We had a good visit with them.  Fun. Fun.
I was also able to deliver a message to a missionary from his father.  The father works for the Temple Department in Salt Lake.  This young man was attending a sealing.  The father asked me to give him a Christmas hug and tell him his father Loves, loves, loves him.  It was a very tender moment for the missionary son and for me.  This father and son made the Christmas Season come alive for me.  I was so thankful that I was asked to deliver this message.  Blessings to each of them this Christmas while they are separated as the son serves Our Savior Jesus Christ.

BYU won their basketball game and the BYU Girls Volleyball team won their game and advanced to the finals!  Hurrah for BYU!
Sunday 14 December 2014
We had great meeting in the Cortland Ward today.  Steven, one of our Sunday School students, gave a great talk in Sacrament Meeting and we had a good lesson in our Sunday School class.  The Primary sang in Sacrament meeting too which was great.  I feel very humbled as I ponder taking the Sacrament the week before Christmas.  I thank Jesus Christ for #thegift of his life.  I feel very blessed to be serving this mission, at this time, with Elder Bushman.  Life is good.

We send our love to each of you.  Enjoy your Christmas preparations.  Remember to tell your children that you love them.  We certainly love each of you.  May Our Heavenly Father protect each of you as you prepare for the celebration of the birth of His Son.  There are only "10 sleepovers" till Christmas!

Hugs always,
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene
Elder and Sister Bushman

#ShareTheGift

Monday, 1 December 2014

Monday, Home Evening was with President Brighton.  He gave a powerpoint discussion about when the Palmyra Temple was announced.  The Winter missionaries had fun asking questions and we enjoyed, once again, listening to this discussion.  

Just a reminder what the temple looked like last spring.

This is a picture on Tuesday, 2 December 2014

This is the nativity just outside the gate taken the same day.  There were a few snow flurries right after we took this picture, but the grass is green and lovely.  There is a chill in the air however!

"Oh Come let us Adore Him".

#ShareTheGift

So to end our Tuesday, I made rolls.  Thanks to the Johnson's for the toaster oven that is big enough to bake them in.  Oh, I forgot I don't have a rolling pin so used a can to roll the dough...not bad in a pinch!

Wednesday 3 November 2014

I drove past the temple and the Joseph Smith visitors center on my way to swim this morning.  I obviously got the light in the nativity!

#ShareTheGift

 I love the decorated tree is by the street lamp...where it gets plugged in of course.

 Not quite the decorations in the Salt Lake Visitors Center, but it is beautiful to pass the Joseph Smith Visitors Center at 6:00AM!  "On Christmas Day" I shall pass this way again, "In the Morning".

We took the McGarrys to Clifton Springs for lunch at our favorite restaurant.  Elder McGarry is a rancher from Pingree, Idaho, so we also took them to the dairy farm where the cattle stay in the barn all the time.  I forgot to take a photo of us so snapped one when we all returned to the Inn.  We had a fun afternoon with them.  Thanks for going with us McGarrys!  It is great knowing they are our neighbors in the Inn.

We got a fun picture of our Grandaughter Hannah with her Polaroid Camera and Santa.  She has the funnest smile.  We know Hannah likes Santa!  We hope she gets what she asked Santa for this year.  We know she has been a good girl.  Hannah has a Birthday on 28th of December...she will be 15 years old.  We love you Hannah!

Thursday,  4 December 2014 is one of our busy days serving in the Palmyra Temple.  I was an ordinance worker all morning and a secretary all evening.  Elder Bushman served as an ordinance worker and a sealer so far this week.  We find the service fulfilling and felt The Saviors presence this week as we have been doing His errands in His House.  I was serving in the office with Sister Roundy and we needed to get a marriage certificate printed off.  We did not have all the information and the Assistant Matron was getting a little worried.  Sister Roundy had been there when this appointment was scheduled, so she knew the information we needed was somewhere in that important file.  As the work became a little heated I felt the presence of my stepfather Malcolm.  He used to double up his fists and say, "Do you want to go a "round"?"  Well, here I am serving with Sister "Round"y!  I found the whole experience so delightful...we got the certificate completed, as I called an SOS to Elder Bushman so all went well.  I am sharing this now...I did not share it during the heat of moment!  We went to take the prayer roll messages off the answering machine and we could not get it to work...ha...these are only a couple of the experiences that went ari' that evening, we had so many prayers floating through the office on that evening that we had a backlog!  I think Willard Bean was even bouncing around that office....Ha!  I love working with the dead!  We even had Sister Kruckenberg trying to help us fix the phone.  I just want to remember this night of serving with Sister Renee Roundy.  I'm sure we have many more memories to make during our last five months.  Where else could we enjoy the Holy Spirit so strongly?

The photos below are of Willard Bean while he was serving in Palmyra.  I know he enjoys looking down at all us Temple Missionaries.   Don't forget to help us Elder Bean...we don't get to serve 24 years here like you did, but thank you for setting the stage for this service!

Those of you living in the Palmyra Temple area, have you met Elder and Sister Roundy & Elder & Sister Kruckenberg & Elder & Sister McGarry?   Come to the temple and meet them. You are welcome always! 

Friday, 5 Dec 2014 

I talked Elder Bushman into going shopping for his Christmas.  We got a discount for friends and family at J C Penney where our son works...so off we drove to Victor and Eastman Mall.  There is a fun Merry Go Round in the entry.  I couldn't get Elder Bushman to take me on it.  Ha!

 We enjoyed all the decorations as we walked down to  the Penney's store.  It too was decorated so nice inside.  We spent the rest of the day in the Inn after running errands.

Saturday, 6 Dec 2014

We had a lovely, full day, serving in the Temple.  Our Cortland Ward Sunday School class came for baptisms in the afternoon.  I love being in the temple with such great youth.  Thank you for supporting the Bishopric.  We pray The Lords Blessings be with you always.

BYU won their basketball game! YAY!  We are looking forward to the Utah game on Wednesday and of course Elder Bushman is wondering how the Memphis Tigers will do with BYU as their opponent in the Miami Beach Bowl on Monday, December 22, 2014... our home evening!

These should be hot helmets in Miami!

Sunday, 7 Dec 2014

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 

Today was Fast Day.  Our early morning Sacrament Meeting was very good.   Sister Nita Stormann was called as the new Relief Society President.  She serves in the temple with us on the fourth Saturday.  We taught about The Second Coming of Jesus Christ to our Sunday School Class.  We discussed wars and rumors of wars on this Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  Then they combined with the youth and  had the computer class.  The Bishop as well as the Youth did a fantastic job and made me feel more like keeping this log of our mission...even though I know it is too detailed and perhaps boring to some, we will have a record of our days "that are passing like a dream". 

After church we were off to visit the homebound.  We went and saw Brother  Bill Moyniham who is still recovering from his heart surgery.  While we were visiting with him I sat in his wheel chair and his niece and her husband came to visit.  I stood to leave and they let out a gasp...they thought I was just visiting from another room!  

Next we went to the Carmans to give them the Sacrament.  Sister Jean Carman asked if we played cards on Sunday.  Brother Carman said the Young Men were on their way over to put bales of hay around their home and their daughters trailer as insulation this winter.  He asked if we would mind watching Jean while they worked...so we got to play a game.  Remember I am the Grandma that doesn't like games...and now I am playing cards with Grandma Carman.  Ha!   Jean was so excited to play.

 She also showed me that her Christmas Cactus is blooming.

 There were lots of blossoms on her plant.

 Elder Bushman was loosing to the girls!

 Their daughter Marie was helping outdoors with the hay.  It was about 25 degrees outside.

 The young men placed the bales and also moved some wood for the Carmans.  This was a great service project for this family who really needed their help, even on Sunday.

 Those hay bales were heavy and they stacked them two high.

 Farmer Gus Carman!

We left their home just before dark.  We passed this carriage on our way home.  The driver had to be chilled in the open air carriage.

On our way home I got on the internet and found St. Johns Catholic Church of Fairport, New York.  Our friend Patty was singing with their choir.  I got a good stream of the program, but without sound.  One of the songs they sang was Oh, Come All Ye Faithful by John F. Wade 1743!  

 Patty told me her father is on the front row.  Patty is on the second row to the back in the purple shirt for those of you that know her.  She was very excited to sing.  They did a great job...Merry Christmas Patty!  Maybe someday I can be privileged to hear the singing too.

To the close of this perfect Sabbath Day we will be watching the First Presidency Christmas Devotional at 8:00 PM.  We hope each of our children will be able to listen to the Prophets this evening.  Our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, served during WWII and had his life's goals delayed as did many men and women of that generation because of war.  I pray we will all take the time to pray for him and those who gave us this opportunity to enjoy the freedoms we enjoy this December 2014.  Then lets remember the sacrifices of Our Savior Jesus Christ as we celebrate His birth and the gift He has given us, that Gift of Eternal Life.

#ShareTheGift

"God Bless Us Every One"

Always, Elder & Sister Bushman

Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene