Week of July 21, 2014

Busy Week, again!

It was wonderful to have Tesha and the kids come stay with us from Sunday to Saturday while Joe went to a conference in Puerto Rico. We still kept very busy with missionary work, yet had some good times with Tesha and the kids. Here are pictures of our week:

We have been trying to go in to this bookstore ever since we came. It is hardly ever open and when it is we are on our way to an appointment. We lucked out and finally saw it. Cute store, very small, but many books. A bit pricey for used books.

Conner, in my primary class, turned 8 on Sunday and was baptized on Sunday after church.

So good to hold Grandkids again:) Ben is growing!

Tesha and Leah

Zachary

At the park

Yeah! Story time

Tesha helping me make purses at Achievement Days. We invited the only Beehive to join us.

Tesha and kids join us for Taco Tuesday - one more to go.

They have been so great for this branch who never has activities.

I have always wanted to get ice cream from the ice cream truck for my kids/grandkids.

Now you can all enjoy it through Benjamin. He was so excited. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of his face. It was great. If you come visit us, I will get you one too:)

Four months old and growing:)

My friend has 13 guinea pigs. We just had to go and see her.

We had such a beautiful day at the temple.

This is us with our new converts who did baptisms for their family.

I love you all very much.

Quote from Jay Macfarlane, who I had a dream about yesterday. 

"A testimony that controls my very soul causes me to serve."

Have a wonderful week. I'm going to get letters sent this week, hopefully tomorrow.

Week of July 14, 2014

President Wirthlin's gathering with the Senior Couples

All the Senior couples in the mission were invited to Alexandria Bay and Boldt Castle on the 17th of July. Because we came from so far, we also stayed at the mission home with the couple from Albany.

We had a wonderful time. Google Alexandria Bay and 1000 Islands to read about it. There really are over 1000 islands. We also went to Canada on the Ferry ride. Here are the pictures. It was wonderful to meet and visit with the other Senior Couples and especially have the opportunity to visit a bit more with Pres. & Sister Wirthlin.

 Boldt Castle. George Boldt, owner of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City wanted to build this for his beloved wife, Louise. They owned several islands here and loved to come. He was going to give it to her for Valentine's Day. They were working on the castle when she died of illness. He called off all work on the castle and never finished it. He never set foot inside. They began restoring it in 1977. There is still a lot left to do, but they take one room at a time. 

Part of the 1000 Islands are on the Canadian side. This picture of the Canadian flag is for, let's see, one of my grandchildren is obsessed with his love for Canada. Can't remember who:) 

 There were homes on most of the islands. Their definition of an island is it has to be completely surrounded by water and have at least 1 tree on it.

You can't it, but one of these islands is on the US side and the other on the Canadian side. The international boarder goes right in between the islands and there is bridge connecting them.

Had to leave, so no more time. Sorry about not writing. I will try and write a letter this week. 

The gospel is the path of happiness and completeness for all of God's children. 

I know it is there, and He let's us choose. 

Week of July 7, 2014

I have been so busy, so here comes several blogs at the same time.

It is so hard to get to the internet and have enough time to do what I need to do. I get pictures downloaded, but then don't get it finished and sent. So here are activities for the past 3 weeks:

The counselor in our Branch Presidency and his wife are having what they call "Taco Tuesday" where people can come and just visit. They provide the meat filling and shells, everything else is pot luck. It has been absolutely wonderful. It is so good to just see people visit and form relationships.

Library activity with the girls, Emily and Charleen, age 11 1/2

We took Pauline and her 2 daughters, Emily and Charleen, to Palmyra and met up with the Young Women who had been to camp all week. We toured around with them at the Joseph Smith cabin & home and the sacred grove. We saw the pageant that night. It was wonderful to see them interact with the YW, since they will be 12 in January.

We also went to the place where the Book of Mormon was published. It was very interesting to see all that went in to getting it published. Next door there was an LDS bookstore, and guess what they had!

Back home and here is an interesting cob web in the bushes outside of our door.

Bro. Kruppenbacher at age 89 has it all worked out that he can still mow his lawn.

The pageant was absolutely amazing. The special effects were wonderful.
As we have taught and are here in the mission field, I am reminded over and over of how the gospel has been here off and on according to how righteous the people are since the days of Adam. We are now living in the fullness of times and the last days before the Savior will come. He has restored His gospel, as in previous times, but it will not be taken again from the earth.
We are very blessed to live in this day, but Satan is working his hardest to deceive all he can.
I am thankful to be a part of His work. I love you all.

Week of June 30, 2014

A very busy week, but not many pictures

The flowers here are so beautiful and plentiful. There are lilies everywhere:

Elder Neus, our new Elder, had his 19th birthday. This is at the home of David and Kelly Brittan

The day of his birthday was District Meeting. Dad made zucchini brownies and we got some ice cream to go with it. We all enjoyed.

Fireworks at Cairo with the Kosorek's, the Brittan's, Bro. Bulich, and the Elders

Sunday afternoon we drove to the top of the Catskills with the Kosorek's and the Elders to Mary Aull. It was good to finally meet her. She is 82 and lives on Long Island with her daughter but comes up here in the summer time to get away from the city.

A boat on the Hudson

I love you all. Have a wonderful week. We are going to the Hill Cumorah Pageant on Friday, so we should have some good pictures. I have always wanted to see this pageant, so I am very excited.

      I am so thankful for such a full life and the prospects of the future growth in light and knowledge:         D&C 76:5-10