WE ARE MODERN-DAY PIONEERS

MONDAY, 20 JULY 2015

Today is very, very hot outside!  We are blessed to be modern-day pioneers with air conditioning!

I just had a grandson, Luke, visit.  I asked if he had asked his mother if he could visit.  He assured me he did.  He had a drink of Kool-Aid and some Oreo cookies and was telling me how his day was going...when we got a text asking if he was down here....he didn't ask.  He said, "I told her I was coming over here".  So we packed some of my caramel candy for his family.  I told him to give that to his mom to sweeten her up when he got home...ha.

This is a picture of Luke and his mom and sister, Lily, swimming during scouts last week.  He is the baby of the family and a cute little pill!

Home Evening at the Hutto's this evening, with Mary Newman also.  We are studying the talks by Elder Hales in the last two Conferences.  The Hutto's daughter Rachel was visiting with her three little boys...so fun to see them all.  We had a lovely evening and Karen fed us a dinner fit for royalty, as usual.  Thank you Hotto's for the Home Evening.  Every time I eat Karen's dinners, I fall asleep during our discussions because I am so comfortable!  Thank you for your words of wisdom Elder Hales.  Our love and prayers are with you always.

Do you remember watching Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon in 1969?  This was before we even had children....such a historic modern-day Pioneer story!
TUESDAY, 21 JULY 2015

We had thunderstorms all evening, so I swam in Heather's pool today.  The rain has brought the temperature down outside, so life is a little more livable today.
Heather requested I take Luke to his reading class.  I took Lily with me and we sat in the car for an hour while Luke had his lesson.  I read some of my blogs to Lily and then she played her favorite music to me, on my phone...noisy!
As we headed home I passed this gate...turned around to show the children this bird!  Lily took a picture with my phone.  How awesome is this picture?

Heather said she wanted to get a peacock, but they are too loud and annoying.  They sure are pretty! 

This made for a beautiful rainy day excursion.  I bet not many Modern-Day Pioneers have Peacocks in their yards.

THURSDAY 23 July 2015

This is another memorable day in our lives.  On this day in 2009 we were called to the OKC Temple Presidency.  I can't believe it is 6 years ago and right now we are not serving in the temple.  It is so hot outside, I'm glad we can just stay in the Bush Man Cave today.  I've finished indexing for today and now will go read the Book of Mormon...for our ward quest of 100 days.  I'm in Alma and just got to the stripling warriors...good hot topic for today.

FRIDAY, 24 July 2015

PIONEER DAY

Some days are more important days than others.  This day will be ingrained in Grandpa Bushman and my heart and brain forever.  We went to the temple to be with Zach and Carrie Tanner as they sealed their 5 adopted children to them.

This young couple chose to be foster parents a couple of years after their marriage.  They fostered a baby boy for over a year and a half or so.  The parents of this little son worked to be worthy to retain this son.  Much to the sorrow, and peace of this young Tanner couple, the parents were blessed to get their little son back.  A few months later the Tanners were asked to foster a new baby boy.  When they went to pick him up there was also a 3 year old and a 2 year old sister of this little baby boy that needed foster care...so this cute, faithful couple brought home three babies instead of one.  Then another year and a sister joined these four and last Christmas another sister joined the other four.  They still have three children in diapers.  Oh that brings memories to this mother of five children!

Today this young couple brought those beautiful babies to the OKC Temple and they all were sealed together for all eternity...on pioneer day.  The sealer was Zachery Tanner's grandfather Dale Tanner.  We served with Grandfather Dale and Grandmother Danice at the Palmyra Temple.  Every time I look at this photo it makes me weepy.  This was such a lovely Pioneer Day! 

"Behold your little ones" 3 Nephi 17:23 

Memories of being in the temple with my mother Sharlene and my Grandparents years ago brought peace to my heart today.   Zach's other Grandparents are The Price's.  They live by Shelley Idaho and Zach's mother, Chris, had my mother Sharlene as her English teacher in Shelley Idaho High School and her parents knew my Nalder Grandparents.  Chris's Uncle Dee was my seminary teacher years ago!  Are there coincidences in this life?  Only when you don't believe in temples and eternal families.   The sealing room was full today of angels from beyond and angels of today.  The cute little boy above..who never talks...shouted Yay! Yay! Yay! when this sealing was finished today, and look at that peaceful sleeping baby girl in her mother's arms.  I felt heaven close today, thanks to the Tanner family and their love and obedience to Our Heavenly Father's Plan. Congratulation's to Zach and Carrie Tanner and their five children, and Happy Anniversary! Our love and prayers are with this cute family as they "Carry On".

This is a picture of the Tanners with their grandparents and great grandparents & the children's Uncles.  Some of you may know Carrie's parents, The Huff's.  We have been their home and visiting teachers a few years back.  Tobias was our Bishop.  Cynthia was a home study seminary teacher last year.  As soon as they left the temple, this morning, they were moving to Heber City, Utah to care for an Uncle and Aunt.  They are such good people.  So many stories and such lovely families.  

 We invited Dale and Danice Tanner to our home after and Grandpa Arthur showed off his Bush Man Cave.  I showed them many of Malcolm's drawings since Dale is a true artist himself.  Then we feasted at Braum's for lunch.  They left and are driving to Missouri to spend the night with one of their Cousins.  Thank's for taking the time to visit with us.  We miss our Palmyra friends and co-hearts.  Aren't they just the cutest couple?  Safe travels to all the Tanner's & Price's.  Thank's for the lovely, lovely memories.  Thank's to each of you...we are modern-day pioneers!

"ALL IS WELL, ALL IS WELL"

SUNDAY, 26 JULY 2015
Good Sabbath Morning to each of you!  Grandpa and I had a lazy day yesterday.  I did swim in the early morning.  Every since we came home from our mission, the clock in the pool has been broken...in fact it gives the time later than it is...kind of Eastern Time!  I finally asked a lifeguard why this clock isn't being fixed.  I learned the pool is owned by the local High School.  Any maintenance that must occur must go through the Superintendents office and the High School must send in the repairman.  Well, I suppose we must wait until school starts to get the pool timing right.  Ha...  We hope all of you are choosing to spend your time wisely!

We are Modern-Day Pioneers...we have the best heritage ever.  Our time on this earth is limited.  Let's makes sure we use it wisely.  It has taken me years to overcome bitterness and sadness.  I hope my example can keep my own posterity from waisting years on revenge and anger.  May you choose to do good and to let your family know that you love them.  "Watch your words...continue in faith"  Mosiah 4:30
Remember the Pioneers who have gone before us.  They are doing all they can to not have any "empty chairs" in our heavenly reunion.
Blessings to all.  Always remember you are loved more than you can even imagine!
Hug's now and always,
Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene
Arthur and Gene
a couple of Modern-Day Pioneers
 Bush Man Cave in the Midst of The Promised Land

SH...QUIET

Sh...Quiet
After a noisy reunion, it is interesting to be home in the Bush Man Cave where quiet reigns.
  While we were in Alabama my cousin Leon phoned and sadly told of his mothers passing.  My Aunt Anna Lee Lawson Gardner passed away.  I loved this Aunt and heard from her each Christmas for many years.  Years ago as a Seminary teacher I read in the D & C about a Shaker named Ann Lee.  Because of this lovely Aunt of mine, my interest perked and I read all I could find about Ann Lee.
Section 49 explains Joseph Smith's vision concerning Ann Lee.  Have you pondered Ann Lee's life?   I know that my Aunt Anna Lee was a great example to me in my youth and will be an inspiration to me in the here after.  Thank you for your faith and example Aunt Ann Lee!   Our love and prayers are with her and her family.
This is a picture of Uncle Duane and Aunt Anna Lee Gardner.

TUESDAY, 14 JULY 2015
SH..this old lady has a license to drive!  Good thing too, I've got places to go and people to see.

 I realized my drivers license was going to expire on my birthday, in September,  this year, so stopped at the tag agency and renewed it.  Now that I am a senior citizen, it was free.  It will expire when I turn 73!  Sh...Quiet...I feel old with the renewal of this license.

We spent the afternoon doing sealings in the temple...and  also had our paperwork turned in to our Bishop so we can be called to serve in the temple again..so when we need faith to teach the Old Testament!  Sh...be still.

  WEDNESDAY, 15 July 2015
President Russell M. Nelson was set apart as President of The Quorum of The Twelve Apostles today.  Blessings to him and his family as he puts on this new mantel.

THURSDAY, 16 July 2015
Today is the day two of my parents passed away.  This is a picture of their headstone that is in the Shelley Idaho Cemetery.  They both passed away on the 16th of July twenty three years apart.  Signs follow those who believe and we do believe we will see our parents again after the test of this life is completed.  David & Sharlene are buried in a cemetery with beautiful pine trees surrounding the area.  "I hope there'll be pine trees in heaven"


Our Grandson Brandt Cooper Bushman was also born on this day in 2007.  He is a gift and a delight to his Grandparents.  He turns 8 on this birthday and has chosen to be baptized with his cousin Cannon in August.  Here are some recent pictures of Brandt.  This is a picture of Brandt with his dad and sisters on our Alabama vacation.

On the way back from vacation, Brandt slept!

This is a picture of Brandt on his birthday today.  Happy 8th Birthday Brandt!
The 16th of July is an important day in my history.

SATURDAY,18 July 2015
The first Seminary meeting was attended by us this morning.  Yes, we are a little overwhelmed this afternoon.  This is a new era and Grandpa Arthur and I are a little behind on the technology.  It will be a good calling for us to learn new tools and procedures.  Perhaps we will become all knowing by the end of the year!  Just wait and see.

Yahoo!  Sh! Quiet.  I got my new keyboard...no more copying and pasting the "w"!  Life is good again.  Do you realize how many words use a "w"?  I love this keyboard.

SUNDAY, 19 July 2015
We drove to Clinton OK this morning to speak in their Sacrament meeting concerning our mission experiences.  The OKC Stake set up a Spanish Group within this Ward today.  It was so neat to be there and see this development today.  The Spanish Group will have their own Sacrament Meeting, Priesthood & Relief Society,  but will still meet with the Clinton Ward for other meetings and all activities.  The new Group President, Relief Society President and Elders Quorum President all bore their testimonies in Spanish.  Of course, I didn't understand a word spoken, but the Spirit was strong and I felt the joy of these Saints.  It was a great experience for Grandpa Art and I.
I pondered that Jesus Christ spoke Hebrew when He was on this earth.  Someday we will all speak the Adamic language again.
 "Because it is generally held that a language reflects its culture, possibly the erosion of the purity of the Adamic culture after Babel led to a concomitant loss of purity of expression in its mirroring language." JOHN S. ROBERTSON (Encyclopedia of Mormonism)

After the Sacrament Meeting a sister, Letitia Arney grabbed me as I walked past.  She said, "When you stood to talk, and I saw you, you look just like my Grandmother.  I am in shock how much you look like her."  She pulled up Family Search and showed me her Grandmother's photo.
This is Sister Arney and I.  She wanted to send this photo to her dad.

This is a picture of her Grandmother Enid Manwaring Burton

I was glad I could be an instrument in The Lord's hands today.  This sister felt the presence of her Grandmother, whom she loves, and I gave her the hug she desired from her Grandmother.  This was a touching experience for both of us today.  I am pondering if I knew Enid in the pre-existance. I definately will be looking her up in the here after!

After we arrived back home in Edmond, we drove to the Edmond Building where we met with President Howard Haralson.  He and Grandpa laid their hands on my head and set me apart to be a Seminary Teacher this coming school year.   President Haralson promised I would have the health and intellect to accomplish this calling this year.  That part of the blessing has given me peace to accomplish this task.  Then President Haralson placed his hands on Grandpa Art's head and set him apart to be a Seminary Teacher also.  His council to Grandpa Arthur was to bear his testimony often to the youth and to share stories of his own life's experiences in our classroom lessons.  He also promised that Grandpa Art would have the health and strength to accomplish this calling.  He promised us both that this calling will bring peace to us both & that we will be preparing the future leaders of the church for their rolls.  Ok, that is good enough for us.  Now we will get busy and prepare for these 9th graders that are going to have to listen to two old fogies everyday!  Ha.  Life is good.  Thank you for the blessings President Haralson.  Our love and prayers are with you as you "carry on" in your Stake responsibilities.
President Haralson and Art, two great Priesthood holders.

Sh...Quiet..."Old Testament Teachers"

A couple of days ago I decided to make some homemade caramels.  Darla gave me the recipe in Alabama.  So I got the ingredients and cooked up a batch.  I stirred this batch for three hours before it got to the medium hard ball stage....it took forever, and then the next day I cut them up in squares.  Really I had to have Grandpa Art cut them because the candy was too hard for me to cut.  Anyway, if you visit in the next month or so, ask for some of this yummy candy and I will gladly share!  Ha!  Thank's for the recipe Darla.  The caramels are yummy, but I think I will leave the cooking up to you and Darrell.  They are extrodinaire cooks...both of them.

Sh...Quiet this peaceful blog is ending for this week.  We pray you are all doing well and that your life experiences this past week were good.  We are thankful for our family and friends.  You make our life worth living.  May you have a great coming week...remember you are loved.  Ponder your heritage this Pioneer week and the Grandmothers and Great grandmothers who would hug you today if they could.  I will gladly hug you for them.
Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene
Arthur & Gene 

4th day of July 2015

"The Title of Liberty"

America

TUESDAY, 30 June 2015

Today is hot, hot, hot.  

Yesterday I got a phone call from my daughter, Heather, I need a favor?  She needed me to take her son, Leif, to the office.  He has had a tooth ache for a few days...so Leify and I drove to his daddy's dentist office and Leify had to have his tooth pulled...now that was a sad day for that baby molar.  I think this experience aged me...Leif recovered quickly!

Grandpa Arthur and I are trying to get our minds and hearts ready to travel to Alabama for a reunion this fourth of July next.  All of our children and their children will be there but our son Troy and his family.  Last evening we spoke with him on the phone.  Troy,  know you are loved and will be missed.  Thank you for being such a faithful and good son.  You are a great example to your brother's and sister's.  You and Amy are our light in this tough world.  Have a great 4th of July and know our next reunion will include your family too.  You are loved, always remember that.

4th of July

Bushman Reunion July 4th till July 11
GULF SHORES ALABAMA
Our children that attended:

Grandma Gene and Grandpa Arthur with 12 of our grandchildren

This is heaven!

Our "school of fish" family, all 21, that were able to attend!
Happy Fourth of July from the Bushman family!
MONDAY, 13 JULY 2015
we drove our car to Alabama.  As we drove through Mississippi we drove past the town of Seminary, Mississippi.   President Boyd D. Packer passed away that same day.  On Sunday the 5th of July, Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene were sustained as Early Morning Seminary Teachers in the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Stake.  Our class will begin at 6:15 AM, Monday-Friday.  Our assignment is to teach the Freshman Students in the Edmond Schools and our classroom is in the Edmond OK Meetinghouse.  The curriculum is The Old Testament.  Don't you just wish you could be in our class to see how Grandma Gene & Grandpa Arthur teach The Book of Genesis!?  It should be an interesting school year.
I found this council by President Packer about Spiritual Crocodiles...very appropriate for our day and our new calling.  Enjoy and act accordingly.

 

when we first arrived in Alabama, we stopped and visited with Grandpa's brother Darrell and his wife Darla.  They took us to alligator alley where we saw alligators like this one.

As we were dining with Darrell and Darla we learned about Elder Packers death and I pondered his talk he gave years ago, Spiritual Crocodiles.  That is why I included it here.

This was the first time Elder and Sister Bushman had eaten Oysters!  That was just a fun experience in itself.  Thank's for sharing our family reunion with us Uncle Darrell and Aunt Darla.  All of us enjoyed being in their presence.  Thank you both for your examples and faithfulness...and for being so cute when you ate your first oysters...fun memories.  Thank you for the banana bread, 4th of July cake and all the snacks and treats you shared plus books to read and a tile to light our home!
I spent the week pondering Elder Packer's life.  He was a great teacher in Seminary.  I hope now that he is on the other side of the veil that he has compassion on our Seminary class and gives us a little help...just a request from Sister Gene to the higher up's!

President Boyd K. Packer
Happy 4th of July to our Nation as we celebrate this great land and our Spiritual Teacher's departure.
God Bless America
Our love to President Packers family and to President Nelson as he steps into President Packer's
shoes.  "My House is a House of Order".   D & C 132:18

Our family enjoyed being on the Gulf Shores going to the beach.  It was a great week of memories.  Our only regret was that Troy and his family were not with us.  You were missed!
Eric turned 45 and Allyson turned 40 last Friday, so we got to have two birthday celebrations along with our National Birthday too.  Happy Happy Birthday to Eric and Allyson.  May your year be filled  with health, peace and joy,  we love you both!

Every day  we walked the beach, and found all kinds of sea shells.  Every day Allyson had a family activity that the children loved.  Thank's for all your efforts Allyson.  There were several games that involved candy that got the children's attention.  She gave us mason jars to paint and put our sea shells in...mine is on display in my kitchen where the sun can shine through it.  The evenings  were the best time to be in the gulf.  Fun memories were made, the noise level was profound!  Lots of pictures were taken, food eaten and swimming, movies and games.  Eric provided movies and Ryan always had the table games going.  Thank you to our talented family members for a good reunion...
Grandpa and I feel so blessed.

On our way home we stopped and visited Grandpa Arthur's sister, Maylene  & her husband Darrell, in Texas.  Maylene made Arthur a pineapple pie, cinnamon rolls and regular rolls...Grandpa is still enjoying these great foods.  Thank you for letting us visit and enjoy your hospitality, Call's.

May each of us remember we live in a Promised Land.  July 4th is a great day to celebrate, we hope each of you said a special prayer for our Nation and our Leaders.  The confederate flag was removed from the State Capital's and our hearts turned to the goodness and kindness of the American Citizens.  May each of us strive to be good citizens to this The United States of America.  May the teachings of The Book of Mormon be a reminder of the promises made to Our Land.  May Moroni continue to protect our heritage and families.  Remember to tell your children you love them.  Give them hug's and confidence as they face the challenges of these growing up years.  Be alert to the Crocodiles that try to take away the peace in your life.  Our love and prayers are always with each of you, our family and friends.  Pray for us that we can be good teachers this year and not become pillars of salt!
Hug's always,
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene
Arthur and Gene