CLEANING

TUESDAY, 25TH AUGUST 2015

Today Grandpa Arthur took it upon himself to un-plant our New York tomato vines.  They had grown, produced and then died.  I kept wanting to leave them there as a memory of our stay in Palmyra, but alas, the time has ended.  So fall officially has begun on the Bush Man Cave Porch.  I suppose time will bring sweet memories of our friends at The Palmyra Temple, but the tomato plant brought great, vivid memories each time I looked at the plant.   The tomatoes were yummy too, just like the Thursday Evening smorgasbord at the Palmyra Temple!   I was interviewed by Bishop Christensen on Sunday about serving in the Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple again.  He will send in the paperwork and I will begin serving there before the year has ended.   Thank you Brother and Sister Flint for keeping our memories of Palmyra New York alive through the summer!

Grandpa Arthur has already got all his paperwork into the temple.  He begins serving on the third week of September.  He will be doing the day shift.  He is also going to be serving the 4th week of each month on the evening shift.

Grandpa Arthur also bought himself a new toy.  It has kept him busy for several days now.   He bought a power washer!  It uses gas with no ethanol...so we had to drive to a certain gas station after Seminary to fill the gas can.  This is some of the grime that caused the purchase of this item.

 Nice looking toy, or the cleaning machine!

The finished product on the porch...lots of mold gone!

 The gazebo also got a great power wash.

 The whole building totally changed appearances!  Nice to see the beautiful wood again.

He also cleaned the car...and I drove all over dirt roads trying to find a sister we visit teach...the car is dirty again...

While Grandpa has been cleaning I have been studying.  Grandpa Art taught Seminary on Monday.  I am teaching on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Grandpa is finishing the week on Thursday and Friday.  You would think I could just read the lesson and ponder how to present it.  Not so at this age.  I studied 6 hours on Monday for Tuesday.  I studied another 6 hours today for tomorrow.  After I decided to read some of the new Ensign for September and saw a article for "How Seminary is Elevating Learning".  After reading this we got an e-mail from the Seminary headquarters stating that we need to give an assessment test soon.  They sent the test, which we need to copy for our 25 students!  I also saw this article in the New Era.  I'm not sure I can download the picture.  Can't seem to delete the video I tried to download, but here is the page from the New Era:

Anyway, this year not only are the students going to learn a lot about the Old Testament, but their 

Old teachers are going to give tests and learn along with them.  A quote Joseph Smith said to his mother, "I have learned for myself", applies to our class this year.  Make sure you all read the articles in the New Era and Ensign in September...and then help the children and grandchildren with all the questions they have of the principles and doctrines of this gospel.  The Lord is quickening the learning process too.  These are great times before us even if the economy says otherwise....be wise!

THURSDAY, 27 AUGUST, 2015
Grandpa Arthur was sick during the night.  He was to teach Seminary this morning...I grabbed his outline and headed out the door at 5:30 AM.  I had purchased a new gizmo that connects the tv to the ipad.  Today was an excellent day to try and test this.  The lesson on "The Bible" went well.  I also learned which school each of our students attend.  Thank's seminary students for your help this morning.  Remember to keep each others backs, brush your teeth at least twice a day and acknowledge each other when you pass in the halls of the school.  D & C 82:10..."I The Lord Am Bound..."
FRIDAY, 28 AUGUST 2015
Cleaning up the classroom before we left the Edmond, OK LDS Ward building this morning was quick and peaceful.  The room is "tidy" and ready for Sunday meetings.  We and our 26 students survived our first real week of Seminary Classes...sort of.  This made 7 days..."On the 7th day The Lord rested."  On this 7th day we gave a pre assessment test on the Old Testament.  The headquarters in SLC, Utah requested this test be taken soon.  How much do each of you know about The Old Testament?  Is CLEANING a part of these pages?  I stated that tomorrow morning I was sleeping in.  One of the students said he is working early Saturday morning and Sunday Morning at Crest Foods.  Do you remember when?  Be gentle on your children and give them extra hugs this week.  They carry the world on their shoulders already.  We are already grateful that we are getting to know these fantastic youth...the leaders of tomorrow.
In the evening we drove out to the Dakota & Shantell Christensen Atwood wedding reception.  It was held at the Christensen Lake Property by Piedmont, OK.  It was a beautiful place and a perfect evening to have this reception.We loved that in the field by the lake, the cattle were grazing.

 The sun was just setting over the lake when we arrived.

 They had a great reception line.

 They had several of their family in the line.  Both come from large families.  They were married in the OKC Temple earlier that day.  They were setting a great example for their siblings!

SUNDAY, 30 AUGUST 2015

During our Sacrament program, Jason Snavely, one of our former Seminary students, was sustained as the 1st Counselor in the 7th Ward.  Now that was a pleasant surprise!  You make us feel old Jason, but we will support you with all our minds and hearts.

MONDAY,  31 AUGUST 2015

It was, on this day, in 1967 that I was blessed to be sealed to my siblings and parents in the Idaho Falls Idaho Temple.  Elder Howard W. Hunter met me at the Salt Lake City Airport with the paperwork so we could accomplish this great gift to our family.  My father had passed away in 1965, so our Bampa Nalder was a proxie for him.  Not quite a year later Grandpa Arthur took me to the temple and we were married there on 9 August 1968.  A lot has happened since that day in 1967, but the feelings of that important day have remained in my heart and mind.  I thank the powers that be that have allowed me to know, with certainty, that our family can be together not only in this life, but in the life beyond also.  The power of the priesthood is real and President Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God.  I hope each of you can learn this truth for yourselves also.  Hurrah for Israel!

We love this temple by the river.  It is closed for renovations till October 2016.

Perhaps we will take a trip there on our 50th wedding anniversary to see the "new interior"!

We taught a great class this morning...I have a feeling our blog is going to be less informative of our future days.  Just know that Grandpa Arthur and I are very blessed to be relearning about the Old Testament and the messages for our day and age.  We are thankful we are teaching this year.  We love the Seminary Students.  We are blessed beyond measure.  Have a great day and a good month in September as we begin the fall season.  Soon, we will be experiencing the CLEANING power of snow and ice.  Let's hope for a gentle cleaning.  Meanwhile enjoy this "fall".  My next surgery, on my legs, is Wednesday morning...all your prayers are requested...thank you!

Hug's to all.  Remember to tell your children you love them.  

Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene 

Arthur & Gene

BELLS

MONDAY, 17 AUGUST 2015

We had a great home evening with our old group, The Bithell's, Hutto's and Mary Newman.  Eric took a picture of us all as we finished our evening discussions.  I think we are definately forever friends.    Mary enjoyed standing up on the fireplace, at a place we went for dinner,..she is finally the tallest. ha!

Here we are in our home.  We hope that we can all enjoy health and strength this year.  We definitely have aged since we first became "empty nesters"!  We miss Mary's husband Gary and his quick whit.  Mary learned well from him and can catch us all if we don't keep our guard up.  We missed him on this special day.   

TUESDAY, 18 AUGUST 2015

I can't swim because of surgery, so I am supposto walk.  This morning I walked about our area.  As I was walking the drive way, the bell at St. Monica Catholic Church began to ring.  It is located through the fields and a couple miles away.  It pealed for about over a minute and I marveled at the wonder and beauty of this sound.  I am thankful for the bell and the person who programs or rings it.  Thank you for making us remember Jesus Christ as we begin our day.

My neighbor has horses and they were patiently waiting for their breakfast as I sondered by.

 I wandered to the rural road where our mailboxes are.  When you look where to turn to get to our home, you must find the mailboxes and turn next to them.

 I passed these beautiful flowers that are also my neighbors.  They were glowing in the sunlight.

I finally came back down the road to the home cave.  We have a huge tree that is next to our driveway.  I think of it as my Mary Ann tree.  

 There is a rock under it....with a rabbit hole!

 Then I have the weather vane at the end of the drive...anyone want to go fishin'?

I know I'm home when the rooster appears!

Grandpa Art and I have an ongoing war with the hose in the front yard.  I use it to water my flowers and Grandpa uses it to supplement watering the front lawn where the automatic sprinklers miss.   The other day I went to water the flowers on the porch and Grandpa had it on the lawn.  I undid it from the sprinkler and did not reconnect it when I finished.  Grandpa Art didn't see the sprinkler when he was mowing the lawn and mowed over it.  This is the result.  I felt bad.  One of the many mistakes I feel bad about in this life time.  Poor sprinkler!

WEDNESDAY, 19 AUGUST 2015

Our Cannon had his 8th birthday today.  Happy Birthday Cannon!

 Yummy cupcakes!

THURSDAY, 20 AUGUST 2015

Today we rang in the school year with 25 students attending our class.  We have been asked to substitute for the teacher of the 11-12th grades also, so many of them were juniors and seniors.  We had 11 students that were 9th grade freshmen....so this is pretty close to the class size for us in September.  They were mostly on time and we closed a bit early so they could indulge in cinnamon rolls and milk.  I found most are not interested in breakfast and one ate a peanut butter sandwich (without sharing with the others) as class began.  Sister Murray brought two bags of candy bars.  We will share those with the class tomorrow...after our lesson of course.  I wish many of you were there with us.  This is going to be a great year as we study The Old Testament...this is a test, I repeat this is only a test. "Ring Out Wild Bells".
This is a picture of two ol' retired teachers that have been recalled into service!

We went to dinner with our son and daughter & her husband...they wanted to share a great restaurant they have discovered in Edmond...it was really good.

 The sour dough on the bottom of the dish is to roll the vegies in...yes, it was so good!

FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2015
HAPPY 88TH BIRTHDAY PRESIDENT MONSON!!!
Our Seminary class had 21 students there on our second day.  It rained while we were teaching and it is a nice cool day in Oklahoma today.  This is a picture of some of our class while they were wandering in.  They are the best!  The room was quite full by the time we had the opening pray.  Hurrah to each of you that made it to Seminary this week...we can do this!
I spoke of my days at O. E. BELL Junior High when I began my 8th grade year.  I went to my first Seminary class.   It was taught by Brother Thomas in Idaho Falls, Idaho Seminary building across from Central Junior High.  We had to walk from one junior high to the other to get to class.  We went to five years of Seminary then.  Our fifth year was an extra when we were Seniors...it was not required...but after four years it was a good habit.

SATURDAY, 22 AUGUST 2015
Today was one of those most memorable days of our life.  Today we had two of our most dearly loved grandsons get baptised.  Our youngest son, Ryan, baptised his son Cannon and his nephew Brandt.  We spent the day in celebration.  "Ring out Wild BELLS!"
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Ring out, wild BELLS - Christmas Poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Our "Boy's" dressed in snow white suits....clean and crisp.

The program consisted of these two grandson's sisters and Grandma Lorraine.  It was perfectly planed and the granddaughters did the best ever.  Thank you for this lovely memorable day, each of you.  We are blessed to have each of you in our family.  

Later, Sarah, Ryan's wife organized a wonderful lunch for us all...meat balls, mac & cheese, salads, fruit and on and on...yum.  Ryan cleaned up after..We raised him well!

 Yum!

I add this picture just because.  Our grandson Brandt had his arm around his cousin, Leif, and Ryan had his arm around both these nephew's.  It touched our hearts.  This photo will always remind me why family is so important.  We love our family!

Then the Hansen's had us all over so the cousin's could swim, and movies and games.  It was a good family day.  The younger group entertained us with their costumes.

Then just for fun I have some memories of my older son being here this week.  Eric had his teeth cleaned by our son-in-law, Mike!  Love this picture of the both of them.

And last, I ran into these pictures of our Eric when he was just over a year old.  He was on the roof of the Olpin Morturary in Provo, Utah.  We worked there while Grandpa Arthur was getting his master's in Geology.

I feel we traveled full circle this weekend...my how the years move on quickly.  We loved this firstborn babe of ours and still do.  The BELLS rang loudly as he rode these stick horses around the  roof of that morturary...and then when Grandpa Arthur graduated we moved on too!

 Fun days of BELLS AND WHISTLES!

SUNDAY, 23 AUGUST, 2015

This brings us back to another Sabbath Day.  All the company is traveling back home today.  The boys will be sustained as members of their  perspective Ward's this morning.  Thank's for all the family support this weekend.  May all your travels be safe and may you feel loved, whomever you are and where ever you live.

May each of you "Feel My Saviors Love", and remember who you are, "I Am A Child Of God".

Hug's now and always,

Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene

Arthur & Gene   

STAKE

THURSDAY, 13 AUGUST 2015 

WE COULD SURE USE A STAKE BUILDING IN THE CENTER STAKE OF ZION...EDMOND, OKLAHOMA....the Promised Land...just sayin'

So the reason for this request, we got our keys to the Edmond Ward building and the library within. 

One week until the classes begin for Seminary.  Today was the first day of school at Deer Creek Schools.  Edmond begins school next Thursday. "D" day for Seminary too.  We will be teaching 9th graders in the Young Women room.

Just thinking a  Edmond Stake & new building would be great too...don't want to perish over this request.  

2 Nephi 26:31

Hurrah for Israel!

Grandpa Arthur finally put blinds in our kitchen window that are easy to open and close.  We had window shades that drove us batty for 30 years.  They had STAKES on the bottom we pulled down on! Grandpa said, after all these years, he has softened. It only took 35 years.  For those who lack faith, enjoy this kindness and may your problems become blessings too.

  Here is our new look that keeps the sun out in the morning light.  I wonder if it keeps the cold out too?  We will soon see.

My wonderful youngest son came over on Tuesday evening to help his dad give me a Priesthood Blessing (for the healing of the sick) before I went into the hospital on Wednesday.  He went straight to the OKC, OK Temple, with the youth baptismal group, right after work.  He then came here to honor my request.  I feel loved.  

Then at 10 AM, Wednesday, Grandpa Arthur and I arrived at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital Vein Center.  Dr. Hennebry and hosptal workers operated on my left leg and lasered & fried my aching vein.  Yah..it kind of hurts today.  They told me to keep walking.  I feel pretty good even with a mummified leg.  Ha.  I wear this ace bandage for 48 hours and then back to the beautiful, hot, elastic hose!  Only three more procedures and one leg to go.  Blessings to each person on the hospital staff for your help.  

Dr. Hennebry has a great operative manner.  He is from Ireland and has a good accent still.  He spoke of Irish Setters and their hunting of Grouse birds as he poked and prodded my leg with needles.  He has an interesting way of distracting his "awake" patients!  One of the nurses asked if they taste like 

chicken. Ha!  It is a pretty grouse bird!

FRIDAY, 14 August 2015
Last evening Mary Newman dropped in to visit and brought me Chocolate Cookies!  Thank you, Mary, they are yummy.  She has always been such a good example to Art and me.  She is so full of Charity, Hope and Faith.
So today is a great and important day.  I COMPLETED READING THE BOOK OF MORMON!  Our Ward began a 100 day reading challenge.  I started on June 15, 2015.  I finished early!  I hope now to be a part of Moroni's closing council as he exhorted us to come unto Christ.....and strengthen thy STAKES and enlarge thy borders forever....(Moroni 10: 30-31)
Thank's for the challenge Bishop Christensen.  This was the best time ever to remember the teachings in the Book of Mormon....now that Grandpa Arthur and I have been called to teach Seminary.

Thank's to Joseph Smith I learned a great deal about Our Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement as I read the Book of Mormon this time.  Thank you, Joseph, for translating the golden plates.  

So now on to the Bible and The Book of Genesis.

"In the 'beg inning' God created the heaven and the earth."
This should be a great Trek...I think we have 9 students enrolled so far.
Join us?

We begin this year in the "Pearl of Great Price"  Just as Moses set apart Aaron for this great task of preparing a people for the ordinances and blessings of the temple, we too have been set apart with these same keys.  Our task as teachers is to prepare the youth, their families, and ourselves and others for eternal life with Our Father in Heaven & qualify us all for the blessings of the temple as we rely on the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ.    The STAKES hold the tent for the tabernacle in this photo.

Grandpa Arthur's sister Maylene and her husband Darrell are spending the evening with us.  They have been traveling out West to visit children and family also.  They reside in Houston, Texas.   They had their granddaughter Alaina with them.  She was a delight to meet and get to know better.  Darrell is also teaching Old Testament this year.  We will learn & teach together.
We had a gospel discussion around the pool while the children swam!

SUNDAY, 16 August, 2015
My leg feels good.  The pain has dissipated that I suffered with in the evenings.  I am so excited to know this surgery is working.  I know that I am old and other things like arthritis will continue to haunt my final years, but I feel like I can once again "run and not be weary and walk and not faint".
My father's cousin Dale gave me this picture of my younger sister, Linda and I, when we were in our youth.  As I look and ponder upon the beauty of this age I am overwhelmed that Dr. Hennebry is renewing the strength in my legs.  Our lives are filled with miracles.  Thank's be to God for education and this modern day!  I look forward to the day when my sister Linda can also be healed physically.
I have faith to know this will happen.

Our blessings abound in our family too.  This next weekend we will be blessed to attend the baptisms of two of our grandsons.  Cannon brought me this invitation this week.  Isn't this just the best invitation.  So thankful I have been blessed to reread The Book of Mormon.  Cannon looks just angelic in this photo.

Happy Eighth Birthday next Wednesday Cannon!

Here are some "takes"!  YEP, that is our grandson Cannon!  We love you Cannon!

MONDAY, 17 August 2015

Our oldest son Eric came home last evening to spend a week with us.  He brought his pets with him!
He has a headgehog named Spike...ha...he told Cannon's parents that he was bringing it to Cannon for his birthday...we shall see, personally I think our son is fond of the little criter!  Spike is in hibernation this morning, late night travels.

Then there is an aquarium with two beta fish that belong to our son's children...I wonder if they will travel back home too or join the Hansen fish....we shall see.

Meanwhile, our son is working in our kitchen.  His office is in Austin, Texas.  We are blessed that he can travel and also work here too.

So we are going to enjoy our week and hope you do too.  The STAKES are high this week as we begin teaching...A new era is beginning.  Smile everyone.  We hope you feel loved and have the blessing of rest and peace in your life.  Remember to tell your children you love them.  Welcome them home with loving arms even if they bring their pets with them!  Hug's to each of you on this great day.  We feel good...partook of the Sacrament yesterday to begin this week.  May The Spirit of The Lord be abundant in our every day experiences.
Always,
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene
Arthur and Gene