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