THE YEARS OF 47

We began this week pondering the fact that we have been married for 47 years!  Sunday, 9 August 20 1968 was our wedding date.  It was a glorious day in 2015 to remember when.  We spent Saturday Evening with my sister Cindy.  We drove to Salt Lake City on Sunday morning.  We drove "the loop" in American Fork Canyon and saw Mount Timpanogos from both sides.  It was a beautiful day to drive.

 I took this picture for my Granddaughter Cecily.  Do you like Grandpa's mountain outfit Cecily?

We flew from OKC, OK to Salt Lake City, UT on the 3rd of August.  As soon as we landed we drove to Martins Cove, Wyoming.  Grandpa Arts younger brother is the Mission President there.  There were about 500 youth treking that day.  

 REMEMBER!

 Got to love President & Sister Bushman.  Thank's for putting us up for the night.

 A different kind of drinking fountain.

 Crossing the creek.

 A great fireside and dance was planned...the rains came down and everyone went back to their tents for a muddy, wet authentic pioneer evening.

 A movie crew was on scene with mules and oxen to hook up to these wagons.

 It was easy to find President Bushman's residence.

 We were greeted by a jack rabbit.  There are a great supply of them around the camp.  They are a real detriment to the camp because they like to eat the insulation on the missionaries cars wirings.  I suppose the pioneers didn't have that problem with their hand carts in THE YEAR OF 47.

We left early on Wednesday, 4 August 2015 and drove over to Rollins, WY & just missed seeing our nephew David Hilliard.  We had a good visit with  his wife Jessica.  Her mother and sister and nieces were visiting from Boise, Idaho.  It was great to visit with them.

Then we drove on to Ogden to visit with my cousin Leon Gardner and his wife Sharyon.  On the way we went through a canyon and saw The Devils Slide.  It was impressive.

We spent the night with my cousin Leon.  They took us to see the new Ogden Temple grounds.  The theme of this temple is The Wild Rose.

Leon has been blind for several years so it was awesome to listen to him describe the temple grounds. 

 The top of the door knobs have roses.

The fountain water forms rose petals as it ripples over into the water..the whole grounds were beautiful.

Leon's wife has lovely flower gardens at their home also.  These delias reminded me of President Cahoon's garden in New York.  I tried to grow some in Oklahoma, but the gofers ate my bulbs...sad.

The next morning on the 5th of August we headed up to Logan to visit with Grandpa Arts cousin Linda Hartman.  On the way we drove up to Bear Lake lookout.  Can you see all the humming birds in this picture?  There were about 20 of them, but I only got a few in the picture.

The Lake was beautiful as was the weather and the cool breeze that was on the lookout.

We got to visit with Linda at her home for awhile and then she treated us to her Relief Society Social that she was in charge of for her Ward.  

 Thank's Linda for sharing such a fun evening with us.  She has a talent for making everyone around her happy.

Next morning, 6th of August, we headed for Benida by Preston Idaho to visit with some of our former missionary friends.  Verl & Peggy Christensen let us spend the night at their farm.  They invited us to dine that evening with other missionaries that lived close by.  I was so excited to see the Welcome to IDAHO!  

The minute we arrived at the farm, Grandpa Art had to drive Verl's 1964 Mercury.  

The men decided the trunk could hold lots of people too...ha!  

Grandpa Art helped cut wheat riding in the combine also that afternoon.  He really enjoyed that.

Verl's parents ran the Benida, Idaho post office out of their home for 50 years.  The government closed this office a few years ago so now the old farm house has little postal boxes in its entry way...awesome! 

We had a lovely dinner at Deer Cliff Inn, by Cub River,  "The Most Romantic Spot in the West".  It was beautiful & delicious food too.

Thank you, Christensen's for arranging this get together. 

 The Lee's came and they both serve in the Logan Temple now.

 The Bodilys had a grandson getting married the next morning, but they came and visited with us too.  

 The Binghams came and they also serve in the Logan Temple now.  Thank's to each couple for taking the time to visit with us.  It was a very memorable evening and Art and I feel blessed!

A highlight from this visit was that I learned that Grandma Genes Uncle Lanny and Aunt Bonnie Nalder were called into the Logan, Utah Temple Presidency while we were on our mission!  They have a little over two years to go in their calling...so anyone who attends the Logan Temple, please give them hugs from the Art Bushmans.

As we drove back to The Christensens farm, they took us to their time share where they entertain their family and can hold all of them at once.  It was a beautiful spot and we sat on the porch till the sun went down.

The next morning, 7th August, The Christensens took us around their farm.  They are hard workers!  Then we drove up to Bear River where a massacre of a Shoshone tribe happened...so sad.

 We drove around the Preston area and saw President Bensons home and the Oneida Academy where President Lee and Benson were class mates.  We saw where President Lee taught school.  We saw Matthew Cowleys home.  We decided great people have been raised in Preston, Idaho!

We left around noon and drove to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho.  It sure had changed since I swam there in my youth.  It was beautiful.  

We drove on to Pocatello, Idaho to my sister Cindy's home.  We helped her repair some things at her home and then we went to dinner with her and her son Colton.  It was so great to see them both!

The next morning, 8th August, we left early and we drove to Shelley, Idaho to see some of our childhood memories.  I hadn't been back since my sister Linda's husband, Dennis, funeral.  We went

to the cemetery to see his headstone.  We took this picture at our parents grave.  

 We went by the home that our mother built in Shelley after our dad passed away.  It looked very nice.  Cindy said she thinks a school teacher lives there now.  That is good!

We stopped in Idaho Falls, Idaho and visited my Aunt Laraine Pratt.  She is 9 months older than me.  It was only 9:30  AM.  She was so good to visit with us that early.  It was great to see her too.

Then we drove on to Rexburg, Idaho where our Wade family reunion began at noon.  This was the best day ever.  It was so good to see all my cousins, Aunts and Uncles.  Thank you Max and Deanna for hosting such a good reunion.  Many memories were made and remembered.  

Uncle Billy & Aunt Joyce Wade with Gene and Cindy

 Uncle Clair Hillman and other cousins.

 Dale & Ronnell Breckenridge...Dale is Dad's 1st cousin.

 Uncle Max, Uncle Rex, Cindy Wade and Gene Bushman

Many of my Uncle Fred Wade's family.

 Max and family serving us a brunch breakfast.

 Max and Deanna's grandchildren did a program for us.  They have lots of talent in their family!

 My Uncle Rex and Uncle Max were born after THE YEARS OF 47!  They are younger than me.  They both are the best Uncles ever.  Thank you for your examples and courage and determination.  Grandpa Arthur and I were so thankful to attend this reunion and remember why we are on this earth.  Family means everything and we have great families!

We returned to Pocatello and spent the night with Cindy.  She took me to one of her friends weddings.  It was held in her parents back yard.  It was a beautiful evening for the ceremony and the bride and groom were very happy.  The bride was beautiful.  I pondered the beginning of another family.  Life is good.

SUNDAY, 9 AUGUST 2015

We drove to Salt Lake City, Utah and pondered the years of 47.  We know we will not have 47 more years of marriage in this life, unless the millennium carries us through...

We thank our Pioneer family for the years of 1847 and their faithfulness.  We decided to drive through American Fork Canyon.  The drive was more than beautiful and we could even open the car windows and let the breeze blow through.

Finally we drove to the Salt Lake City Cemetery and found many of the Prophets and our own relatives graves.  Our prayer is that we can remain faithful and true to each other and to those whom we dwell with and those who have gone before.

  We did so much in such a little time.  We missed visiting with many family and friends along the way.  We kept you in our hearts and minds.  To each of you we thank you for your goodness and examples.  We celebrated in Utah THE YEARS OF '47.  We now will be forging a new frontier.  Please join us in our progress, our heritage, our history, our legacy.  

Remember to tell your children you love them.

THE YEARS OF 47 have been good to Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene.  We are blessed because we know each of you.  Blessings to you'all from our Oklahoma Home.  

Arthur & Gene

Grandma gene & Grandpa Arthur

"And Yet Thou Art There" (Moses 7:30)