Friday, April 8, 2016

Family Get Together

FRIDAY,  8 APRIL 2016

It has been a few days since I have been able to concentrate on all the happening of the past weeks.  It also has been two months today since I had my Colon Cancer removed.  Life changed for Grandma Gene then.  No longer do my bowels function properly, so each day brings surprises.  This is a life changing event.  However, since my surgery day, I have been healing mentally and physically.  Grandpa Arthur just passed his colonoscopy, this week without incident, and the doctor said he can go for 10 more years before being checked again.  Hurrah for Grandpa Arthur!
Easter was celebrated and I knew that Jesus Christ would help me through this new adjustment to life.  I can still be the storyteller, at least for a few more years, of the Arthur Bushman Tribe.  I am so thankful for the example of Jesus Christ, our elder brother.  Because of his earth life we can live forever!  Thank you, Jesus, for the promise of a future Family Get Together.
The 186th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held last weekend.   President Thomas S. Monson announced 4 new temples throughout other parts of the world.  The building of these edifices make all that is happening in the world more meaningful. 
Sarah, our daughter-in-law and our granddaughter Brenna flew to Salt Lake City, Utah to attend the conference in person!
Grandpa Arthur and I are going to make the temple our focal point as we move into our 70th year of life.
We enjoyed having a few of our Family Get Together to watch conference with us!
Our most blessed days were before and during the conference weekend.  We had a Family Get Together with all our birth children.  It had been seven years since they all were together. It was a marvelous five days as our children bonded once again.
This is a fun photo taken at our son Ryan's house as he acted out being a triplet for our twin son Troy who's last visit to Oklahoma was seven years ago.  We love this silly picture, Ryan!   Ryan is our youngest son and our family blessing!  Our oldest son, Eric, was the photographer.  Great job Eric!
The Arthur V. Bushman Family Get Together.  The twin sons are the book ends.  The oldest and youngest sons next.  The daughter is in the center.  The old folks are sitting down pondering this great family we have been blessed to be caretakers for!
Our oldest son Eric with his grateful parents.  Love this son!
Double blessings came into our lives when Arthur Todd and David Troy were born into our family.  Love you both!
Grandpa Arthur has always stood up to these two sons.
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene enjoyed being in the twin club, "where God chooses the members".
We even are still smiling with these "double trouble" son blessings!
The Family Get Together with four sons and one daughter.  "T o g to the e to the t and then you add on her and that's together"!  (Once I was a Beehive)
We are a blessed set of parents!
Memories of four sons and one daughter.....
We have been blessed with five children.
The siblings still love each other...Hurrah!
All of our children except Troy have straight lines on their hands, go figure.  Eric and Heather have the "Turley" crooked fingers from their family history.    
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene compared hands too...."I have two little hands......"
I would combine my photo's in a wonderful display like this, but all our children are way more "tecky" than their parents.  Love these photo's!
Ryan took a great video of Grandpa Arthur.  We still don't understand how he took this video...Ha...we are blessed with smart children.
Grandpa Arthur and many of the men folks at our Family Get Together.
Grandma Gene with some of the women folks at our Family Get Together.
Our Granddaughter Hannah came on this vacation with her daddy, Troy.  
Some of the Grandchildren at Grandpa Arthur's cave at our Family Get Together.
Hannah enjoyed collecting eggs from Uncle Mike's chicken coop.
Hannah carried the eggs home with her to Wisconsin.  She was certain they would hatch.  Her parents "donated" them to Farmer Bill so they could have a good home and he wrote Hannah a note thanking her.  We love our Hannah.  Thank you for visiting Oklahoma Hannah!
Some memories of the rest of the family during this time.
Elijah Ewing Bushman turned 13 on the 5th of April.  This is a picture of him, in Wisconsin, opening Grandma and Grandpa Bushman's birthday present.
This is our Grandson Cannon having his picture taken with his school class.  We love you Cannon!
Our son Eric with his three children in Austin.  We love this picture of you and the children Eric!
The bluebells are in bloom in Austin Texas.  Todd, Allyson and family took pictures among the flowers!  We love this picture of the Todd Bushman Family Get Together
It is test week at our Grandson Leif's elementary school.   His mother, Heather, made a sign for him.  This will greet him before his exams tomorrow...thumbs up for Leif.  All the family loves our Leif! 
A Family Get Together for our Grandson Leif during testing days! 
At the close of our Family Get Together,  Luke fell fast asleep.  We figure you probably feel the same way if you have read this blog...Ha!  Oh what great memories we have of our Family Get Together.  Thank's to each of our children for making this possible.
Our Stake Presidency changed while we were leaving on our mission.  When we returned we collected our "Stake Memory Trophy" from our service.  Note the dates.  Our Stake has our mission being completed April 2016.  We will enjoy our last peaceful weeks of April and our days of being missionaries.  "This too shall pass".  It takes a Village to serve a mission.  We now belong to the Oklahoma City 7th Ward.  Change is good.
"Family Get Together"
Love your children and make sure they are safe and secure in your homes.  They are our future.
We are their caregivers.
We pray for each of you, our family and friends, in your joys and sorrows.  Be kind and remember that you are loved.
You are a promise!
Please remember Grandma Gene in your prayers as she adjusts to her new poopy life.
Each day is a blessing.  Enjoy your days.
Hug's to each of you,
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene
Arthur and Gene







Sunday, March 20, 2016

COUSINS

March 2016
Grandpa Arthur is getting the tree's all cleaned up along the road.  He has filled the pickup at least 10 times this week...way to go Grandpa!!

COUSINS

This has been COUSINS week.
Allyson and Sarah baked bread for all the COUSINS and we grandparents.
They ventured into Walmart with all 8 grandchildren...brave souls.
Allison bought orange shirts for everyone to enjoy competitions together.  Our two youngest  COUSINS just finished exercising. 
Time for the basketball tournament!
Oh, Grandpa was the kite flying teacher.
Thank's Grandpa for helping me get my kite up to the sky!
We can do this with the winds help.
The kite has a great tail too!
COUSINS visiting Grandma Gene
Grandma Gene we brought you donuts for breakfast...wooo...can I have that one?
Thank's Leif.
Thank's Cannon.
Thank's Brenna.
Thank's Elizabeth.
Thank's Rachel.
Thank's Luke.
Thank's Allyson...you're the best COUSIN sitter ever.
Elizabeth loves the Hansen's dog Mia!
COUSINS at POP's!
St. Patricks Day outfits to protect from COUSINS pinches!
COUSINS basketball tournament.
Allyson and Sarah fed us lots of fun meals...Grandma Gene made deviled eggs a couple of times.

I had to get a picture of Uncle Todd and Uncle Ryan with Grandpa Arthur.

Of course the photo wasn't complete till we stopped Uncle Mike and got him in the picture too.

SUNDAY, 20 March 2016
It has been a busy week.  Eric and Cecily have traveled to Guam, Tokyo and Hawaii and Heather and Lily went to London and Norway.  Sarah made a quick trip up to Utah for her Uncles funeral.  Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene played with all the grandchildren here, and went to the Tanner wedding reception last evening.  Nothing like a wedding to remind us how this week came to be!  We saw, on facebook, our niece Susannah had a baby boy last evening. Congratulations to Adam and Susannah.  This makes four children for them.  Now their three little girls have a baby brother to dress up with & baby...too fun.
Grandpa Arthur has watched lots of basketball games this week and Grandma Gene watched the Provo City Center Temple youth celebration, "Beauty for Ashes".  Today the Provo City Center Temple will be dedicated.  Lots of COUSINS will be blessed to enjoy this House of the Lord.

I'm still in a terrible patient mode and having some good and bad days...but that is to be expected when you have had colon cancer surgery, right?  Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene are looking forward to Sacrament Meeting today.  We hope each of you can enjoy this Sabbath Day.  We will enjoy pondering The Savior's life this coming week before Easter.  May each of us be thankful for His life, teachings and brotherhood.  Blessings to each of you as this COUSINS week closes with many great memories.
Be kind to your families and to each other.  We are so grateful for each of you.
"God bless us, every one!"
Hug's always,
Grandpa Arthur & Grandma Gene
Arthur and Gene