New Beginning

THURSDAY, 4 JANUARY 2016

Today is a NEW BEGINNING for our friend Dee Bithell.  He is in surgery as I write this.  It looks like we will be at the OU hospital at the same time.  I have four more days to go till my surgery.  Are we having fun yet Dee?  Our love and prayers are with you this morning.  (Dee was in surgery for 7 1/2 hours.  I heard from other friends he is already walking the halls of the hospital...Feb. 6, 2016..Our love and prayers are still with his family.  I will visit with him after my own surgery.  This stage of life is interesting.

Last Sunday evening we shared dinner with our two youngest children and their families.  I am so thankful for those get togethers.

It takes more than one photo to get good pictures of everyone, right?  Ha!

Our youngest granddaughter was in sorrow because her parents made her eat her dinner.

Grandma Gene slipped her a napkin and told her to spit in it, but she said, "no I must obey my parents".  Good job Rachel!  

Silly dinners that get a grandbaby so upset!

The beautiful flowers that Sister Stowell sent are still beautiful.  My daughter-in-law Allyson sent me a sunshine care package and it had this scarf in it.  This is the same color of yarn that our Seminary Class has to remember that the scripture stories are not yarns...I love this crocheted reminder!  Thank you Todd, Allyson and children.  Love you!

Our Wisconsin Granddaughter sent us these drawings...good job Hannah!

A couple of our granddaughters are participating in the New Beginnings program for Young Women of the Church.  As I listen to the programs they are participating in I keep thinking of the surgery I am waiting to have.  This too is a New Beginning for me.  I have all the meds & drinks ready for my surgery next Monday.  They are a New Beginning of learning to be a patient..yucky.

For those of you that used to ride in this family wagon in your younger years....I thought you might enjoy seeing how Grandpa Arthur has used it this winter.  We have enjoyed many good fires in the cave with this wood supply!

As I watch all the snow around the nation I decided I need a better attitude about the leaves that keep appearing in our garage.  I get the joy of cleaning up these fall leaves all winter too.  Never ending.

Last Monday evening we had our Home Evening with the Hutto's and Sister Newman.  We studied the Conference talks given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks.  The first was last April, "The Parable of the Sower" :
"It is up to each of us to set the priorities and to do the things that make our soil good and our harvest plentiful."

The other talk given in October 2015 was so good for me to review right now.  Thank you Elder Oaks!
"Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ"
"Because of His Atonement, the Savior has the power to succor—to help—every mortal pain and affliction."
"One day all of these mortal burdens will pass away and there will be no more pain (see Revelation 21:4). I pray that we will all understand the hope and strength of our Savior’s Atonement: the assurance of immortality, the opportunity for eternal life, and the sustaining strength we can receive if only we will ask, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
"Where can I turn for peace....
Who, who can understand?
He, only One."

Thank's Hutto's and Mary for the great discussion we had about these two conference talks.
Mary also shared a box of books for me to read and this great odor eliminator spray.  Ha!  My husband, grandchildren and children thank you.  We have already used it several times!  I am loved especially when I'm not stinky!

Saturday, 6 February 2016
So this week my granddaughter Cecily is still eating jello and pudding.  She got a dry socket from her pulled wisdom teeth.  We hope you feel better soon, Cecily.
Our grandson Brandt had to get blood samples for his dr. appointment next week.  He suffers with bowel conditions also.  He and his dad called me on "Face Time" last night.  He showed me his little arm where they took blood.  He is such a brave boy.  We love you Brandt.  His dad was watching a "transformer" movie with him.  You are the best dad ever Eric!  Love you and your family.
Our daughter in law was a sponsor for the Russell Dougherty Elementary school Valentines Dance for our granddaughter Rachel and our grandson Cannon.  Great job Sarah...it looked like all had a fun time.  I asked Sarah how she is feeling..she just had surgery last week.  She told me she is a little tired...and yet she put on a dance for a whole student body, over 300 attended..Get well soon, Sarah, we love you!
Yesterday was our son in laws 41st birthday.  Happy Birthday Michael!  He spent the day and the weekend at the Oklahoma Mission of Mercy doing volunteer dentistry for people in the Oklahoma City area.  This is the seventh year he has done this on his birthday.  Thank's for your great example Mike, we love you!
This is a picture as Mike and Heather's family saying farewell to their van.  I think my daughter, Heather, received a new van for her husbands birthday!  Thank's for trading in this van for one more reliable, Michael.  We are so thankful your family will be safer now.  Its funny how attached we get to an automobile.  They have had many good times in their gray van.  Now they have a new car with
a NEW BEGINNING of car memories.

My last memory for the week is another NEW BEGINNING for the Bushman grandparents.  We have had many play sets in this yard for our grandchildren.  Our last swing was placed on a pole between two trees.  The grandchildren have had fun swinging there for many years.  We noticed, after the last ice storm, that the swing was becoming unsafe and the nails were almost through the pole.  Grandpa took the pole off between the trees and then removed the swing.  It is now sitting in the back of the pickup waiting for a new home.  Memories are a good thing, right?  This little plastic swing has brought many fun memories to our family.  Really, most of the grandchildren have outgrown it anyway.  Thank's little swing for all the adventures into the sky!

Well, I'm going to spend the rest of this sunny Saturday watching Family Discovery Day from Rootstech online family research.  I will index and arbitrate records as I listen and learn.  We hope you all have an extraordinary week.  Our NEW BEGINNING awaits.  Thank you, again, for prayers, texts, phone calls, flowers and prayers in my behalf.  We are staying focused as the winds of life blow this new trial our way.  May each of us be kinder, wiser and more aware of our family, friends and associates.  Remember this is the month of hearts and love.  Hug your children and grandchildren and learn to be patient. As I become a patient I too will be more aware of the goodness of all around me.  God Bless!  Thank's Grandpa Arthur for your love and support too.  You are the best of the best.  We thank, in advance, Doctor Gary D. Dunn and the Surgical Staff and Associates at the OU Medical Center and the Stephenson Cancer Center Colorectal Oncology Clinic.  As we follow the example of Jesus Christ, "He will guide us safely home again!"

Hug's always,
Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Gene
Arthur and Gene