Beautiful Baby, Spencer Norman West

We are ecstatic! Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 10:01 am, our 12th grandchild, Spencer Norman was born in Boise, Idaho to Kirstin and Jefferson West. He is a fuzzy, little blond, weighing 6 pounds 7 ounces, who measured 20 inches long. We think he's an extra-adorable "Xeroxed copy" of his big brother, Johnathan. We are so happy he is named after his great-grandfather, Norman Rossell. Dad has lived an incredible life and will be an inspiration to Spencer through out his life. We are grateful he is healthy and that he has four older brothers and one sister that are so thrilled he has joined our family! He will fit right in with all of our darling grandkids we love so much. His Mom and Dad tell us that he's the caboose! Thanks for adding so much joy to our lives. Welcome little Spencer! We love you already!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

We are charmed by the ivy and vines climbing trees and brick in Brooklyn neighborhoods. Spring in New York is so divine. Actually it's not just in Brooklyn it's everywhere. The new green foliage takes our breath away!

Magnificent Manhattan!

Beyond the river to Manhattan we see the Empire State Building from every angle. We were headed home after teaching in Brooklyn and are continually thrilled by the impressive New York skyline.

"Best Wishes" Hermana Cowgill!

Remarkable service and dedication to the NY New York South Mission is what Sister Cowgill will be remembered for by the saints through out our mission. We were invited to a farewell party her companion, Sister Richie, planned in her honor last Sunday evening. Many members of the Woodside Ward were anxious to hug and congratulate her. She has served as an example to us in every way, How we will miss her. She is heading home to Colorado and then will return to BYU in the Fall. We look forward to seeing her after completing our mission. Also, Elder Rencher is excited about his transfer where he will open a new area in Staten Island. We'll miss him too, but we are excited that Elder Loftin is returning to the Astoria Ward to finish his mission. He's awesome! Best of luck to all of our marvelous missionaries who will transfer tomorrow.

Sagamore Hill

We teach two classes each Wednesday, the first at Queens College, and the second at Little Neck. We have time between to study, find, shop, and last Wednesday we wanted a quiet place to study together. I remember Mom and Dad taking me to Sagamore Hill when they were serving their mission here. It is the beautiful home of our 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt and his family, at Oyster Bay. It has an amazing history, and I enjoyed Roosevelt's description of his glorious home. "The house stands right on the top of the hill, separated by fields and belts of woodland from all other houses, and looks over the bay and the Sound. We see the sun go down beyond long reaches of land and of water.....We love all the seasons; the snows and bare woods of winter; the rush of growing things and the blossom-spray of Spring; the yellow grain, the ripening fruits and tasselled corn, and the deep, leafy shades that are heralded by 'the green dance of summer'; and the sharp fall winds that tear the brillant banners with which the trees greet the dying year." We landed just in time to experience,"the blossom spray of Spring." The cherry blossoms were sensational! What a delightful reminder of the beautiful world God has created for us. It was all but deserted and we were able to imagine what it was like years ago as a working farm with six lively children roaming on 95 acres. Of his children he wrote,"They often went barefoot...They swam, they tramped, they boated...they coasted and skated in winter, they were friends, with the cows, chickens, pigs and other livestock."

"Today when they sang, "Happy Birthday" they got it right!

These missionaries are full of surprises! A moist chocolate cake with chocolate shavings and a cherry on top surrounded by candles, ice cream, and the cutest homemade card decorated with the NY skyline and signed by all. They are so thoughtful and we are so lucky to serve with them. Who could wish for more?

Chas's 64th Birthday Adventure!

Friday, April 11th, was a momentous occasion for us. It was Chas's 64th birthday and we wanted to celebrate. We took a day off from teaching, meetings, finding, cooking, dancing and played hard in New York City! It was our first chance to site see and we took it. We parked our Malibu Barbie at the church parking lot and headed to the Woodside Station for a fast ride on the 7. It was a bit chilly and cloudy but for April a great Spring day. For the first time in years Chas wasn't directing a clogging championship and we were missing our kids as they usually were home for those events. With few plans we boarded the train and began our adventure! I shall never forget what an outstanding day we had.

The New York Public Library.

Our travels began at Fifth Avenue and West 42nd Street. It is the perfect walk for book-loving people-watchers. This magnificent building is the greatest legacy of the city's Gilded Age. The marble beaux arts palace beloved by scholars, schoolchildren, and ordinary readers was conceived in the 19th century. It opened May 24, 1911 and is used by 10 million people a year. The library's spectacular backyard is Bryant Park, a beautiful garden and past site of the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1853-54. The palace itself, went up in flames in 1858. Thank you Helen Lamprecht for teaching us about it in your design class!

Library Lions

Two huge lions guard the stairs and entrance to the NY Library. Many people enjoy their lunch on the steps that face 5th Avenue after spending a blissful morning in the Reading Room.

Spring Windows, Lord and Taylor, 5th Avenue

"Everything's Coming Up Roses," the most gorgeous window after window along 5th Avenue. We were on a march to 7W and had to stop for a picture. Please don't compare me to the impeccably dressed manikins.....maybe in the next life!

HIS BIRTHDAY WISH!

Chas has always felt that he missed out after my buying trip with my Mom and Kim at the LA Design Mart. I told him about all the fabulous showrooms and so for his birthday he chose to visit 7W New York. It is New York's premier high-design and style center for the nation's buyers of elegant home decor, textile, tabletop, decorative accessory products and giftware. I love their marketing slogan, "Midtown location. Uptown Offerings." So "Charles Walker" (the guy who filled out his buyers card used his middle name) and Renee West, buyers representing For All Seasons, spent a couple of hours flitting through showrooms and didn't purchase one item. To add to our party there was a gourmet buffet on the 11th floor where we had a fantastic free lunch! (Actually after we paid our taxes yesterday, I guess it wasn't really free!) K&K Interiors is my favorite permanent showroom. It's worth a trip, Mom and Kim! Pictured above, the birthday king with fresh flowers from our table!

The NY Tower of Babel.

Looking upward from the entrance to the design center the Empire State Building disappeared into the clouds. It is an awesome building that we see daily as we travel around Queens. This was up close and personal and we plan to split up and then meet at the top sometime for "An Affair to Remember" moment after we get permission from President Bennion!

Across Bryant Park.

Daffodils and pansies decorated Bryant Park. We will come back after all the trees have leafed out. In the summer they show movies on a huge screen in the park. We look forward to packing a picnic and enjoy an evening in the park in the months to come!

Love, Love, Love!

We fell in love with this whimsical carousel at Bryant Park! Imagine a bunny, frog and fox to ride up and down on. Bring the kiddies for a real treat compliments of Grandpa Chas and Grandma Nee.

The Beautiful Library from across Bryant Park.

It was a gray day, but we can't get over the skylines from everywhere we look here in New York.

Our Magical Birthday Surprise!

After our stroll through Bryant Park we realized we weren't too far from the theater district of New York City. We decided to visit the 50% off ticket booth and see if there was anything we wanted to see. The only appropriate choice was "Mary Poppins" and it was so much fun! We kept thinking of how much all of our grandchildren would enjoy it. Daniel Marconi gave a debut performance as Michael Banks and he was terrific. All of the music, (some original, my favorite was "Any Thing Can Happen,") and dancing was so creative and the set magnificent. It was well cast and we had such a magical memory and a "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" birthday together

A Cake with a Kiss!

Saturday night we attended a most delightful Senior Social at the Bennion's home. We enjoyed a true potluck and I chose to bring a birthday cake for Elder West! I am so thankful we could celebrate his first birthday in New York City with President and Sister Bennion and all the rockin' seniors of the NY South Mission. Chas requested a carrot cake with apricot mousse filling, and serving together 24/7, there are no surprises! All the seniors sang and shared the cake. For sure he got at least 64 hugs and kisses! The decorator wrote"Happy Birthday Eider West!" I love you, Chas!

"Sunrise Sunset" a Musical Look Back.

After a delicious dinner, our dear friends Lin and Sharon dePaula shared a delightful program with us. We first met the dePaulas when we entered the MTC together. They sang with the Tabernacle Choir for 18 years and served a first mission at the Brazil MTC. Now they are serving as CES missionaries with us. We are so lucky! They live out on "The Island," in Bay Shore, but we see them often at our CES training meetings, socials and at conferences. They began by singing together, "Sunrise Sunset", accompanied by Sister Comer. Then Sister dePaula who is an incredible pianist accompanied Elder dePaula as he sang several of his classical favorites. He has a most beautiful first tenor voice. Between musical numbers Sister dePaula shared memories about their years of service as members of the choir. We related well to their real life touring stories with huge highs and lows. Our hardest challenges become our greatest joys.

Meet Bryndel Petit a Great Guy!

Sunday evening our Elders came for dinner and brought our new friend, Bryndel Petit. Bryndel is a YSA who is beloved by our Bishop and his wife. His family have all moved from NY and he is in the process of moving to Far Rockaway. We found him to be a wonderful person in every sense of the word! He is very intelligent, charismatic, and appreciates the doctrines of the Church. We are not sure what Bryndel was foreordained to do in this life, but we know he has a bright future and the Lord needs him. Our favorite part of our mission is the students we teach and YSA's we meet.

Queens New York Stake Center

On April 5th and 6th we were able to watch General Conference at our Stake Center, called the Woodside Building. This is the front view where we enter from the street. The circular lobby is beautiful with the Family History Center to the left and right. The Chapel is straight ahead and there is a hallway to the right where the CES offices and restrooms are. There is an elevator down to two different wings with bishopric offices, classrooms and the baptismal font. There is an underground passage way to another building where the Relief Society room, and several large classrooms and the stake offices are. Another elevator takes you up to the Primary room, more classrooms, library, more restrooms, the kitchen and a huge gym. The gym used to be an indoor pool for the Bulova School. It's where dances are held and most of the larger ward and stake activities. There is a good size parking lot for NY where there is always lots of room to park. Most members don't drive and take the trains. We park our car here and walk about two blocks to the Woodside Station where we take the 7 trains into Manhattan. Enough about the building although it is a marvelous facility!
Conference was great with all the Elders and Sisters and many Astoria Ward members in the chapel. Sunday in between sessions we enjoyed a pot-luck potato bar. It was big hit and everyone brought potato toppings and yummy side dishes and desserts!
General Conference was a blessing to us. We felt we were taught so well and we loved seeing President Monson in his responsibilities as the new leader of our Church. We asked all of our students to write down their three top impressions from our leaders to share in class this week and we are looking forward to hearing from them.

Cornerstone at the Woodside Building

The Woodside Building has an interesting history. It was the Bulova School of Watchmaking. The plaque says, "To serve those who served us 1944" It was established for servicemen who were returning from the war. They lived here as they learned to be watch and clock makers. Behind the Stake Center there is what used to be a dormitory. It currently is a storage facility that needs to be torn down. In the future it would be a much needed Institute building, affordable missionary housing, or needed parking as the Church grows.

CES Teachers in the NYNYSouth Mission

Every other Monday we meet with (L to R) Elder and Sister dePaula, from Alpine, Utah (C & R), Elder and Sister Conlin, from Soda Springs, Idaho, and Elder and Sister Woodruff from Alpine, Utah, for our CES training. Our CES Coordinator, Cory Bangerter, helps us improve our teaching skills, and we all share ideas and information about our classes. We are two weeks away from finishing up our Spring Semester. We have been teaching Old Testament in Jamaica, Queens College and Little Neck each week. We are finishing up our Family Home Evening dinner and Temple Preparation Class next Monday evening. We will be going to the temple with our students soon. It has been such a choice and memorable opportunity for us. We will begin our Summer Courses (we are teaching The Power of the Word) the first week of May. This is a talented group and we are so glad to be apart of it.

A Glorious Experience

Thursday, April 3rd will stand out as a highlight of our mission experience. We were able to go to the Manhattan Temple with three zones of missionaries for their annual temple day. We participated in all the ordinances. The Spirit there was incredible. We have been able to attend the temple each month since we arrived in January. Walking out from the dark subway into the light at Lincoln Center the Manhattan Temple looms up and takes your breath away. It is such a remarkable building; a building within a building. More than any other place we have ever been, it is a haven from the strife of the world. This coming week on April 10th we will have served here for three months. We have become used to living in this noisy, hub of the world, but when we enter this temple, we feel quiet and peace unlike anything else we have ever experienced in our lives. It was hard to leave the Rexburg Temple just before the Open House began after watching it's construction and praying we would be called to serve there. Being close to this temple is evidence of our Heavenly Father's love for us and He knows our needs. We are so happy we were called to serve here where we can attend the temple in Manhattan after a 45 minute train ride.

YSA/SA Queens Stake Talent Show

Last Saturday night we were delighted to be a part of the Talent Show held at Rego Park. Two of our Institute students from Jamaica, Nikita and Vanessa, performed a beautiful dance from India. Their costumes were lovely and their dancing so graceful. We were amazed by the number of World Dances that were performed. (left to right) Nikesa and Nikita Chotoo, Elder West, and Vanessa Love. Nikesa is Nikita's younger sister who attends Seminary. On Sunday night we had a "Break the Fast" Dinner in Jamaica. A good crowd enjoyed the dinner and then we had a lesson on successful communication in relationships. We are glad for the chance that we have to work with the singles in our Stake and we are learning as we cheer for them!

"Happy Birthday, Sister West....Happy Birthday to Who?????"

I found out yesterday that I'm not the only Sister West in the NYNYS Mission! Two weeks ago a young "Sister West" arrived! The elders and sisters in our district planned a breakfast prior to our district meeting. As we finished Elder Warner gave the pitch and all of the missionaries started singing "Happy Birthday." I joined in not knowing who we were singing to and then they sang my name! After hugs and the presentation of a homemade card they had all signed, I was able to thank them all for such a sweet surprise since my birthday isn't until September. Sister Folsom had seen the new Sister West's birthday at the mission office and assumed it was me since we don't use our first names. They made my day! It's such a treat to be working with such a fantastic group of missionaries in the Queensboro Zone.