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Hunky Cousins, Tanner, Drew and David loving the SUN!
Fashion gals, Great-Grandma Gege with her newest adorable great-granddaughter little Lily!
Joyful Grandpa Norm hangin' out with 10 of his 21 great-grandchildren on this reunion's new toy, the Airhead! In the near future, Dad will have 2 more great-grandbabies to love!
We are thankful for the privilege of serving here in NYC, but this week our hearts have been in Oceanside, California as all of our family have partied at the Rossell Reunion. The entire Axelgard Family except Dave, along with Grandma Theresa Rossell, Eleanor and Michael Potter with their new baby, Calvin, congratulations guys, and Chas and I missed it. The Axelgards are picking up our nephew who has been serving a mission in Figi. All our West children and grandchildren, all 22 of them traveled to be with our family and they had a unbelievably great time. The miracle was that my father who has suffered from renal-cell carcinoma for the past 12 years and is under the full time care of hospice was able to join with them on the beach, in the San Diego Temple, and had a mostly pain-free week. He's had an incredible life of love and service and we are so glad he was able to leave his hospital bed and join in. He's always been up for a party! How we love you Mom and Dad and all the Rockin' Rossells! We were there in spirit. Our week has been an especially rewarding one as we held closing social dinners with each of our Institute classes and testimony meetings. All of the scriptures focus on Jesus Christ and we feel that our students have appreciated our class this summer and we have learned so much from them. We thank them for their faithfulness and we love each one. Now we have a break till the second week of September. It's been a great summer!
Last Saturday we helped with a Pioneer Day Celebration at Richmond Hill. The YW had a bake sale to earn money for Girl's Camp. I baked cupcakes all morning and our apartment was so hot, but it was really fun. I was wishing Shelby and Annahlise were there to help me decorate them! They all sold in about 5 minutes during a fun auction and the YW made close to $200.00 to help 7 go to camp! Pioneer soap carving, candle dipping, and water-balloon volleyball were some of the fun activities during the afternoon. Hot dogs were gobbled up by a hungry crowd as quick as Brother Packard could grill them. I opted to try a charred one, and it was pretty good! I asked our Astoria leader, Bishop Glass if we celebrated pioneer day here in NY. He told me, "We are all pioneers here and consider each day Pioneer Day." That is true and I have thought a great deal about his statement and want to remember it. We love the Saints at Richmond Hill, especially President and Sister Errazo. One of their two daughters is pictured above. Thanks for inviting us to your wonderful celebration! We feel a great Spirit from these dedicated members.
We've been too busy to update the last ten days. Sorry! July 21st, Elder Werner arrived from Bountiful, Utah, another brand new missionary for Elder Low to train during his last transfer. Elder Patton was "sent to the office...for good behavior!" President Bennion said he hated to split Elder Low and Elder Patton up. They were doing such a terrific job together. He didn't make any other changes in our district, but Elder Patton would have been here for 12 more weeks and that is too long to be in one area. So, I can report that we miss him a lot, but he's still in our Zone. So we won't have to miss him too much! We will see him tomorrow in our meeting and again on Sunday when two investigators he worked with will be baptized. He sounds happy and is helping with important work in the mission. He is attending the Rego Park Ward where our friend, Yasmin is a new member. So that is a very positive thing because Elder Patton taught Yasmin and he is glad to work with her again. When we met Elder Werner last Friday at his first district meeting he is a very friendly, young man, who was in NY shock! We've all been through it. Undoubtedly, he is working very hard with Elder Low and will adjust to city life. We asked him what his best experience had been during his first week. He said it was "meeting a cool new family they are hoping to teach." We are excited to know him well. 
July 20, 1973, we were married in the Los Angeles Temple. So today we have celebrated 35 years of marriage, a blessing we're so thankful for. We started the day with 7am ward council and then I spoke in Sacrament Meeting. We finished our meetings and have enjoyed a quiet day at home together reflecting on all we have been given. We're ready for 35 more!...and yes kids, I look like I'm recovering after cancer treatments. A Serbian hair stylist cut my hair shorter than I've ever thought possible. In this picture it's been growing for 6 weeks. I'm doing great and am better than I look. I am thinking of writing a book on,"My Crowning Glory in NYC!"
Queens and Westchester Stakes hosted a Regional YSA Activity Saturday. It began with a blood drive for the Long Island Blood Bank and workshops from 12-6 pm. Specialists taught nutrition, physical fitness drug awareness and addiction counseling, and classes for both women and men on the importance of appearance. Judy Pham (above), an outstanding Astoria Ward YSA empowered the women as she instructed about the art of using make-up, hair, and dressing for success. She has been a make-up artist for 7 years, (Madonna's at one time) and now works for the marketing department at Dior. She talked about "branding" and told us some of the secrets big corporations use to get their names out there. Then she talked about what we need to do to represent God as His children, and still enjoy being women. Her presentation was very reflective of her; tasteful, wholesome and terrific! By popular demand she's agreed to teach a hands-on, make-up master class for the YSA women of the Queens Stake. Thanks Judy, for the best workshop given. Below, blood donors, wearing hearts on their sleeves! Perk up guys...more cookies and juice? Sister Gilstrap, from the NYNY North Mission, looks like she could donate more! After giving blood and attending classes we had an all you can eat Dominican meal, catered by Pica Pollo Restaurant. Chicken, rice, beans, potato salad, fresh fruit, green salad, all fresh and so yummy. Miraculously, after a big meal, Elder West got us in a huge circle, taught us a Russian Folk Dance, and then before we knew it, he taught The Swing. The YSAs were cheering at their success and had such a good time. It was great! After some clean up, we arrived home tired after a long day, but we think those that attended enjoyed themselves and want more. That feels wonderful.
Our Queensboro district leaders, (L to R) Elder Kartchner, Elder McLean, and Elder Crisanto, have made a great effort to encourage, teach and help our zone accomplish some important goals during this transfer. Each gave outstanding workshops at our Zone Meeting on Friday. Elder Crisanto asked us to meet our goals, stressing the importance of having charity first. We can meet every goal we set, but if we don't have charity, the pure love of Christ, we are just going through the motions as missionaries. Elder McLean encouraged us to use planning sheets that Sister Bennion created to aid companionships as they prepare each day. Some of the newer missionaries had never used them. Elder McLean is so humble and happy to be serving. He seeks to be obedient and when he's asked to do something he does it. As a leader he is able to teach why obeying different principles he's been taught by his leaders is just such a natural thing for him. We can see how well planning and evaluating have helped him and we been so appreciative of his talents and powerful testimony of the Lord's work while serving as our Woodside District Leader. Elder Kartchner asked us to encourage and serve those who have committed to baptism through planning, involving members, frequent contact and bearing testimony. Energy and enthusiasm are two infectious qualities we see from this Elder. We have 13 people committed to baptism during the next month in our zone. We are working to do all that these three leaders have taught us so. We are so happy to learn from them and be a part of the work in the Queensboro Zone. These are the Lord's cheerleaders and we love them!
Our senior couple activities and CES meetings wouldn't be the same now that we have said our good-byes to Gary and Sonja Woodruff. The Bennions hosted all at their home to honor this marvelous couple. They will be heading home to Alpine on July 23rd. Last Monday night they shared stories from their life together. He was an Air Force pilot, and then worked for Western and Delta Airlines before retiring. She was a busy mother, often caring for their young family by herself. They raised 3 daughters, 1 son, and now are blessed to have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They have endured and grown from great challenges and are an inspiration to all who know them. We have been so glad to learn from them and because of their experiences we are better missionaries. Their motto is to do your very best in life and they have done that here in NY. We look forward to seeing them next summer! Let's plan to grill again, and we'll share missionary experiences. We can hardly wait!!!!!
Bishop Glass, and his girls are a family we love. Our first Sunday at church, Kristy asked for my email address so she could send me, "everything she'd learned the hard way about Astoria over the last ten years!" It was a fun list that's printed and in my scrapbook. They also reached out and invited us to spend Easter afternoon with them. When Kristy needs some help we love to have their daughters sit with us in Sacrament Meeting. Jason has been serving as the 2nd Counselor in our ward, so we were not surprised that he was called to be our new bishop. He is a talented leader, appreciative and thoughtful. He and Kristy met at a YSA Sunday School class while he was in school in Chicago. So with all of the YSAs in the Astoria Ward he created a class for them that has been a warm environment for all to meet each week. Chas also enjoys monthly visits to the Glass family serving as their home teacher. This special family represent all of the Astoria Ward well. 
During our lives we've been so thankful for bishops that have counselled and inspired us. The Astoria Ward is no exception. We learned last Sunday that our bishop, Jason Howell and his loving wife, Rebecca van Uitert, will be leaving Astoria, and moving to Chicago, where he will begin medical school the end of the month. How all will miss them. He is kind and gentle with a giant spirit. Jason began his career with the Church working for Public Relations in Manhattan, before he decided to return to school to become a doctor. Becca is an attorney with a Manhattan firm. She will continue with the same firm in their Chicago office. We arrived in Astoria late on a Thursday night and Bishop and Becca were at our home early Saturday afternoon to welcome us and deliver a ward directory and a list of their favorite places in our area. We found them to be so delightful from the moment we met them. Utahns, Becca is from Ogden, and Jason is from Alpine. They have been married for about 5 years. We have marvelled at the wisdom of our young bishop and are so glad we've had the chance to serve together. We send them off with lots of love and best wishes. We already know that they will find great success. Thanks for rendering such heartfelt service.
"Since the beginning of the world, many have talked, written, suffered, cried, and died for liberty. Artists paint it, sculptors sculpt it, philosophers describe it, and prophets teach it...A teacher, leader, a follower of righteousness remains free. What is righteousness? First, to know the difference between right and wrong; but second, once you know it, to do what is right. To be righteous, then, is to act. However, before you act there must be a decision, a choice between right and wrong, between God and Satan, light or darkness, freedom or slavery, and knowledge is necessary to make that choice. That is why we are here on the earth."
Elder Charles Didier
Happy Birthday America! We hope everyone had a most memorable 4th of July. We surely did and we thank Elder and Sister Comer who hosted our Senior Social on Roosevelt Island, out in the middle of the East River, for the Macy's Fireworks display. It was an adventure just getting there on the trains, both coming and going! We have a tendency to forget we're living on an island with 9 million people. Most of them have come from foreign lands. They were out in mass for this party and we had a great time just observing them. It was cloudy, and soft rain fell through out the evening. New Yorkers think they have it all! We believe the fireworks in Idaho Falls, to glorious, synchronized, music, are much, much better! Actually, the US can take a lesson from the Swiss, as the fireworks over Lake Geneva were the most spectacular we have ever witnessed. The security was extra tight, and we're glad we had the experience once, but have adopted a new motto; "If all of New York is going to be there, we won't!" It took us hours to get back home! Thanks Comers for obtaining tickets, saving seats, yummy treats, all with good friends. It was great fun!
Heat and humidity have been a boon to our beautiful flower beds. Chas planted all the flowers for my Mother's Day gift and I am enjoying them everyday. These overhead photos were taken from our dining room window. As I look out the front and back, I am reminded of so many glorious gifts God has given us. Our little garden is indeed a blessing for us and all of Steinway Street. We have a chance to talk to our neighbors when we are working outside. They are anxious to share their gardening tips and when they see our Idaho plates on the Malibu, they are curious about why we moved to New York. We always enjoy telling why we are here! Many, many thanks, Chas for the perfect present. Our landlord, Sal, is so pleased as well! 
One of our favorite assignments is to help with the Queens Zone Conference dinners. The Elders and Sisters are always so appreciative and enjoy time together visiting. The missionaries in our district help us set up all the tables and serve. We fed our zone barbecued pulled pork on rolls, corn on the cob, watermelon, tossed green salad and a brownie sundae. Elders Patton, Low, Teerlink, and Walston, were happy and content! It was a mini-4th of July party, held in the Primary Room. I adore the Astoria Primary bulletin board on the wall. The Astoria Primary rocks!
All of the District Leaders were called up to participate in the Orson Pratt Challenge. They were given a specific topic and then had to give from memory a scripture that focused on that topic. They were all amazing, but of course we were rooting for our favorite DL, Elder McLean. He didn't win, but he represented us well. The winner traditionally wins a Costo size jar of peanuts! Pictured (L to R) Our Spanish speaking AP, Elder Heap, Elder McLean, and Elder Draney the English speaking AP.
Hunky Cousins, Tanner, Drew and David loving the SUN!
Fashion gals, Great-Grandma Gege with her newest adorable great-granddaughter little Lily!
Joyful Grandpa Norm hangin' out with 10 of his 21 great-grandchildren on this reunion's new toy, the Airhead! In the near future, Dad will have 2 more great-grandbabies to love!
We are thankful for the privilege of serving here in NYC, but this week our hearts have been in Oceanside, California as all of our family have partied at the Rossell Reunion. The entire Axelgard Family except Dave, along with Grandma Theresa Rossell, Eleanor and Michael Potter with their new baby, Calvin, congratulations guys, and Chas and I missed it. The Axelgards are picking up our nephew who has been serving a mission in Figi. All our West children and grandchildren, all 22 of them traveled to be with our family and they had a unbelievably great time. The miracle was that my father who has suffered from renal-cell carcinoma for the past 12 years and is under the full time care of hospice was able to join with them on the beach, in the San Diego Temple, and had a mostly pain-free week. He's had an incredible life of love and service and we are so glad he was able to leave his hospital bed and join in. He's always been up for a party! How we love you Mom and Dad and all the Rockin' Rossells! We were there in spirit. Our week has been an especially rewarding one as we held closing social dinners with each of our Institute classes and testimony meetings. All of the scriptures focus on Jesus Christ and we feel that our students have appreciated our class this summer and we have learned so much from them. We thank them for their faithfulness and we love each one. Now we have a break till the second week of September. It's been a great summer!
