New to New York Tonight

What a joy and privilege was ours as we welcomed one new sister and fourteen new elders to the New York, New York South Mission this evening. They hail from Argentina, Brazil, China, and all across our great nation. "Tired, hungry and thrilled to arrive," pretty much explains a wide range of emotions. One elder kept telling us he couldn't believe he was really in New York!

Elder McLean, new AP, Elder Salazar, Sister Bennion and Elder Smith

Elder Smith is going home Wednesday, and Elder Salazar who has been serving as a Zone Leader in Ridgewood, Brooklyn will serve as the new Assistant to President Bennion. They are each such fine elders.

They polished off an amazing amount of food...at least 4 dozen big rolls, huge Idaho baked potatoes, and everything else that accompanies one of Sister Bennion's ham dinners!

Some have 3 and 4 helpings. They have eaten little all day on the plane.

They thanked us 3 and 4 times and many said how grateful they were to be in a home again after two full months in the MTC. It's always such a treat for us to help "rollout the red carpet", serve and clean up. We are excited to see where each will be assigned to serve in the mission tomorrow.

Another Transfer Flies By!

We are so sorry we missed our Zone Conference where Elder Rowley, (our Zone Leader), gave his parting testimony. He is a tremendous leader and inspired missionary from Boise, Idaho. We have learned much from him and will miss him in the mission, but look forward to seeing him in Rexburg for the Fall Semester at BYU Idaho. Last Wednesday he attended the temple with President and Sister Bennion, and all the other departing missionaries.

It was good to get back to our district and we are amazed at how fast this transfer has gone. We hear we are loosing Elder Pickett, our District Leader. He has been a great cheerleader in the work, so encouraging and appreciative of all. We will welcome new zone and district leaders.

Elder Pickett organizes and outlines each meeting for us. We have loved his creativity!

Elders Norris and Flores taught an outstanding lesson on how to introduce people to the blessings of the temple and being forever families. We role-played different situations Elder Norris has experienced as a missionary. He is a wonderful trainer. It's clear new Elder Flores has learned a great deal this transfer. We hope we get to keep these two for one more transfer!

We provided a fresh fruit medley and breakfast burritos. It was easy and enjoyed by all. We have learned to simplify...no one really cares if we have a tablecloth, they just want to eat!

Elder Rowley climbed on a soapbox, (chair) and preached to all of us. He was really good! We said, "Call BYU Studios, we've got a star." Whatever Elder Rowley does, he does well. All the missionaries made arrangements to call their Moms for Mother's Day today. To all of those Moms everywhere that have sons and daughters serving as missionaries we know how much you have looked forward to today. We hope you feel honored and blessed because of your missionaries. We think they are all so choice and thank the Lord for their goodness each day. Thanks for sending and supporting them. We hear often about how much they love their families.

His Wonderful Life

Our mission took a different turn when my Mom called to say Dad was living his final days. On Tuesday, April 21st, we flew to Southern California to join my parents, two brothers and two sisters. We were all able to help care for Dad during the last week of his life. He peacefully passed away on Tuesday evening, April 28, 2009. We were so glad we experienced such a sweet and spiritual time with our loved ones.


Dad was born May 27, 1930, and he was extra special from the very start. As we shared memories of his life with each other and all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, it was clear that he made life fun for all of us. He had a nickname for each of us and loved to tell jokes. Dad was a educator and took every opportunity to teach us. He lived and loved the gospel of Jesus Christ, and was faithful all of his life, always serving others. He and Mom had an incredibly successful marriage of 68 years together that resulted in 5 children, 24 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren with 1 more expected in July!

Dad served as a Bishop, Stake President, in the San Diego Temple Presidency for 4 years, as a Sealer, and Patriarch. In 1992-93 Dad and Mom served in the New York, New York Mission. Dad and Mom had a unique assignment here and it's been a blessing for us to observe the fruits of their labors. At that time there were two places in NYC to attend church, in Manhattan, where the temple is now and in Rego Park, where our mission office is. Dad rented warehouse space, furnished it, and then along with the district presidency they organized a branch in the different boroughs of NYC, bringing the Church closer to the saints here. Many people who live in our mission love and remember my parents. It's been a joyful part of our calling to meet them.

The beautiful San Diego Temple will always hold a special place in our hearts. Dad served as a counselor to President Wallace for one year and to President Christensen for three years. We have spent many hours as a family here and it along with all of the LDS temples remind us that our family can be together forever.

My angel Mother cared for Dad. He was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma over 13 years ago. Mom and Dad have always been a tremendous example to our family of love, devotion, faithfulness and unselfishness. This was a long test for both of them, but they were positive and optimistic along the journey. Mom's faith, testimony, family and friends will sustain her.

Renee, Todd, Mom and Kim admiring all the beautiful flowers from friends and family. Also, many gave to Dad's favorite philanthropy, the LDS Perpetual Education Fund.

We had a family dinner at Jen and Shane's the night before Dad's funeral. Lizzie, Carter and Brigham had more fun jumping in and out of this jeep. It was out of fuel and didn't go anywhere, and they just had the most fun together, Grandma Nee had to take a picture!

Grandpa Chas and Jacob had some quality time together.

Barbara and Joe Christensen traveled from Salt Lake to be with Mom and Elder Christensen, Emeritus Seventy, spoke. We have known and loved them since they lived in Rexburg and he served as the president of Ricks College, just before President Bennion. They have been devoted friends and he gave a memorable tribute to my Father as he taught the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dad asked that all of his children share our memories of him, and my father's only sibling, his sister, Rhoda played a cello solo that was heavenly. All of his grandchildren and great grandchildren sang, Families Can Be Together Forever. We are grateful we were able to join with our family for Dad's Funeral, Monday, May 4th.

My sister, Kim created this memorial to Dad's life and loves.

For as long as I can remember, my Dad dreamed of having his grandsons divide his clothing. The night before the funeral we had a family viewing and there shared our favorite memories of Dad and Grandpa, and afterwards all the grandsons had a party in Dad's walk in closet. They all wore his suits, ties, shoes, etc. to his funeral the next day. We know Dad was there beaming with pride!

Our five sons, Sean, Zachary, Jefferson, Will, and Shane model "Grandpa's goods!"

We were missing Corbin and Lily :-( but loved having some snuggle time with our grandkiddies. First row, Carter, Elizabeth, and Brigham. Second row, Chase, Jacob, Elsie, Johnathan, Spencer, Annahlise, Lincoln and Shelby. We can hardly wait till we see them all in July along with missing Moms, Jenelle and Kim, who were there with us in spirit.

We met our grandson Spencer, now over a year old for the first time!

Dad along with his parents and my Mom's parents are all buried at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. It is a serene and lovely setting, and I loved the simplicity of this beautiful little chapel among the pines. He was buried on Tuesday, May 5th, a sunny, bright Spring day.

We celebrated our Dad's life together. Renee, Kim, Robyn, Craig and Todd.

Our birth order, Craig, Renee, Robyn, Kim and Todd.

Many of our family had to return home, but this is a good chunk of our group that had lunch together after Dad's internment. We thank Wally, Anne, and their family for providing a delicious and memorable time for us together.

Mom with her dear friends, Wally and Anne. Mom and Anne were roommates at BYU and Dad and Wally were roommates too. They have remained a foursome all these years. How blessed we all are to know we will be with Dad again. Next time we will never have to say good-bye again. Thank you to President and Sister Bennion for giving us their permission and blessing to be with our family, flowers and sentiments we will treasure, to Elder and Sister dePaula who prepared and served our Zone 4 Conference dinner, and to our fantastic Woodside District who pitched in and helped with our assignments during our absence. We love all of you! We flew back to JFK, Wednesday, May 6th, ready to finish the last 8 weeks of our mission. It seems right that we are here.

Our Spring Fling With Jennifer

Along with Spring, we welcomed our oldest daughter, Jennifer. She arrived at JFK early Easter morning after flying most of the night from California. We enjoyed a wonderful week together. Special thanks to Shane who took their three children camping during Spring Break and sent Jen to NYC to see us. We watched the sunrise as we drove to our home in Astoria. It was a sunny Sabbath Day, made extra special with a beautiful sacrament meeting with the Astoria Ward.

Later Sunday night, we took Jennifer for a tour of Manhattan in the car. The bridges and lights are so spectacular at night. It's about the only time that you can really get around the city without traffic. She'll probably never have another "Sunday drive" like this one!

On Monday we traveled to Sagamore Hill. It was not open to the public, but we drank in the beauty and peace of this extraordinary place.

Forsythia is in full bloom all over the city and everywhere on Long Island.

Spring wildflowers pop above green lush foliage.

Leaf green so fresh and new....just beginning at Sagamore Hill.

Massive trees flank this handsome home on a hill.


Chas and Jen pose at the side entrance of the home.

In the garden orchard this magnificent tree was in full-bloom.

These large pink blossoms smelled as inviting as they looked.

We made our first trip to the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, which is a little further east on Long Island. We hope for another day there before we leave.

Chas and Jen posed amongst massive decorative columns in the garden.

Enormous eagle statues guard the entrance.

The magnificent mansion overlooks a most inviting, soothing bay.

Canadian geese were nesting everywhere! This one dared me to take his photo not far from the nest.

Serene swans, at least 32 pair, filled the bay.

Tuesday we celebrated with our Jamaica Institute class our completion of the New Testament.
We enjoyed time to visit over roast chicken, potato salad, green salad, fruit salad, sourdough rolls, berry cheesecake, and I planned to serve it with ice water. I learned that the saints in Jamaica with the exception of a couple do not drink NYC water!

That's when our hero, Shelonda, showed up with enough ginger ale for all!

After dinner we watched, "Reflections of Christ," and shared our testimonies and what we have each learned about Jesus Christ and His gospel. It was a sweet experience and we are so glad Jennifer was with us to meet most of our dear friends who live in Jamaica.

Pictured, first row, (L to R) Moise, Gertrude, Vanessa, Nikita, Shamee, Florinda, Elsie and Lois.

second row: Shelonda, Marchita, Jennifer, Sister and Elder West, Kenneth, and Ishanti.

We were missing Anita, David, Andrewnay, Tony, and Necole, (who came in after we took the picture), sorry! We are so glad they are planning to continue institute class together after we are gone. We have so loved our students in Astoria, Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Little Neck, and Queens College.

Thursday we took Jennifer to Manhattan to the Macy's Flower Show at the largest Macy's in the world, at Herald Square. I've been to Macy's in Idaho Falls a lot and have never seen anything remotely like the flower show that is held each Spring in Manhattan.

Splendid Spring bulbs are blooming in pots all over Manhattan.

Our favorite flower girl, Jennifer, among Macy's blossoms!

Each day a different floral designer creates a masterpiece that if featured. This captivating ballgown arrayed in pinks and purples was unbelievable!

These majestic pink flamingo topiaries, the icons of the Macy's 35th Annual Flower Show are based not on the graceful and exotic birds of Phoenicopteridae family immortalized by James Audubon, but rather on the plastic American variety that has graced the lawns and gardens of suburbia for over half a century. We couldn't help but think of our fun friend T.L in Rexburg!

These vividly colored topiaries are all living, growing gardens. Their intricate wire and welded steel skeletons are first packed with many pounds of moss, then painstakingly planted with over 2,500 flowering kananchoe plants, a hearty succulent, and surely one of my favorites. Each specially cultivated kalanchoes was grown and cultivated in tiny 2" pots, then each plucked clean of its thick green leaves by hand, yielding a feathery soft pink surface.

The fabulous flamingos were standing in this flower surrounded pond at the entrance of the store. There were several pair of these beauties through out the store and in the many windows!

All the flowers were living, high and low, floor to ceiling, absolutely everywhere all through out the store.

Our favorite part of the day was attending the Manhattan Temple with our sweet daughter. We always love and appreciate the beautiful feeling that is there.

On our subway ride back to Astoria I took Jen's picture by this young man. One of the problems we have as missionaries is that so many people are "plugged in" and don't want to talk with us. Interestingly, when I took Jennifer's picture a young woman who was on the other side of Jen asked her who she was. Jen replied, "I'm my mother's celebrity," and she was right!

This small person, Michael Jackson impersonator, had drawn quite the crowd as he danced to the music in the subway. Jen was amazed!

We finished our day with an incredible Italian dinner at Trattoria L'incontro on Ditmars in Astoria. It is rated #3 in all of NYC for award winning food, an overwhelming selection of daily specials, fabulous service, and a lovely atmosphere.

Saturday morning before Jen flew out, we took her to see Doma at Pema Nails for the ultimate in pampering! She was salt scrubbed, messaged, polished and relaxed, before her long plane ride home. Thanks Jen and Shane for our great week together. It is truly our favorite perk for senior missionaries...having our family members come for a visit. We will remember it always!