August is Almost Over!!

 August was a fast month, it seems we were busy every minute; teaching, traveling or doing things related to the mission.  We wouldn't have it any other way!!

We've always enjoyed this view of the Throg's Neck bridge from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy where we teach on Wednesday evenings.  Behind the bridge there is a good view of the city, although in this picture it doesn't show up well.  These past few weeks this summer we've really loved looking at the city here.

We sent Adam a loaf of homemade bread for his birthday!! He liked it, I wonder if he shared it with his bird!!

On the 14th we went to Texas to see sweet little Ezra get his name and blessing.  Grandpa was glad to finally be able to meet him!

Here are a couple of shots of the handsome guy in his blessing outfit!

This is the whole crew who was there on Sunday.  We were glad that Susannah was able to be there with little Vera.  It was really nice to see so many of Robert's family as well and Alona and Susannah's friends, Abraham and Stacia.

We love being grandparents!!

We finished our summer term after our Texas trip and ended with a luau.  Here are some of the students who were there.

The next day we had a Sister's Conference titled, "Notwithstanding our Weakness".  It was really great, helping us realize that the Lord is pleased with our service even though we're not perfect.  We do have wonderful sisters in this mission!

That was a busy week, on Saturday the senior couples went on a circle island tour of Manhattan.  Close to the dock we left from, was this aircraft carrier, the Intrepid.

Here's most of the group!

We had beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty,

And the Manhattan skyline!

I enjoyed going under all the bridges, there were several bridges and a couple were a pretty tight squeeze as the tide was coming in.

Sorry about the small picture!!  We started our fall semester last week and this is the course we're teaching, it's called "Jesus Christ, and the Everlasting Gospel".  It's a new course that's being taught church-wide and we're really excited to be able to teach it.  I hope the students' testimonies will be strengthened, I know ours already are!!

On Wednesday, the 26th, we went down to Battery Park, I had done a little research and found out that it was there that my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Wilkins Steadman, came ashore on the ship John J. Boyd in 1863.  This is Castle Clinton from the water, it was called Castle Garden then, and it was the view she probably saw as she got to New York.

This was her in later years after getting to Utah.  She was 29 when she left England and had traveled most of the way alone because her father had died and was buried at sea.

A painting of the area back then.

I appreciate Elizabeth's sacrifice in coming to Zion!!

Across the street is the museum of the American Indian, we thought we'd check it out but only got in for 10 minutes because it was closing time.

As we were looking at the outside of the building we saw this inscription, and realized that this had been the US Custom House where the immigrants coming to America had to register.

On Friday, the 28th, we decided to check out Theodore Roosevelt's summer White House, it's about a 30 minute drive from where we live.  This is Oyster Bay, close to where he lived.

Sagamore Hill is the name of the estate and it's a beautiful area.  It was interesting to learn more about one of our past Presidents.

Here's a view of the house ... once again we're "a day late and a dollar short"!! The house tours had all been booked before we got there, so we didn't get to go inside,  but we did get to look at the grounds and there was an interesting museum that we were able to go in.  He was a good man who did a lot for our country!