Celebrations, 4th of July and More

Last week was the 4th of July. It's really interesting that New York doesn't do too much with parades for July 4th, so it's a little different. But, we feel that we pretty much celebrated for about a week and a half with the 4th and other celebrations. Of course, we continued to run the Family History Center and spend one day in the temple. But, after that, the partying started. Sister Miller and Sister Cannon were leaving to go home from their mission, so we all went out to eat at a restaurant in Harlem called Sylvia's. Sylvia's is run by black people and serves "soul" food, which is basically home-cooked-type meals. It was Sister Cannon't birthday, so some of the servers sang a spirited "Happy Birthday" song to her. The food was very good.

The next night, after working in the temple for six hours, we went home, ate, and then went over to Chase Park in Scarsdale to hear the community band concert. Of course, most of the program was patriotic music. We really love sitting in the park and listening to the band. We did it last year and enjoyed it very much, so we were glad that we could be here for one more season. Our friends, Jay Steele and Elder and Sister Merrell, joined us for an entertaining evening.

Two days later, on July 2nd, the Merrells came to the Family History Center and then we went with them to eat and to a concert at the Avery Fisher Music Hall at the Lincoln Center. We heard the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corp. It was a wonderful concert of spirited patriotic music. Lincoln Center is right across the street from the Family History Center.

We spent a rather quiet morning of July Fourth at Sunnyside, which was Washington Irving's cottage and grounds. They had various kids of entertainment, which we enjoyed. We watched a juggler do many tricks. Workers were dressed in clothing from the time period that Irving lived.

There were three fiddlers who played music for people to dance. But, it was way too hot for me to dance.

The evening of the 4th, we had four young missionaries and Elder and Sister Merrell over for barbequed beef sandwiches, corn on the cob, potato salad, jello salad, veggies, and banana splits.

Elder Hellberg is a great piano player, so he played some patriotic songs while we sang.

Here is Dick sporting his new shirt he got for Father's Day. He was enjoying listening to the missionaries.

Here are the cute missionaires. L-R: Sister Beck, Sister Dunagan (they work in the office four days a week), Elder Hellberg and Elder McMullin (they are the AP's). I gave them each a flag and they were being patriotic. Afterwards, we played "Mad Gab" and had a really fun time laughing and enjoying each other.

As a side, since we've been traveling, we have become friends with Craig (the conductor). He's very friendly and always has a kind word for us.

Yesterday (July 9th) we had a really wonderful day. We worked at the Family History Center. I was able to teach a missionary discussion with an Italian gentleman, who just came in and wanted to know about the church. It was a good experience. Then, Dick and I went to a temple session. Dick escorted a man (Teddy Thomas) from our ward who was taking out his endowment. There were about forty members of our ward who attended the temple. Afterwards, we took a walk down to the Hudson River, where we went to Pier i and ate hamburgers with our friends who work at the Family History Center. L-R: Dick, Kem and Pat Nixon, me, LeAnn and Steven Bang.

Then, we took a walk along the path by the Hudson.

Pat, LeAnn and me.

Kem, Dick and Steven

LeAnn and Pat, along with two of their biking friends. Actually, they were sculptures.

Sunset on the Hudson.

So, our week and half of celebrations is over. We work hard every day, but we also have some great extrcuricular activities after work. Needless to say, we're tired by the time we get home. Last night, we got home at 10:15. Whew!