Ma's Place: Family Visitors

WoW!! Two weeks since my last blog. Where to begin?

On Monday two weeks ago, Jake and I walked the length of Central. I've never done that before. The park is amazing: Trees and flowers, people and wildlife, lakes and streams.

I was intrigued with the large burls on this old tree in the park

Many beautiful flowering trees

Wooded area

Green area

The lake

A proposal on Bow Bridge

The park has s lot of statues. I like this Indian and his dog.

Jackie Onassis Reservoir

I didn't realize there is a bridle path in the park. I've never seen horses
in the park except for the carriage rides.

I found this historical marker near the 110th Street end of the park. Interesting.

Park wildlife

A lot of turtles at the pond on the 110th Street end of the park.

Here is some trivia about the park that I think you might find interesting:

How big is Central Park?
843 acres or 6% of Manhattan's total acreage, including:

150 acres in 7 waterbodies

250 acres of lawns

136 acres of woodlands

If I walked all the paths in Central Park, how far would I walk?
58 miles

How many trees grow in Central Park?
26,000, including 1,700 American Elms

How many benches could I sit on in Central Park?
Over 9,000, which would stretch 7 miles if placed end to end.

How many bridges and arches are in Central Park?
36

How many types of birds could I watch in Central Park?
More than 275 species of migratory birds have been sighted in the Park, a major stopping point on the Atlantic flyway.

How many people visit Central Park each year?
25 million

We walked the park to get to High Bridge in Harlem which is the oldest bridge in the city. I have pictures to show you but if you would like to read about the bridge (HERE), it is interesting.

High Bridge

Automobile bridge up stream from High Bridge

Walking across High Bridge from Harlem to Bronx

Water tower at High Bridge

Manhattan from High Bridge

Tuesday morning we had a new group of missionaries come to the mission so I went to a "welcome meeting" before they met their new companions so that I could give them their medical cards.

Tuesday evening, Shea and Jake's boys and Katie came. Wednesday we went to Islip on Long Island where Jake had reservations at a hotel where we stayed two nights. From there we were able to drive to Fire Island one day and Montauk Point Lighthouse the next.

Saw several foxes in Fire Island

Jakey looking for frogs or bugs or fish???

Walking to the Light house

Dinner

Silliness at the hotel.

There are large boulders that have been placed around the end of Montauk Point to keep
the water from eroding the land away. Zach is enjoying the walk way.

Turtle Cove

Finding marine life in the tidal pools

On Friday, Jake and I returned to Rego Park while Katie and Shea and the boys further explored the island. I met three missionaries who had served here on their missions and had dinner with them. It was so fun to see them.

Kiri Jenkins, Parker Young, Jayson Burningham. Pio Pio is Peruvian food restaurant.
The missionaries eat this food a lot.

Saturday we went to Manhattan for an Easter egg hunt. It was held in a park across the street from Riverside Cathedral and Grant's Tomb. We met Jake later for pizza at Lombardi's.

Jakey, Shea, Luke, Cade, Zach getting ready for the egg hunt.
You can see the colorful eggs in the grass in the distance.

Waiting for the train

Riverside Cathedral

Jacob

Luke

Grant's Tomb

The treasures of the hunt

Sunday my stake had conference. Jake wanted to take the sacrament on Easter Sunday so we went to an English/Spanish branch in Flushing. One talk was in English and the other in Spanish. The prayers were English and Spanish. We wore headsets so we could hear the translation. I was impressed that the boys were so attentive and into listening to the meeting with the translation.

On Monday, We went to the Natural History Museum and then Katie and I took the boys while Jake and Shea went on a date. We went to Central Park and the boys played on the large rocks. That is all they wanted to do. Then we went to John's of Bleecker Street for pizza and to Cones for ice cream.

Tile mosaic murals on the subway walls

Murals on the subway walls at the stop by the museum.

Boys by the skull of Tyrannosaurus Rex

Dinosaur genealogy

The BIG one

This tree is so huge!! The picture doesn't do it justice.

You'd never guess I love burls

Playing on the big rocks

Pulling faces!!

On Tuesday, we went to Manhattan and rode the Staten Island Ferry and then to China Town. We had dinner at Joe's Shanghai which is famous for their soup dumplings.

Crowds waiting for the ferry to Staten Island. It is free.
You can ride over and get right back on and come back.

Views from the ferry ride

McDonald's in China Town

Riding the train

My family left on Wednesday. It was a glorious week having them here. My apartment seemed so empty when they left. I played a lot these two weeks. The missionaries were amazingly healthy during this time. I did answer some calls and do some work but I enjoyed the time to play.

Thursday it was back to work and routine missionary life with the first of four megazone conferences. My presentation for this round of conferences is about hope. Without hope, we would be in deep despair. I based my presentation on a talk found (HERE) in the September 2013 Ensign by Vaughn Worthen. It is well worth the read.

Thursday's conference was in Woodside so not far away. Friday megazone was in Plainview, about an hour drive out on Long Island. After the conference, I took four sisters to dinner. Three of them are going home at the end of this transfer so I wanted to be with them for a few minutes. Of course, reports were due on Friday so my vacation was officially over.

Sisters Talaboc, Snow, Bush and Brinton. We had dinner in Patchogue.

Saturday I went grocery shopping and tried to be ready for Sunday. I got my Primary music time squared away and made some of the dinner preparations. Since my family was here for Easter, I had told the missionaries in my area that I would have an Easter dinner for them on the Sunday after Easter.

I had ham, scalloped potatoes, corn on the cob, broccoli salad, rolls and brownies with ice cream. Before we ate dinner, we talked about why Easter is important to each of them. They shared memories of Easters with their families and of course the importance of the Savior, his atonement and resurrection.

I am grateful for the gift of eternal life and eternal families. I love my Savior and all that he has done and given to and for me.

I love you my family and friends.