4th of July Weekend

Happy Birthday America! (and my sister Cecile)
The Church New York Office of Public and International Affairs
was closed for the 4th so we went walking...This is a great approach
shot just around the corner from the Manhattan Temple.
Zoom in to see the landmark on top.

We ventured downtown.
Road repairs would wait.
The city was in celebration mode.
Ewwww, this is what lies between the
subway below and the street above.
It was fun to find a major street outside the Stock Exchange
closed off for a neighborhood festival and street fair.

Nice ship. It is kinda lame that we cannot tell you anything
about this tall ship but it certainly gets plenty of attention.

From this spot we watched fireworks over the East River.

We've enjoyed all of the picnic and fireworks photos
that you have shared. They are all appreciated.
Keep us posted. We still, and always will, love you!

---Mom & Dad---
Sister & Elder Howell
Carolyn & Lane

Happy Birthday this week to Tyson and Greg!!!

Ahhhhhh. Central Park. At the north end of "The Mall" is the Naumburg Bandshell. In the winter you can have the stage to yourself, as Jami and her friend have done.

And in the summer, you can spend an evening listening to an orchestra, such as the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Carolyn went for a quick walk and just happened onto this performance.

For the record, the tall tan building in the middle of this picture is our apartment building. Two thoughts come to mind: There are no windows looking out to Central Park, and climbing the stairs from sidewalk level to the roof is great exercise (almost too great).

Someone in the Church real estate department had the amazing idea of knocking big windows into the upper apartments and then raising the rent REAL high!

So, our famous rooftop view has been turned into a construction site.

The results? Our missionary friends, the LaFleurs, are the first benefactors of this plan. Here's their new view of midtown Manhattan from their 37th floor apartment. Amazing!

The LaFleurs now just sit and watch the city, the lightning displays, and the fireworks in Central Park. We think their low-cost, subsidized apartment is about to be exchanged for a lower floor apartment.

Did I mention how fun it is to climb 524 stairs? My initial time was 13+ minutes. When Sam came to visit, he straightened out my thinking and now I do it in 8 min 44 secs. I'm incapacitated at the end, but Sam is unsympathetic. (I suggested that Sam improve over my time, so he just ran up in 4 min 20 secs -- curses!!)

Lane developed a skin problem wherein his face began to look like that of a teenager. He called it leprosy but the doctor called it a real serious case of rosacea. On the day we went to get his blood drawn, we discovered the residential entrance to the Time Warner Towers at Columbus Circle.

Now that the big event at Carnegie Hall is over, we are settling down in the office to more routine matters. We still love the work, are fascinated with the people who live here or those who come into town, and enjoy doing all we can to support our Director, Ahmad Corbitt. Did we mention that President Uchtdorf, his wife and grandsons took a vacation here in NYC last week? It was fun to meet him and shake his hand. One last thing. We so miss our friends the Shumways, who were released a couple of weeks ago. They are back in SLC now.
Our love to all our friends and family.
Lane & Carolyn

Breakfast fixin's and the Obelisk

Saturday morning is usually the only day of the week where
we kick back and prepare a real hot and hearty breakfast.
Most mornings we snack on fruit or skip breakfast altogether.

So it was unusual for us to wake early Tuesday to cook and serve
strawberry cream cheese French toast and biscuits with
sausage gravy to some special guests in New York City.

Lunch was easier...a nearby restaurant prepared the entree.

Summer has arrived!
Here are pictures from our afternoon in Central Park yesterday.
The row boat line was too long. One day when we
have sunscreen we will wait patiently through it.

One of my most favorite spots is the Egyptian Obelisk.
Created 3500 years ago by artisans and laborers for Pharaoh
Thutmosis III. How it ended up in Central Park is the stuff
movies are made off. Nicknamed "Cleopatra's Needle", it
weighs 220 tons and was raised in Central Park in 1881.

Stunningly beautiful, lush and green, soothing and serene.

Belvedere Castle, above Turtle Pond and just south of The Great Lawn.

The Sheep Meadow; this 15 acre tract welcomes on average
30,000 sunbathers, frisbee tossers and picnickers daily!
The panoramic Manhattan skyline brings us back to reality.

Because this has been way too serial :)
...just announced on Fox News...
US Championship Rock, Paper, Scissors in Las Vegas
with the winner advancing to the Bejing
Olympics this summer. Seriously!

Congratulations to Kylie on being baptized!
This week Greg's "twins" turn 5 (David), and 3 (Daniel).
Happy Birthday June 24th, handsome grandsons!

We welcome Meredith and Tyson to the world of blogging.
That makes 10...4 more to go.

We love you, everyone! xoxo

Deservedly Dandy Dad's Day

Happy Dad's day to our favorite fathers...
Jon, Greg, Cam, Jerel, Lincoln, Tom, Jerry, Brian
and Tyson (very close)

...but particularly our dad, Dennis Creek.
(shown here demonstrating how much he'd rather eat celery than
fudge, yeah right! Yummy. Dad, you are so hilarious and darling!)

Ours was a very unique and unusual father's day. We were guests of
The New Seminary graduation (interfaith theological graduate school).
No, these young men are not graduates but rather a small but
talented boys choir singing beautifully "You Lift Me up".

The school has no LDS students but they acknowledged the LDS
Church today for it's tireless and vast humanitarian outreach
throughout the world. We received the award on behalf of the
Church and were joined by our two interns from BYU. Following
the graduation we were hosted at a banquet downtown.
Lane enjoys visiting with interfaith friends, Herb
(chairman of the board) and Rev. Festa (CEO).

Rev. Ross (co-director), Harriet (board member) and wives of board members.
Sweethearts all!

Interns Rita (Hungary) and Sarah (Nebraska, USA).
Rita serves in our office until mid August, then returns to finish
her masters at BYU. Sarah ends her internship this week and
enters the MTC in September having received her mission
call last week to serve in Mesa, AZ.

We had our share of goodbyes for one week.
The Shumways completed their 18 month assignment.
They rented a car, loaded up, scheduled stops to visit kids
enroute to Bountiful...
(One last Jamba Juice for the road!)

Next, we lost Sam. He packed up his car, tossed a dart at the map
and it landed somewhere in Maine. Have fun Sam, be safe and
remember, you'll need to pass through New York
again when you leave the Northeast :)
(enlarge the photo and find a temple topper in the back window)

We already miss these folks and are
envious of their cross country "ROAD TRIPS".

In closing, one last hurrah for the blessings of fathers.
We thank our Eternal Father for His wisdom, mercy
and perfect love. Lane and Carolyn are forever grateful for
current blessings and for others promised if we follow His son.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!

Gotham Gathering

The New York community of saints arrived in midtown Manhattan
early in the evening on June 4th. The extraordinary event they
were anticipating had been "sold out" for 3 weeks. At precisely
7:30 pm the doors to the Stein/Perelman Auditorium opened and
the 2,800 seats filled in quickly. The music which followed was
performed beautifully and acclaimed by all those with whom we spoke.

BYU Chamber Orchestra concluded their 3 week tour in the
northeast with this concert at Carnegie Hall. We were able to
promote the event throughout the surrounding 15 stakes.
(Pictured here backstage with Ahmad, the Shumways, and the director)

The following morning Lincoln donned this muggles
garb to culminate 18 years of school.

We congratulate Lincoln, Carrie and boys...

...and wish them safe journey from the
northeast to the northwest - via Indiana and Utah.

We have had another astounding week serving in New
York City. Always grateful for the opportunity and for
abundant support from home.

As the city heats up for June we send our warmest regards
and wish you a lucky Friday the 13th.

---Elder & Sister Howell---

Important Birthdays:
June 7th - Jon, Stephanie and Erin
June 11th - Sarah
Anniversary:
June 8th - Dad & Mom Creek, 55 years!

Father's Day is June 15th

The Wicked Warlock from the West? Strangely, he did not descend from the sky. He swept in on his silver chariot.

Ahhhh Soooo! Dad loses his head as Carolyn celebrates. Old chinese proverb: She who laughs, lasts, and laughs best.

Stand back, women! I can't think when you all want my picture.

Celebratory ritual after completing the 32 mile saunter around the entire perimeter of Manhattan Island. And Sam had to forego the ritual, even though he completed the course with us. So, he graciously snapped the picture at South Sea Port.

New York in the spring time. Another ritual. Sunday street fairs with trinkets and food that are almost irresistible. This is Broadway, between 72nd Street and our Apartment. The Shumways attended church with us in Harlem today, leaving only one Sunday prior to their release and departure. Sadness.

The Upper West Side of New York. This hat is in fashion, street fair or not.

After a great farewell meal with Norm and Luana, we took a walk in the park, and stopped at the Chess and Checkers Hill. Go, go, go!!! Sam scored a come-from behind victory, winning 5-4. Now, who's the pawn here?

Dad is Darth-Vader Black. Sam is Snow White. Can you tell who is about to place the game-winning piece?

This has been one of the busiest Public Affairs periods of our mission, in preparation for the BYU Chamber Orchestra performance in Carnegie Hall this Wednesday, June 4. So far, we have 4o countries represented, with 12 UN Ambassadors, Senior UN Mission Staff, and 2 Consul Generals. The prognosis was that we couldn't fill Carnegie Hall's 2800 seats. But it was a sell-out from the first week, and 2000 requests for tickets are going unfilled.

The mission is a blessing to us. And we know it is a blessing to our kids as we get out of their way and let them charge forward with their lives. Love to you all!
Dad & Mom

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is a time to reflect
on the sacrifices made on our behalf.

As we are serving an LDS mission far from home we remembered our
fantastic family. Parents, siblings, our 14 kids, 8 more by marriage,
and 25 grandchildren. Many of them are relieved that we are not
hovering too closely, but some of them really would like to have us
close at hand. We thank you for your sacrifice!
(Most recent visitors; our youngest, X and boyfriend KC,
returned home last Monday.)

For several days we have noticed an influx of service men and
women on shore leave as the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) is docked
in the Hudson River on Manhattan's west side.
(Standing here on the deck of this massive aircraft carrier.)

It is FLEET WEEK...just in time for Memorial Day

Resulting in this little field trip, some exercise, crowded
walkways, and our first sunburns of the season.
We have always respected, admired and appreciated all
of our nations hero's who serve valiantly to protect us
and our freedom. We remember Derrin Creek with a
very special notice and thank you!After touring the ship we made new friends as we picnicked at a

nearby park. Carolyn wishes sister missionaries could

wear do-rags. Think of the savings in time and highlighting funds.

Headed home we pass through Central Park.
A welcome oasis in this concrete jungle.
We remember the sacrifice of real estate developers who
accepted the plan to establish this paradisiacal green space.
(zoom in and find Lane)

In closing we add some lovin' for our grandkids from
the steps of the New York Public Library:
It's nearly summertime, read a good book or two (dozen),
take a bike ride, have a teddy bear picnic, draw a self portrait,
sleep under the stars, run through the sprinklers,
make kool-aid ice cubes, send an email to G'pa and G'ma.

It's late. Time for missionaries to be in bed.
Good-night, sleep tight.
Don't let the bedbugs bite.
If they do...hit 'em with a shoe!

Sweet dreams all. We dream of hugging you again.
xoxo