Several September Surprises

UN opening SESSION SURPRISE

clogs the city streets with
visiting heads of state
motorcades.

STUNNING SURPRISE!
Where's the US Prez?
This car...

...or that car?

CONSUL SURPRISE
We managed to maneuver the
roadways to visit this foreign consulate.

SISTER SURPRISE!
Carolyn & Lora - my 4th sister - have
been Best GirlFriends since age 11!
BGFF
Tom & Lora Naylor visit and
join us for church in Harlem.

Earlier we visited Times Square...
...and the M&M Store.
SWEET SURPRISE
It doesn't matter what color -
we love peanut M&M's the best,
with a little thinner coating please...

SPECTACULAR SURPRISE!
Yesterday Elder Howell was humbled and
honored to baptize Frank, pictured here
with our mutual friend Aneicia and President
and Sister Searle (Mission President).

We hope our girls took the time to
attend the RS broadcast last night and
that each of you plan to listen to our
prophet's voice this coming weekend.

Thoughts from RS General Broadcast:
"Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you,
whether that voice comes from
the outside or the inside."
President Uchtdorf
"Without inspiration we cannot succeed.
With inspiration we cannot fail."
Quoted by Julie B. Beck

"If all of the children in the world
were lined up end to end we
would still pick YOU!"
-yo momma

NO SURPRISE!!
Good-night. We love you.
Dad-der-eeino & Mom-mer-anne
E & S Howell

Tag Time

As the week began we took a

subway to Flushing Meadows, site
of the 1964 World's Fair to attend...

Mexican Independencia Day and El Grito.

Sponsored by the Consul General
who graciously welcomed us.
Viva Mexico!!!
A splendid reception, rousing speeches and this
spectacular Mariachi band at it's finest.

Returning to Manhattan we turn
our energy to the next event. On
Tuesday our office hosted the Religious
Communicators Council (RCC)
for its monthly lunch meeting.

After the dishes were done we ventured
downtown to Greenwich Village and
the Washington Park Monument.

And last, but not least...

Introducing
Taggart Douglas Kelley
to the Big Apple.
We walked the Brooklyn Bridge with him.
We took him to Grimaldi's for pizza.

We went for walks in the park.
We braved the crowds in Times Square.
We enjoyed chilling & chatting with him...

...and oh yeah, Tyson &
Meredith came along too.

We close this day with a prayer of thanks
for another week of opportunities.

Harlem Ward quote for the day:
Naomi: "I realize that status is not
important; like what career we have,
what kind of car we drive...hmmm,
most of us don't have cars."
: )

Good night!
Mom & Dad
E & S H

This week in Pictures

Cam and Kim returned to NYC, this time
bringing Anissa and Justin with them. We
enjoyed visiting the usual hot spots with them,
including the Brooklyn Bridge walk which
coincidentally fell on the eve of 9/11. It was
evening and the WTC tribute lights shown high
into the clear sky. Incredible and powerful. McCain
and Obama visited the site the next morning.
Later in the day we were held behind roadblocks
trying to deliver a harmless vacuum and toilet seat
to the elders living across the street from Bill
Clinton's Harlem office...Barack was visiting.

Speaking of politicians.
Don't you all love Sarah Palin?

Perfect timing to return to my roots.

Tina Fey received the call back from SNL

"Curl up & Dye"
(Beauty shop talk from Runaway Bride)

Harlem Bridgebuilders dinner meeting.
This hardworking committee attends
community board mtgs and actively
supports neighborhood police precincts.

Brazilian Independence Day reception
sponsored by the consulate in NYC

Ambassador Lima addresses his guests.
After we met him last year, he was gracious
enough to host a reception for church
members in his home. He is a dear, dear
man and we will miss him. His new
post will be consul general in LA.

Kim & Cam make a fashion statement
with these unique t-shirts

This photo was snapped just prior to their
flight. We were really sad to see them
leave, notice the forced smiles.

Brian turns 30 on September 15th
Happy birthday to Randi on the 19th

Lincoln surprised us last Saturday.
(Headed to Newark for business he
detoured to NYC the prior weekend)

We will be introduced to
Taggart Kelley in 2 days.

Take care of each other and heed the
advice of Thomas S. Monson to "be kind
to your neighbors and put your houses in
order." Let's not point fingers at others
or pass judgement but simply day after
day after day keep trying to show
kindness and love to all.

Good-night. Make this week great!
Love, Elder & Sister Howell
(L&C / D&M)

NINE-ELEVEN after SEVEN...yrs

A walk around the
World Trade Center Site.

A small miracle...
the little chapel that stood.
St. Paul's Cathedral

Not one window was shattered.
Here lies the cemetery between the
church and the towers. Inside the church; recovery teams
came here to eat, sleep and pray.
(The pews have been since been removed.)

...all but one.
George Washington's.
(It was used during relief efforts, a podiatrist station.
General George would've insisted on that-
given the condition of his men's feet.)

On display opposite GW's pew
we were astonished to see
Japanese Peace Cranes by the 1,000's
-folded by school children in Japan-

Close up of the origami birds
(reminded us of Brian's 8/2004 tribute to Britni)

Construction...always construction.

Our first visit to the temporary
9/11 Memorial Museum

Extremely moving...
you really realize that each face has a story
...and a family.

Even more Japanese peace cranes...

Projected site in 2012

An afternoon well spent.

God be with you.

September has arrived!

The Shumways came back to assist the newest
UN representatives. They had a great idea.
"Let's go see the US Open". So, we did!

A few days later Cam and Kim arrived...

We love to spend time in the park.
Anissa is crazy about horses.

Lane is just crazy!!!

It only appears that Justin is eight, but if you
count the candles you will see how old he is.

What a cool race track cake...we all loved it.

We love to spend time with family.

One of the unexpected surprises of our mission
has been the individual family time when one
of our kids visits. Something that did not
happen often enough when we lived
near so many of them...
altho that too was a blessing!!!

Happy Birthday to RayDean and Carrie this week!

Pipes, Pillars and surPrises...

The tangible excitement of big city life is now familiar.
Construction and traffic noises take the place of an alarm clock.
We consume every day like it was Carnegie
cheesecake and lick the plate clean.
Last week we munched a picnic in the park on a summer evening.
(Help me, I cannot turn off the underline feature!)Pipers!!!???
Not just one, but two bagpipe bands played the Central
Park Naumburg Bandshell last week. 7 senior couples
from the temple graciously invited us to join them
for a combined picnic and concert.

Admittedly we dreaded 1 1/2 hours of bagpipe music;
like listening to fingernails on a chalkboard,
or a beginning violinist...

Do we ever feel dumb? Our low expectations were rewarded
with a superb performance by gifted musicians. Powerful,
moving, melodic, and emotional pieces ranging from
sweet stirring numbers to familiar favorites.

Pillars...
Seven to be exact, in front of the temple overhang..
Six have been started. These columns
should be complete along with the 3rd floor
renovation of the meetinghouse in time for
Stake Conference on November 9th.

surPRISES...
Natalie and Carissa Merritt (friends from
Orlando now attending BYU), surprised us
with a visit. They then headed off to meet
The Lion King. Notice the handsome young
man giving Natalie a one armed hug?

Days pass quickly in a city that never sleeps.
Or perhaps it's only because time flies
when we are having fun.
...and missing our family and friends.

Happy Anniversary to Jerry & Erin
September 3rd, 4 years!!!

The Good Life

Warning...looking at this blog entry
is gonna make y'all wanna be
senior missionaries someday...

Despite these playful photos we managed to work full days in
the office, enjoy ward temple night with members of our
temple class, and attend a weekend public affairs event.

An evening stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge.

This is getting to be the traditional good-bye walk.
Callie, thank you for being a wonderful daughter!
(Check out her blog for great photo commentary)

August weather has been mild & our "backyard park" is stunning.

Our Friday night date:
"Moonstruck" featured at the Central Park Film Festival.
The 'reserved' section opened up last minute so we left this spot
and ran for a 2nd row seat. Cheddar cheese or Oreo popcorn
was served and the entire event (with treats) was FREE.
Our enjoyment peaked as the crowd offered melodramatic
reactions. We all really got into it. Cheers for Cher's entrance,
loud boos as the film skips a scene, leading to shouts of
"REWIND! REWIND!" until the problem is resolved. Applause
at the end provided a feeling of community pride.

Manhattan offers a $2 subway ride to the beach!
-a tiny piece of paradise without the palm trees.
A Coney Island landmark...

We stretch our legs on the boardwalk and
rest them as we bask in the breeze.

Another tough week has passed and we
can't wait for the next one to begin.

We love it! We acknowledge Jesus Christ as the only name
by which we can be saved, that Heavenly Father loves us
and that he wants us to practice finding happiness here
and now so we can be eternally with our families.

Quote from Harlem Ward meetings:
"God can't pour a gallon of wisdom into a one cup mind."
---Hugh Nibley---

Happy birthday Darren Hill! - turning 15 on the 27th

Our love is extended to you always. Good-night and make
this a great week as you count your blessings and enjoy
your good life because no matter our trials, life is good.
Elder & Sister Howell
Dad & Mom