Special Moments

More wonderful opportunities!

Breakfast with Sister Keone in Provo
(everlasting friend; she and her honey
were our neighbors and temple
missionaries in Manhattan).

Breakfast with the Shumways
in Bountiful (former LDS
representatives at the UN).
Pictured here with Lane in their trophy room...or garage.

Dinner with Jami and X in Logan
(sweet daughters attending USU).
Pictured here eating our favorite course.

Our new home...downtown Salt lake City,
another 4th floor apartment.

One day we'll get some furniture...
(anyone recognize the blowup mattress?
Now that we are sleeping on it we apologize
to any of you who used it in NYC.)

...but for now we make do temporarily with
folding furniture and a NY Pashmina.

Lovin' life and loving our family and friends.
Keep in touch! We are available.

Just,
Dad & Mom
Lane & Carolyn

You say Good-bye and I'll say Hello!

On Tuesday, November 11th we said

our goodbyes and headed West...

Good-bye Central Park
Good-bye Empire State Building(With just mere hours before our departure
we finally went up and saw it's spectacular views.)
Good-bye Times Square
(from the Ruby-red staircase
above the new TKTS booth)
Good-bye Manhattan Temple and our
apartment building (still under renovation)
Good-bye NY Church Public Affairs Office!!!
Ahmad,
Amber,
the Stones (taking this photo)
Good-night Moon : )

We drove away in our little Honda,
negotiating the evening street traffic,
figuring out the new GPS,
and clearing the Lincoln Tunnel.

Only time for one quick glance back at
the city and there she was, the ESB flooded
in red, white and blue for Veterans Day.
Sweet!

2173 miles and 32 hrs of driving.

Hello New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, Ohio...
Hello Indiana...
(and the Hightowers)Hello Illinois, Missouri...Hello Kansas, Colorado (and the Poulsons),
Hello Utah...home and family!Our family threw us a welcome home party.
New York City in miniature complete with
Little Italy, Broadway, Harlem,
Times Square and Big Apple desserts.Hello home stake and home ward!
Today (the 16th) we reported to our High
Council, got released from our Stake
President, and shared remarks in our home
ward. Later, Mom and Dad Creek gathered
extended family together. Tomorrow we join
with Lane's siblings at Ron & Phyllis Sue's.We love being back in the arms of our family!
Thank you all for your prayers
during our mission.
We will keep praying for our nephews
LeGrand (Korea) and Anthony (Japan)
and all missionaries!

Love, Lane and Carolyn

Farewell to Harlem

Today was the last full week of our mission
...and it was busy!
We spoke in a session of our stake conference,
shared remarks on serving a senior mission
in a neighboring stake, followed by a final
get-together with our Harlem Ward friends!
Our chapel in Harlem
as viewed from the subway stop.

Sweet Marvina and awesome Isaac

Amazing Abu

"New-comer" Glenda and "pioneer" Polly

Lane waits patiently for Carolyn...

Incredible Ned, (EQ Pres)

Steadfast Tania, and Immovable Agnes

Talented Rebecca and Inspiring Gil

Earlier in the week we enjoyed dinner
and a show with Duaine and Gil Clements.
We saw STOMP!

This mission has been thrilling for us.
We have loved this assignment and the
people who have crossed our path. Our
journey is much more enjoyable with new
friends who have taken hold of the iron rod
and strive to follow in our Saviors footsteps.

May God be with you!
Love, Elder & Sister Howell
DadLane & MomCarolyn

Conservatory Gardens, plus, plus, plus...

This week began with the end of Clayton and
Michelle's visit, coupled with Magnolia Bakery
cupcakes and our grand niece Jennifer Creek.

Saturday we found ourselves experiencing subway
detours through Harlem. We opted off of the bus
and hoofed it home from the top of Central Park.

A glorious day for a saunter...
(the Harlem Meer)

And finally, our first walk through of the famed...

...Stunning...

Autumn in New York

Not quite barefoot in the park...

half way home now

nearing the reservoir

Tomorrow is the NY marathon,

the finish line is one block from our apartment.

Nearing the finish line...

And although we haven't finished in record time
we have certainly had an excellent time!!!

Thank you for stopping by for a
walk through the Conservatory Gardens.

Life is good, we count our blessings, the air feels crisp,
the temple columns are nearing completion, a one
bedroom apartment cleans very quickly, family rocks!

We love hearing from you. Be well.
Mom & Dad
Elder & Sister Howell

On being Carolyn...

(I got this idea from reading Carrie's and Erin's blogs)

...50 random facts about me at age 50!

Lessons my parents taught me: make happy memories, go to Disneyland, remember birthdays

Childhood memories: Creek of the Week, spoons, kick-the-can, toots (not the kind you may be thinking), X presents, coloring contests and talent shows

Failed attempts: school play, b-ball team, cheerleader, ensemble singers, sadie hawkins date, scuba lessons, former marriage

HS highlights: Arctic Circle lunches w/ Lora, date with Nick Dooley, Prom Queen, Pep Club Pres, Stake ping pong doubles champ w/ Lora

Music: Chicago, Beatles, Elvis, Simon & Garfunkle, Tears for Fears

I could just scream: rodents, forgetting things, my hair, debt, injustice, verbal abuse, rats in my hair

I need: 8 hrs sleep each night, my bed made, dishes done, bargain shopping

I can cook: recipes with chicken

I love to see: all my children receive the blessing of the temple

Favorite flowers: bird of paradise, yellow roses, daffodils

Comfort foods: soups, salads, grilled cheese sandwiches, peanut M&M's

Happy thoughts: family, friends, fireworks at Lake Sacajawea, dipping french fries in a Wendy's frosty

Career advice: do something you are good at, you love to do and that helps others

Proud to be: LDS, a momma, curious, happy

I wish I could: write better, read faster, roll my R's

I can live without: scary movies, baseball, arguing debate shows disguised as talk news

Amazing: Jimmy Stewart, Machu Picchu, Frank Lloyd Wright designs, the Pyramids, fireflies

I dislike: canned peas, liver, credit cards, soap operas, violence as entertainment, trash magazines

Fondness for: decorative tissue boxes, placemats, crayola markers, souvenir pins, colorful tableware, Space Needle lunches

Movies: Babe, Groundhog Day, You've Got Mail, The Family Man, It's a Wonderful Life

Unexpected gifts: Lane, Hill Cumorah Pageant participant 1978, contact with family during mission to NYC

Best dates: Los Hermanos Oct 1995, Paul McCartney concert 6th row, Yo-Yo Ma at Carnegie Hall

Songs: Be Still My Soul, When You Wish Upon a Star, Because You Loved Me, In my Daughter's Eyes

Top trips: Florida Aug 1996!!! Brazil '99 & '02, Alaska '01, Spain '03

I'd like to: play the piano, speak Spanish, learn to juggle

States I've lived in: Washington, Utah, Florida, Arkansas, New York

Preferences: kettle corn over buttered, lamps over ceiling lights, crunchy over creamy PB, soft over firm mattress

Simple pleasures: jumping rope, coloring, being barefoot, a kneaded eraser, a fuzzy robe, candlelight, holding the remote

Vacation spots: Mazatlan, anything Disney, Tetons, a beach

My heros: Jesus, my parents, Lane, President Hinckley, Abinadi

Tastes: potatoes, pink grapefruit juice, cucmbers on sandwiches, berries provolone cheese

I've been to: all 50 states, the United Nations, 26 temples, 8 foreign countries

I'm grateful for: Easter, quick temple cancellation, motherhood, grandmommy-hood, eyeglasses

Awesome sights: Iguazu Falls, Montserrate, Blueridge Mountains, the Redwoods, Delicate Arch

I've gotten all wet: parasailing, snorkling, jet-skiing, deep-sea fishing

Road trips: Nauvoo, Victoria BC, San Francisco, Quebec

Design favorites: color, contemporary, modern, simple, clean lines, hardwood floors

On location: Horseback riding in Monument Valley, all-you-can-eat crabbing on the Oregon Coast, Denali glacier landing, Haleakala Crater to coast bikeride

Indulgences: chocolate covered cinnamon bears, white hot chocolate w/ squirt chocolate whipped cream

National Parks: Yosemite, Tetons, Olympic Rainforest, Monument Valley, Mt. Rushmore

I've seen: a bullfight, sunrise/sunset coast to coast in Florida, the ball drop in Times Square

My overused phrase: "what were you thinking?"

Cool happenings: front row seats at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mission call to NYC Public Affairs, ziplining in Kuwaii

I hate to love: sudokus, HGTV, staying up late

NYC fav spots: Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Temple, Wicked, rim walk, Liberty Island, our apartment

I enjoy: sitting, hugging grandkids, walking as exercise, Spring

Hobbies: crocheting, reading non-fiction, floral arranging, decorating, cooking with chocolate, spoiling Lane

What if I could: waltz, bake amazing cinnamon rolls, build a tree house

I can't: sleep with the closet doors open, go 2 more years w/o a Walmart

I'm blessed by: parents, siblings, YW camp, seminary, Book of Mormon, patriarchal blessing, BYU, RS, marriage, parenthood, mission

Looking forward to: being an active parent/grandparent, some travel, making DVD's of photos and video clips, another mission someday

(More than you ever wanted to know.)