Wille and Marijane Come to Visit!

Stan's sisters, Willie and Marijane, have come to visit us in New York for a few days.

The first place they wanted to see was the Manhattan Temple. They attended a session and did sealings with Stan being the sealer. It was a memorable experience for all!

Now it was time to see a little of New York. Where's the best place to start...Times Square!  We have

picture of Grandpa Nielson (Stan's father) who stood near this very spot on Times Square as a missionary in 1937.  This is the real reason why these three wanted to come to Times Square. 

We attended the Broadway play, 'Beautiful'....which told the story of the singer, song writer Carol King.  The music brought back many memories! Nicely done!

The stage before the play began. As usual...no photography is allowed once the show begins.

The 'Nielson kids' attend a Broadway play. It was a great night....good seats and delightful company!

Another Jamaica 1st Ward baptism

After church today we had a VERY exciting event!

Everyone gathered on the 4th floor of the building around the baptismal font.

David was being baptized today. Here he is shown with Bishop Ramsey, Brother Craig and Brother Hack (High Council).

What a great day for David AND his family. After reading the Book of Mormon, asking with real intent and attending church for the past year, he knows this church is true. I'm not sure who was more excited today....David or his wife and kids (who are all members!).

Mets Game with Dane

We also headed to a New York Mets game out in Flushing, New York at Citi Field.

It was a beautiful day for a game, and it gave Stan a chance to wear his new 'Mets' hat!

Today we are 'Mets' fans....and we had a great time!

A view of the field. Notice the apple in the middle of the photo.

This is known as the 'Home Run Apple'. It POPS out it's housing in center field to celebrate a Mets home run (or anything else worthy of celebration). Today, we got to see it 3 times as the Mets made 3 home runs today against the Colorado Rockies! The score: 12-3!   (Sorry, Scotty!) 

We loved having Dane with us. It was fun having him here! 

Guess who's back...Dane!

Dane has returned...and we are so happy to see him! He's in-between work and orientation for MBA school and has taken a few days off to visit us.

Since he is only here for a few days, we hit the town right away to show him some sights.

The Broadway play 'Amazing Grace' was on our list of 'things to do'. The unknown story of the man (John Newton) who wrote the most known religious hymn...Amazing Grace. 

It was 'amazing'...especially the 'drowning scene' and the closing song where the audience was able to join in singing. There was a powerful spirit in the theater.

Church History Manhattan

we-

 our guide

 need town center

 close to where Charles Anton was visited by Oliver Cowdery.  What Joseph and Oliver were amazed with more than "a learned would say..." but it was he said "I cannot read a sealed book".

 Joseph wrote Emma and said the wonder of the large buildings.  This is what it was like when Joseph was in New York.

 Standing where Joseph came to New York and visited.

Plaque now...

The Lion King...On Broadway!

Well, we finally 'bit the bullet' and bought 'Lion King' tickets. (This play is very popular and expensive. You never find 'discounts' on these tickets!)

'The Lion King' had it's debut on Broadway  in 1997. They play to a packed audience every night and is now one of the 'top10' longest running shows in NYC.

Before the play. Of course, photography is not allowed during the show; but we were able to sneak a few pictures before the play started. Breathtaking music, costumes and choreography! It was fabulous. I would see it again in a minute...and we had great seats!

Coney Island

We don't have many P-days left in New York, so today we decided to venture out to Coney Island....located on the Atlantic Ocean in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn.

Coney Island is known as a seaside resort...

...and a site of amusement parks whose peak was in the first half of the 20th Century. From 1880 to WWII, it was the largest amusement area in the United States. Since then, it's been rescued a few times from becoming extinct!

Today it looked like it was full of people and doing well. We walked out on the Steeplechase Pier and looked back on the beach .

Walking along the Boardwalk, we found a Nathan's hotdog 'stand'. In 1916 a Polish immigrant, Nathan Handwerker, started selling his hotdogs made with his wife, Ida's, secret spice recipe on Coney Island for 5 cents a piece. The rest is history. Today, Nathan's hotdogs are sold in all 50 States.

Since the early 70's, thousands gather every 4th of July on this sight of the still existing original Nathan's restaurant in Coney Island for the National Hot Dog eating contest. Contestants try to consume as many hot dogs as they can in a 10 minute period. The record is held by Joey Chestnut at 69 hotdogs (and that includes buns)!

Coney Island is also the home of the 'Cyclone'...one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in America...and scariest when you stop and think that almost a dozen people have been killed on it over the years.

'The Cyclone' was built in 1927 at the cost of $175,000 ($12.3 million in 2015 dollars!) and cost $.25 to ride ($3.50 in 2015 dollars). See the green sign on the left? It was made a New York Landmark in 1988 AND a National Monument in 1991!

I have to admit....it WAS scary to ride. It's loud and rickety and you hope it will stay together.

There's an 85 foot drop at a 60 percent angle. No big deal, you say?

 Well...these are the seats. Need I say any more? It was one WILD ride....but I was glad I did it!

 Through a Chinese part of Brooklyn on the way home riding an elevated subway, we passed this nice chapel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can be found everywhere! I am proud to be a member of this world-wide Church.