HEADED TO PALMYRA

Okay someone has to take some pictures of Tiff, I have none

April Fools and Tiffani's birthday.  The doctor was so sure she was a boy and so surprised when she was a girl.  That was before the days of all this picture taking.  She has always been a joy to be around and we must say, a perfect baby who did not cry.  She has gotten even better with AGE.  We are amazed at the woman  she is and how in tune with her children.  She has taught us so much about parenting.  She accomplishes so much in a short time.  Her testimony encourages us to do better.

We have had a hard time with finding the perfect couple to live in our home while we are on our mission.  It has been crazy.  Just this week we found Amber Wilcox and her husband when they are married on May 17th.  They will be perfect.  Her mother and father are in our ward and will be very helpful.

April 6th was the day Grammy and Granddad got married.  What great people who spent their lives serving others and our Savior.  We cherish the choices they made and the lessons and examples they taught.  They went on 4 missions including 1 each alone.  Granny went on the one by herself when she was 72, to show her grand children how important the gospel is to share with others by serving a mission.
This is also the day the restored Church of Jesus Christ was organized.  We are so blessed to be a part of this great revelation., and the Prophet Joseph.
April 8th was our last Sunday in our ward.  It is such a group of loving people.  We love them so much and they have always been there for us
The Stake Presidency came to set us apart as missionaries.  They are such great men and we love them.  The prayers were just what we needed to serve.  They let us know what we must do to fulfill this mission.
At 5:30 we went to a family dinner Erik and Shanelle had planned.  Clark's family was there too.  We ate and ate and visited for the evening.  It was such a peaceful and special time for us.  The older kids stayed and added to our knowledge and the young one played outside.  It was just a great memory for us to take with us.  We cherish it.  We love our family.  They are great people who want their children to be valiant in the battle against the destroyer.

fixin' dinner

What is Kolton doing?

enters Parker

happy Aunt Hailey

Just had to  add this picture

Monday we finished packing and cleaning leaving our things in the living room for us to pickup Thursday evening, hoping all will fit in our car, and headed to SLC for our training.
We checked into the Radisson and prepared for the next 3 days.  We went to the marvelous City Creek Mall and had steak and potatoes for dinner.  It was so good.

This place is amazing.  We had never been to such a mall.  It was a good place to eat.
Tuesday the 10th, we met our group at 7:15 at the Joseph Smith Building and then went through the underground tunnels to the temple.  After getting into our white clothing we met in the chapel on the main floor.  It is not the one used for endowments. 

The former temple president, O. Claron Alldredge and the Sister Lillian S. Alldredge began our training.  There were 14 couples in attendance.  Only two were going to Palmyra.  The rest were assigned all over the world. 

We bonded immediately.  A strong Spirit was constantly present.  The purpose of our existence on this earth is to go to the temple and receive the blessings and make  covenants with our Lord.  We were taught so powerfully.  Sister Wixom also gave us a wonderful message.  She encouraged us to be loving and kind in the temple as we serve others. She honored the youth who are doing baptisms for the dead and praised them for how wonderful they are.  We were so proud that our grandchildren who are old enough are doing the same thing.
This is what we saw as we walked to the temple each day.

We spent some time doing initiatories for names our grandchildren had baptized.  We love that they do this.
That night we ate at a place called Johnny Rockets.  It was popular in the 50's and 60's.  We ate way too much but it was so fun.  Again it was in the City Creek Mall.  That is an amazing place.

April 11th  Another great day.  All of our meetings are in the main chapel, not the one for endowments.  It's so huge and the paintings at either end are so beautiful, from the floor to the ceiling.  The Spirit was so strong and we learned so much about our Savior.    We only use  a few seats of the first 3 rows so it is very intimate with only 14 people.  It was amazing.  When you sing a hymn look for the temple in the words.  We did a session and then went back to the chapel and discussed what we learned.  We watched many 3 min. film clips on how workers should act when in different parts of the temple. They emphasize the importance of the "Patron experience and reenforce that we should be more concerned about the patron than about the ordinance.
This is not necessarily in any order. Shocker!  The last day we were so tired but filled with the messages we have learned.  We were able to do sealings today for our own names as we were the other days.  Thanks grands for doing the baptisms.  Elder Jorg Kliebingat spoke to us.  He is one of the 70.  He was so vibrant and full of the Spirit, we could have listened to him forever.  He went longer than he was supposed to but we were thrilled.

I have been so blessed because ever since we have been serving together in the temple I have not had any problems and am full of energy.  Tender mercy.
We went home at the end of the day and went home and packed the car.  Everything fit.  I thought it wouldn't so I put many things back and we had plenty of room.  Miss those things now.  Dad is quite the packer.  

We drove back to SLC and then headed for Wyoming the next morning.  We stayed the night in Laramie.  The weather was cold, snowy and windy.  We found out the road was closed to Cheyenne because 6 semis had tipped over in the storm.

                            

At one time the roads were so bad the trucks stopped on the off ramp and then all along the streets in town.

 At 9:00 AM the roads opened and we headed out again only to go the hour to Cheyenne and find the road closed there.  We waited the whole day and finally got a motel and stayed the night.  Many trucks were off the road for the night with lines of them in the town.

The next day was Kolton' 15th birthday.  He is an amazing young man who tries to do the right things. 

He is a good example to his younger brothers.  We just love him so much.  He always has a smile for everyone.  He will be a great missionary sets a good example of what a young man should be.  Maybe we're a little glad that we are not driving the same streets.

We went to the U of Nebraska just for Asher.  He wanted us to see it.

Every hour we stopped and walked around for a bit so Dad's blood clots would not get worse.

Drove to Council Bluffs the next day and got there late.  The temperature has not ever been above 37.  After we ate we drove around a neighborhood that had amazing homes.  They were so beautiful.  I took this for Shanelle because she loves old houses that are beautiful.

The next morning we went to the Kanesville tabernacle there.  We had been there before but it didn't have the picture with Amasa Lyman on the wall.  We loved it.

We went on to Omaha and Winter Quarters. 

How sacred the cemetery was as we walked through. The graves are next to the temple on that hill. What sacred ground.  The temple was closed because it was Monday.

 Winter Quarters

We also went to the Blair Buswell art work. 

We love the beauty of his work and how real it looks.  While there I introduced myself to some young men.  They were visiting from the Congo.  They spoke little English but we had a great time.

April 17th we headed for Chicago after staying in Molene, Iowa.  It was still very cold. 

Chicago Temple

We drove to the temple but didn't get there in time to do a session.  Dad was thrilled to see Wrigley Field

Some of the apartments have seating on the roof. They are called "beyond the ivy"

                        

Soldier Field

We loved driving along Lake Erie, seeing the city, and loved the old buildings.  No wonder Shanelle loves it there.  We would love to spend more time seeing the many things available here.

 After Chicago we went to south Bend Indiana and Notre Dame.  What a historic place with beautiful building and football.

The next day we drove on to Cleveland and the Buckeye state.  By the way, every highway we took required a toll.  Some were as high as 8 dollars.  I should have kept track of how much we spent on the tolls.  Ohio has the best rest stops.  They were unbelievable.  They are huge and have everything including a gas station, several restaurants, gift shops and rest rooms. 

The main reason going to Cleveland was to see Corby and his family and home.  He was in meetings all day but we got to visit with Allison.  It was pretty scary because we drove through such a seedy neighborhood for a long time.  I had always heard about Shaker Heights and knew it was supposed to be very "High Cotton" but this was rough.  All of a sudden the street changed and it was so beautiful.  After a few blocks we were on Shaker Blvd. and his home.  It is over 100 years old, 4 stories high, and built of old, vintage brick.  Unbelievable.  We had a tour and it was close but we did not covet; taxes and covenants because they have to keep the style of the day would be just too much.  They have plenty of yard and it is just like the movies.  Allison sent me some pictures on request, 

 front

 side

 entry

 living room

 dining room

 wonderful children

 more living room

 I don't even know how many bathrooms we saw.  Allison was her sweet usual self and made us feel very much at home.  The boys were there when we got there and the twins came home from school later.  I can't imagine living in such a home.  They are in the Kirtland Stake which is only 15 min away.
We spent the night in Elkhart which is a short distance from Kirtland.  The 18th we went to Kirtland and walked around the temple. 

We toured the Whitney store ,

the saw mill and the ashery.  The missionaries there were great but we were in a hurry to get to Palmyra.

Finally made it there the evening of the 19th, a day earlier than we thought.  The missionaries who left 2 days after us from Mapleton got here 15 minutes after us because they missed the storms.  It was late but we got unloaded and a little organized.  I immediately got some loads of laundry done.  It's a fun little house.

There is always snow.

We did a shift in the temple the very next day.  We wish we could describe the Spirit that we found there.  It is so different than any temple we have been in.  It is so tiny: no chapel, 2 endowment rooms and a beautiful, small celestial room.  It has 2 sealing rooms, one name booth, one initiatory quad and a beautiful baptistry.  The veil has only 6 places on it.  Everyone is so reverent and so kind.  Some sessions  have only 3 or 4 patrons but they don't hold anyone up.  They will do it if there is only 1.  The workers just fill in the gaps.  It is so wonderful.  Everything is on one level and I'm sure you have heard of the glass windows and the window Pres. Hinkley insisted on that looks over the Sacred Grove. We serve twice a week for 10 hours and don't even realize how long we have been there.  It's rejuvenating. We work Thursday for 5 hours, Sat for 5 hours, 2 days for 10 hours and then have Monday and Wednesdays off.  We go to Niagara, which is about 2 hours away for church.  We help where they need us.  Mondays are really not off because we have firesides, home evening every other week with Pres. Black and then the other Mondays with something fun with the missionaries.  How we love the temple and the promises that are made there.
Saturday the 21st. we finally got wifi and sometimes it even works.
We worked again in the temple. We did sealings for over an hour.  I really have a hard time because I get so teary when I enter that sacred place.  The Spirit is so strong you can almost see it.  We love our times there.
Wal-Mart is only 9 miles away so we did some shopping for things we need.  We left a lot of things at home thinking our little Vissy was too small but we had plenty of room.The store is huge so we were able to do what we needed.  That evening we went to this Chill and Grill place that everyone said we must go to.  There is a small place to order and no where to sit.  It was so cold that we took our order home.  I ordered a half kiddie meal and could not eat all my fries.  It comes with a free half kiddie ice cream and dad had to help me with half of it, it was so big.  We will go there again because it was so good.  The line to order went out the door and there is no bathroom and cash only.  It is a must place.  The kids cones like Maceys were bigger than the Daddy Kong.

Sunday we went to church in Palmyra because they are going to give us another assignment for Sundays.  It is a huge church and full, even has a pipe organ.  The Sunday School teacher was the best I have ever had.  Much like Brad Wilcox.  I wish we could go there every week.  Relief Society was much like North Carolina, Caswell.  Kristin knows exactly what it was like.  I loved it.  Everyone gave great comments and no one controlled the discussion.
We got home and had dinner and a nap and then walked to the Sacred Grove.  What a Spirit is present there.  It was very cold and the wind was blowing and there were squirrels everywhere, and yet it was so quiet and peaceful. 

 It was an extremely wet spring.

                      
 We stayed and walked a long time;  what a way to spend the Sabbath.  It is so humbling to know that God our Father and His Son were there with Joseph and the Spirit was in abundance.  It cannot be described properly.  That event changed the world for ever.  

There were no flowers or leaves on trees.  It was cold.  We don't think Palmyra gets spring.
We are so happy and love our eternal family so much.  We are definitely blessed.
Monday we met at the temple at 7:30 to get training on this temple.  When we were through President Black had all of us to dinner  The Temple Missionaries who were already here, sang a song to the tune of 'Called to Serve'.  It was so fun.  There were more than 50 of us in his basement.  Everyone needs a basement like that.  We were so tired when we got home.

We got up Tuesday and were in the temple at 7:30.  After the shift we came home, ate, and returned for the 5:00 shift then got home at 10:00.  We were so tired.
Wednesday the 24th, we had breakfast at President Black's and then went to the temple to train until 1:30.  We had a little trouble with our money to pay for Vissy but after 5 hours, Wells Fargo got Capital One straight and we are fine.  It seems like we have no time to wash and iron but somehow it gets done.  We love it here.

Today, the 27th, Kristin turned 50.  How can that be. We are not old enough to have a child this age. 

She is making the sign 50.  She rode on one of the largest, fastest and steepest roller coaster in the world.  She said she will never do it again.

David had the grandchildren make these pictures for Kristin.  Cool!
She came and was the light of our lives.  We thought we were the only ones in the world to have such a beautiful, perfect baby.  Dad did have to put away all the bats, balls and clothes for a little boy.  He only had to do that for 16 months though.  Kristin was our everything.  She was so well behaved, slept right from the start, was so smart, and kept her daddy busy.  We had 8 boys in our home at that time and they would just go in her room and watch her sleep.  They spoiled her rotten.  She is still a delight and we love her so much.  She is an incredible mother and wife.  She is a beautiful daughter of God.  She will be a full-time Spanish teacher next year and has a contract.  YaHoo.  That's just 4 years after I taught full time.  We can't wait for her to come in July. 
We did 10 hours in the temple today.
28th  Only one shift today in the morning so got some things done around our home.  (There are 6 apts in this house and behind it.)
Saturday  early shift again so got some more things done.

Sunday we were reassigned to the Niagara Falls Ward, which is 2 hours away, so it is like going to Beaver for church.  We didn't go because Pres Black wanted us to wait one more week to talk to a man we can stay over with.  We had that same great Sunday School teacher so we didn't mind one bit.  The speakers in church have only been members for 162 days and were so amazing and their testimonies so strong.  They are counting the days until they can go to the temple.  We were glued to every word.
Last day of April saw us in Rochester with a group of  missionaries at the Strong Children's museum.  We went with the Seamons whom we had trained with in SLC. 

It had everything you can imagine for children.  We had so much fun. 

                       

Ruth Seamons and me

Me

The best part was the butterfly exhibit. 

It was filled with butterflies, orchids, turtles, birds and so many flowers.  I could go there every day.  A butterfly even landed on Sister Mills ear for awhile.  She is from Malad and knows Karen very well.  They were good friends and had children at the same time. 

chrysalis stage

                                        

After the museum we ate at a place called the Dinosaur Barb-b-q.  Very fun and atmospheric place.  When we went back to our car we found a $50 dollar parking ticket on the window.  It was in a place where you couldn't see the no parking sign that pointed in a different direction.
We love this place so much and feel such peace and comfort here.  We pray for our children every prayer and pray that they know we love them and that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way back home.