JUST SO YOU KNOW ON THE 25th OF THIS MOTH I ERASED THIS BLOG SO THIS IS WHAT I REMEMBER---SORT OF.
The church across from the temple. Palmyra Ward
Tuesday
was 12-9:30 double shifts. Time does fly when you are serving. We always do either an endowment session,
sealings or initiatories or all of them.
We love it. No time to get in
trouble.
We had Wednesday off
so we went to the visitors Center at the Hill Cumorah
and then to the Grandin Building where the printing press that printed the Book of Mormon was printed, very good tour.
We then went
next door to the Latter-day Harvest book store. Not much there but we got
some pictures and dad a temple envelope.
the Seamons
We decided to go to Lake Ontario and
met a girl married to Amy Grosbeck's brother.
Her mother lives right on the water and they live down a few houses. They
go to the Palmyra ward. Small world. Erik dated Amy.
Thursday
we did the morning shift and then went to Clifton Springs. We didn't mean
to go there but wandered around and found it It is a beautiful city
filled with old buildings that they have kept up. It even had a
hospital. We stopped at a little farmer hardware store looking for a part
we needed and invited the clerk to come to the Pageant. We put the GPS on
to find our way back to Palmyra and found we were only 19 miles away but it
took us the back roads and we made 15 to 20 turns from one highway to
another. We laughed and laughed. We did see some fun things,
beautiful wineries. This country is loaded with grape vineyards and fruit
trees.
Saturday
we did our morning shift and that evening the trailer group (they live at
Zion's Camp) had a Cinco de Mayo feast for the temple missionaries.
It is so fun when we all get together. At 7 we drove to Niagara Falls and stayed with the Stake Patriarch, BrotherVan Tassel. What a kind man. He is a widower 2 times and we had a room in his basement. He was an aeronautical engineer and has books piled high in every room; books of every kind. We went to church that next morning and the bishop asked us to please bear our testimonies. The missionaries had 3 investigators with 4 children there.
on the way home
We did
see acres and acres of vineyards and free wine tasting. In total we were
gone 41 hours. It was fast Sunday so we were very tired and hungry when
we got home.
Monday we
went to the next town or village to celebrate the Wilson's last week. It
was a Mexican restaurant called Monterrey. We had a little room just for
us and just laughed, ate and had a good time. They are great temple
missionaries and will be missed.
Sister Wilson is on the left and her husband across
Brother Seamons is on the left and President Black on the right with his wife on the very right across from him
We went
to President Black's home for FHE and
had a member talk about her experience as the wife of a Secret Service man who
served 4 US presidents. What a great story. He loved the Bushes who
were so kind to everyone. At 7:30 we went to the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center for a lecture
from BYU professors on this
area. We got only half of the first one (which I was glad) and the last
man was so good. He sharpened our saw on the importance of the temple and
why we are on this earth. He was excellent. They are with students
from BYU on a study
program. After the meeting we ran into Robin Bayles Robins who is Aunt Helen's daughter and Katherine's
sister. Boy did she ever hug us.
May 8th
we served for 10 hours. It was such a special time. There was not a
patron there to do the last endowment so we were ready to close when one man
came. We have always been taught the love our Savior has for each of us
individually but this was such a faith building moment. He knows us and
our needs and wants us to return to Him. We figured the Presidency would
just ask him to come back in the morning. NO. They greeted him with
such tenderness and love and expressed how thrilled they were that he was at
the temple. They just quietly got our shift together so there would be
several in the session and had us ready to be in the prayer circle when the
time came. They made this man able to do this work that is so important for both
him and the person he was doing work for. What a testimony for us of how
much the Lord knows His sheep and loves each of us. We will always
treasure this moment. The temple is where our Father wants us to be.
Wednesday
is our day off so we decided to go with the Seamons to
the Peter Whitmer home. We got a little lost (Dad was driving)
and made some wrong turns but in doing so found a Jerusalem Church
Cemetery. The stones were so old and many turned over but we looked at
every one hoping to fine the name of one of Ruth (Seamon's)people. No luck but it was fun.
The farm
was amazing and so filled with the Spirit. They had 2 short film that
brought tears to our eyes. It was very well done. the guide let us
in the rooms of their home and took pictures.
bedroom
kitchen
Joseph and Emma's bedroom
The story is so filled with
such miracles.
After the tour he suggested we go to the Amish Store, Sauders. There were also Quaker things there. We had lunch
at the store and the sandwiches were so good, the BLT was extra
good. All the workers were in the clothes they are known for and we saw
several horse drawn carriages along the trip. We bought some cheese curds and
groceries and went on our way. Dad bought me a plant for Mother's Day.
Sunday
the 13th we left at 7:15 for Niagara Falls and church. They had a young
missionary, Elder Judy give a talk on mothers for Mother's Day.
Unbelievable!!! It was so perfect and he didn't even use notes. He
compared the youth of today with the stripling sons in the Book of
Mormon. He complimented his mother on how she was always there teaching
by example the gospel. He was swaying in his testimony so his mother planned a
trip to Palmyra for the pageant and how from that time on he was so strong in
his faith. He read a letter he had written to her and of course I
cried. He was so anxious to be able to talk on the phone today. A
wonderful lady in the ward fed us a surprising dinner of tacos, enchiladas,
beans, upside down pineapple cake and ice cream for dinner at the church.
She does this often. She fed 7 missionaries, her mother and herself and it was
all so good. I helped with the dishes and we were on our way home.
We got here at 4:30. What a great day. I think this is a repeat but I lost my entire blog and am trying to do it over. sorry Everyone contacted us and filled my day with joy even though the Marco Polo was a challenge.
May 14th was a Monday so we went with some of the missionaries to the Genesee Light house. It is on Lake Ontario and is still a functioning lighthouse. We took the tour and got to climb clear to the very top; very steep and windy. What a view.
May 14th was a Monday so we went with some of the missionaries to the Genesee Light house. It is on Lake Ontario and is still a functioning lighthouse. We took the tour and got to climb clear to the very top; very steep and windy. What a view.
After the lighthouse we ate at a hamburger place where you could even buy a ribeye sandwich which would have lasted us a week. Dad had a hamburger with onion rings
May 15th we did 2 shifts from 12:30 to 10:00. Wonderful to be able to do that.
Wednesday we went to Macedon to see lock 29 on the Erie Canal. Kind of reminded me of Panama only on a very tiny scale.
The next day after our shift we walked 2 and a half miles in the Sacred Grove. There is not a more Sacred place in this world. We are only a quarter of a mile from the entrance.
The next day was special because a couple received their endowments and then were sealed. We love the work here and so enjoy the Spirit that is in abundance.
Monday, May 19th we went to a grocery store called Wegmans. Dad said it is the size of 4 football fields. It was just too much for me and I wigged out. If you forgot something you had to hike a mile to find it. Claustrophobic kingdom.
Sunday we left for Buffalo and our stake conference. It was so crowded that they have people park at the school next to it. We got there 45 minutes early and the building was so crowded that even the stage was full as well as some classrooms. The meeting was like being in a session of General Conference except for the reverence. I think because they seldom see each other it is really chatty. The speakers were so inspired and energetic about the gospel during the meeting that you could feel such a strong Spirit through the entire meeting. The Stake President was so personal and loving and bold in his teachings and then the Area Authority was incredible. When the meeting was over we just sat there so humbled. The Area Authority talked about being loving in our families and to each other and to not fill our children with guilt and than he said "Only mothers are allowed to give children burdens of guilt" I felt so good that I had fully accomplished that to its greatest, Sorry kids.
Monday we got so much done. The best thing of the day was FHE, when Bob Parrott came and talked to us about the Sacred Grove. He alone takes care of the grove and all the sites here and in Kirtland. He is not a member of the church but he and President Hinckley somehow got together, He has a degree and is an arborist and when talking to President Hinckley 23 or so years ago, let him, the Brethren and some PHD's from BYU. (whom he has no use for), know that the Grove was dying. He said that people ware killing it by moving the dead trees, raking out the dead leaves and removing plants they did not like. There were no birds singing, squirrels or chipmunks scurrying around and no deer. He let them know they needed to move fast. The piece of land Joseph's father had has been sold so many times, but each time the owners would not do anything with the Grove area. Every owner said there was something different about it and would not touch it. Finally the church was able to buy it. It has since then grown from 7 acres to 60 acres. Amazing!
The 23rd was Scott's 39th birthday. Wow that time has gone by fast. What a fun boy he was. Always wanting to do things and go places. Every day he would ask if it was "bummin" day because that was the day we went to Granny's and shopping. It was Blanding you know! He is an amazing father and husband and loves them. When he was in high school and ready for his patriarchal blessing he told me all he wanted to know was if he would be a father. That he certainly is. He's always working on some kind of project or Bethany is thinking one up. We love that family.
Today we also went to a sweet sister's home to clean out her cupboards. Sister Leavitt should be dead due to a horrible car accident. She broke everything possible and had internal injuries. It was several months ago but she can now get around her home occasionally with a walker and the doctors say she will be back to doing whatever she wants soon. She is a miracle. We loved helping her.
Our friend, Ruth Seamons taught me how to cash a check with my phone and I did the rent check with her help. I feel so up to date on things now. I can also pay the man who sprays our yard with my iphone.
The next day was Camden John's birthday. He is Erik and Shanelle's 3rd boy who is so bright and happy. Ask him a question and he knows the answer. He never forgets what he reads or hears. He's amazing. He is always there to help someone who needs it and doesn't complain. His heart is full of love for his family and friends. He makes other happy and we love him.
Saturday we were driving down Main St. and saw some fun things in front of an antique store. You needn't ask if we stopped. We found a chair that we have no idea how we are going to get it home but we will.
We had put in some money for a nice bar-b-q and the group decided to have a dinner on the spot. What fun we had and just enjoyed what we had in our homes and ate and laughed. We love these people who live in our complex.
Sunday was in Niagara Falls and it is always a good meeting. Sister Targen fed us again. It was a huge pot roast, home canned beans, baked potatoes, carrots, and the hugest apple, caramel pie I have ever seen. She is an amazing cook.
She brings her mother to church every Sunday.
Every now and again Dad likes to work on a cane.
Yeah
a deer on the temple grounds (for Will)
Can Will find the bunny?
Monday the 28th, our group went to the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, which was over an hour away. There was a contest between the Wright Brothers and Curtiss. They were to see who could go a certain length the fastest and farthest at Kittyhawk, NC. Well the Wright Brothers never made it off the ground and Curtiss went farther than was planned but he did not have financing so the Wright brothers had money. Money talks. His museum was very interesting and he did become a millionaire. He built the best plane for the US Army during WW1 which was manufactured in Rochester. They produced thousands of planes quickly. He also invented the Indian bicycle.
check out the pedals
We often see buggys like this as we travel
the Indian
He built many planes like this during WW2 but one was shot down in a swamp and accidentally found 30 years later. No one wanted it and finally ended up coming to this museum. it took 3 years to get it here and they are fixing it up as it looked.
After the museum we ate as always. It was a place called Hamburgers and Beer and finished next door with ice cream.
missionaries
We drove along one of the 5 finger lakes for a most beautiful ride. Grape vineyards by the hundreds. Free tasting but no one would stop.
After all this fun we decided to walk to a rock wall behind the temple that Alvin and Joseph built. It is not used very much as is not known very well. Bob Parrot told us about it and we saw him on the temple grounds as we started our walk. He said he just goes there to touch the stones that Joseph touched. We touched them too. They are special. It was getting late and was so beautiful. It was a very long walk, over an hour and a half.
the temple across a field
It was getting dark when we tarted home, filled with a strong, special Spirit.
the wall
We are so excited about Riley graduating and especially that he is putting in his mission papers. We think he will miss Parker and Parker, him.
We also celebrate Jonny and his achievement
The last day of the month we got 3 air conditioners put in our apartment and then went to Rochester for Dad's prescriptions.
Every day we feel stronger and stronger about our testimonies and faith. It is true, true, true. The Spirit is in abundance here. The time is passing way too fast.
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