GOD BLESS AMERICA

Amish vehicle in Wal-mart parking lot
July 1^st was a Sunday and so wonderful.  Church is always good in Niagara Falls.  After church we ate at a member’s home, Mike Gradzewicz and his son, Raymond.  Raymond is 17 and has lived with his dad all his life.  They served us a good dinner and some visiting.  Mike was a pro hockey player until he got hurt.  He has a very interesting life.

I realized I did not have my glasses after a way down the road.  We searched everywhere.  I decided to go back in the yucky bathroom where we stopped for me and when I got out of the car—there were my glasses.  I had been sitting on them. On our way home we got stopped by a draw bridge on the Erie Canal. 

 We had an invite to President Schwendiman’s home for treats so we needed to be on our way.  We decided to take a new route which was beautiful but we got on the wrong freeway and had to wait for an exit to turn around.  That put us some time behind our schedule.  We were driving the Seamons to the dessert and called them to report the later arrival.  We got home just in time to change clothes and hit the road again and arrived right on the dot of time.  We had a very lovely evening with an amazing strawberry short cake for the treat.  They are wonderful people and we are sorry that they will be released in October.  We got back home at 9:30 which made it a 14 hour day from when we left for Niagara. Whew!!!

Tuesday we were asked to serve in the temple at 7:00AM which we were glad to do.  They needed us to be in our robes etc. in case the 6:00 session needed more for the prayer roll.  We never know and often have to have others join in for that.  They also wanted us ready to do the veil if needed.  We got up early and waited if needed but went back home not needed.  That’s OK; no better place to be.  We had a double shift at noon so that meant 12 hours in the temple.  How wonderful is that?  We fell in bed at 10:30.
July 2, the temple missionaries met at the Hill Cumorah to tour the sets with President Schwendiman who was the President of the pageant for 8 years'  It was so facinating.

 wigs

                               

 props

 sewing and repairing costumes

                              

 storage

swords

 Laman's battle axe

Nephi's Sword

The 4^th of July all the senior missionaries gathered at the Palmyra Stake Pavilion for breakfast.  It was the temple and site people. 

What a feast.  I must say I made a wicked hash brown, sausage, eggs and cheese huge casserole.  More food than we could eat. We volunteered our flag for the pledge and all sang America.  Brother Hill read from part of the Declaration of Independence which left us in such a grateful silence for this wonderful country we are blessed to live in.  It was planned this way so the restoration could take place here. We know that is true.  What great people we are blessed to serve with.

Robin Bayles was there with her husband. We are putting the family pictures in here as they didn’t send them last month.

 (left to right)Calvin's wife(widow) Jerry & Ardawn, David & Katherine Pinkston, Kelly & Vicki, Richard & Robyn Robins, Lyle & Shauna black, Matt & Lynette Lyman

That evening we just decided to have a friendly last minute bar-b-q  at our White House.  Whoever wanted to come dropped by with whatever was left in their cupboards and fridges and we had a feast.

 the bunch

 the Flints and Seamons

 the photographer, Brother Hill

July 5^th was such a special day because Erik came to the temple with his family.  We got there an hour before they were supposed to.  No missionaries were there but we just didn’t want to miss the baptism.  It is so very difficult to write about our feelings that day because they are so filled with feeling the Spirit.  We were overjoyed when they stepped through the temple door looking so fine in their Sunday clothes.  We were so proud.  These boys have been taught by parents who were sent to this earth for this purpose.  Shanelle and Asher did things around the temple and with each other because he is too young to go inside.  Dad asked them questions about the stained glass windows and Parker could answer them all.

President Schwendiman gave a beautiful message on the importance of what they were doing   We got in our baptismal clothes and then Parker and Erik baptized each other.  What a wonderful thing for parents to witness.  Parker then baptized his brothers and finally me. (I have no idea if this is the right order but it is close) I just felt so warm an at peace knowing my grandson was worthy to administer that sacred ordinance for me and how thrilled we were that his brothers were so worthy, even Asher, who tries so hard to be good and be like his brothers.  When Asher and Shanelle walked through the temple doors it was just wonderful.  The Spirit was so strong.  We finished our 5 hours while they did the church sites and then met and the Chill and Grill for lunch.  We got ready to order when Dad realized that he didn’t have enough cash to pay and they don’t take cards.  Shanelle had to bail us out. 

We ate so much and then had ice cream.

                                                  

.  We ate so much and then had ice cream.  We went to our house so everyone could use that special room and so Dad could pay Shanelle back and they left for the Restoration Site.  We were so empty when they drove away but still filled with that wonderful feeling of being with them for a few hours. They are a family who tries so hard to live the commandments and do things together.  They are so strong in teaching the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their home and everyday living.  We love them so much. 

July 7th we went shopping in Canandaigua, and then found a real restaurant and ate the first dinner at a nice restaurant, Applebees, since we got here April 19th.

Sunday was church in Niagara Falls and we were the speakers.  It was fun to do and Dad was amazing with his knowledge of the scriptures.  It was on genealogy.  These people are so wonderful and try so hard to follow the Prophet  They had 91 in attendance today and another baptism on Saturday.  The missionaries work so hard and are so obedient.  We always try to find a new route home and came upon this house which was not only of river stone but these flat rocks.

look closely for the 2 different shapes in the rocks

 Dad found this on the table in our itsy, bitsy break room.

On July 11^th,   The Greensborough NC Stake came to serve in the temple on.  What a thrill it was to see so many of our dear friends.  The Caswell Ward was where we spent the first 9 months of our other mission and treated us like family and we still feel that way.  They are amazing people.  We each gained 20 pounds there by eating their good food.  In the temple we saw the wonderful youth who were so young when we were there.  Danny & Angela Outz,  Carla & Lynn Massey, were some of the leaders and we met the whole group at the temple.  It was not our day to be there but we went just hoping to see them.  Dad ended up being the recorder for the baptism and I just watched with Angela and Carla Massey.  What a great group of youth.  We visited with them at the church for lunch after the baptism.  Their children were there also.  Ashton, Lanie, & Brock Outz, Nora Massey and the Herman boy.  I can’t name everyone but it was just great.  Bishop Milner’s daughter, Tanya (I think), was also there. 

 with the Masseys

 the group

the Outz

 We went with Danny, Angela, and Brock to Canandaigua to get a grill for them to cook for the youth at the Whitmer Farm, and then we met them for the Cumorah Pageant.  It was just so much fun to be with them again.

Joseph and me

July 13^th we were at the temple from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM.  The temple closes at 5 during the pageant but we had cleaning to do in that our cleaning people are in the pageant or doing service there.  We were so tired but when we walked out of the temple, there was Shane.  All fatigue gone.  They followed us to our apartment, went potty and we got casual then headed to the Cumorah Pageant.  WOW!  It was amazing.  We ate dinner there and then waited for the show.  The kids dressed up as characters in the Book of Mormon but I can’t get the right way to show them until Kristin comes.  It was just so much fun to be with that family.  We do love them.

 Owen, Shane, Seth, Lucy, Alexa and Anna

Seth Bayles

Saturday we went to the pageant but only long enough to get more of that chicken dinner the Rotary Club sells.  It is so good and the salt potatoes are yummy.

Sunday, at Niagara Falls, was a full chapel due to visitors.  It was so good to have so many people there.  Another sister was confirmed.  Our missionaries are so good.  We took another route home and saw some wonderful things.  We came across another large lake off of Lake Erie and drove along the lake.  The scenery is so beautiful no matter how you go.
July 17th I finally went to see a dentist because my right top molar was giving me such pain.  I was hoping to wait until we went home but the pain was just too bad.
I finally made an appointment with a dentist who is in the Palmyra Stake Presidency, Dr.  Woodworth He was wonderful and so kind and didn't charge too much.  He said I needed a root canal and referred me to an endodontist.  It will be next week, then the pain will be gone.  Tonight we are going to the Pageant just the 2 of us.  We went for the chicken and then went to Rochester to pick up Kristin's luggage and it was there.

July 18^th Dad’s computer was hacked.  We spent the day closing many accounts.  It was not fun.  We will continue doing this for several days.

Kristin and family came and while they were still asleep we did a double shift at the temple. While we were at the temple they woke up and did the Peter Whitmer home and got medicine for an infection in Baylie’s ear from all the reunion swimming.

The next day or sometime, Kristin and I went to the temple and did a session.  It was so special to do a session with one of our children.  Absolutely a dream come true.  I pray the day will come when we can do a session with all of you together or alone; just being there with family is such a blessing. Our covenants with our Heavenly Father are such a loving way to show Him we love Him.  This day was our 52^nd wedding anniversary so to spend time with Kristin made the day even better. 

I may have things in the wrong order but we did eat at the Chill and Grill.  A must.

a kiddie meal  includes ice cream after

 That evening we went to the Hill Cumorah Pageant, our fourth time. It is so amazing and such a testimony builder and done so well.  It is as if Hollywood produced it with all the effects.  We loved it every time and it never rained with the weather report saying thunderstorms almost every night.  It was cold but we went prepared.  Before the program we found things to do besides have a great chicken dinner, including salt potatoes which we will prepare for you when we get home.  Delicious!

with some of the cast

Nephites

Book of Mormon Family

trouble

opening

cast

There is no way we can describe the magnitude of this pageant.  Words cannot do it.  The Spirit is so strong an lifting.  It is true.

The 20th we got ready to leave for the Niagara Falls in Canada, when David mentioned that he forgot his passport.  I had already reserved our hotel and could not cancel so we were in a bit of stress.  Good ole Kristin came to the rescue.  She had all their important papers in a special file on her computer and since her computer is hooked to her hip, she could pull out the information and David called to make sure they would accept it.  Whew!

It took a little over 2 hours to get there and since we had permission from SLC to do this, we were not in a hurry.   We got checked into our hotel which I will describe later, and decided to go on the Horn Blower right then.  Because it was late there were very few on the boat, so we never had to wait in a line for anything.  We walked right on the boat.

52 years

 Of course we got soaked but we were so happy and had such fun.  Our captain took us very closes to the falls and we loved it.  The next day because of winds and clouds the boats did not go in close.  We were so lucky.

Because it was our anniversary, I had booked a room on the 34^th floor of the Embassy Hotel,                    
with a full view of the falls.  I had reserved a room with 2 queen beds and a roll out couch.  When we opened the room there were 6 queen beds and 2 bathrooms.  I immediately called the desk and they said we had been upgraded with no extra cost.  We could not believe it.  The entire outside wall was a window and we could see the falls as they light them at night.  People on the elevator said the only bad thing was that you had to wait so long in a line for the breakfast.  The hotel informed us that we had our names on the no wait list.  How lucky can one get? 

room 1

room 2

window

If you want to see more just go to Kristin's blog
It was all like a great dream and we took it all in.  We ordered pizza and just had a great evening.

After our very formal breakfast, we rode this tram down a steep hill to the water. 

at the top of the tram

David bought us tickets to go under the falls.  Again we were soaked but had so much fun.

at the opening

looking from the top of the falls

 The kids were so in for anything we did.  They were amazing.

It was a fun way to spend our anniversary. 

 Dad surprised e by buying a lock to put on he Love Bridge.
(oops wrong year!)

 We did some shopping and just enjoyed being at the falls.

We went to the American way to go through customs.  This led to the city where we go to church, Niagara.  At 4:00 we headed home very tired but so happy and worn out.  Jalen made a knife out of a branch and made us a tree of life.  It is beautiful.

The 22nd we drove our car to show the Batchelors some more beautiful country.  It was raining so hard.  Didn't stop us at all. We left after church and after we walked on the path that led to the stone wall that Joseph and Alvin made.  It is something to touch the same stones they did.

We took pictures at the temple and walked in the Sacred Grove,

and went to the Hill Cumorah.

Monday we took the family to see some more of our beautiful country.

We see scenes like this on a daily basis

Kristin wanted to see an Amish horse drawn cart but she just got one in a yard, a sign and clothes on the line.

We did stop at a market and Dad bought a hat that Jalen is modeling.  Kristin was excited to see some of their homes. 

It was just fun to be together.  We decided to go by way of Seneca Lake to Watkin's Glenn.  Tiff's kids loved it there.  It looked like it would be a very stormy day but they didn't care.  Jalen crashed on the way there.  We mean crashed!

It We ate at the same place, on the water, as Tiff's gang.

It was pouring but they took the hike anyway.  Those kids were up for anything.

 It was very hard saying good-by but they wanted to be able to see Erik's boys on the way South.

The next day was our 10 hour shift and we were able to meet Dana and Berva Griffin, from our ward, and do a session with them.  It was so wonderful to have a few minutes with them.  They were in a hurry to do cemeteries.  We found out that the tiny grave site on the way to the Hill Cumorah was Brother Griffin’s family cemetery. His grandfather owned that property and was not kind to the Mormons.  So far 41 people have let us know they were coming.  Only our daughters stayed several days, which was great. They brought us sunshine.

The 25^th was so fun because I got that coveted root canal.  My tooth had been hurting for several weeks and I finally broke down and saw a dentist.  Everything was just jolly.

Katie Knight came to the temple the next day.  She was student body president when Erik was there and played ball with Tiffani.  It was a fun surprise.  That makes 12 people who came to the temple whom we knew previously. We love seeing friends who didn’t even know we were there.

Sunday the 29^th, was a very special Sabbath.  Debby’s, (the sister who feeds us so much,) mother had died and her memorial was right after church.  We don’t know when we have been so touched by a program like this.  She was 92 years old and had served in the Navy.  She was just a great lady.  The Navy Honor Guard began the service with their respect for our country and Sister Holland.  There was not a sound in the chapel, not even a child.  Tears were flowing from all.  It was such a sacred moment.  A trumpet was heard from the lobby playing taps.  They gave the flag to one of her great grandsons.  We will never forget the feelings we had at that very sacred and respectful moment.  Funerals and cemeteries are so expensive now that she was cremated and we will feel love and respect for her always.  We are so proud of the men and women who have served this wonderful country of ours, valiantly.  We were gone 12 hours that day and loved every minute of it.

We are so blessed to live in a country where we are free. 

 This is the only place where the gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored.  We are so blessed to be able to live our lives knowing what to expect after death and while we are striving to do good in this life.  We are so blessed to be part of the family our Father has given us.  We love every one of you. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way back to our Father as families.  It is true!!!