Leaves and Things

Wow, it's been a while since I blogged. Some blogger, huh? ;0) Things have been crazy busy with Randy coming home on October 5. We promptly took off on October 7 for a vacation to New England. What a trip! We flew into Buffalo, NY and stayed overnight on the Canadian side of Niagra Falls. Fantastic view! We spent the next day just touring around the falls and as we were leaving on our ride up the tram that goes back up to the main road we saw several emergency vehicles right where we had been standing. A jumper?! Yes, that was confirmed about an hour later when we were attempting to schedule the shorter tour on the "Maid of the Mist" boat but it had been delayed by several hours due to "rescue" and recovery efforts. That was a sad experience to think someone had just made that decision about their life.

We went on our way to Palmyra, NY which is significant in our church history. Being the place of the restoration of the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as well as the home of significant locations where other important events took place, we spent three days there. It is a small, quaint and very New England community. At the last minute we lucked out and got a room due to a cancellation at the Palmyra Inn. That was HUGE since pretty much all other accommodations were about 20 miles away. It was a great location, with a pathway out the back door that led to the Sacred Grove, just .2 miles away! While in Palmyra we visited the Grandin Press and of course the LDS bookstore adjacent to it for purchasing replicas of the original Book of Mormon. We took a lot of photos of the Erie Canal, the town, the famous "four churches" corner (the only place in the world with a church building on each corner. We visited the Smith family farm and home, the old log home and Alvin Smith's gravesite. We also made a trip to the Whitmer Farm and Vistor's Center, where the church was organized. Something significant about that is that the old white house, which has been moved and is now to the right of the Visitor's Center, was the building my family attended church in when I was about 4-5 years old. My dad was stationed at the Army Depot in Geneva, NY back then.

One of the highlights of our time in Palmyra was our visit to the Palmyra Temple. It is so small but beautiful. After our session there a sealer invited us to participate in sealings which we were happy to do. We then learned of the significance of the back window of the temple. It is the only clear glass window in that temple and I believe the only other temple with clear glass in it is the Washington D.C temple. This window was requested by President Gordon B. Hinckley, then president and prophet. When he stood on the ground of the temple site he saw it looked out to the Sacred Grove and he stated he "wanted that view" so that all who entered the temple would see that holy place from within the Lord's house.

The Sacred Grove was our next and final stop in Palmyra and we spent 3 hours there. When the day started it was gloomy, overcast and misting. By the time we entered the Grove the sun had broken through the clouds and we enjoyed the crisp fall air as we walked. It was an amazing feeling and special experience.

From there we drove almost 400 miles through New York and Vermont, stopping just as the sun set in Randolph, Vermont. This is the location of the Joseph Smith Memorial, the birthplace of this prophet. It was too dark to see much or take photos but we visited briefly in the Visitor's Center with the senior missionaries. They happen to be from Meridian, Idaho, where we live! The elder told us he was once my grandmother's home teachers and knows many members of my family. We hurried on our way to Laconia, New Hampshire where we were expected for dinner...but that didn't happen!

We finally arrived at the home of Fred & Marilyn Coffin where we stayed a few days. They are a special family in my life as a missionary and it was great to spend time with them and renew those friendships. The next day was Sunday and we attended church at the Laconia Ward in New Hampshire with Marilyn. After 20 years it was surprising that I was still remembered by so many in that ward. I got a real kick out of the "kids" who are now in their 30's with families of their own and serving in the bishopric and Relief Society. So fun to catch up with everyone but missed a lot of folks who were on assignments elsewhere.

The next day we headed up the coast of Maine and nearly froze to death! LOL...the wind is just bitter on the coast in the fall, winter and spring but it was gorgeous. Randy and I stopped for a real lobster dinner which was quite delectable!

We arrived at the home of Dennis & Sheila Frappier, friend's also from my mission days and spent two days with them. They live in Raymond, Maine nearly at the end of a dirt road. Their home is on an inlet that sits right across the road from Lake Sebago. We had a fun time strolling the beach and rocks, taking tons of photos and just spending time with their family. We took a day trip to Freeport and the LL Bean flagship store and had a nice leisurely drive back to their home that night.

We finally headed back to Laconia for our goodbye's with the Coffin's and Dennis & Syl Swett, also friends from my mission days in Laconia. We had a great time visiting with them and then headed to our hotel in Manchester so we were close to the airport for our very early morning flight home.

All in all, we could have spent another week out there. Besides seeing and walking the grounds of those places that we hold sacred and are so special, my highlight was to just be with people who mean so much to me. Only those who have served as missionaries know what I'm talking about. The love that you have for those people stays with you forever and it seemed like we had never been apart. I felt very at home and very welcomed there. What great people in a gorgeous part of God's earth!