where it is

So, lately (and randomly) I've been thinking about my dating life.  From my first elementary school "boyfriend", through junior high and "going out", high school where I first fell in love, and college when I was engaged for the first time, was heart broken, then went on more blind dates than I could imagine possible... all to lead me to my wonderful and meant-for-me husband. 

It has been quite the journey and I am beyond grateful that my path has led me to someone who is so good to me... so good FOR me.  He knows  how to handle my emotions and irrational thinking.  He wants me to be the best I can be.  He believes in me and takes care of me.  He is a wonderful provider and has goals and dreams. 

 I love him.

old friend

I have a borrowed guitar.  I am so happy.

It has been.... I can't even describe how it has been to play a little bit again. 

just bliss.

terrible twos

Oh my little Olly puppy.  She has been so naughty lately!  I think I would hang her upside down and let the birds get her... except for the fact that her dad and brother like her oh so much.  Okay, so I really do love my little Olive, but I am ready for her to stop getting in the garbage, eating ALL of Greg's socks, dragging laundry around the house, eating any paper or plastic she can get her paws on, getting into my craft box, and on and On and ON!.... I'm ready for this to END.  NOW.  Thanks :)

don't let this sweet face fool you

mischevious grin...

sometimes things are hard

This morning I got a phone call from my mom, letting me know my cousin Mitch had passed away.  He has been battling intense brain cancer and this morning, the battle ended.  Mitch was always more of a friend to me than some relative I had to be nice to.  He was so much fun to hang out with and he was wiser than he could have realized.  So many times he gave me good advice and helped me through things I was facing.  He was so funny and everyone just loved him.  I don't want to go on and on, but I needed an outlet.  I love you Mitchell.  Love you love you love you.

roadtrip day five - april 18th (scroll down for previous days)

rochester, new york to bear, delaware

So after  Niagara, we drove to Rochester, New York and stayed in a KOA campground.  We slept in the back of the Highlander... mostly, we were just looking for a place we could shower.  A five day roadtrip can definitely seem anti-hygenic.

We ended up sleeping in that morning until NOON.  We couldn't believe it!  After we got everything situated, we headed out to make the last stretch of the trip.  Palmyra, Sacred Grove, the Hill Cumorah and the Grandin Building.  We first stopped at the Smith Farm.  This is where Joseph Smith lived when he went out to the grove and the First Vision occured.  Most of the buildings were replicas, so we didn't get a lot of pictures.  The Palmyra Temple is on the original acreage of the farm.  Pretty sweet!

original smith frame home (not where joseph lived as a boy)

the temple overlooks the sacred grove

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.  When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" 

-Joseph Smith History 

We were in the Sacred Grove all by ourselves.  It can be a very busy place, but we got lucky by going at just the right time of year.  We were able to sit in quiet, alone in this sacred place.

After we left the Sacred Grove, we went up to the Hill Cumorah. 

view from the top of the hill

Then off to the Grandin Press to visit the publication site of the original Book of Mormon.

inside the main store (i wish i would've taken a picture outside)

one of the original 5,000 copies

one of three originals of this painting

original moroni painting

the machinery here is not original, but the floors and walls are all original.  there is ink and oil spilled on the walls from when the press was running.

These are the original floorboards.  Joseph Smith walked on this floor as he was working to have the Book of Mormon published.  It is symbolic to me of the entire trip.  I was in the same places where the Church was restored.  I was blessed to see these places and be where the Prophet Joseph once was.  In fact, I was able to be somewhere that our Savior and Heavenly Father have been.  I am so happy to have been on this trip.  Learn what I have learned, and feel what I felt.

roadtrip day four - april 17th (scroll down for previous days)

driving, driving, driving... to rochester, new york

So, I'd mentioned our sweet setup in the back of the car, right?  So after we left Chicago, I drove for awhile while Greg relaxed, then he started driving and I fell right asleep.  We drove and drove and I woke up when we were getting off a freeway exit.  I asked Greg where we were and he told me to go back to sleep.  Then, a few minutes later (It was abou 5 a.m.), we stopped on the side of a road in a little town, and again, I asked where we were.  He pointed to a building and said "see that building?  That is the Kirtland Temple".  Cool!!  Kirtland wasn't in our plans to see while we roadtripped, but it happened to be right along the way.  I'm SO glad Greg decided to pull off!  We decided to nap in the car for a few hours until the Kirtland visitors center opened.  It was well worth the extra time.

Kirtland is where a lot of revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants came.  The School of the Prophets was also in Kirtland, and SO much other neat stuff!  So, this was a very fun and unexpected stop on our trip.

inside of the store

anything that says BEAN deserves a photo, right??

It was really neat learning about the Kirtland Temple.  It is owned by the Community  of Christ (RLDS).  This temple was the first temple and was used as a training temple.  Different revelation was given here, but it wasn't used as a temple today is used.

meeeeee!

After we left Kirtland, we drove and drove some more to reach our next destination... Niagara Falls!!  Honestly, I didn't really care for the town too much, but the falls were spectacular!  We went on the Maid of the Mist boat... it takes you out in front of the falls and you get very wet from all of the mist!  It was kind of a pain because it was already only about 40 degrees this day, but it was still fun to go on the boat.  I'll tell you one thing... don't let some little tourist shop trick you into believing you'll miss the boat if you don't spend bukoo bucks on their tour.  We fell for it and paid WAY too much money for the thing.  Again I will say, I'm SO glad we did the boat tour.  Wahoo! (oh, and for the record, I totally wanted to find the church where Jim and Pam got married, but Greg thought I was lame!!  )  :)

in front of the falls

the little boat down there is just like the one we went on

we're too good looking in our ponchos

i wish you could tell how wet we got!!