Oh, the Dimples!!

There is nothing sweeter than a brand new baby and last weekend we got to meet 

a little guy who has the cuteness market cornered!

Meet Nathan Anthony Faria. 

He is the son of my nephew Michael and his wife Sarah.

 Sunday was the day he was given a name and a blessing at church.

 Nathan was born 2 months ago in Texas where his father has been serving in the Army at Fort Hood. Michael did cool things like pilot drone aircraft. Someday Nathan will think that's pretty awesome!

Now that Michael is out of the military, he and Sarah decided to come to Utah so that he could finish his schooling. I couldn't be happier about that because it means we get to see them and get to know their little guy! It also means that his Grandparents, my baby sister Georgena and her husband Steve will be coming over from Denver to visit. Win/win!!

Here is Gena with her first little Grandson, Nathan. They look pretty good together, don't they?

I couldn't resist a slobbery kiss for my pesky little sis!

  She is looking gorgeous and I kind of look five years older than her.

After the blessing at church we gathered at Sarah's brother's house in Lehi for some photos and visiting.

Michael is the cutest Daddy. 

He couldn't love this little boy more and it shows!

There's my husband the Master, the Cutest Coach...forever answereing Email and texts.

This is the group of good men that stood in the circle of Priesthood brethren. 

Nathan is lucky to have good uncles, cousins, and Grandpas to love him!

Here are Michael's family who were able to come. 

We missed Emily's twin sister Allison, who had to stay behind in Colorado and work.

 Also, their brother Chris and his wife Christina and their darling little Emma who is aobut 6 months older than cousin Nathan.

 Cannot wait to meet her someday. Maryland is a far away place...

 Front: Sarah, Michael & Nathan, Auntie Emily, Cousins Brittany & Rachel.

Back: Grandpops Steve, Grandma Gena, Great-Auntie Marianne, Great-Uncle Dee, & Cousin Richard.

 Sarah has given Steve & Gena their grandparent names. They are going to be Lolly & Pop...Cute!

"Lolly" fits Georgena nicely!

Nathan is the smiley-est baby I've ever known.

 He has literally been smiling (really smiling) since he was just weeks old.

 He can melt a roomful of adults with those dimples!

There was plenty of doting on this little man. You cannot help yourself!

This photo was a popular one from the night.

Someone said it was very much like a Norman Rockwell.

I agree!

I hope Lolly & Pop can come over often! 

Miss Emily is still at BYU and now this little grand baby is in the neighborhood. 

Next visist please!!

Meanwhile, I am enjoying cool, early summer evenings snuggling on our patio, The girls gave me these lights for Mother's Day and the guys put them up for me. Nothing nicer! (except for baby dimples!)

Time Travel Tuesdays~Annie Dean Part 5

After I published last week's post I remembered a few things that I had left out.So Here I present

"Annie Dean: The Appendices"

Can you imagine how the desert of Arizona seemed to this lady from north of London? If you visit the village of Flaunden on Google Earth, and go to "street view", you will see those roads and lanes as she saw them. They are lined by tall, green hedges. There is ivy growing everywhere, and shade trees all around the properties. There are cool breezes, cloudy skies, and much more rain than Arizona could ever dream of.  My mother has memories of Annie running outside to play in the rain when it would fall, like a little giggly girl. She would be barefooted and splash in the puddles, tromping around in the mud! She was almost always barefooted anyway! My sister Sharon had a way of cooling off in the humid monsoon days of a Mesa summer. If a breeze came up at all she would hurry outside, face the wind, and throw her arms out wide. She learned this from our Grandmother Ellsworth, Annie.

Grandma had learned to work hard as a young girl and couldn't abide spoiled or lazy children. If a child of hers, or a grandchild ever dared say they were bored, by golly she would find a job for them to do! There was always something that needed to be done! One of my Dad's memories included Annie sending children outside to turn over rocks. If there was "nothing to do", as many a bored child would whine, they would be sent out to turn over every rock in the garden or driveway. She would check their work and could tell the ones they had missed because the undersides of the rocks would have been wet and therefore darker when turned up! That child never complained about being bored again, at least not around Grandma!

Annie was never idle. She always had her hands busy knitting, crocheting, quilting, or embroidering something for someone. She taught my mother how to crochet. Mom said that for her first project she got a bit ambitious and chose to make a crocheted bed spread! Grandma was very patient with her and was an excellent teacher, but Mom soon got busy and never did finish her bedspread. She still has all of those squares. I think they should be make into keepsake heirlooms. I'm going to work on that!
Here are a few heirlooms of my own that were made by Grandma's loving hands just for me!

This is a sweet block quilt that Grandma Ellsworth made for me when I was a baby. I always loved spreading it out and laying on it to play with my dolls of lay in front of the fan and read my story books.
The little sleepy puppy is a stuffed animal that was a gift from her to me as well. His tail used to squeak but not anymore! His name is Peanut and I remember hugging him close and missing my grandparents as I got a bit older.

This is a quilt that Grandma made for my dolls. It is 2 feet square and has four hand-embroidered squares.
As you can see, it was well-played-with! I wish I had taken better care of it now, but it was very special to me even back then and I used it as she had intended anyway. I may try to use some gentle stain removing methods that were not available years ago and see if I can get some of those spots out!

I included these enlarged pictures so you can see the detail. I can embroider, myself, but I am so impressed by the french knots which are the polka dots on the little dress below, and the freckles in the next photo. She was about 75 years old when she made this and not in the very best of health, but her work is excellent. I love her all the more for the time and effort she put into this gift for me!

This is the little bonnet she crocheted for me when I was born. It is so soft and sweet! I treasure it!

When we would play the card game "Crazy Eights", Richard, Dean, Gena, and I would sit and play on the living room floor. When my Dad saw that we would tell each other to "draw a card" he corrected us and told us what his mother (Annie) had taught them as children. When you had to draw a card you would be told to "go to the Bone Yard" or "go to the Boney". I imagine she and her brothers and sisters learned to call a grave yard a 'bone yard' when they were small.

My Mom has said repeatedly to me that she could never have dreamed up or asked for better in-laws. From the moment she and Dad became engaged she was taken into the family and became one of them. She considers Dad's brothers and sisters as her own and mourned with Martha at the passing of Robert, saying,"now she is the only one left! My sweet Ellsworth family and they are nearly all gone." Annie was a particularly loving mother-in-law, so kind and thoughtful of my Mom. She has missed her terribly all of these years!

A few years ago when my Uncle Robert passed away he lived in Clearfield, Utah about an hour or so north of me. Aunt Martha and my cousin Julie Harris Wheeler flew up from Mesa for the funeral. I rode up to the funeral with them as did Julie's sister Deana Harris Church. Deana lives here locally, and do you notice the spelling of her name? Not the typical way someone spells Deena, or Dina. It's a nod to Grandma! I wish with all of my heat that we 'd had a recorder in that car as we drove that day. Martha told us such stories! At one point I had asked her something about growing up with Grandma and Deana turned around and said, "sing us the song Aunt Martha!" Martha laughed and declined and I said, "what song?" Julie said, "you know, the one that Granny used to sing to us and to her own children? It's like a lullaby". They could see by my blank stare that I had no idea what they were talking about. They laughed and said, "well, that's the difference between being raised by her son (my Dad) or being raised by one of her daughters!" Their mother was my Aunt Naomi. I never did get that song out of them, and I would dearly love to!

Grandma named all of their animals. The ones I remember are "Bob Dog" and "Old Bill" the horse. The cows and even her hens were usually given  really funny names. I think Aunt Martha called one of the chickens "Peckedy Hen"!

Annie loved little nick-knacks and had many of them around her home. I loved to go over to visit and see all of her little green ceramic elves, beautiful birds, sculpted flowers, and vases. My Dad gathered a few of these after Grandpa's passing and I am fortunate enough to have a few. The photo below shows me as a little two year old on Easter Sunday. I am in Grandpa & Grandma's home on South Nina Drive. You can see some of her pretty things behind me! See the little poodle under the side table? I love that TV too!

This photo shows my Aunt Lora's younger three children with my siblings and me.

Back L-R Dianne, Doug, & Marian Hunsaker, Marianne (me!), & Sharon Ellsworth.

Front- Dean & Richard Ellsworth.

Annie was a very good cook. She had been a cook for many people throughout her growing-up years. She could make delicious fried chicken. My Aunt Martha told me, "Mama would decide to fry up a chicken for dinner so she'd call Joe in and tell him to go out and pick out an old hen."  Uncle Joe would go out and grab one by the neck and with a whip of his wrist, that neck would break. He would then hang it by it's feet from the clotheslines and clean it out. Sometimes Annie would pluck it clean of feathers and sometimes she would have the children do it. Martha remembers being horrified every time this wold happen, but she was known in the family for being the one who would gather up all of the bones after dinner and pick them clean! Grandma taught my mother how to make several things really well.

Grandma's Divinity was a staple in our home every December. Mom would color it in lovely pastel hues of pink, mint green, and blue. She would press a pecan half into each piece just like the photo below. I have never tried making it, in part because although Mom was an expert at it, she always seemed so stressed about it turning out just right.  Humidity can ruin it, and it can also be too dry. I may just have to try it one of these days, just to be considered part of the female part of our clan!

Annie's Divinity

2 egg whites

                                                                       4 cups sugar                                                                         

1/2 cup water

1 cup dark corn syrup

1 tsp vanilla

Beat Egg whites until almost stiff. Mix sugar, syrup, and water and bring to a boil. Cook to a soft ball stage or 235-245 degrees. While beating, pour some of the syrup over egg whites. return syrup to stove while beating. Beat for about 1/2 a minute then add the rest of the syrup while beating. Continue until mixture is stiffened. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper quickly so that mixture doesn't harden in the bowl. You can add things while beating like chopped nuts of gum drop bits. You can also press half a pecan into the tops.

~

 We also have a recipe in our family that I like to call " Grandma Annie's Chocolate Cake". It is heavenly! The eggs are separated and the whites are whipped up before being folded in. The cake is the perfect mix of moist and light. Frost it with your favorite chocolate frosting. The thicker, the better! Grandma's touch was to chop up walnuts or pecans and sprinkle to top just after frosting it.

Annie Dean Ellsworth's Chocolate Cake 

(as it is called in our family cookbook)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream together:

1 Cup shortening 

 2 Cups white sugar

Separate 4 eggs. 

        Add the yolks to the creamed mixture. 

         Set aside whites for later.

Mix together:

2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 Cup of cocoa

Add just enough water to make the consistency of rubber cement,

thick and runny.

Mix together:

Cocoa mixture & creamed mixture,

 blending well.

Sift together:

2 Cups flour                   1/2 tsp. salt        1 Tb. baking powder

Add to creamed mixture alternately with 1 Cup milk.

Beat well after each addition.

Egg Whites:

Beat egg whites until stiff and fold in to creamed mixture.

Pour into a greased and floured pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

 Time varies greatly depending on humidity and altitude.

A long time ago I wrote "Memory Mondays". Don't ask me why I changed. I don't remember!

You can read the story of my Dad and the flying tea kettle by clicking here. It's the first time I wrote about my Grandma, so some of the details you may have just read in the previous weeks. You can skim if you want to, I won't be offended!

Finally, I want to pay tribute to my grandmother for her faithful temple work and the family history work she did in her lifetime. She did research and saw that as much temple work could be done for her family as possible. Her parent's family group record shows that she had much of their work done as soon as she could. Some in St. George, and the rest in the Mesa Temple not long after it was dedicated. Remember the story of Annie kicking the teacher who was beating her brother Reuben? Reuben was killed during World War I while defending Festubert and Givenchy, France on Nov. 7, 1914. How heartbreaking! Annie took care of her big brother again in 1927 and 28 by having him baptized and endowed. Near the end of her life Annie felt the need to share her testimony of the gospel in letters to her family. Her sister Mary Ann wrote back to her said that that she felt that what Annie was telling her was right, but that she wanted to talk to her about it in person. Annie passed away a few weeks later on Sept. 6, 1960. Mary Ann passed away on Sept, 26, 1960. The family believed that Annie got to have that talk with her sister much sooner than either of them had thought possible, and saw to it that Mary Ann's work was done in the Mesa Temple in 1962-3. A life of hard work, faith, and service to others, finding joy in small things...that was my grandmother 

Annie Dean Ellsworth.

Time Travel Tuesdays~In Their Own Words~Annie Dean Part 2

Last week I left off Annie's story when she was 18 years old and had just taken a job at Horton's Butcher Shop in Watford. She was the family's cook and also cooked for the butchers. She had been living away from home for nine years. I do not know if she was ever able to visit her family back in Flaunden during those years. I would hope so. At the point where we pick up the story today she has worked in Kent, London, and Berkhamsted before ending up in Watford. I know this town from family history research. Watford is in the Church of England's St. Albans Diocese. It is a bit southeast of Flaunden and a much larger community.

To continue in her own words:
All during my youth I was restless about religion. I was never quite satisfied with the Church of England. I went to investigate all the revivals and knew of all religions but none of them satisfied me. When I turned eighteen I was confirmed into the Church of England. (1902) I thought this would end my restlessness. The day of my confirmation I went back to Horton's and the whole world seemed so very dark - almost black. I was very unhappy and felt worse than ever. I sat on the foot of my bed and got my prayer book. I felt an awful chill go through me. I laid down my book and sat and thought. I thought of all the churches and I asked myself, "how do I know which church is right?".
For the first time I knelt down and prayed in my own words. Afterwards, my feeling of darkness seemed to leave but the restless feeling stayed with me.

Soon I left Horton's and went to work for a family by the name of Naughton. I met a Mrs. Horn in church and she invited me to tea the next Sunday to meet her boarders. She said, "they call themselves Mormons". So I went. I met Elders George C. Parkinson and Emery B. Needham. After tea we began to talk of their religion. The more they said, the more I knew that what they said was true. I knew this was what I was looking for. Within three weeks I was baptized by Jesse Hoopes on June 11, 1905 at Tiberton Baths. A few weeks later I went to work in the Liverpool Mission House as cook and housekeeper.

I took a trip home to tell my family of my happiness. My mother told me she knew I wouldn't do anything wrong, so it must be all right. I took a copy of the Millennial Star with me.There was a story of Brigham Young which I wanted them to read. My father at the mention of the name got up and walked out. I never saw him again. My mother went to the train with me. It was very hard to leave her knowing I would probably never see her again.

I returned to London. A returning missionary, Alec Nibley, offered me immigration money if I would "work it back" by working for his folks in Salt lake City. I agreed and came over to America on the ship, the "Republic". The day before we landed we hit an iceberg. It was not very serious though. It was only enough of a "jar" to wake up the passengers. I had my 23rd birthday on the boat. we landed in Boston and it took me five days by train to get to Salt Lake City. I arrived July 2, 1907. I went right to work.

Here is a map of the UK showing  Flaunden's location (lower right, in red) and the journey Annie took to live and work at her first apprenticeship in Kent.


This map is one I put together to show Annie's different travels and places of work until she ended up in Watford at age 18.


This is an old postcard showing a row of shops in Watford in 1903.

 Church Road in Watford. St. Mary's is in the background.

St. Mary's Church, Church of England, where Annie most likely was confirmed.

 Church of England prayer books from early 1900's.

1903 postcards showing the market place in Watford.

I "Googled" Tiberton Baths where Annie says her baptism took place. The only thing close was Tiverton, near Watford. There are some ruins of Roman baths in the area, but that doesn't seem like that would be the place as they really are ruined! Perhaps there are warm springs in the area? I am going to try to get to the bottom of this question but that will be for another time.

It always amazes me to read the stories of my ancestors' conversions to the gospel of Christ. Without exception they are wondering, questioning, and restless. It seems that they were born to find the true church. Joseph Smith was no different. I love and admire Annie for her immense faith and her ability to follow what the spirit was telling her was wrong. The bad feelings she had after her confirmation into the Church of England were so strong that it turned her to prayer. First to her prayer book, which was all the prayer she had ever known, then to her knees to utter her first prayer in her own words. It almost seems like that was instinctive. 

I ache for Annie when she returns home to Flaunden to tell her family about her "happiness",  perhaps with the hope of giving them the gospel too. Her mother was kind and showed her support, but her father left the room. My own father told me once that his mother (Annie) had told him that as she left the family home that day, her father was outside. He shouted at her as she left, using words of hatred for the "Mormons". That was the last time she was ever home or saw any of her blood family in person. Still, she left her home country with great faith and hope. I will be forever grateful to her for this choice.

Next time you will find out how Annie felt about America and all of the work and learning she did after arriving.

Time Travel Tuesdays~A Temple, A Prophet, & Poncho Villa?

A wonderful blessing has occurred for members of my church in the Gilbert, AZ area. A beautiful new temple has been completed and dedicated to the work of the Lord. There has only been one temple in the area for just over 80 years. This will make temple attendance easier for many and relieve some strain on the old temple in Mesa.

The old temple in Mesa...it takes me back, all of this talk of temples and youth cultural celebrations and hosting the prophet. In 1975 the Mesa Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was closed for renovation and a new addition. I was 17 years old, in my senior year of high school, and very excited about everything that was planned for the re-opening and re-dedication of our temple.

The 1975 construction on the Mesa Temple added much needed locker rooms, laundry, office and lobby space. It was a busy temple as it served much of the southwest as well as Mexico and even farther south into Central and South America. The Sao Paulo, Brazil Temple was under construction but not yet complete. The Mexico City temple wasn't even announced until the following year. I remember many times groups of  Church members from Central and South America would come to Mesa by the busload. They would be taken to the Tri-Stake Center (or Inter-Stake Center as it was officially called). This building is located at 830 E. 2nd Ave. and only about a block south-east of the temple by Ellsworth Park. There they could shower, change, and  were fed by by local Relief Society sisters. They were then taken to the temple where they received their own Endowments, were sealed as couples and as families, attended as many sessions as they could in their allotted time in Mesa. It was usually only a few days then they boarded their buses and returned home. Many of them were never able to attend the temple again in their lives. The Relief Society always gathered donations of new underclothes, and new and used clothing and shoes for these Saints, most of whom were to poor to buy nice enough clothing for temple attendance. It was a labor of love.

Needing more space in the Mesa Temple, President Spencer W. Kimball authorized the construction.
There was great excitement in Mesa when the time neared that the refurbishing was complete. The Prophet was coming to Mesa, along with the rest of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Members of the Seventy, Regional Representatives, and Auxiliary Presidencies were also coming. Temple dedications were extremely rare back in those days. On the evening before the re-dedication of the temple they were all to be hosted at a dinner. It was announced that my church building, the current Lazona Ward building on the corner of Lazona and East University Ave. was to be used. The gym was as large as a Stake Center's and we had a huge kitchen. It was  the largest of the centrally located buildings in Mesa I suppose. All I know is that our ward's youth were chosen to be the servers that night and we were all thrilled! In the week leading up to the event we gathered to clean the building inside and out. My assigned task with others from my age group was to wash exterior windows. We used vinegar and newspapers and I just remember my hands turning black from the ink! We worried that we had done all of that work and our guests would probably not even notice. We were reminded that we should always put forth our very best efforts for the Lord and His servants. It didn't matter whether any of the brethren saw our windows or not. We would know that we had presented our building in its best possible light. The evening did turn out to be very lovely. I had the honor of serving the table where Apostle Mark E. Peterson sat. At the head table in the overflow space, the First Presidency each took a few moments and spoke to us and the guests of the importance of temple work and their feelings on this occasion. President Kimball was an Arizona boy and we were all so proud to claim him.

There was a funny and special memory shared by President Marion G. Romney who had a connection to Arizona as he was raised in Colonia Juarez, Mexico. He told us his memories of being a four year old boy at the time when legendary outlaw Poncho Villa was on a rampage, raiding the Mormon Colonies. He and his siblings were thrown into the back of the family's covered wagon and told to stay back away from the opening of the cover as the family literally fled for their lives. He told us that he was a naughty boy and took a peek through the wagon cover as they were  being bounced and thrown about in the back of the wagon. He saw Poncho Villa himself leading the raid on horseback, guns blazing! I think I realized for the first time how awesome our older generation was with their connection to the Old West and Pioneer days. My own grandparents were just that age.

Before the dinner began all of the youth were given "the talk" about not bothering the Prophet. If we were not chosen to serve that table we needed to stay away. We were not to go up to any of the Brethren of Sisters there and interrupt their evening. The ward members had been told to stay away as well. Soon the word went around the cultural hall like wildfire that the Prophet's car had arrived. My heart was pounding in my chest. I wanted to meet him and shake his hand so badly! They had parked on the west side of the building so I walked over to that foyer, just to peek out of the cultural hall doors and see him and the others come in. I saw, against or organizers' wishes, Primary children in their Sunday best all lined up politely, their mothers behind them, waving to President Kimball. I also saw some our youth outside.  Not many, but tears filled my eyes as I thought I might never be this near a Prophet of God again. One of my Laurel class teachers took me by the hand and said, "Marianne, you go out there and be near the prophet. Don't you miss this chance! Don't you worry about what those bossy ladies said!" I will be forever grateful to her! I went outside and stood back on the sidewalk. I just wanted to see him go by, that was all. I will never forget his smile and kindness as he left his escorts and shook hands with each Primary child, some of whom were my nieces and nephews. He greeted them sweetly and asked the boys if they were saving money for their missions. Then he glanced up and saw me and a few other youth. He came straight for us. I will never forget the warm spirit that flowed through me as I grasped his extended hand. He smiled at me and I said something like"nice to meet you." He was so short I recall placing my left hand on his shoulder as we shook hands and I was looking down into his eyes! That warm spirit has stayed with me all of these years whenever I see or hear one of our prophets speak. I know they are called of God to lead His church on Earth today.

I have never been close enough again, to a President of the Church to shake his hand. I have been in many firesides, BYU and Ricks College devotionals, and Regional Conferences where the prophet was in attendance and spoke, but I will forever cherish that beautiful moment in April of 1975 when I was touched by our prophet and felt the spirit of the Lord confirm to me the truthfulness f the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, April 15, 1975. L-R President Spencer W. Kimball, 1st Counselor N. Eldon Tanner, 2nd Counselor Marion G. Romney. They are standing outside of the Mesa AZ Temple  on the southwest side to show the two new additions behind them.

Here is an old postcard from the 1930's It show the original entrance on the east side.

 Here is the same views from the mid-1950's

Here is an aerial view showing what the south side of the temple looked like before the addition in '75 which took up all of the lawn and gardens in the foreground of the photo.

This is a view of the new lobby or foyer addition on the east.

 And here it is today. How I love this temple.

 It is where many generations of my family have been sealed together for time and all eternity!

The Last Post About my Trip...I Promise!

I have been to New York! Not the big city part by any means, but a beautiful part nonetheless! Sarah served her LDS Mission in the New York-Utica Mission which is just East of Palmyra. She was having major flashbacks as we drove along. Lots of rolling fields and trees everywhere. The trees are in groves, all clumped together because much of the land has been cleared for farming. As with Toronto, if only I'd been a week or so earlier I would have seen some amazing fall colors!

 Every farm it seems,has a bright red barn, and everything is so tidy and well kept!

 Sarah said it was bringing back memories of her mission, driving out on country roads all day looking for a random farm or home to visit. Not a great use of time, "tracting" in the countryside!

 We had a hotel room reserved near Fayette because we had planned to visit the Peter Whitmer farm, but we ran out of daylight. We changed into our jammies and ate our Maple Leaf Fudge instead!

(Milk Chocolate & Maple!)

The next morning we made a hard decision. There was only enough time to see Palmyra or Fayette, not both, before heading to Buffalo for the airport. Of course I chose Palmyra. I am determined to bring Dee back someday and we can see it all.

The Smith Farm in Palmyra, New York is a historic site for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith Sr. and his family built the log home in 1818 on Stafford Road near Palmyra Township. This is not the original home but was carefully rebuilt on the original foundation.

In the background you can see the Visitor's Center.

Notice the rough cut logs. President Gordon B. Hinckley insisted that the log home be built with only tools that would have been used in 1818 so that it would be as authentic as possible.

It was here that Joseph Smith Jr. was reading the family Bible one day and received some scriptural direction as to how to have his questions about religion answered.

 Here are the downstairs beds where the parents and younger children slept.

 The stairs to the upper floor are to the right of the fireplace.

 This is the girl's room in the back part of the upper floor.

You can see the girls room behind me. I am standing next to one of the boy's beds.

This is the room where Moroni came to young Joseph three times in one night to tell him about the plates of gold buried in the Hill Cumorah and the great work he had to do.

 This is the sweet Sister Missionary who gave us our tour.

Another one of the boy's beds.

 I took this as we went back downstairs so you could see how tight and narrow the stairs are.

There is a grove of trees behind the house, far from the road. This is where young Joseph went to pray for the answers to his questions about which of all the churches was the rights one to join.

We call this place "The Sacred Grove".

 As we walked from the log home to the white frame home I took this picture of the Palmyra Temple across the road. It is so beautiful! I wish I had thought to take one the night before

This is the frame house that Alvin Smith was building at the time of his death. It is the original house, still standing. The Smith family moved into it two years after Alvin's death and later Hyrum and his wife Jerusha lived there.

Alvin was able to finish this room completely. It is the front room to the right of the entry.

 

It was pointed out to us that he was known for being a perfectionist in his craftsmanship.

The timbers in this room are smooth. There are no rough cuts anywhere. Everything fits perfectly.

 

 On the other side of the front hall we saw the finish work that Alvin's brothers did after his death. Hmm...not so much perfectionism here!

Front-left room, a sitting room.

Some of the translating of The Book of Mormon took place in this room.

 In this sitting room is the fireplace and hearth where Father Smith pulled up the bricks and hid the sack with the gold plates. This was the first of my "ah ha!" moments. This is where it happened.

Mother Lucy's kitchen. I could spend some time in here! My kitchen may be modern and all but this is just so perfect. I love old houses so this was a wonderful room to me!

 The sink is carved out of stone. Her view was out the front window where, if she stood there today, she could see the temple across the road.

 Imagine what she would have thought if someone had told her that!

Lucy's kitchen hutch. I am in love...

 These are the stairs. The upstairs was not part of our tour. I don't know if they do take people up there but we requested a shortened version.

The pantry room is to the left of the sink.

 The girl's bedroom is next to the pantry room. This is the room where Joseph's two sisters hugged the plates between them and feigned sleep while and angry mob searched their house. They were at least gentlemen enough to leave the "sleeping" young ladies alone.

 There are several out-buildings.If I recall correctly this is the barrel making shed

 This barn is not original but was donated by the owner who knew that Brigham Young's father had built it. Cool!

Here are hollow stumps for smoking meat.

 Joseph hid the gold plates in this building first in the loft, then feeling uncomfortable with that decision, he hid them in a barrel of flax below.

I wish I could recall the sister missionary's name. She was wonderful and gave us her testimony and a sweet spirit to take into the Sacred Grove. She took this photo of us and sent us on our way.

 I expected an overwhelming feeling to come over me. You  know, burning bosom and all. But it was not that way. All through the grove I simply felt warm, loved, and at peace. I had already received the burning testimony many years earlier. The spirit I felt in the grove was a sweet confirmation that what I believe to be true really is. It happened here. It felt right and good.

This is where the trail divides. If we had gone further back, the walk would have been much longer. We took the closer trail because I had a plane to catch.

Sarah has been here before. She pointed out that many years ago the trees in the grove were dying off. Nobody could figure out why until someone familiar with the way things should be in a forest pointed out that the church needed to stop cleaning it up! For decades groups had come through on service projects and raked the leaves, picked up the branches and dead logs, and left a 'pristine' looking Sacred Grove. Well, even a sacred place needs rot and decay to feed the soil and keep healthy trees! The woods now are in a natural and undisturbed state, other than the walking trails.. I loved it.

 

Sarah also pointed out that there are several extremely old trees in the grove. Maybe they were there when the Smiths lived here. The caretakers will not tell you which ones they are though. Smart.

 I love this girl! My faithful missionary daughter, my lover of books and theater, my source of knowledge for all things medieval! I pray for God's blessings to be with her always!

Just up the road, 3 miles or so, is the Hill Cumorah and the Visitor's Center. We didn't have time to go inside. I am determined to bring my husband back someday and take more time.

 This is the view of the hill from the road. Most of the wooded area is on the back side.

 We climbed on the trail to about mid-level. The view is beautiful. Again, here in this sacred spot I stood and felt at peace. I tried to picture not only Joseph and his many trips here but also the ancient Prophet Moroni so lonely, climbing this very hill to place the records he had so carefully kept in a safe place

Oh yes, another selfie because we are awesome! Can you see the monument behind us?

You might think it's lame that I didn't go to the top. I was fine. It was enough. What happened here, it really happened. I know this with all of my heart. The witness of the spirit is a very strong thing. It cannot be denied. I love my Father in Heaven. I know He lives. I know His son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. The Book of Mormon is another witness and testimony that He lives.

After we left Cumorah we headed west to the airport in Buffalo.

I have always wanted to say it...

I got to shuffle off to Buffalo-o-o!!

My week with Sarah was so fun and amazing and a totally new experience for me. I am a western girl, born and bred. I had never at this point been farther east in the US than Wichita, Kansas or San Antonio, Texas to the south. Of Course we lived in Washington and I have been up to Edmonton, Alberta, and down into Tijuana, Mexico (Woo Hoo!)

 but that is the extent of my travels.

 Really.

I fell in love with the countryside in New York, and I really really love old Toronto.

 I can see why Sarah loves it there so much.

I just wish it was closer!