June is Ending

We hadn't been to the Sacred Grove for awhile so Sunday after Church we went over. It is so beautiful and this week the weather has been wonderful, in the 70's. Looks a lot different from when we first arrived.



On Thursdays Paul has been mowing the field for the Amsden's. This week the geese joined him and did not seem to be too concerned with him being there.

They have started to put up the stage for the Pageant. This is the second stage. First they put up the towers, now they are moving the steel stage parts to the walkways and within 2 1/2 days it will be up. All of this is stored in about 10 semi trailers.

As I think about it I believe we have been a little busy of late. Last Tuesday we moved from Zion's Camp to the Palmyra Inn for a month.

Before we left you can see that on P-Day some of our group take it easy, Neil Decker taking a quick catnap in his hamock. Earl Thrift had his corvet brought over from Texas, but the rain storms make him a little nervous so he pulls it under the pavillion when it starts to storm. We generally have some hail with our storms.

Today we stopped to help a Cub Scout Troop with a car washing project. We had to go up the street and get our towel out to finish the job.

The Palmyra Ward puts on a musical called "From Cumorah's Hill" the two Sundays of Pageant. It is really beautiful and I get to sing in it. They usually have about 1500 people to Church on that day. They have the sacrament and then the musical program.

Have a great week and enjoy the 4th of July. The temple is open for two sessions at 9 and 11 and then the temple missionaries are having a traditional picnic and hopefully we will find some fireworks later in the evening.

Cute Grandkids

Josh & Robbie; Gage & Riley

Tyler

Have to share these great kids with all of you. Don't their parents do a good job?

June Week 3

Moroni at the top of the Hill relaxing when we came walking by

Sorry I'm a little behind this week. Sunday I was tired and just couldn't get myself going on this. Today I'm full of energy so will repent and get at it. However, it is hard to remember what happened only five days ago. Good thing we are keeping a journal. Thursday, on our day off,Paul got up early and started his mowing job at the Amsdens and then we went to the temple in the morning to help out in the baptistry. We had a group of 40 youth from BYU (EFY) Idaho come and they did not have enough Priesthood. I helped out in the laundry and Paul recorded and did other things.

Thursday afternoon Paul's cousin, Don Chappelear, came through from Vermont where he had spent some time with his daughter, Dorsey, and her family. Well really he went to watch Sam and Max play ball and soccer. He had a great time. It was nice to catch up on everyone. We took him to an old time diner in Newark where we got all you can eat spaghetti. Paul went back to the temple to help out with another group and Don and I went to have ice cream at Chill & Grill. A kiddie cone is three scoops.

Saturday evening after our shift we took off for Wellsville, NY. It's about two hours from here and we were invited to speak at Sacrament meeting on Sunday. We thought we might get lost so we decided to go early. It was a beautiful drive and easy to get to. It was nice to visit this little branch and we enjoyed meeting many of the members who had been up to the temple. They sent us home with a really nice lunch. We drove right by Letchworth Park, you might remember that we visited the falls there when we first arrived here. We wanted to see what it looked like with leaves on the trees. Really a beautiful place and lots of people out celebrating Father's Day. We got home just in time for our Temple Family BBQ.

Letchworth Middle Falls

Wedding Celebration

The most important thing which happened this week was that my neice, Sarah, was married to Gerry Fransen in the Salt Lake Temple on Thursday. We wish them joy and happiness. They are headed for Lamore, CA where Gerry is serving in the armed forces.

June Week 2

Hill Cumorah getting ready for the pageant. They installed 12 towers going up the sides. Can you find them?

Sodus Point Lighthouse on Lake Ontario

A beautiful swan swimming on Lake Ontario

Tyler, a snake at the classic car show

We starting to be a little busier at the temple. We have some wonderful families who are in the area stop by to see us and do a session or bring their children in to do baptisms.





Tuesday after serving in the temple we stayed and helped clean. It goes much faster with ten of us and some of our people come back for the evening shift so it gives them a little more time to rest up.

Carousel at the Eastview Mall in Victor

Thursday, on our P Day, we drove over to the Eastview Mall and took a ride on the double carousel they have there. We then drove through Mendon, a little town where William Smith walked to and gave away some of the first Book of Mormons to Phineas Young. We were able to drive by John Young's home, the Tomlison Inn and the cemetary where Miriam Young was buried. Heber C. Kimball also lived in the area and his parents, Solomn Kimball and some of Heber and Vilate's children are buried there. It's probably about 20 miles from Palmyra. We went over to the classic car show in Canandaigua in the evening. We also met Amy Bergeson Ortin's father-in-law. He is here visiting with three of his grandsons. It's so great to have these connections.

The Tomlinson Inn near where the Young's and Kimballs lived

A 76 corvet at the classic car show, It's for sale


Friday morning we had the Hansen Family from Paul, Idaho in the temple on our session. I didn't get a chance to see which Hansen they belonged to but she did say she taught school with my cousin, Robin. Later Paul went to the Amdsens to mow their back field and I went back to the trailer and got a call from the temple that they needed help cleaning so I went back over to the temple. They had just three people show up to help clean so I was glad we were close by and could help. We went to the temple that evening and did a session. Our new place after the temple is "Nimas". They have good chicken Philly sandwiches. It's the closest we can get to In'N'Out.

Sunday was great. They needed us to help in nursery and what a fun place that was to serve. We had the Crookstons over for dinner and then took a drive to Waterloo to see where the Amish live and then over to Ontario Lake to see the light house and then came back by Bro. Clark's home in Williamson.

Paul in the nursery of the Palmyra Ward

It's always good to have reconfirmed that the Lord hears and answers our prayers and knows who we are and what our problems are. It may seem like such a small thing but when Paul was mowing the lawn he ran out of gas. He called and I came over and took the gas out to him. He couldn't get it started after putting in the gas. I saw him still sitting in the same spot and went back to find out what was wrong. He tried a few more times and again it just would not start. I said "have we said a prayer?" We said a prayer, he tried it again and it started right up. What a blessing to have a Father who cares so very much about whatever our problems may be. We did take the time to thank Him for all our many blessings.

Have a great week. We are looking forward to one. CTR and follow the Prophet.

June Week 1

Old home in Palmyra The geese are growing Memorial Day BBQ

Maybe after last week we have lead you to believe we are not doing anything here but having fun. Paul said I better tell you of some of the experiences we are having in the temple.

We are having a great time; and why wouldn't we, we are in the temple every day seeing special people receive their blessings. So many special things happen to us each day and we are reminded constantly that this is the Lord's work and He is in charge. Last week in the office I scheduled a couple of young men from Alaska to come in and do baptisms; however, it was not for our shift and normally a patron needs to bring 4 Melchizedek priesthood with them to do baptisms. Sister Amsden, the office manager, reminded me of this so I told Paul he needed to get himself and three of our temple missionaries to come over to the temple on Thursday night so this could be done. Thursday is our P day but all 4 of them were excited to come over to help for a couple of hours. We have started to have some brides and that is really special. A brother, 76, from Nova Scotia came last week to receive his endowments and be sealed to his parents. Pres. & Sister Siebach's grandson came in for his endowments and he is leaving on a mission soon.

We are assigned to the Palmyra Ward and during Pageant they do a musical contata on the Book of Mormon. Today we started practice and it is beautiful. We are excited to be a part of it. I need to purchase the music so I can learn my part quickly. We try to do some service in the area and Paul is out mowing a big lawn, took three hours but he was on a riding lawn mower. I went to the Farmers Market in town while he was busy. On Tuesday's we stay after our shift and help clean the temple. We have three groups amongst us with 5, 4, 4 so we have decided to stay and help each week, many hands make light work. Friday nights we are still going to the temple to do a session. We say "what are we going to do on Friday nights? We've been going to the temple on Friday nights for the last 14 years." We can't think of a better place to be.

When we came to Palmyra we met the missionaries and told them when they had baptisms be sure to let us know because it is one of our favorite things to do. When we got to Church today we found out they were having a baptism. Paul attended while I was at choir practice. This was a special sister who was in a wheelchair and they needed a witness and invited Elder Lewis to help. He was so excited to be a part of it. The President has asked us to move to the Saturday afternoon shift. They are short of workers.

We have a wonderful group of missionaries here, each has a special gift that they continue to share with us. We are learning so much from each of them. Pres. Siebach shared with us some things that were taught at a meeting he went to with Elder Pitts, the area seventy.

Pres. Monson: Preparedness--food and finances. Get serious about food storage. Be content with what you have, do not carry over credit card bills, do NOT have a year's supply of debt, do not procrastinate and do not let things fester, take care of them, follow up and strengthen your testimony of Jesus Christ and strengthen families, an essential part of repentance is a daily commitment to service.

President Hinckley: The Church is stronger that it has ever been and is more unified and is growing, everything leads to the temple.

We hope you have a great week. We are looking forward to ours. Love you all. mj & P