Palmyra New York

Last year at Education Week, Randall Wright, one of my favorite speakers, told us to start writting down 100 goals we wanted to accomplish in our lifetime. Don't think about, just write. So I did. I never made it to 100 but I wrote several goals down...and then forgot about it!

I have always had a desire to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant, wanting to take our children with us, but it never happened. I heard that this may be the last year of the script before changing. That was two weeks ago, the next day Chad and I decided, lets go, so we booked our flights (which we used our American Express points to fly first class, pay for hotel and rental car!)

On the flight, I was looking through my memos on my cell phone. There was the list of 100 lifetime goals. I opened it up and started reading those goals. One of them was to attend the Hill Cumorah pageant! (The other goals are hard things, I am not sure if I like them anymore!)

My whole desire to come to New York was to attend the pageant. It was everything I hoped it would be. The sights, a huge grassy area where people could sit and move around, a stage that was massive with many levels, the effects with fire and water, the people in their beautiful, elaborate costumes. Families and people coming from all over to witness to have the same experiences. The cast members spend time beforehand visiting with the audience. On more than one occasion, I saw cast members tearfully testify of what the experience of being in the play has meant to them and how it has strengthened their testimony. I know what they were feeling having been part of the cast in the City of Joseph pageant. What a great experience that was for our familee. I have the greatest love for those early members of the church who lived during the time with Joseph Smith as the prophet in Nauvoo.

The pageant told the story of the Book of Mormon, in condensed form. It was done to perfection. I do love the pageants the church produces. The anti-Mormon's were out soliciting like they always do.






Prior to performance


There were over 750 members of the cast

We ended up attending dress rehearsal which was nice to be able to get good seating. Even at that there were hundreds of people there.

When we were planning our trip to New York, I thought we could go visit the historical sites in the area but wasn't overly excited about that since I had already seen them. But I have been pleasantly surprised at how the sites really have been a highlight for me. I have loved hearing every word and seeing the displays. It has almost felt like the first time I has seen them.

We have seen the David Whitmer house. There is the most elaborate meeting house on that property that I have ever seen. It has red carpet! Pres Kimball dedicated it in 1980 and even held a general conference from that building.

David Whitmer home

LDS Church building on the Whitmer Farm

The Grandin building was fasinating. It took 12 men, 7 months working 6 days a week to prepare and print 5000 copies of the Book of Mormon. That was just printing it, there was another 14 months spent in the binding process of the book. I loved learning and seeing the process of such a thing.

Early that day, before visiting the Grandin building, I was on my computer. I pleasantly came across a site where you can make your blog into a printed book. Literally, within 10 minutes and a few click, the software was able to put my written words and pictures into a book format including a table of context! That fast. Amazing! How far technology has come! What a contrast to Joseph Smith's time but how grateful I am for that process of printing the Book of Mormon.

We visited the Smith family home and Sacred Grove. I loved seeing their log cabin how tiny it was with 8 children living there. Then to see and hear the story of the home that Alvin built for his parents. The Smith's lost that home because of financial reasons, it was sold from under their feet and then they were able to find someone who could buy it back. They rented it for many years afterwards. The land then was sold. Years later, George A. Smith, I think it was him, purchased the 100 acres of land that Joseph Senior bought. He kept it in his possession until the church was ready and deeded that 100 acres over to the church for $1.00.

Smith log cabin home
This is the view you see walking from the log cabin home to the home Alvin built

The Sacred Grove is thick with wooded trees. The same feeling that exists in the temple can be felt there in the Sacred Grove. They have benchs along the path within the Grove to sit and ponder. It is peaceful there and could even be more peaceful if you were alone. There were busloads of people visiting so the Grove was quite busy with people on the path. But it was still wonderful to be there and partake of the Spirit.

In the Sacred Grove

I wanted to stop back at the temple for some pictures even though the day before we did a session. It is a small temple so we had to pack our own temple clothing. I was glad we did. And I was glad we stopped. As I was taking some pictures, a few ladies there began telling me the history of the temple. The one side of the temple faces the Sacred Grove. It less than a mile away. The church had requested that they be able to clear out an area of trees for a view of the Sacred Grove. They were denied permission by the City. The windows in that temple are stained glass (something we don't see a lot of in our church). The three windows facing out to the Sacred Grove were stained glass like all of them with tree's and leaves to represent the Grove. However, they wanted to have a 'clear' window so a person could see the Grove from inside the temple. But having been denied permission to clear a path, they put a stained glass window in. Later, and I don't know the time frame, there was a thunder and lightening storm that burned or uprooted trees right in the area the church had requested to clear. If the City wasn't going to allow this, then the Lord would just take matters into His own hands! It is in perfect line with the temple so that standing there you can see the area was cleared away and then see the Sacred Grove. Later, they took out the middle stained glass window and put in a clear window. The lady said it is the only window in all the temples that is clear where you can see out and see in.

If you look real close you can see the image of a temple worker shaking the hand with a sister inside the temple Looking at the Sacred Grove

I loved knowing that story. The day that we were in the temple, I did see the window and looked out it and just thought I was seeing beautiful country, not knowing that I was looking at the Sacred Grove.

I LOVE this gospel. I love everything about it. I am grateful for the gift I have been given of being born into this gospel, of coming to this earth with a testimony. I know that is true because the Lord has testified that to me. I LOVE the Holy Ghost and feel the excitment when I feel it's promptings. I will live this gospels teaching all my life because my greatest desire is to live in the Celestial Kingdom with ALL of my familee! We must do what we need to on earth for that great blessing.

I hope the next goal I reach is as wonderful as this one. Check mark!

Kenny turned 27

Kenny says he is now in his 'late 20's.' I think he is feeling old! His birthday was Thursday and Brett's was Tuesday. For two days of the year, they are the same age.

Megan had a few friends and family over for Kenny's birthday. They played water kickball at the park before they bar-b-qued dinner. For water kick ball, each base is a small kiddie pool filled with water. Home plate is a slip-n-slide. They had a good time.

When we were cleaning up to leave, Chad put Bennett in the ice chest. So cute.

Megan and her sister, Lindsey

Bennett didn't really care for the slip-n-slide

Love the faces on these next few!

Kenny and Bennett pitching

Now running the bases...

Coming in for the landing at home base.

Megan kicking...

Chad and Bennett

Megan and I have been trying to capture this face in the camera - we finally got it! Love when he krinkles up his nose.

The rest of the Kennedy great-grandchildren

In my last post, I said I would upload the rest of my parents great-grandkids. Here they are...
Zackary Allen (Heather Kennedy) Mason Lyman (Lacey Fabbi)

Kennedy Flynn (Nicole Sunstrum)

Kate Sunstrum (Tom Suntrum)

Johnny Sunstrum (Tom Sunstrum)

Adorable!

Kennedy great grandbabies

For mother's day, father's day, Christmas (and any other holiday this year), I decided to take pictures of all my parents great grandkids. There are 10 of them. Each child has a 10x10 gallery wrap hanging above their fireplace. As other new ones are added, we will add another picture. There is room to grow!

Here are all our grandkids - Llayton (Brett's), Ella & Cohen (Trent's), Bennett (Kenny's), Amara (Trent's). I will post the other's later.

50th Surprise party

Yep, I turned 50th this month! Not a shock. Since Chad is 2 years older than me and I think I am his age, birthdays are always a pleasant surprise! I am never as old as I think I am.

The kids planned a wonderful birthday celebration (and 30th anniversary). It was a surprise as I was thinking we were having a familee party. But they put on a fabulous party. Everything was so classy, just the way I like things. I know a party like that doesn't just happen, there was A LOT of work that went into it.

It was held in our front yard, which is much bigger than our back with cocktail tables covered in black linens (it was a cocktail party, so people dressed up a bit more than just casual.)

They had a life size poster displayed that people could jot notes and post them onto it. Fun idea.

The piano was moved out onto the front porch and there was a darling girl playing music the whole night. The food was catered with servers bring out appetizer the whole night.

There was a drink bar with different type of (non- alcoholic) drinks, with Chad's favorite drink as the special. The trees were lit up with tiny jars filled with lights and Chinese lanterns. Each table had flower centerpieces that they put together. Out of the centerpieces were pictures from my past. On the back of the pictures, each familee member wrote a favorite memory. That was a treasure! The kids even make a slide show with video of each on of them recording memories of Chad and I as their parents and with our wedding pictures and familee pictures throughout the years. Another treasure! They brought out a small cake that was a replica of our wedding cake! There wasn't anything they missed.

Kenny, Megan, Bennett, Ella

My mother with Amara (our newest grandbaby), Aunt Poohy, Ella, RaeLene

Chad and Cohen with Chad's special drink!

Pictures from the past:

1979


1983. In this picture, we can all see how each grandbaby looks like their fathers.

1986

What a delightful night it was to be surrounded by so many good people. I feel blessed to have such good friends and familee members in my life.

2008

To my familee - you made a milestone in my life a cherished memory. Thank you!