COLUMBUS DAY

Today is October 13, 2014.  It is the official National celebration of Columbus Day.

"In fourteen hundred ninety-two/ Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

"He had three ships and left fromSpain/ He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain."

-- Source Unknown...and thus began the history of our ancestors traveling to America!

We have been blessed to have company here in Palmyra with us this weekend.  We were honored that Kenneth and Karen Hutto took time to travel here to visit with us.  Elder Bushman's brother Blaine and his wife Margene also came to check out this area with Elmer and Sandra Cherry whom are being called on a FM mission for the church and were checking out Harmony, PA and Sharon, Vermont to see if they are interested in either of these beautiful areas.  Below are some of our fun experiences we have enjoyed and been blessed to experience with all these wonderful couples.  Karen could fly if she only had the leg power!
We were at the Glen Curtis Museum.

This waterfall was a delight to see again with the Hutto's. We were in the village of Montour Falls, NY.

 Right across the street was the library...of course Madam Librarian Karen Hutto located it!

 This is Karen under the beautiful window with the lamp of learning.

We both purchased book bags with this lamp on them.

There are a bunch of little baby ducks in this picture...they just look like white dots in this pond.  We hope they grow and not freeze this fall.  We were walking along the sulfur creek in  Clifton Springs, NY

We took Karen & Kenneth to the toothpick museum in Phelps, NY.  Here we are visiting with the artist that created all the toothpick buildings.

We walked the dock of the Erie Canal by Palmyra.

This caterpillar was walking in the temple parking lot as we walked around the temple grounds.

Silly Blaine when I gave him a "kiss".

Margene Bushman with Elmer and Sandra Cherry (from Idaho Falls)

Margene and Blaine up on the hill by Alvin Smith grave.

We all went through the Grandin building where the Book of Mormon was printed.  This is pictures of Mormon and his son Moroni.

We had a fireside in the Sacred Grove on Sunday evening.  Elder John Neeley told of the First Vision and all the marvelous happenings with Joseph Smith.  He did such an excellent characterization.  After the presentation he gave all the missionaries keepsake photo's...which we will cherish always. 

The Sacred Grove was so beautiful at dusk.

We all enjoyed being in the area with the benches where we could witness the beauties of the Grove.

I shared the book A Lion and a Lamb with our visitors.  Karen read about the King's Daughter's Library and how the head of the board refused to put "Mormon" Church Books in the Library.  Willard Bean thanked them and said someday it would be a good thing for the library to do and that the Church would like to donate several.  Well there were about two shelves of books in the Library, thanks to the Bean family.  We held them and pondered how blessed we are in this generation! 

 This is a picture of Karen opening the books and marveling what Rebecca and Willard Bean had done for this community and for the memory of Joseph Smith & The First Vision.  I was very touched that I could share this moment with a wonderful friend.  

We went on a bike ride down the Erie Canal Path.

 This tug boat was at lock 29.

 Thank's to the Christensen's we all had bikes to ride!

 We drove to Bristol Mountain and rode the chair lift to the top.

 Ken & Karen Hutto and Elder and Sister Bushman on the top of Bristol Mountain!

On this Columbus Day weekend Todd, Heather and Ryan's children were able to get together.  Elder Bushman and I love these pictures of our grandchildren!

Hug's to each of these sweet grandchildren and their parents!

Uncle Paul's funeral will be on Friday the 17th.  We will miss his humor and warm smile.  Our love and prayers are with all the Peel children this week.  We love this picture.

We have had a good week.  Thank you Hutto's, Bushman's and Cherry's for visiting us.  We enjoyed eating concord grapes...and making sour faces, eating grape pie and smiling.  Thank you, each of you, for being you.  Thank you for sharing this marvelous part of The United States of America with us on Columbus Day Weekend.  We declare Holiness To The Lord.  We will dedicate our service, the remainder of this week to The House Of The Lord.  My mind has drifted to this beautiful fall photo of The Idaho Falls Temple shared on Facebook.  Safe travels to each of your homes.

President Cahoon loaned me "Seven Miracles That Saved America"  Why they matter and why we should have hope by Chris & Ted Stewart.  "At Critical times in our Nation's history, God provided miracles to save us.  And there are miracles yet to come.  Why?  Because America Still Represents something important to Him."  This is a good read for October.  Today is Tuesday, October 14, 2014.
May we each be blessed with peace in this lifetime.
God Bless.