MIGHTY WATERS

 I am a day  late with this one but it doesn't diminish the magnitude of the experience.  We visited Niagara Falls.  The beauty and majesty were awe inspiring.  I expected it to be exiting and beautiful but this was ore than I expected.  We first boarded the “Maid of the Mist” boat and saw the falls from the bottom. We got plenty wet and we were freezing cold but it was worth it.  The boat went up into the Horseshoe Falls and turned around in the mist giving us a 360* view of the falls.  We were drenched by the crashing mist.  It felt like we were in a storm.  Absolutely beautiful.

After the boat ride, we did a little walking tour and saw the falls from the top.  I loved watching the water flow over the edge of the falls.  The guide told us that 20% of the earths fresh water comes from the Great Lakes and pass down even to the Mississippi River.  One of the signs said that 720,000 gallons of water goes over the fall every second.  I was awe struck.

We still needed to see the falls from the inside and we did.  We did the Cave of Wind tour and actually climbed the falls.  it was miserable.  We were wet  and the wind was blowing the water in our faces.  We could barely see.  our shoes were wet, our hair was wet, everything was wet.  Walking out we weren’t sure it was worth it.  However, when we were dry and warm and saw the pictures it was worth it.

Early Beginning

This was a near perfect day.  We left our hotel room this  morning for Palmyra NY with no reservation t see the historical sites.  We arrived there around 11 o’clock.  Jeff was able to secure us a reservation at the Smith farm and Sacred Grove at 3:15.  We left there hoping to get into a tour for the Hill Cumorah and to possible see the Granger Printing Co.  We were able complete everything and get pictures at the Palmyra Temple before we returned to the farm.

We were fit into a our for the Hill Cumorah even though the tour wasn’t necessary for us.  We were able to climb up to the statues last few e and it was beautiful.  I was overcome with each the spirit as we climbed up the path.  My testimony as I reflected on the realization

that we weren’t really able to have this experience.  Until the last few years this was not a consideration for us to be able to do. The sheer beauty of the area was amazing and the company couldn’t have been better.  Sharing this experience with Becca’s family has been so special.

Granger Publishing was an expected treat.  We went expecting it to be a time filler but it was fascinating as  the Sisters explained the tedious processes of publishing the Book of Mormon.  Malachi mentioned that it’s was surprisingly a spiritual experience and he was right.

From the publishing house we went to lunch at Mark’s Pizza.  Lunch was great bu t my favorite part was the pretzel sticks and white cheddar cheese.

After lunch we had just enough time to get a few pictures at the Palmyra Temple.  We didn’t get to go inside for obvious reasons but couldn’t have any way because of COVID.

We arrived at the Smith time Farm just in time four our tour.   Immediately felt a rush of the spirit as we entered the visitor center.  I was touched at Lucy’s description of her tiny home especially as I raised 8 children and Becca has 8 children and we have often commented on the need of space in our much bigger homes.  I was touched by the amount of sacrifice by the whole Smith family.  The Lord requires sacrifice equal to the glory of the task and this one was big.  The farm and path approaching the Sacred Grove were so tranquil, setting the mood for the engulfing peace of the grove.  I had expected the Grove to be smaller more a “this is the place feeling”.  I Sheva said it was more li  me finding your own path to the Savior and that was kind how it was.  At one point we could see the temple looking through the trees from the farm and it was truly beautifully.

We had our first devotional.  Jeff talked about asking if theLord is pleased with us.  It was a humbling message.

S