New England Days 14-15: Upstate New York

We stayed outside of Albany, New York with my friend Laura's sister - another example of incredible people who opened their home to us, complete strangers. And they had this view out their front window, so there's that. 

We stopped at a maple store to get some genuine New York maple products. We really wanted to tour a maple farm but weren't able to make it happen. We did get to watch these people making maple candy, though.

Taughannock Falls in Ulysses, New York

We were chasing some pretty rad thunderstorms that whole day, but didn't get caught in one until later that evening when we reached the Peter Whitmer farm.

The Peter Whitmer farm was where The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was first officially organized on April 6, 1830. I'd been to Palmyra before, but never to this site, because it's a little ways away. I enjoyed being there, though, and feeling the special Spirit there.

We then went to a cheese place and tried a bunch of cheeses. Then, to Jaime's delight, we visited a Mennonite store and got some sandwiches. She loves anyone similar to Amish, so that was fun. Then as we were pulling into a small town called Clyde, New York, admiring the historic Erie Canal, I noticed there were flashing lights in my rearview mirror. I can still say with complete honesty that I had no idea why he was pulling me over. Usually when I see a cop I get super nervous and paranoid, but when I saw these lights, I couldn't imagine why he'd be pulling me over. When he asked me if I knew why he'd pulled me over, I said, "I really don't." Apparently, I was going 45 mph in a 30 mph zone. I rarely speed, and when I do, I do it very purposefully - never fast enough to get pulled over. This time, though, I was completely unaware of the speed limit or of the speed I was traveling. We were looking around at our new surroundings, my arm was covering my speedometer, and I was just not paying attention at all. Too be fair, I had obviously slowed down (the speed limit outside of the town was 55 I believe), but I had apparently not been slowing down fast enough and my little friend was waiting right there for me. He showed no interest in my sincerity, nor did he have any pity on me. Full ticket, no breaks. It still bugs me to this day because it was just not intentional. I'd gone my entire driving career - 11 years - without a speeding ticket, and now it will forever haunt me. Jaime was kind enough to take a picture of our policeman friend in the rearview mirror.

The next two nights we stayed with my friend Heather (Hart) Chandler and her family. I hadn't seen Heather since high school so it was fun to connect with her and meet her husband and girls. The next day, they recommended we go to a grocery store called Wegman's that has the biggest buffet I'd ever seen. 

We chose lots of different things and weren't even able to eat it all.

We passed by the Martin Harris home on our way to Palmyra. It's not open for tours, but I loved the look of it. I'd live there! Martin Harris was a big supporter of Joseph Smith and the early Church and helped finance a lot of the funds for the publication of The Book of Mormon.

We went to the Palmyra temple first and enjoyed a session there. I'd meant to go while there the last time and had always regretted it so we made sure we went this time. It looks a lot like our temple in Louisville, but it has really cool stained glass with trees like the Sacred Grove.

Last time we visited Palmyra it was terribly hot and miserable, even in the full cover of the Sacred Grove. This time the temperature was very comfortable, but the mosquitoes were terrible. I wonder if conditions are ever ideal there.

Despite the uncomfortable circumstances, I love being in the Sacred Grove. There are a lot of things I don't know and am still unsure of, but I do know with certainty that in this grove of trees, a young boy with a simple question - which church to join - prayed and received an answer. God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and informed him that he should join none of them. They called him to be a prophet and thus began the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth. That knowledge brings so much peace to my heart. I may not know everything, but I know that God hears and answers our prayers, He loves us, and He has called a prophet to lead us. We're never alone in this very confusing world.

Jaime's very well-camouflaged stick bug friend. He blended right in!

That night we went to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant, which I love. Last time we saw it, my family was in it, so we missed them this year. We missed our cast connection!

The pageant tells the story of the Book of Mormon and bears a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ's role as our Savior.