Palmyra Trip--Part 4: The Book of Mormon Publication Site

Later in the afternoon, we drove into Palmyra and met my parents for a tour of The Grandin Press--Home of the Historic Book of Mormon Publication Site:

A period Bible and Book of Mormon:

The Palmyra Bookstore (this would have been the place to not only buy the Book of Mormon, but also any other literature of the day):

This plaque was on the counter:

Heading up the stairs to view the rest of the building!

A few pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript:

The Printing Room:

(Mr. Grandin placed the Printing Room on the 3rd floor because it was the one with the most light, as you can see by this next picture:)

A sweet senior missionary guide explained to us that in the 1800's, they used a pully system, such as this one, to bring materials into the building...

...from the cellar below (the materials having been brought there from the very nearby canal, on which they were shipped).

It was really interesting to learn about the entire process for making these first editions of the Book of Mormon--from printing to binding to the finishing touches of even painting gold letters on the cover. And to understand how much the Book of Mormon meant to the Saints--that they'd spend 2 days worth of wages on it. Definitely a tour worth seeing...and seeing again!

Palmyra Trip--Part 3: The Smith Farm Complex

After walking through the Sacred Grove, we took a tour of the Smith Farm Complex (their Log Home, Frame Home, Threshing Barn, and Cooper Shop).

First on the tour was the Log Home.




The downstairs bedroom (where Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack would have slept):

The upstairs of the Log Home (where ALL of their children slept--can you imagine?):

(We like to think that) this is the room where Joseph Smith might have been sleeping when the Angel Moroni appeared to him:

A view of some of the Smith's farmland:

Next up on the tour was the Smith Frame Home.

Our family in front of the Home:


This tree is believed to have been planted in honor of Alvin Smith:

Inside the Smith Frame Home:

A bedroom:

A living area:

This is the fireplace where Joseph Smith sometimes stored the gold plates (underneath the bricks):

A view of the Frame Home from behind:

Our third stop on the tour was the Threshing Barn:

And finally, the Cooper Shop:

Grace loved walking around the farm!

It was so neat to see and be in the places where so much history concerning the receiving and translating of the Book of Mormon took place. A great tour!

Palmyra Trip--Part 2: The Sacred Grove

We wanted to have some time just as a family in the Sacred Grove, so we got up early this morning and arrived at the Grove a little before the first tour at the Smith Farm began. Being in the Grove just by ourselves, early in the morning, made all of the difference--because the Spirit there was SO STRONG. It was amazing to listen to the birds chirping, reminding us of the hymn "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" (Oh how lovely was the morning! Radiant beamed the sun above. Bees were humming, sweet birds singing, music ringing thru the grove"), and think about what happened right there in those woods--Joseph Smith vision of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ; and to think that I might be walking in the same spot where that holy and magnificent event took place was an incredible feeling.

Travis and Grace at the entrance of the Grove:


A placard along the path:


Grace and I in the Sacred Grove:

It was so beautiful and peaceful there...

...we could have walked the path all day.

I'm so grateful for the special opportunity we had to visit this sacred place, and will treasure the feelings I had when we were there forever.

Palmyra Trip--Part 1: Hill Cumorah Pageant

After several months of planning and anticipation, it finally came--our big family trip of the summer to Palmyra, NY (July 15-17)! On our trip itinerary were the Church History sites of Palmyra (The Sacred Grove, Smith Farm Complex, Book of Mormon Publication Site, and Hill Cumorah Visitors Center), Hill Cumorah Pageant (of course!), and Niagara Falls.

Our first stop Thursday afternoon was the KOA, where we set up camp next to our friends Dustin and Bridgette Grimmett and their kids Evan and Ellie, who joined us on our big adventure. Then we ate a steak and potato dinner (thanks to the Grimmetts), took a dip in the pool, and finally (since we feared it might rain on Friday night, when we originally planned to go) headed over to the Hill Cumorah Pageant. (Funny story: My parents came to join us on Friday morning, and since they wanted to see the Pageant with us too, we saw it Friday night as well, when, ironically, the weather was really nice.)

The Pageant set (it was HUGE):

Night 1.

Heading for our seats before the show:


Family photo:

Grace & I watching the show (sitting next to us is Bridgette and Ellie, with Dustin & Evan in the corner of the photo):

A few pictures of the Pageant:

Lehi's family crossing the ocean to the promised land:

Christ's visit to the Nephites. (It was so powerful to see Him descend...

...and then heal the people, especially the children.)

Night 2:

Grace with Grandma and Grandpa Reed:

Jenny & Grace with "Lehi" before the show:

It was an amazing production! We're so glad we got the opportunity to see it!

Grace's "Winnie the Pooh" Room

After a year of living here, I finally finished putting Grace's nursery together, and am so happy (1) that I finally finished it, and (2) with how it turned out, that I want to share it! So with that, I introduce to you "Grace's Winnie the Pooh Room":

Wall #1 has Grace's name plate (that I made) and mini picture frames filled with pictures of her:

Grace's crib, complete with Pooh-themed bedding, rests under her name plate and pictures:

Wall #2--Winnie the Pooh. (For the pictures, I printed off coloring pages from online and colored them, then painted the picture frames (garage sale finds) with pink paint).

Wall #2 (cont) & #3. (In the windows (of walls #1 & 2) are pink Winnie the Pooh valances. And on wall #3 is a picture of the Rexburg Temple (which I took) and 2 different pictures of Jesus with a little girl. On top of her dresser is a build-a-bear my mom made for her, a framed ink print of her hand, and a Winnie the Pooh photo album.)

A close-up of the items on Grace's bookshelf. (The picture frame says "Loved from the Start" and in it is a picture of her and I taken at the hospital. The other items are a music box that I got from my cousin Kitty when I was a girl and a charming little candle lamp.)

Wall #4 (with 3 & 1 on the L & R side):

A close-up of wall #4--Winnie the Pooh too. (Again, in the frames are printed coloring pages from online that I colored.)

Hope you enjoyed the tour! =)

We've got a walker people!

Grace took her first steps a little over a month ago, but hasn't been too keen about making a habit of it since. Well, for the past week, she's done a lot of standing on her own, and for the last 2 days, she's done LOTS of walking between Trav and I (and even a couple times un-prompted to one of her toys). Anyways, we finally got some video of it tonight, and so here are a few videos of Grace walking!

We couldn't be more proud of our little walker! We love you Grace!!