Niagra Falls and Ontario, Canada

After leaving the Kirtland area we drove several hours north to Canada. We entered on the Ontario side and stayed in a Canadian hotel so we could see the falls and look over to the USA.
We took the famous "Maid of the Mist" boat tour that goes right up beside the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls. The roar of the water is deafening (eh?) and the mist is soaking. Thank goodness for the fashionable raincoats that are provided.


Ashley posing as a mountie as we walked the boardwalk on the Canadian side. We got up early the next morning and crossed the Rainbow bridge, returning to the US of A, at Niagara, New York. It was another two hour drive to Palmyra and the historical sites found there.

The Journey Begins!!

It has been five years since we took a family vacation and since it may be the last summer Ashley is home with us, we put together a Church History and US History site seeing tour. We flew into Clevland, Ohio to begin our journey near the Kirtland historical sites. Not far from the shores of Lake Erie is the town of Fairport, Ohio. Here many of the early saints arrived at Fairport Harbor after traveling from New York on flatboats down the Erie Canal. Missionaries also left from this harbor when serving in the Eastern States.
This lighthouse has 76 steps to the top and has been rebuilt since the saints arrived. Lake Erie was the first Great Lake that Ashley and I had ever seen.
Lake Erie from the pier.

Kirtland!

Across the street from the Kirtland Temple is a historical cemetery where many early saints were buried.
The Kirtland Temple stands upon a hill as a symbol of the early saints in Ohio and their sacrifices. It is owned by the RLDS Church and both the exterior and interior have been restored. The hymn "The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning" was sung at the dedication in 1836. The grounds are lovely and still commands a special spirit while visiting the site.

Thirty two miles south of Kirtland is the township of Hiram. Here was the home of John Johnson. In 1832, Joseph and Emma Smith also lived at the farm while Joseph was translating the Bible and here he received many revelations including section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants. We are standing on the front porch of the farmhouse where members of the mob entered and drug Joseph outside to tar and feather him. Joseph preached a sermon the next morning in spite of the persecution, while standing on this porch.
Not far from the Johnson farm is Amish country. We drove behind many horse and buggies on our way to lunch at Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen. We dines a turkey dinners and had fresh peach and pecan pie. SO good!

Christmas

We were lucky to have all the kids and their families here for Christmas. Karlye and her husband came with their 3 kids from Washington, Brad and his wife from Utah, and Ashley from New Mexico. It was wonderful to have everyone together and crazy to all be in one house.

We were able to enjoy the lights at the LA temple as well as neighborhood lights, good food, Tangled and lots of football.
The kids make Christmas exciting and magical. We enjoyed being with our children and grandchildren.

Ashley with Karlye's baby, Madiley, at the temple

Brad and his wife Ashley

Brad with Madiley and Emmy (Karlye's 4 year old)
The whole family!

Kevin (Karlye's husband), Easton (Karlye's son), Ashley, Emmy, and Ashley

Easton and Emmy opening their presents.