September 8-14

Another week...and what a week it was!

We completed our tour of the Rochester NY Mission with zone conferences on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Canandaigua, Batavia, and Palmyra respectively.

Some words of wisdom shared:
Our lives are a classroom and we are continually learning.  If you don't understand something, it's because you ask not!
While we don't understand what's next, Heavenly Father does.
Service = happiness.
It is only those who don't know how to work that do not love it.  To those who do, it is better than play.  President Francis compared this to playing a sport you love.  Coaches make you work and work hard. You have to practice the same moves over and over and over.  It's hard but because you love it it's fun. You'd rather be doing it than anything else. Once you get lost in the work, it becomes extremely enjoyable. Not easy, but joyful. Hard things become easier as you keep doing them. Your capacity to do increases.
Everyone around you is truly your brother or sister. We need to truly, deeply love them.
A mission = an opportunity to become Christlike.

Nancy teaching

Why we gain 5 -10 pounds on these trips!  The members feed us well!

Elder and Sister/Nurse Ray  We have come to love them as dear friends. Just look at those faces- how could you not love them? She even made us hot -from- the -oven chocolate chip cookies- that equals instant bonding. 

With President and Sister Francis.  Kind, gentle,positive and inspiring true Saints.

These were smaller groups that rotated through 3 different presentations.

One Senior Sister who is going home soon shared the most heart-felt testimony.  She said she and her husband had hoped to serve a Family History Mission closer to their home in Texas.  They didn't have much money and were rather unprepared for the expense of this mission. They came as the early missionaries- without purse or script, she said.  They have been so blessed.  When winter came they were not prepared clothes- wise.  One sister in the area gave her warm boots to wear and another gave both she and her husband warm coats.  She said she was never cold during that harsh, cold long winter last year.  She said she was able to do lots of family history work helping people here learn how to do it. She said, 'The Lord was making me happy while I was doing what He wanted me to do.'
Very sweet and so sincere.

We loved our time here spent with these remarkable leaders and inspiring missionaries, young and "older".  We came away ready to work harder and love deeper.

After our conferences ended  each day, we explored the local area visiting 2 charming towns along the Erie Canal and enjoying dinner on an outdoor patio each time.  I just love water! Oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, canals- all of it !

Fairport, NY

These charming houses are everywhere here. 

Along the Erie Canal in Pittsford, N.Y.

A personal dock along the canal walkway

There is a lovely pathway all along the canal for miles.  We enjoyed several walks both in Fairport and Pittsford.

We enjoyed a very special treat this week.  We had dinner with Cody and Merry Braithwaite and their lovely family. Cody is the "long lost" 2nd cousin of Dale's that we stumbled upon when we went to church in Fairport, N.Y.  Everyone who saw our name tags said the same thing: 'Braithwaites. Oh, do you know Cody Braithwaite in our ward?'
We didn't. We do now. And we are so very glad we do.
They are a light and light to all they meet.  A darling , delightful family full of love and radiating happiness.  It was the first "real" home  with small children's chatter and laughter ringing throughout(outside of mission homes) that we have been in since arriving on our mission.  As soon as we walked through the door , we felt we were in a very special place. Cody and Merry had 4 children, 3 girls( Annie, Summer and Megan) and one boy(Noah), and recently adopted 2 little cherubs (Nathan and Sam) from the Ukraine.  Both have Downs Syndrome and some considerable difficulties to overcome.  What a blessing for them to be adopted into this family and what a blessing they are to the family. They are cherished and adored by everyone -parents and siblings alike.

The Cody and Merry Braithwaite Family

Collecting BuckEyes.

After dinner, Cody and the 4 older kids took us on a tour of the historic church sites in the Mendon area, close by.  (See Pics)  It was dark by the time we got to the pond where Brigham Young was baptized so sadly we weren't able to see that.  But it was a most enjoyable evening spent with newly found family.

 The home of John Young, Brigham's father. 

Before our last zone conference on Thursday, we were able to attend the Palmyra Temple which is always an extra special experience. It is most beautiful with all of its stained glass windows and the clear window overlooking the Sacred Grove.

The Palmyra New York Temple

Gorgeous Stained Glass windows

After we were finished with our presentations on Thursday, we headed out to get a jump start on our long journey home.  The Rays highly recommended we go out of our way just a little bit and visit Watkins Glen State Park.  They gave us such good advice last week on taking the lighthouse trail, we knew we couldn't go wrong.
As the following photos will attest, we didn't! It was spectacular!  And as we arrived later in the day, all the crowds had dissipated and we practically had the entire place to ourselves.
*disclaimer: last blog I gave credit to Sister Ray for directing us to Niagara on the Lake. It was actually President and Sister Francis. Our thanks to them!

This is happening! Fall is beginning to show itself!

Do you see the natural heart?

We got our work- out for the day climbing numerous steep stairways.

 Glorious!

We spent the night in Painted Post where Dale was able to watch the BYU game on TV.  He said it was a perfect day.  Temple, zone conference, gorgeous nature and BYU won :)

Here is a small sampling of the beautiful countryside we drove through.  Picturesque farms every few miles. Loved it!

These first 3 photos were taken from a moving car. (Just so you know!)

The Finger Lakes Wine Country

These farms touched some nostalgic part of my heart.  I think I was meant to have grown up on a farm.   

This was a lovely wooded trail I took one morning.  It was just beside our hotel. 

A view from our hotel.

Friday morning we visited the Corning Glass Museum for a couple of hours before  our long drive home.

I love this quote. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love color.

Reminded me of sea glass.

We want you all to know how much we love you. We miss you.
Yet we love the Lord and we love serving Him in anyway we can.
Thank you for your prayers and your love and support.
They help us go our way rejoicing :)
"See" you next week!

September 1-7

Another glorious week!  Another not so glorious blog post.
This one is truly going to seem like just a travel log as I did not take any photos of the real mission type things- only the nature/touristy things. I will try and make up for it next week although there just aren't a lot of pictures I can take in meetings, etc.

We are in Western New York State for 2 weeks, touring 6 zones of the Rochester NY Mission.
We love President and Sister Francis and they have made us feel welcome and needed. They are from  Orange County! Dale even knew him from the Public Affairs meetings they attended together. Always a small world.  Our first conferences were held around the Buffalo area in Amherst, Orchard Park and then in Rochester.  They are pretty much an all day affair.  In the morning the Stake President, his wife and the AP (Assistant to the President) address us .  Next follows a lovely lunch provided by the ward Relief Society sisters in whatever area we are in that day.  Then there are breakaway sessions where the missionaries rotate through 3 different half hour presentations, one of which is ours.  Dale talks for about 10 minutes on the exciting subject of upper respiratory problems (he chose this because it is what he gets the most phone calls about) and then I talk for 10 minutes on dehydration and de-stressing techniques. (breathe in through your nose for the count of 7, hold for 4, release through your mouth for 11 counts. If you can make a whoosing sound on your release- all the better!) Believe it or not, they actually seem to enjoy these presentations and seem riveted while we give them.  I know.  They must be hard up for entertainment :) We open it up for a few minutes for any questions they may have and Dale lets them know he is available to meet one on one for any private problems they may want to discuss.  This is our 3rd set of zone conferences and each one is set up a little bit differently.  On the other two,a sign-up sheet was passed around at the very first meeting and Dale had a separate room where he would stay for a few hours talking with anyone who needed him.  So far, no one here has needed to talk with him.  It may be due to their amazing mission nurse, Sister Ray.  She is wonderful and we fell in love with her immediately. Some of the sister missionaries call her "Sister Mama" and they all adore her.
She and Elder Ray, also wonderful, invited us to their home for dinner one night after the conference and we enjoyed our visit with them immensely. I will take a picture of them and post it next week ! After the breakaway sessions, everyone meets together again and the President and AP's talk again, fun awards are given, and a departing missionaries bear testimonies. A full day, as I said. We do this Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
On Monday we spent the entire day driving to Buffalo- a 7-8 hour trip.
We were lucky enough to find a great deal at a brand new Marriot downtown and right next to the waterfront.  It was lovely coming home every night and just being able to walk out the door and along the canal and out to Lake Erie.  We didn't see much of Buffalo because this was just too pretty and too convenient, we just wanted to stay there.

There was a storm coming in and we got caught in it! Actually, it was exhilarating !

  We did , of course, go to a Triple D and a Best Thing I Ever Ate!  See photos of the BTIEA.The DDD was Grover's Bar and Grill in Amherst we had Cheeseburger Soup (Dale said one of the best he's ever had) and Garlic Parmesan Buffalo Wings (which Dale said were the best he ever had!)

Best Thing I Ever Ate
A Buffalo Tradition : Roast Beef on a Kummelweck Roll, which is a roll covered with Kosher Salt and Caraway Seeds
It was good, but not the best thing we've ever eaten.

This is another Buffalo specialty so we had to try it.  Pretty much just what you'd expect.

On Friday, we went to Niagara Falls.  It was an adventure! The weather forecast was for a sunny day but as soon as we boarded the Maid of the Mist for our boat tour, it started pouring complete with thunder and lightening.  A little scary when you are in a metal boat in the water.

Can you see the sheets of rain?

 

Fortunately, it cleared up right after that and the rest of the day was gorgeous- humid but sunny and a little breeze.  The Falls were spectacular! I saw them as a child but this was Dale's first time.  We weren't expecting to be very impressed after having visited the Iguazu Falls in Brazil but they were still pretty stunning.  A LOT of water power flowing ! I was fascinated by the clarity and color of the water going over the falls-so clear and so blue!  I took a gazillion pics but will only share a few. (you're welcome :)

Horseshoe Falls/ Canadian Side

In honor of Pam and Jim
(out of sequence- sorry)

We drove over to the Canadian side to see the view from there.  It is better.  Much better, truth be told.  The area around the falls is beautifully landscaped in a park-like setting with trees and incredible flowers everywhere.  One section of town is like a mini Las Vegas- very gaudy and crazy- but the rest is simply dazzling.

The 'Vegas' part of the city

Our lovely nurse, Sister Ray, recommended we go see Niagara on the Lake on the Canadian side.
We are so glad we took her advice!  We were instantly enchanted.  It is advertised as "Canada's Prettiest Town". Last week we were in New England's Prettiest Little City and this week: Canada's!

Of course, we couldn't walk by this and not try some!

Check it out!  They know how to treat their dogs!

Lake Ontario

A Black Squirrel - don't remember seeing one before

This certainly was one of the most charming, indeed prettiest, towns(outside of Europe) we've visited.
Again, flowers, flowers, everywhere. We loved it! The main street was darling but so were the side streets and homes and gardens and views of Lake Ontario.  Gorgeous fields of green, forests, and vineyards or water views everywhere you looked.  If we come back this way again we will do our best to stay here overnight. (maybe on our way to Toronto)


Again we are singing the praises of Sister Ray because she also directed us to take the Great Lakes Seaway Trail which goes along the coast of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, with 30 lighthouses along the way.  We managed to see 4 of them before it got dark.  Such a beautiful, refreshing, quaint, and delightful little drive.  So much better than a highway.

Olcott Lighthouse

Thirty Mile Lighthouse

Oak Orchard Harbor Lighthouse

Obviously not us but we did seed the sun go down here and ate dinner in the seemingly only restaurant for miles here.

Oak Orchard Harbor

 

We are now based in Fairport, NY for the next 4 days.
We attended the Fairport Ward in the Palmyra Stake today. It is a very strong ward with lots of leadership and great youth.  The added bonus is Dale found one of his second cousins there. Cody Braithwaite.
Picture and story will be in next week's blog.

It was a great week of service and adventure and we are continuing on our way rejoicing for the blessings that are ours.