happenings in Palmyra

After flying back to New York, we hopped out of bed early the next morning to participate in a big Erie Canal Bike ride, starting at Buffalo and ending in Albany. Unlike some others, who rode for the entire 6 day-500 mile trip,we just rode a wimpy 20 miles, from Fairport to Palmyra. Carl had fixed up some bikes we found at the mission home. Our "team" was very small, just us and Elder Servoss, his grandson, and two of the young men missionaries.

It was lots of fun, even when Elder Servoss' bike got a flat. We had a fun visit with a good Samaritan who stopped and patched up the tube. (We had forgotten to bring our patch kit.)

The bike ride was also very scenic, as we rode alongside the Erie Canal.

This past week also marked the start of the Hill Cumorah Pageant where, on dress rehearsal night,  we were so happy to see  two of our former missionaries, who recently finished their missions and came back as members of the cast.

Elder Swaner is a Nephite warrior, while Elder Hulse is Alma.

Pageant is even more amazing now, in its 75th year, than it was when we last attended, about 20 years ago,with 8 kids in tow.

We loved the special effects. This boat ends up sailing in a storm, complete with thunder, lightning, wind and rain. The passengers are thrown about and the sail ends up shredded and torn.

The cast of 750 people, from all over the country, do an incredible job. They have less than a week to rehearse.

It's off to pageant again tonight, bringing with us some new friends who have never been to Pageant before and who know little about our church. Tomorrow night we help man the information booth, as we did last week.  It  is so much fun, meeting people from all over.

a quick get-away

We took a very quick 2 day trip to Utah to attend the temple sealing (marriage for all time and eternity) of Andy and KayLynn.

It was a very beautiful experience in the Manti Temple. It meant a lot to be there for our wonderful son and his beautiful wife, who have accomplished a very important goal they set for themselves.

Most of this group is KayLynn's family. Carl and I were joined by Jeremy and his lovely wife, Nicole, representing our side of the family (in back of us and to the left).

In the afternoon, we all gathered at KayLynn's parents' house for a delicious lunch, and a fun time visiting.

It was great being able to reconnect with a very small part of our family (due to shortage of time,we were sad to be unable to see other family -- Carl's sister and nephew in northern part Utah.)

Love these two wonderful sons and their awesome wives (as well as all our other ones in Texas and Minnesota).

In the very short time we were there, we got to do a few quick things in the Provo area, where we stayed with Jeremy and Nicole at their place.

A quick hike up to Bridal Veil Falls was followed by a quick game of croquette at the park.

We even squeezed in a bike ride along the Provo River. We rode on Jeremy and Nicole's bikes while they used their long boards.

At the end of the day, there is nothing like a sunset over the Rocky Mountains, and the warm feeling in our hearts from being with loved ones. Like Dorothy going back to Kansas, we blinked our eyes once, and we were back in New York, rising early the next morning to participate in a bike ride along the Erie Canal.

staying strong

Here's where Elder Ellis and I go for a run at least three times a week. The track at Brockport College is very well cushioned and easy on our old joints.

On July 9, this addition to the Brockport College sports complex will be complete. During cold weather we will be able to run on the new indoor track.

Besides finding opportunities to maintain physical strength, we are especially grateful for opportunities we have to grow in spiritual strength. Our current mission challenge is to read 5 pages of the Book of Mormon each day.  This book, which is a strong witness of Jesus Christ and contains the fullness of his Gospel, strengthens us everyday.

The strength of men and machines have been assembling the stage for the Hill Cumorah Pageant. Here's what we saw yesterday.

And here's Elder Ellis rehearsing for his role in the pageant.

 Just kidding!  We will be manning an information booth (before and after the show) on opening night, Fri. July 13, and then again on Thursday, the 19th.  So if any of our friends are in town for pageant--y'all better stop by and say "hi" to us.