A Year Already and a Road Trip

Today marks the one year anniversary of our move to Connecticut.  We closed on our home July 31, 2012 and started moving in the very same day.  That was the official beginning of my biggest adventure to date.  Knowing that today was significant, I have given some time to reflection.  I remember how very much I didn't want to move here.  I remember crying a lot.  I didn't think that I needed Connecticut.  I was happy with who I was and where I was.  

I have changed since then.  I am not the person I was when I first came here.  I still have loads to work on, but I feel safe and comfortable saying that I am a better version of myself than I was a year ago.  My horizons have been expanded.  I have conquered fears.  I have found joy in a new place.  I have met the most wonderful people.  My children, husband and I are so happy.  I can still connect with the loved ones I left behind.  I look forward to when we will be together again, but I wouldn't trade the experiences I have had this year for anything in the world.  I feel so, so very blessed.  I feel privileged to be creating wonderful memories for my entire family in this new-to-us part of the country.

Some of my best memories here were made two weeks ago today when we went on our first real road trip since moving to New England.  It was a combined business trip/family vacation which enabled us to stay in nicer hotels than we might have otherwise stayed in and allowed Dave to take half of the children in the rental car provided by his company while I took the other half in our car.  I was a little nervous at first about driving on my own since it seems that I always fall asleep rather quickly when Dave does the driving.  I had to be a big girl this time and drive all by myself to a place I had never been before.  Dave had an appointment with a broker that he had to get to so he left earlier than I did and said, "I'll see you in Palmyra."  I told him I had no idea how to get there and he told me to Google it and he was off.  Thanks heaven for the internet and my GPS!  I managed to make it there, though I did have a little bit of a stop at a gas station along the way because I discovered enroute that the cell phone charger I usually keep in the car had mysteriously disappeared.  I was using my phone to navigate and it was almost out of power.  Knowing that Dave and I would never be able to find each other if my phone died, I decided to stop and see if I could plug in my regular charger at a gas station.  I had three of my sweet girls including the baby with me.  Not only was I allowed to plug in my phone, but the woman at the gas station gave us all ice waters and donut holes on the house.  It was a "sweet" experience literally!  Another example of how nice people can be out here!  

Before long, my phone was functional again and I actually made it to Palmyra in time to wait for a few hours for the Hill Cumorah Pageant to start.  Dave made it, too, about 30 minutes after I did.  We were hot and sweaty waiting for the 9:15 or so start time.  Alice got a bit cranky at one point and a man who was part of the pageant said to me that he had once taken a child Alice's age to the pageant years ago and he remembered wondering if it would all be worth it.  He looked at me and said simply, "It was."  

I have to agree with him.  Having the kids be a little tired was a very small price to pay for what we experienced.  There was a beautiful Spirit there and the kids and Dave and I were all mesmerized by it.  I will never forget Sarah Jane tugging my arm when the Savior descended in one of the final scenes and whispering earnestly, "Mom, Mom is that really Jesus?"  Later as we were walking back to the cars, she said without any prompting from me, "I really liked that.  I want to go again!"  It was a great start to our vacation.  Here are some photos from that night:

 We loved the Hill Cumorah Pageant and met some old acquaintances who happened to be part of the cast!

That night we stayed in Rochester, NY.  The hotel was new and lovely and included a great breakfast buffet.  Once again, Dave had to leave me to fend for myself the next morning since he had a few other appointments to make.  The kids and I took our time getting ready to leave and I let the kids take a swim before we got in the car.  Usually Dave is super helpful and good at getting our things packed up and making sure that we don't forget anything, but he couldn't do that this time.  I am so grateful for kids that are willing to help out.  All of the kids were great and we managed to check out right on time.  Once again, I relied completely on my GPS to get me to the next stop on our journey--Buffalo, NY.

The kids wanted to go swimming again when we got to this hotel so Dave and I let them.  We were on vacation after all!  Then, we let our fourteen-year-old babysit while Dave and I went out to dinner.  Dinner was fantastic!  We ended up at an Italian Restaurant that had just opened a month earlier.  It was called Osteria.  I totally recommend it.  Then we picked up some treats at a grocery store and took them back to the kids.  We all got a pretty good night's sleep that night and it felt good to take things rather easy.  

The next day we enjoyed another excellent breakfast at the hotel and then got into our two cars and headed up to Canada!  The kids were so excited to actually go "out of the country".  In order to go to Canada, adults need a passport but the kids were fine with just their birth certificates.  The Falls were spectacular.  See the photo below:

Niagara Falls

 We decided to pay the money and took the Maid of the Mist boat tour.  Another memorable experience.  Most of the kids totally enjoyed it, but a certain little miss did not want anything to do with it.  We were given cheap ponchos to wear, but my little sweetheart thought we were all crazy to be putting plastic bags on.  She kept screaming and tugging at her poncho.  She tore it in a few places and would not let up.  Thank goodness the water and motor on the boat were loud enough that I don't think she bothered other people too much.  As soon as we were past the point of getting too wet, I took off Alice's poncho and then she proceeded to pull at mine and everyone else's in the family.  She thought we were all insane to have ever put them on.  They were really needed, however, since getting wet is definitely part of the ride!  Here are some more photos of this part of our trip:

We hung around Niagara Falls, Ontario a while longer.  Though we were completely taken in by the Falls themselves, we didn't care for all of the commercialism that has sprung up in the surrounding area.  So we went back to the hotel a little earlier than originally planned.  We did stop at Chili's on the way, though, and the kids were thrilled!  I even got a compliment on how well behaved the children were.  Alice still needs to take a few more lessons on how to behave in public, however.  

We got another good night's sleep that night and another great breakfast in the morning.  Then we all loaded up and started back towards CT.  We had one more stop in Palmyra on the way.  It rained all the way from Buffalo to Palmyra, but Sarah Jane said a prayer that the rain would stop before we got there and it did!  It was a little muddy, but we were able to enjoy seeing the Sacred Grove and the Smith Farm House.  I could for sure feel the Spirit there.  I was a little taken aback by the boldness of the Sister Missionary who spoke to people in the Farm House.  She was bold and direct in declaring that Joseph Smith did in fact see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove.  She then asked the group around her what they thought about that.  I can't remember if anyone answered her or not, but I know all over again that what she said is true.  I cannot deny it.  Here are some photos we took at that special place:

Sacred Grove

Smith Farm House

After our stop in Palmyra, we loaded up and started on our way home again.  We only made one more rest stop the remainder of the trip.  The kids did really well and I kept my mind busy by listening to the Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  One day soon I will be taking the kids to the Mark Twain house that is not too far from here.  After listening to these books I more excited than ever to go and check that out.  

Well, that's it for now.  We are still enjoying our time here and look forward to another year of adventure and happiness!