Priesthood Restoration Site, Susquehanna, Pa.

The beauty of the sun shining on the Susquehanna River was our highlight this week.  In order to justify our spending the whole  day away from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania scanning books, we really needed to work hard all week. And we were blessed to find the books in Bucks and Berks County that were next on our list were in great shape and many had images on both sides. This meant double the work, so one day we did our record 2,900images in one day! So, we got up at 4am and drove to Pennypack building (our stake, about 40 minute

 away at that time of the early morning.) We traveled with a big bus full of young Sisters and Elders for the 3 hour trip north. Here is our group at the end of this highly recommended tour of Harmony, Pa. the home of Joseph and Emma when they were first married. where they had to bury there first born. The beautiful large home of the Hales family. This areas is where 15 revelations where received and much of the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were baptized in this river after receiving the Priesthood Authority from Peter, James, and John.

 Harmony, Pa. is just inside the Northern part of the Pennsylvania and New York border and a very important part of church history. Most touching for me was  to see the cemetery where Joseph and Emma buried their first born. I remember when my son Erik died and how I made a promise to serve in Special Education, to use my talents with these wonderful children of our Heavenly Father.

colorful times

 Enjoying all the colorful times here. We went to a flea market to get Jim a Man bag. He needs to carry all his important stuff on his shoulder now to protect his stitches.

We also visited Valley Forge Park and Conestoga High school, where I learned to drive. We drove on Pugh Road and by Narrigan pond where we used to go ice skating.

I showed Jim the Devon Horse show and where I used to catch the train to ride into Wayne when I was in 8th grade, We thought it was a big deal to ride 2 stops all by ourselves and go to the 5 & 10 cent store and buy makeup. Both the drive to my high school and the train station seemed very far away. Even though I didnt start running until after college, I guess I really enjoyed walking and visiting with my friends. It is so good to be here and revisit the places that helped mold my childhood.

One tender mercy this week happened on Friday afternoon when a family came to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. They came from Calif, to do research on their family. Turns out that their son Blake answered my prayers. He is high functioning Autistic (he even had APE). After a few minutes of much sharing he spent the rest of the afternoon helping me organize books and get ready for Monday. I loved having him with me and remind me how blessed I am, to have worked in special education and have the opportunity to grow and share my joy of family and the gosple with others/

Challenges

Jim's happy place is working and serving, especially if there is big heavy equipment involved. After 6 challenging weeks with a catheter and 2 ER visits, the Dr. spent 3 1/2 hours removing the insides of his prostate. There was a lot of blood and he needed two units of blood. We are home now after 3 long rainy days in the hospital. The good things.. it was conference weekend. Hospital stays are never without many pokes and stabs and necessary data to retrieve, and all the nurses were interested in and commented on the Conference messages they heard. There were many tender mercies. Our second room looked out over the Philadelphia Temple being built, Jim's Doctor is from India and when she finally gave the OK to go home, she said, " I see that you are people of faith, is it ok to have a prayer together. oh, And I pray in the name of Jesus Christ" and I said,, YES, So do we.