Family Outing to Palmyra!

This past week Darin had a vacation...actually in the world of ER residents, Darin has been on a vacation all month being in the Orthopedic rotation.  Since he had some time off we wanted to do something fun.  So we packed up the car and headed for a day trip to Palmyra, New York.  It was only supposed to take us 4 hours, but with a child 4 hours turned into almost 6!  Poor little Nasharoo definitely has the Willardson car sickness gene.  We went through all but one outfit on the drive to Palmyra.  After the 3rd vomiting spell I left him naked and put diapers on his chest to protect him from the straps.  He was not happy....

This is definitely a time when we are grateful for the binky!

I was ready to throw in the towel and drive back home.  Thank goodness for Darin who always perseveres through our traveling drama (we have had many!) and didn't let us give up.  

The main purpose for going to Palmyra was to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant. We made it to the Pageant and sat down 1 minute before it started.  I didn't have time to worry about my camera so there are no picture to show the AWESOME production that it was.  I highly recommend it to everyone, the special effects are AMAZING! 

Palmyra had the most beautiful hanging plants I have ever seen.  This picture does not even give them justice.

Darin mentioned to his friend Ryan Southworth that we were going to Palmyra so he rushed home and packed up his family and joined us.  Poor Amy is 3 weeks away from giving birth...such a trouper!  We knew the Southworth family in California.  Ryan attended Western as well and was a major influence in getting us to Lehigh Valley, he is a 2nd year resident.

The next day we visited the Joseph Smith family farm.  We decided against the tour because of little ones.  We will save that for our next trip when our family and friends come to visit us...HINT HINT!

I love it when I get to be in a photo with Nash! 

Darin and Nash documenting the trip.  The rest of the trip was recorded by the Southworth's 6 year old, Jonathan.  I am nervous to watch the footage...a lot of feet and moving!

The texture on this barn was awesome. From what the man said the original barn was built by Brigham Young's father which is Nash's fifth great grand-father (on my side).

Another mommy photo-opportunity!

The Sacred Grove.

I loved the feeling walking into the Sacred Grove.  There was definitely a reverence felt inside this sacred place.

Although, the silence was broken by this chirping/screeching little bird! Just think of Scuttle from Little Mermaid...LOL.  By the way the rocks that Nash is sitting on were set by the Smith family when building their fence.

When I think of the Sacred Grove I think of my Great-Grandmother Hurst.  When I was a child she gave me a leaf she had picked from her visit to Palmyra.  I kept the leaf in my scriptures up until my mission when I placed in a safe place...I don't remember where that safe place is and it is now lost...sigh.  So I was sneaky and picked a new leaf to replace it. (I read a sign later saying you are not supposed to do that...OOPS!)

Nash has his own now too!

I couldn't get over the beauty of this place.

We tried to take a family picture with the Sacred Grove behind us but of course the camera was having some malfunctions (I was missing my D300!).

This trip was definitely spiritual although being with Ryan nothing is too serious and we had some silly fun times too!

I wanted to see if Nash would crawl into this tree.  NOOOO he just got mad!

Then I wanted him to sit in this awesome tree.  He liked it for a second.

Then he became IRATE!  So we quit putting him into trees.

This is the only view we captured of the temple.

Next we visited where the Book of Mormon was originally printed.

I loved all the paintings in this building.  Many of which were the originals.

This is where the Book of Mormon went on sale.  The floor is original.

The Book of Mormon manuscript.  This was awesome to see.  Their writing was amazing.

The printing press.  I never realized how much work went into printing the first Book of Mormons.  Those people had patience!

And yes we had a vomiting fest on the way home.  This time we had NO clothes to put this poor child in and so we had to wrap him in diapers again.

All in all I am so glad we went on this fun trip.  Thank you Darin for not giving into my whining when things got hard.  It is amazing how road blocks get into your way when you are about to experience something so spiritual.  I definitely have a testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith's part in restoring Christ's church to the earth.  As in all LDS church events there were some protestors everywhere we went.  I am always amazed that people think criticizing someone else for their beliefs will cause them to want to be a part of their church.  One of their shirts said "ask me why you are going to hell!"  Then as we walked by he was screaming "it is about Jesus not Joe!"  We passed him and said calmly..."You're exactly right!" It is amazing how little people know or understand our church.  Jesus Christ is the center of our religion.  Joseph Smith was only a tool used to restore the church on Earth.  It is sad the waisted time these protestors spend in degrading other human beings...so much good could have been done with that energy.  This was such a great family activity and I look forward to doing this trip again someday!