Seven hours in the car. Three states. Five kids. Anyone can do the math here and know that we had a long day. It was totally worth it though. We arrived at our hotel at the same time as Grandma and Grandpa Wilhelmsen and with enough time to visit the Sacred Grove and Joseph Smith's home.
It was so much fun for me to take Brian and the kids to one of my most treasured places on earth. It reminded me of when Brian was on his mission across the border in Canada and I wrote letters to him while living at the Hill Cumorah as a pageant cast member. We were able to walk reverently through this cathedral or temple-like woods, hand in hand. We all loved it and hated to leave it.
It was also here in the grove that I made a decision 19 years ago to go and teach English in Russia. That decision was a defining moment in my life, leading me to eventually adopt my two little 8 year olds from Russia. Josh and I had a nice talk about that as we walked.
Here we are at the Joseph Smith home. The kids were fascinated to be in the home and actual room where Joseph had his visitations from the Angel Moroni. Nine children all lived in this small cabin. It gave the kids some perspective. I think secretly they wished they could have lived back then. They loved this experience.
They are reading from the Bible where it says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God..."
Brandon (14), thinking that Joseph was the same age when he experienced the First Vision.
The kids all decided that they want to buy a farm in upstate New York. I don't blame them. It is a special place here.
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