Kirtland Trip

Phase two of our spring break was going down to Kirtland, Ohio. Kyle had never been (or at least couldn't remember when he had gone) and what better time to go then when you live in the Midwest?

The first place we stopped was the sandstone quarry. This is two miles south of the Kirtland temple.

I can't believe you can still see almost 200 years later, the marks of where they quarried the sandstone!

The next stop, on that rainy morning, was the Newel K. Whitney Store.

Our tour guides told us a story called the "Feast of the Poor" (or at least I think it was called that.) The Whitneys were pretty well to do and also extremely charitable. When people came to their store and could not afford all the provisions they needed, the Whitneys were known to make up the difference. Elizabeth Whitney, the wife, knew that there were many people who were too poor to come into town and visit their store, but wanted a chance to serve them.

So one way or another, she got word around Kirtland that she would be making HUNDREDS of meals for 3 days to feed anyone who came to her store. Isn't that nuts? I was amazed that she went so out of her way to serve people she didn't even come into contact with.

On the top floor of the N. K. Whitney store is where the School of the Prophets is located. Lots of cool revelations were received here including the Word of Wisdom.

After goofing around with Avery,

we got to visit the Kirtland temple!

Aren't those green doors spectacular!? Apparently they've had to redo the outside, so the temple is no longer gray or "sparkles" from the donated china, but I believe they said that 80% of the inside temple is still original work.

No pictures were allowed in the temple, but we got to visit all three floors which was pretty neat.

And lastly, and my favorite place we visited was the the John Johnson farm. It was about a 45 minute drive from Kirtland, but definitely worth it.

This couple gave us our own personal tour of the farm (guess a Thursday in March isn't consider the heavy traffic season) and had only been on their missions for  two weeks.

The Johnson's were also very well off and the wife had a flare for style and color!

I mean, look at that floor!

And this picture is my favorite. This is the original door and latch to the home. Joseph and Emma lived at the Johnson's home for over a year (I think.) The Johnsons even gave up their bedroom and bunked upstairs with their kids. One night a mob broke in through this very door and dragged the prophet out from his wife and two babies and tarred and feathered him 200 feet away. We could actually see how far away that was from the house! I have heard this story many times, but it sure hit me a different way when I could picture it happening.

I was touched to be able to visit this place. Such monumental things happened here for the Latter-day Saints, and for just the history of Americans. There are so many stories that could be told about what happened in Kirtland. Incredible, trying, amazing, terrifying and touching stories. I am glad to know my heritage a bit better and am inspired to be a bit better as well.

:)

We interrupt our "Spring Break Recap Program" to let you know my baby is adorable!

But lets not allow the pictures do all the work. How about a few videos to prove it?

(There is some seriously awesome tongue clicking going on here.)

 

 

Birthday Celebrations

First, thank you again to everyone for all the nice things you have said about our upcoming future. We are sooo excited!

3 weeks ago Kyle and I were celebrating spring break. We began up in Michigan where we watched Ben's Community Center team play. Their name? The Deep V's (hence to their v-neck T-shirts.)

I even got in on the basketball action and played some church ball with two of my sisters. It was very bonding! :) Later that day we went back to the Community Center and played racquetball as well. Kyle and I aren't as good as we used to be (guess that happens when you take a 2 year break) but it was fun to play the sport where we "lell in fove."

Monday morning Kyle woke up to a surprise birthday celebration. We began with cinnamon roll waffles.

And then...drumroll please...we went curling!!!

 

 

Kyle was pretty stoked.

It took a little fancy footwork for me to keep this birthday surprise under wraps, but we made it and it was awesome!

Our teams consisted of:

Kelsey,

Kyle,

Ben,

and myself (with the advice and coaching of our instructor.)

The opposing force was my mother,

Jesica,

Tom,

and the father.

It was a fairly clean game. Each team had a "Skip" (captain) who would use his sweeper to point where the rock should land. The Skip would also stick out an arm in the direction the rock should curl.

These directions, though easy to understand, were difficult to put into action. 

Sometimes we would throw to hard and the sweepers would have nothing to do but follow the rock down to its destination.

Other times, we would be sweeping the floor with all our might to get that rock to go a few extra feet.

FYI. Sweeping breaks down the bumpy surface layer on the ice so the rock glides further. Nifty, right?

There were some triumphant moments,

unexpected comebacks,

and all around incredible shots. This little "hole-in-one" by Ben almost got him recruited to the official Midland Curling Team.

Twas a good day! The score was in our favor,

time was enjoyed with family,

America is still the land of the free,

and Kyle had a lovely early birthday.

Kelsey summed it up best with this sign.