Visit to Upstate New York

Michele and I went to New York in late July for a couple of reasons...one, just to take a break and get away and focus on each other. Second, it was to also see some of the Church sites in up state New York and watch the Pageant. It was just what we needed!. Being at the Church sites gave us a little perspective we didn't have from just looking at pictures. It was especially nice to see so much of the Smith farm and land looking much the way it must have back then.
Walking out to the Sacred Grove was a very special experience which reminded me of being at the Temple. If you let yourself pause for a minute, you could feel the quiet and powerful peace of this location. We first went through the Grove with Matt's friend who was on a mission there and him and his companion were so excited to see us and talk to us that we didn't get the rich experience we had anticipated. So on Sunday Michele and I went back by ourselves and walked the quiet paths through the trees. It is awesome to comtemplate the significance of the event that took place where we walked.
What a bonus Niagara Falls was! Just as an afterthought we decided to go out to Buffalo and see the falls. It was such a magnificent place and powerful experience. It was kind of rainy the day we went and crowds were thin. We just kind of took our time and did everything we wanted. Sitting at the base of the falls you can just feel the power of the water pouring down and spraying out. We hiked onto the "Hurricane" deck which allows you to walk right into the base of the American Falls. The force of the wind created by the falling water is equivilant to the winds in a Hurricane...thus the name. We walked over the bridge to Canada and bought an umbrella that we will probably never use out in the Arizona desert.
This was a great getaway and renewed us in every way. We've committed to relive it one of these days soon. Oh, and who knew Sarah Evans would have a song named Niagara? Go Figure.