Pittsburgh, PA

Last day on our trip was spent in Pittsburgh PA. The only thing we had planned was to go to the Pirates baseball game. So we needed something to fill our day with. After driving back from Kirkland and eating lunch we went site seeing. One of the stops we made was on the top 10 list of things to do while in Pittsburgh.
Here is the car that we rode up and down the hill in. It showed some amazing sites of the city but cost a lot. I would say it is worth doing it one time.
After the incline we went to my favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot. After we ate it was off to the game. Anthony was so excited to see a baseball game. Mainly due to the fact that they were playing against his team, the San Francisco Giants. Now for those who know me know that baseball is not my favorite sport. However watching it live is a different story. My main complaint is that the game takes too long to complete. Boy am I so accurate on that statement. After the 7Th inning I was getting kind of tired wanted to leave but I knew it would only be two more to go. Well I was wrong...dead wrong. The game finally ended after 14 innings. To make matters worse the Giants lost. So sad but Anthony got over it.
First pitch of the ball game.
We had a great time on the entire trip and even at the ball game. Even though it rained at the beginning it was still fun.

Kirkland Ohio

Kirkland Ohio was our last stop on our Church History tour. Just like the others we started at the visitors center first. There you watch a 20 minute movie from Elizabeth Whitney's perspective. The movie explained their journey from meeting the Prophet Joseph Smith to them eventually leaving Ohio. It was a great movie!

Late in 1830, members of the newly organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were directed to gather to Ohio. The Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife Emma were among the first to travel to Kirkland, arriving at Newel K. Whitney's general store in early February 1831.
This is the main floor of the Whitney store. It had everything from fabric, nails, food, to their post office. The Whitney store was the only one in this area and served their community.

Here is their back stock/receiving/goods trading area. If a local family needed something in the store and they couldn't pay for it they would trade goods. If they didn't have anything to trade the Whitney's would just give it to them. They were very generous people.

Newel K. Whitney was called as the second bishop of the Church. As bishop, he used part of his store to organize goods that were used to help the needy. He also allowed Joseph and Emma to live at the store and use a room as an office. While living at the store, Joseph received about 20 divine revelations that have since been included in the Doctrine and Covenants. A room in the store also housed the School of the Prophets, allowing leaders of the Church to study the gospel together.

The Whitney's, who were converts, welcomed the Smiths and opened their home to the Prophet and his wife. Here is a picture of what his home looked like.



The Kirkland Sawmill was built by the Church to provide work for newly gathered Saints and to process lumber for the building up of Kirkland, including the construction of the temple. On land owned by Newel K. Whitney and through the expertise of Joel Hills Johnson, the sawmill was constructed in 1834 to "cut lumber for the Lord's house."

Inside the sawmill
Examples of the pulpits inside the Temple.

The work accomplished at the Ashery was extremely valuable and important to the Church. Alkali was needed for the production of textiles, glass, tanned leather, gunpowder, paper, soap, and other goods. The Ashery processed raw hardwood ashes into potash and pearlash—two concentrated forms of alkali. The potash and pearlash were then sold to manufacturing plants around the country and in England.

Inside the Ashery




Here is the outside of the Kirkland Temple. We didn't take one of their tours but did go inside. I can't believe how amazing the Temple turned out. The outside is so beautiful. The inside showed great craftsmanship as well. There were two levels and an attic. The stairs were very steep and narrow.

We had an amazing trip. Going back to these sites just helped my testimony grow. Each location we visited there was something that one of the missionaries would say that would jump out at me. I know this was the place that we needed to be. I can only hope that they touched Anthony in some way to make him want to know more. We will have to wait and see. Thank you DAD so much for making this trip possible, it was totally worth it!

Cleveland Ohio Botanical Gardens

Prior to taking the trip, I went online and looked up the top ten things to do in Cleveland. The Botanical Gardens were on the list. So when we arrived I entered the address into the GPS and told Anthony to follow the directions. I knew if I told him that we were going to a garden he wouldn't be very excited. Well they were beautiful but kind of expensive to get into. However it gave us something to do to fill the rest of our day. Here are some of the pictures that I took. The next day we went to all the church sites in Kirkland Ohio. I will add those pictures tomorrow.

Niagara Falls, NY

On the way to Kirkland Ohio we stopped off at Niagara Falls in NY. I was there back when I was 4, I think. I believe we went there to pick up my brother when he was visiting our grandparents. I really didn't remember them much. This was Anthony's first time visiting the falls. There was so much to see. However since we didn't have all day we only took one of the many tours.

Here is the boat that we took. They supplied us with water ponchos that really were needed. The boat gets you right next to the falls. You really would be soaked without them. Even with them my hair got somewhat wet and the bottom of my pants were soaked.

This picture was at the top of the observation deck.

Next stop was Ohio.

Palmyra Area Historic Sites

First stop is the Hill Cumorah's Visitor' Center. I am so glad that we went to this place first. You start out watching a movie that explains who Joseph Smith was and a short synopsis of what he went through. As you exit they give you a map and some brochures that explain all the different areas. We decided to go to the Smith Frame home first. The Kitchen

This is upstairs. 6 brothers shared a room. The Angel Moroni visited Joseph several times in this room. The room in the back is where Joseph's two sisters slept.

Smith Log Home.

This home was started by Joseph's oldest brother. He was unable to finish the home due to dying from what the church believes was a burst appendix. The home was finished by another brother and a carpenter from the town. The family was able to live in the home for a short while before the carpenter who help build the home stole it from underneath them by making the last $100 payment on the deed. He then tried to sell the home back to the Smith's for $1000.

The dining & Kitchen area.

Finishing Barn

Cooper Shed

This shed is where Joseph hid the plates. He first had them in the ground then received a prompting to move them. He moved them to the top of the shed. That night a mob came and tried to find them. None of them thought to look above their heads where they were safely hidden.

The Sacred Grove

Martin Harris Farm

Book of Mormon Publication Site

After the 5,000 copies were printed they were sold here in this store on the first level of the publication building. Original cost of the book $1.25.

Palmyra LDS Temple

Peter Whitmer Visitor's Center

Joseph Smith along with five others organized the Church at this site. The home like the others have been reconstructed on the original site.

The last site for the day was the Hill Cumorah Pageant. It was a perfect ending to an amazing day. The pageant has been updated significantly since the last time that I attended it. The volunteers did a great job. It started with Lehi and his family and finished with Joseph Smith organizing the church. It completed the entire day for us and gave us a better understand of what sites we saw that day.

The next day was a drive to Niagara Falls then to Kirkland Oh.

Lake Ontario, NY

After a short drive...325 miles, we stopped off at one of the Great Lakes. Lake Ontario, NY

Very windy day, so my hair was blowing all over the place.

I know not much to this post. After driving we went out to eat at Anthony's favorite, Outback Steakhouse...it was really good.

Pittsburgh, PA

Our trip has begun. We are on a week long vacation without our kids. That's right Anthony and I are finally alone. We are having a great time, but missing the kids terribly. Anthony's parents , along with Misty's girls, are back at home having a blast also. Sadly Braiden has been sick with an ear infection but he is still playing and trying to get better. Back to our trip...We took two planes to get to PA. The first was a short one hour and around 20 minutes to Phoenix AZ. While on the flight the pilot said everyone please fasten your seat belts, flight attendants take your seats, and prepare for some bumpy air. So I grabbed Anthony's hand and prepared for the worst. However it never came, whatever he saw never happened. We then landed and got right back on another plan headed for our final destination of Pittsburgh. Same thing again flight attendants take your seats we have some thunderstorms that we are going through. Luckily no turbulence! After what seems like for ever our 3 hour and 45 minute flight landed 25 minutes early. We got our luggage and went to pick up our car.

Here she is...our cute little car. Not much to it. No power windows, locks or cruise control. However she gets us were we need to go. The radio works and we have a Garmin GPS navigator to help us around. Which came in handy since PA's streets are crazy all over the place.

Here is Anthony at one of the many bridges in PA. This one is at one of the shopping centers. We got the baby some cute pants and went to the Movie. The Taking of Pelham 123...very good movie, I really enjoyed it.

After we drove around a while I decided that I wanted to find the house my dad grew up in. The last time I saw it I was 8 years old. I thought I would totally remember what it looked like. So we plugged the address in and away we went. The reliable GPS took us directly to the house. However it didn't look the same. After a short call to my dad to make sure we were in the correct place I soon realized that at the age of 8 everything looks much bigger. His house was the same...just I grew up! I was going to take a picture of it but the new owners were sitting on the porch and I thought they would get a little weirded out if a stranger was taking pictures of their home. After we drove by again I was able to picture the inside. Majean making me macaroni and cheese and Pap-Pap telling me that I made her make the whole box so I must eat the entire thing...which I did! I know pig but I love macaroni and cheese. I also remembered sitting on what I am sure was my dad's bed looking at the picture on the wall of all the prophets of the church, with Majean helping me remember all their names. I had a great summer with them and will always remember the time I shared with my grandparents by myself when I was 8 years old.

Well this ends our two days in PA. Next day we were off to Palmyra, NY.