Sunday, April 27, dawned early for Erik. He got up and started cooking potatoes for Compartir. Erik had a big pot on the stove and the instant pot going as well. Ten pounds of potatoes; I think he thought that I was crazy (nothing new). I told him that the Relief Society (Sociadad de Soccoro) president showed me what size of dish to bring. In our apartment there are disposible aluminum pans for taking to events. We decided which one to use and Erik finished up the potatoes while I got ready for church. Our Branch President was expecting us for 10:30 am to meet for a few moments. According to Erik we needed to leave at 9:45 am. Nearly made it on time, hahaha. President Hall convinced us to join the little choir to learn a song. So, 10 minutes chatting with him and then 10 minutes singing. Basically it seems to be a missionary choir.

President Hall asked us to speak the last week of May. I’m not sure how this is going to work because one of us doesn’t speak Spanish. The Lord could provide a miracle! Our topic will be the blessings of the temple.

Compartir was fun to see. Relief Society sisters served the meal while members moved through the line. I brought a nut bar to eat. We were able to meet some more members. The Relief Society president told me that the potatoes were good and I told her that, thanks to Erik, the potatoes were delicious and prepared for today. She was surprised! After our VERY busy Saturday at the temple, my dear husband pulled through to help me out.

I made a couple of pizzas for supper. I got the dough recipe from The Loopy Whisk. They turned out really well. We have plenty of leftovers for coming days. After kneading by hand for 10 minutes, I decided that I was going to look for a stand mixer (which the recipe recommends).

Monday dawned with anticipation in the air. Unfortunately, we did not receive our mail in ballots for the federal election in Canada until today, the day of the election. It was very disappointing. We had a list of things to do (Preparation Day). Of course, laundry leads my list and I had the bedding in the washer before 7 am. Erik was working on our shopping list. We needed to go to Costco and pick up specific items.

Driving to east Rochester to the Costco, We see 5 police cruisers on the side of highway 31 with officers in their flak jackets, conferring about the upcoming takedown. I also spotted two Chinook helicopters flying above us. These are military aircraft which can carry up to 10 tons of cargo. They are massive and fast.

We arrived at Costco by 10:30 am. As we cruise the aisles, Erik says, “We already have so many dollars in the cart and don’t have anything off our list yet!” Focus, more focus! One of the things we were looking for was lawn chairs to pack in the car to go picnicking and visiting places. Nothing appealed to us, so we will look elsewhere. We finished the store and headed to the car to load up.

Getting home, we unloaded and started sorting items and where to put things. Unbelievably, we realized that we needed to head to a grocery store for a few items, but first, Erik had a dental appointment in Phelps. I wanted to go along because that meant I would get to see new places. Phelps is another delightful little town. When we entered the office, I asked if there were any fabric stores in town. There weren’t any to be had, so I settled into the waiting room to read old magazines. I picked up “Mary Jane’s Farm” magazine. It was right up my alley, filled with homemaking items, focusing on more natural and organic processes. I was surprised to see an article about one of my vendors from my quilt shop days. Julie left the corporate world and started her own quilt pattern company called, “Patch Abilities”. Then I looked at the age of the magazine and it was 9 years old!!! Julie’s company is still going strong with really cute ideas and patterns today. Despite the magazines being really old, they were in good condition and helped to pass the time. Unfortunately, Erik is going to need a crown and a little cavity filled.

We stopped in Newark quickly to pick up a few produce items. The two of us do not need a ten pound bag of apples from Costco so we opted to shop for these items locally in a grocery store. Then we raced home to meet a repair man. Our bedroom ceiling fan does not operate independantly from the pot lights. The repair man was someone that we knew! He wired the fan separate from the pot lights so that it runs from the pull chains now; delightful.

Tuesday morning brought the news about the Canadian federal election. It wasn’t the outcome that I was hoping for but I know that it’s not over until it’s over. I tend to the conservative/libertarian mindset. Being raised in the military and my pioneering ancestors, I was taught to work things out for myself if I can and not expect the collective to bail me out. It’s probably why I am extremely independant and think out of the box about how to fix situations; it’s not over until it’s over. My husband has a very calm mindset and in each situation his thoughts are, “Nothing is ever as good as it seems and nothing is ever as bad as it seems.” I don’t agree with him but we are two different people who are eternal companions. If we can forge a life together in peace and love, we have a hope that all will be well in the end.

As we went to the temple for our shift, I knew that being in the Lord’s house would bring peace to my heart and solace to my mind. The focus of being there is about service and love. That focus helps block out all the world’s noisy raucus that clamours in our heads on a day to day basis.

I absolutely love the new temple missionaries who have arrived. Working with them is so much fun as I get to know them. Sister Stevens and I both have a love of Mexican food, as she was raised in California. I see a great collaboration happening! My tortilla press has arrived and now the fun can begin.

It was an incredible 27C today in Palmyra. The sun was shining and it felt so good to have the warmth. We are still on a roller coaster of temperatures so I better enjoy it while it’s here.

My neighbor lent me her seasoning for pizza sauce. It’s from Utah and a company called Shirley J. makes it. The great thing is that it is gluten free. I went to the website and ordered a couple of their seasonings that are gluten free. It’s flavour was really good and on days (who am I kidding) that I don’t have a lot of time to make pizza sauce from scratch with the San Marzano tomatoes, I’ll definitely use the seasoning, simply added to a can of tomato sauce.

On Wednesday morning, Erik went for his walk and I got on my rebounder. When he returned, he came upstairs to report his walk about. He was grinning so hard, so I took my earbud out to see what was going on. It turns out that he was so anxious to get going that he forgot to wear his rucksack equipment and to top it all off, he grabbed the wrong nametag to clip to his jacket. Instead of “Elder Naglis”, he was wearing, “Sister Naglis”. He said that he even stopped and talked to two guys on his walk. Maybe they would be wondering, “What kind of church is THAT?” That’s our big giggle of the day.

https://theloopywhisk.com/2024/08/24/easy-gluten-free-sandwich-bread/#wprm-recipe-container-19321

I made bread early this afternoon. Now that I have a stand mixer to knead the psyllium mixture into the flour mixture without leaving lumps. Everything went really well and I have decided that this was the best recipe yet, for gluten free bread. I took a slice to the temple with my French butter on it. Ooo la la! Tres bon!

Thursday weather was going to hit 19C today. We prepared for the late shift at the temple. Erik went walking with his rucksacking equipment and I bounced. When doing the late shift, meals are wonkadoodle. We keep food in the fridge for quick grab-and-go’s.

My experience with the health insurance is driving me loco. We are supposed to go to the Aetna website and lookup a practioner who is listed. They sort them by nearness to me. Everyone that I called was either not there anymore or not taking new patients. I might as well have shot myself in the foot as trying to get anywhere. It’s so frustrating when the website is so out of date. I’m starting to think out of the box. Here’s my dilemma; I use a continuous glucose moniter to check my blood sugar. I can buy them in Canada with no issues. In the USA, a person needs a prescription to buy them. Well, how on earth are these a controlled product? What nefarious reason would they need to be by prescription only? My guess, is that it is all about the mighty dollar. Shall I freewheel it (no CGM)? Shall I pay out of pocket to see a physician? In my mind the missionary health insurance is a scam. I asked one of the Historic Site missionaries on how to deal with the health issurance and she shuddered and said, “It’s a problem!” I am still pondering.

Oh, Friday…back to Rochester for a Costco return and a pickup of a few items. Friday being our day off, it gives us a chance to catch up on any laundry that needs doing before Monday and to prepare for our Saturday shift. We are still sorting kitchen implements and tossing the broken and rusted items in the trash.

We went to the temple president’s house to help him set up tables and chairs for a dinner/meeting they are hosting Sunday evening. That didn’t take long and we were back home.

I wanted to make Sopes today, so I dug out our griddle and made the dough. Erik heated up the black beans. The griddle was hotter than I realized and I ended up burning my thumbs and forefingers, flipping the sopes and pinching the edges. Erik asked me if I wanted a spatula and I told him that Mexican women use their bare hands to flip them. Well, I paid the price on that one and again will turn to my ministering angels to help me out. I’m sure they shake their heads and go, “Oh, Cheryl!!!” Anyway, we enjoyed eating them and of course, we have sopes to put in the freezer for future use.

Saturday, we work the early shift and I managed to get myself there looking presentable. Leaving the house early is a trial for me in some ways because I don’t feel like I’m really awake and functioning. I saw my schedule for the day and it seemed like I had some free blocks of time. I like to be busy but I was reminded that the Lord knows where and how He needs me. I had two very special experiences today that were a clear reminder that I am on the Lord’s errand. I had the opportunity to visit with a woman who had travelled with her group for four hours to come to Palmyra. I invited her to sit and visit with me while she waited. We connected so well and she was one who said to me, “God gave you to me today when I really needed you. You were meant to be here today for me.” When I was moving on to another assignment, I hugged her and told her that I loved her and she replied the same to me. What a wonderful experience to have met and helped her.

One of the bonuses of being at the temple all week is that I have learned processes where I can help train others. The reason that I know a lot about the laundry system, is because I am always asking questions and then filing that information away for future use. It’s nice to be needed and feel useful.

I love that other temple workers are welcoming us and being friendly. Sometimes I think it is hard for them. Maybe feeling like we are invading their space, but we are simply there to help and support.

We go home and have a midday type of meal, and put our feet up for a bit. Then I get on my rebounder to finish getting my exercise done for the day. Erik decided to bake some black bean brownies. He shared some with our neighbors and Tonya said that she would feed it to Rick and later tell him that they were made with black beans, hahaha!

That was our week; I’m sure there are many things that I have forgotten to write about. Others are sacred and I need to keep them in my heart but I know that we are all known to our father in heaven. He knows what we need and when we need it. Sometimes, we get impatient and think we know best but truly, “Father knows best”. We get those reminders if we pay attention. It’s takes some humility and grace to acknowledge that we are not in charge and when we try to take control, it usually doesn’t go as well as hoped. Every so often I get a reminder from God, to let go and let Him do his job. Stay well and until next week, hasta luego.

The blossoms are starting. I have been waiting three weeks to see the glorious riot of color explode. As Erik drives the highways and biways, I look at everything, noting the scenery and signage all around. We still plugged in the address for the Spanish Branch (Rochester 5th Branch) into the GPS. There were many more people attending this Sunday. We met new members and a new missionary. The Branch President asked to talk to us next Sunday…doo, doo, doo. I saw a lady walking around after Sacrament meeting with a clip board and she seemed to be getting people to sign up for something. It turns out that there is a Linger Longer luncheon next week and the Relief Society President had a list with specific items to bring for the meal. I signed up for “Pure de Papas”. I asked her how much to bring and she gestured the size of a pan to bring for the mashed potatoes. I asked the sisters if I could add some flavor to the potatoes and they said yes. So, next Friday, I will have to prepare them because we will be working at the temple from 7:30 am to 10 pm on the Saturday. The meal is called Compartir in Spanish which means to share. I wore my new peacock dress to church because it is very spring colored and light. The Easter program had the Branch Presidency speaking and there was a musical number with the two sets of missionaries and a couple members of the branch. It was beautiful!

Our walk took us to the old cemetary of Palmyra. It is on the same block where we live. There is a set of concrete stairs going up the hill. We were looking for Alvin Smith’s grave site. There were other gravestones scattered throughout the hilltop. Alvins’ is well cared for as is Jonathan Swift, the founder of Palmyra in 1790. It was orginally known as Swift’s Landing and changed to Palmyra in 1796.

We found a stolen plastic Easter egg, chewed open by the scavenging squirrel, then another one. The chocolate wrappers were all that was left. Again, squirrels running amok, high on chocolate. Is this becoming a theme in my life? We carried on to Palmyra Road and ended up going south to the Wayne County Fair grounds. It will be August 4-10, this year. There are a lot of events, including a demolition derby. I predict a lot of noise and people for that week.

We saw families that gathered for Easter dinner. The cars pulling out of driveways, hugs and kisses blown as they went their separate ways. It was windy and cold at first, thus, we bundled up. I usually take 45 minutes to walk 3 kilometers but these walks take me an hour because I need to stop and look at the flora and birds. Erik thankfully walks to my pace. There is a delightful creek running through Palmyra and I love to stop and watch it.

By the evening we noticed that the furnace had not come on in a long time and that the house seemed to be getting colder. I started putting extra layers on and then added a fleece blanket to my attire. As we were going to bed, Erik had taken a photo of me, dressed to the nines, and sent it to Rick and Tonya, who control the heat for the house. He suggested that maybe tomorrow, they could turn up the furnace a little more, haha!

Monday dawned with a little sunshine but it didn’t last long. I read my scriptures first. I am in Helaman and also in Ephesians. I love Ephesians because the theme seems to be telling us that we all need to get along with each other and to have the Saviour as our example; to live in love and unity with one another.

Despite the gloomy looking day, I got on my rebounder and noticed that the furnace was coming on. It seems that Rick and Tonya were having a hard time staying warm so they were running space heaters and that was why the furnace wasn’t cycling on. We will figure out this house! By that time, the heat will probably have picked up outside.

Mondays are laundry days; bed gets stripped and into the machine. Whites and colors too are going into the cycle. Plus, Erik has been needing a haircut so that was definitely happening today too. When I can see that his eyebrows are turning into spiders trying to race across his face, it’s past the time for a haircut. He set himself up in the kitchen and I clipped him up so that he’s neat and tidy again.

We decided to have a bit of an Easter dinner today. I wanted to try making some Payday candies and some Strawberry Pretzel salad. When we were at Gull Lake, I liked to make 9 X 9 pans of the Strawberry Pretzel salad for the neighbors for Canada Day because it’s red and white. The strawberries at the grocery store have been really good lately so Erik suggested that I make some Strawberry Pretzel salad for Easter. It’s always an adventure learning a new kitchen and where all the tools are.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/strawberry-pretzel-dessert/#RecipeCard

I think this week may bring a little warmer tepmeratures. I didn’t even wear a jacket to the temple today. We are on the morning shift and after a couple of weeks, we are feeling more settled in our duties at the temple. Again, meeting new people and new patrons. After our shift, we headed home for a late lunch.

I discovered that my swelling ankles and legs may be due to not being able to get my legs off the ground in the evenings. For years, we have had reclining sofas and loveseats. Being horizontally challenged means that I’m too short for most chairs and sofas. The circulation gets cut off and my legs start to ache. Isn’t it funny how blood is supposed to flow throughout our entire bodies and not just random places? I had a couple of choices; getting a zero-gravity lawn chair or a recliner chair. Erik says that we are here for a year and he thinks that we should try and be comfortable. We drove to Victor to a furniture store and chose a couple of recliners. They will be available for pickup on Wednesday. Simple recliners; no power, but very comfortable. I had to work hard not to cry in the showroom sitting on that chair because the relief was so palatable.

I finally got to go to a L.L. Bean store! It’s been on my list of things to see in the USA. Strange, I know, but I really like their products. I was able to find a pair of walking shoes that were so comfortable. I get excited when a pair of shoes fits so well. I started dancing and the joy I felt in shoes that will do me well was wonderful. The salesman told me to just keep on dancing.

We were on a mid shift for Wednesday. After completing our shift, we went home to change and head into Henrietta to pick up the recliners. Upon arriving, Erik rang the bell for the loading dock and a young man came to pick our order. As I was waiting, I noticed these beautiful little daisies in the lawn and I had to take a photo. I saw two boxes coming to the loading dock and I thought that they both would fit in the SUV without removing them from the boxes. Erik was dubious but both the young man and I thought it would work. He measured a box and asked Erik to measure the vehicle. After conferring, they loaded one box and hurrah! There was room for the second box. We have that great feature with the rear view mirror, that with a switch we can use the camera if the car is full of cargo and we can’t see behind us. Home again, jiggity, jig!

Rick and Tonya came to help us with the unloading and set up of the recliners. Tonya had on an apron and I was admiring it. She offered to lend me an apron until I sewed mine. Within a short amount of time, both chairs were set up and all the refuse dealt with. Then the highjinks began. I sat in my chair and I could not get it to recline. Erik sat in it and he was able to do it. I thought that maybe the chair just needed a breaking in period. He is a foot taller than me and I believe that he had better leverage to move the chair into a reclining position. After supper, Erik decided to read the instructions for the chairs (hahaha). It turns out that there is an adjustment that can be made from underneath to loosen the tension on the springs. Tada! I was finally able to recline the chair without giving myself a hernia.

Thursday brought an early shift for us. After coming home, Erik decided to reorganize the living room built-in cabinet. It’s a little scary to me, but the upper shelves aren’t as scary as the bottom area (cob webs etal!) He pulled everything out and wiped it all down. Then started sorting and getting rid of things that were useless. Meanwhile, I prepared my work surface to cut out my apron pieces. He brought the ironing board and iron downstairs for me to use and I got going. By 8 pm, I had a double sided apron with fabric that I purchased in Pella, Iowa and also here in Palmyra. Erik helped me turn the tubes for the neck straps and the waist ties. His comment was, “Don’t you have a tool for this!?!” Why, yes, I do, sir…at home with all my other fun toys.

Occasionally, I get a call from my friend, Dawn Marie and we chat for a couple of minutes. She asked me if I missed Alberta. I thought about it and realized that, no, I am doing fine here because we are so busy each day.

We received a really special gift from our friends, Lisa and Clint Thompson. After reading about our light dilemma in the bedroom leaking through the edge of the blinds, they sent us each a gel eye mask for sleeping. They are incredibly comfortable! They even came with a pair of ear plugs. They would be perfect for shift workers.

Friday morning saw us up and at the Bishop’s Storehouse. Today we weighed and packaged bananas, oranges and green peppers. The peppers were huge and most bags only had one pepper in them. I was having gut issues from being glutenized again. This was from breathing in gluten dust in the breakroom. As much as I love cleaning, I don’t think cleaning in there is such a good idea. It was going to be interesting working our shift tonight.

I think I was a little nervous about working 4 shifts in a row; late Friday and 3 on Saturday. We were getting ourselves ready to go and I decided to pack a cotton dress that is very comfortable to wear. I had a delightful couple of moments between Friday and Saturday that reminds me that we are exactly where the Lord needs us to be. I met the dad of our friend Dan, who serves in our bishopric. I gave him a hug and was feeling great being able to meet both of his parents. As we age, sometimes it feels like the world gets smaller and smaller.

Saturday dawned with drizzle and a little cooler weather. Well, with 96% humidity, it feels cold when it rains. We started the early shift and then that merged into the afternoon shift. While I was acting as a greeter at the doors of the temple, I was so overwhelmed to see our friend, Nate Cattran, who served his mission in the Calgary Canada Mission. He served in the Bow Valley Ward for a time and spent time with us as we fed the missionaries. Nate and I hugged and it was like seeing a son that you hadn’t seen in a long time. I tried not to cry but was so overjoyed at seeing him again, that tears were leaking out of my eyes.

We were able to go home for a couple of hours. I did my Spanish lesson and Erik cooked a meal for us. We have a Ninja indoor grill and barbeque and he was able to get supper ready in no time. Then it was time to head back to the temple for our last shift of the day. At the Palmyra temple, they have the opportunity to welcome bus loads of people coming to see the temple. I don’t mean to trivialize the temple and area but it is like a tourist destination because of the historic significance. Many people want to come and experience the area and the historic sites. While it is a small square footage temple, we have a huge amount of people who come and feel the love in the house of the Lord.

Today was also significant because the 6 month temple missionaries arrived. It was so delightful to meet the other four couples and work with them for the evening session. One couple is from North Carolina and the other three couples are from Utah. The Parkers are serving their fourth mission! It was a great evening serving the busload of women and getting to know our fellow missionaries. We were home by 10:30 pm and I just needed to bounce on my rebounder for five minutes to loosen everything up and get ready for bed.

Erik’s plan was to get up early and cook the potatoes for the “Compartir” at church. What a wonderful man I am married to!

Being two hours ahead of Mountain Daylight Time, we had all morning to prepare for General Conference. After the stunning Saturday sessions, my heart wanted even more. It’s a funny thing, wishing for conference sessions to go on and on but then realizing that we still have everyday chores to be done. Every spring and fall we have the opportunity to watch General Conference. As a child, we would go to the chapel to see conference being broadcast by satelite. Now, we can access the sessions via, computer, phone, satelites, and smart speakers. So, many ways to feel uplifted and given strength to carry on trying to follow the Saviour’s example.

I did have a prayer answered about what I need to be doing better while on my mission; well, to be honest, my life in general. The kick-off of Elder Holland’s talk touched my heart. Thus, after a very stirring Saturday, I welcomed more joy on Sunday. I started the morning reading in Romans and Alma. It’s always amazing to me reading about Paul and his journeys. Plus reading about Alma the younger and his experience which parallels Paul’s experience. These are some of the greatest examples of repentance and coming into the arms of Christ.

After the first Sunday session, we decided to go for our Sunday walk. We headed towards the steel bridge to nowhere, as I call it. Walking past wooded ponds, we were able to see and hear many birds. I love the Merlin app on my phone to record and identify birds. The following list is what we found:

Northern Cardinal, Red-Winged Blackbird, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Canada Goose, American Robin, Carolina Wren, and American Goldfinch.

The more I listen, the more I am able to identify by their song. It’s beautiful to be in nature and see the creatures. As we aproached Lock 29 on the Erie Canal, we spotted a father and son fishing along the canal. The boy was probably five years old and watching him bait his own hook was amazing. Nearly every cast, that young lad caught a fish. He recognized which ones were too small and had to be thrown back. The father explained that he had an older friend who would eat these fish. There were sunfish and crappies. He didn’t want to eat anything from the canal himself.

We headed home to watch the last session of conference. We were gone 90 minutes and I was worried that we were going to be late for the session. It was wonderful to hear more inspiring talks and to end conference with the announcement of more temples to be constructed.

Monday came with some sunshine (surprise, surprise). We started the laundry in the morning after scriptures and prayer. Being a temple worker 4 days a week, means that you have a lot of white laundry. We wear white clothing in the temple, so that means lots of white shirts and socks. I love adding Borax to my white laundry to keep it bright. Last week, Erik opened the box of Borax and then proceeded to read the instructions. As he tipped the box to read, I happened to look over at him and watched a fountain of Borax streaming from the open box. Fresh Borax is so fine and spills out very quickly!

We needed to go to Costco (the $400 store) and return some trousers and pick up some more food. Erik managed this trip much better. He did the return while I started picking up food. While loading the cart contents onto the checkout belt, I see a gentleman behind Erik, smiling at him. When I was paying the bill, the same gentleman came up to me and asked where we are serving. I replied, “At the temple.” He told me that he will see me there tomorrow. Our name tags have been a lot of fun, opening conversations and seeing how people willingly talk to us. In the parking lot, I saw a lady loading her groceries in her vehicle. I spotted cream butterhorns and croissants. I said to her, “Oh, I used to make these every Christmas Eve for my family. But now, with celiacs, they are a no-go item.” I asked her to eat one and think of me while she enjoys it. She smiled and said that she would. She then asked me where I was from. I told her that we are from western Canada. Her grandparents were from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and her family would travel there every summer for a month to visit her grandparents. I asked if her mom still cooks Nova Scotia food, and she replied that she did. Of course, I had to ask her about Blueberry Grunt. She had never had it but was going to ask her mom about it. Give it a try!

Blueberry Grunt – Nova Scotia Style

I received a message from another missionary, that there was going to be a movie night at the Joseph Smith Farm Welcome Center. They were going to be playing the movie, “6 Days in August”. It was released last summer and the room was filled with senior missionary couples (Historic Site and Temple) as well as a lot of young sister missionaries. The film depicts the death of Joseph Smith and the succession crisis of 1844. Based on much historical documents, it was heart wrenching to see the depiction play out and the events that lead to this miraculous event in August 1844.

There was popcorn, drinks and candy for everyone to enjoy. We all settled in and there was a lot of laughter and tears during the movie. It was great to get to know more missionaries.

Monday night was not restful for either of us. I really love my 8 hours of sleep, so I prepare for bed accordingly, but at 2 am, pain started in my guts. Usually, that means I have been “glutenized,” but I hadn’t eaten anything out of the ordinary. This lasted until nearly 8 am. We were on the early shift at the temple, meaning we had our preparatory meeting at 8 am. It was snowing heavily and was -5C with a 36 kph wind. Brutally cold enough to put on my mukluks (granted, they are my short ones). Driving down Canadaigua Road, we encountered a detour with lots of flashing lights and even more further down the road. On the last leg of the journey, I was wondering how I was going to work for the next 6 hours with a painful gut. I said, “Satan, I don’t have time for you today; get out!” By the time we arrived at the temple, my guts were settling down. Don’t you love how much God loves you and provides miracles in your life? I always am full of gratitude when I experience miracles whether they are teeny tiny or big.

“Gratitude provides us with a greater perspective on the very purpose and joy of life.”​ This is a quote from President Nelson from his November, 20, 2020 talk. “Practicing gratitude may not prevent us from experiencing sorrow, anger, or pain, but it can help us look forward with hope. We can give thanks for our loved ones, for our bodies and minds, for music and literature, for the beauty of the natural world.​” I loved that short 11 minute talk about gratitude. It definitely made me think about my prayers and to be grateful for all the things that I can think of. I remember having one week where I asked for nothing in my prayers but instead expressed gratitude for my life. It was eye opening to do this and feel how my heart changed.

We served our shift and headed home for a late lunch. I tried to do a few things online but then my eyelids would not stay open and I fell asleep in my chair. At some point Erik draped a quilt over me, so that I wouldn’t be cold. After thirty minutes, I felt better and carried on. The snow was slowing down and the sun was trying to poke out through the clouds. We walked to the distribution center and while Erik was being measured, I spotted a coin at his feet. Erik immediately told the store workers about finding coins and that it’s a sign that someone beyond the veil is trying to communicate with you. The funny thing is that this coin was something we had never seen before. I looked it up and discovered that is was a Fijian 1 Dollar coin. Who could be trying to tell us something?

We came home and I decided to try some different vegetables in a salad. I set up my food processor and used the slicing blade on a thin setting. I put brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots and onion through the processor. I made a dressing, tossed everything together and then topped it with Salad Toppers (seeds, cranberries, etc.). Erik likes the bagged brussel sprout, kale salad from Costco, but, I believe that anything you make at home is far superior.

Wednesday morning, I decided to try and figure out what gave me the “glutenized” gut that I had yesterday. It turns out that the Aussie Bites that we got from Costco are not gluten free like the ones in Canada. Same packaging; this learning curve may do me in! Today we had a “midshift” at the temple. This is a shift that runs from 10 am to 3 pm. Both Erik and I have been having very strange dreams about places that we’ve never been to and meeting so many people. They are simply a window into our lives as that is exactly what we are doing now. Every shift we meet more new people. We have visited a lot of places in the past three weeks, seeing things that we have never seen before. Slowly, we are learning the ways of the Palmyra temple as we get to work in different areas. We came home and tried to decide what to do for supper. With the different shift times and not having meal breaks, our meal times are so messed up. The one thing we do consistantly is eat breakfast. Erik is a get up and eat breakfast guy. No matter the time he gets up, he wants to eat within a few minutes of arising. I’m a slower waker-upper. I like my morning schedule and I’m not interested in eating right away. But with doing an early shift, I force myself to have a little bit of breakfast. Today I made a piece of toast spread with hummus and then I placed lengthwise slices of cocktail cucumbers on top. Yummy and nutricious!

Here comes the rain again…(are you singing it with me?) Off we go on an early shift for Thursday. It was extremely busy at the temple with a lot going on. Again, meeting new people and let me tell you, the best part is how warmly we are welcomed. The house of the Lord is all about love and kindness and that is exactly how we are been received.

I met the mother of a man who serves in our Bishopric in Lacombe. As I hugged her, it made me feel connected to home and little homesick. We had a lovely visit as she told me about her family and places that they have lived. One of the interesting things that sticks out in my mind is everyone’s last names here. They are so different from the last names in Alberta. Many of the people that I have met are actually from this area. Because I grew up in the military, I am used to moving around and asking people where they are from. I want to know about their family history; where their ancestors came from, what languages they speak, what dishes do they cook. Everyone wants to know where we are from. I have learned to say, “Western Canada.” Because in reality, Canada is only an hour away. But that’s not the area we are from. A few folk have family in the maritimes because of the migration of people years ago. They are either from Nova Scotia or from Acadians in the maritimes.

We received an email from our new landlord-to-be. Moving date can be Monday if all is well in the apartment. The Wall’s will be finishing their mission and heading home. Thus, us and the Gurr’s will be moving. My only concern is the steep stairs to get upstairs. I better not be in a hurry to get to the bathroom, or I will have to learn to fly up and down those stairs.

Our ice cream supply has diminished so, I have a strong suspicion that it may top the shopping list for tomorrow.

I’m not usually a fan of chocolate ice cream but this is very nice. A scoop of this is perfect for my chocolate wishes. Plus, it’s gluten free, yipee!

The Bishop’s Storehouse was on our agenda for Friday morning. It is located across from Hill Cumorah. We packaged fresh produce: bananas, oranges, peppers and broccoli. These then go on the storehouse side where members in need can place food orders. There are general household goods as well as groceries. On the side where we were packaging produce, the storehouse has freezed dried foods in #10 cans for sale. Anyone can go to the Bishop’s Storehouse to purchase these items. It is called the Home Storage order form that has all of the goods available for purchase. I asked the young missionaries who we were working with, what seems to be the most popular items. They said that the hot chocolate mix and the pancake mix were good sellers.

“While [bishops’] storehouses provide many of the same services as any retail food store, not one has a cash register. … These are goods that money cannot buy. No price tag is put on the time, effort, and love so generously contributed to the common good of those in need.”

—President Thomas S. Monson

After working at the Storehouse, we decided to get our groceries. We drove to Newark to the Wegman’s store. I love this chain of grocery stores. Beautiful produce and lots of choices are to be had. Going to Newark, you drive alongside the Erie Canal and go by little Port Gibson. In the summer, it’s going to be gorgeous. We finished up and headed home to prepare for our evening shift at the temple.

Saturday dawned with cloudy skies and drizzle. We were assigned to the midshift and arrived to a full parking lot. Today there was an ASL session and a Spanish session to be held. It was quite busy in the temple but everything went smoothly. I was starting to get a tad cranky late in the afternoon because I didn’t take Patti Hawryluk’s advice and put nuts in my pocket. Breakfast happened a long time ago and trying to keep blood sugars in check is a trial with our meals helter-skelter. At 6 pm, I was quite happy to get home and get a meal. Erik says to me, “I want to tell you that you are a grown woman and can look after yourself! But you seem to need some help!” I just said, “That’s why I have you to remind me.” When I get busy, I just keep going and forget to look after myself. I’m sure a lot of people do that; telling ourselves, it’s only a little bit longer and then that turns into a couple of hours.

It was the last temple shift for the senior missionaries who head home on Sunday and Monday. Tears and hugs were had all around. One of the couples heads home to start training for their service in the temple presidency in Arizona where they live. That will be a three year assignment. Lots of emotions as we part ways, but we know that we will see some again along our journey.

Erik and I arrived on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. As I entered the apartment, I noticed that it didn’t seem cleaned between the last tenants and us. While Erik unloaded the car, I started cleaning. We have two shelving units in the kitchen that serve us well. It is a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment. My Princess Self wasn’t thrilled about sharing a bathroom with my husband (I know, I know, it’s ridiculous). But we are making it all work. The bedding had been washed from the last tenants but as I made the bed, I found that the pillowcases were missing.

We started a shopping list to take to Wal-Mart. The Temple Recorder told us that Wal-Mart may be our best resource to get set up. During the pandemic, my daughter, Kaitlin and I did a house cleaning course on-line. We learned about tips and tricks for cleaning everything well. I have become a bit OCD about the cleanliness of everything. Thus first on my list was laundry soap, Borax, CIF Cream cleaner, hand soap, Fabuloso, garbage bags, Scrub Daddy dish wand, and Power Paste by Scrub Daddy. Erik was shocked to see that the bedroom had light filtering sheers and we knew that we need a dark bedroom, so, black-out drapes was added to the list. Off we went to Macedon to the Wal-Mart.

On Wednesday, we headed to Rochester to go to Costco. It’s about a 40 minute drive from our apartment. What a scenic drive, going through the small towns and seeing the beautiful homes. Sister Wall told us to go early to Costco because it is the only one in the city and it gets VERY busy. The parking lot was immense and we got there about 10 am. The set up was completely different than our Alberta Costco’s. Erik became overwhelmed with all the selection and trying to decide what we needed. We didn’t stay long, got our necessities and headed back to Palmyra. Interesting fact, the Costco chickens in Canada are not gluten free but we were able to buy them in Rochester Costco for only $4.99 each. Plus, they were much larger than the Canadian chickens. I was desperate for some beautiful veggies and did find brussel sprouts, etc.

Thursday took us for a little walk along Main Street. “Around the Block” quilt shop is only 2 blocks from me. We stopped in and I bought an apron pattern.

Then we headed towards the E.B. Grandin building. This magnificant block of stores were quite the feat in the 1800’s. This is where we had a tour of the printing business that printed the first edition of the Book of Mormon. The Lord’s hand was definitely in this venture to bring the sacred records to all of the world.

After lunch we decided to head south to the Peter Whitmer farm. This is in a Mennonite farming community and it was a beautiful tour. This is a very special place because this is where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, on April 6, 1830. It’s amazing to think that in 5 years, it will be the 200th anniversary of the event. The church is preparing to commemorate the event there with plans not yet unveiled to the general public. There were only 4 of us in our tour, a Grandpa and his teenage grandson, Erik and I. The grandson was amazing with his knowledge of church history.

We were told about the Sauder store in Seneca Falls. My heart was so happy being in that store. It is a Mennonite run store and they sell quilts there. The prices are very good. My new friend, Susan Wall happened to be there when a Cathedral Window quilt (king size) was on display. The window panes had shades of purple, which is significant to Susan. The workmanship was outstanding and I am so happy that she was able to purchase this heirloom.

I was able to buy red lentils, popcorn, beeswax cream, locally made apple cider, and the treat of the day was gluten free, triple chocolate ice cream. In the summer months, Curtis Wall told us that Sauder’s is brimming with produce and it’s amazing!

Friday brought us to trying out a little bit of a schedule. I brought my rebounder so that I could continue my workouts that I love. While I bounce, Erik goes for a walk. The Erie Canal trail is right behind us and he goes venturing about to see the area. We were invited to the Walls apartment for supper. This is the apartment that we will be moving into in the middle of April. We will be stationed there for the year. They had sent us some photos of the place but it was fun to see it in person and to meet them in person and get information about the area. This evening is when I got to see the Cathedral Window quilt that Susan bought. There is a lot to explore in this area. The temple will get much busier during the tourist season as well.

As well, our neighbors, Rick and Tonya Gurr arrived from Utah. They will also be moving next door to us when we move. They will have the front half of the house and we will have the back half. Like everything else here, it is an old home that has had some updates done to it. We were thrilled to learn that Rick and Tonya served a mission in Samoa with Scott and Pam Cameron. We have known Scott and Pam from our Olds Ward time and have been friends for over 30 years.

Saturday arrived with a winter warning forecast of freezing rain. It was only about 2C and rained in the afternoon. Our plan was to go south to the Priesthood Restoration Site along the Susquehanna river. It is in Pennsylvania and would be about 2.5 hours one way. With the weather forecast, we cancelled our plans and did some local shopping. While we were shopping, Erik’s cell phone rings and it’s the Temple President checking in with us and letting us know where we are being assigned to attend Sunday meetings. I got really excited when Erik told me the news. We are going to the north side of Rochester to attend the Spanish Branch!!!!!!!! As we were finishing our evening prayer, Erik turns to me with a chuckle. “Did you pray for this!?!” I replied, “No, but I think it’s only fair that you got your prayer answered by wanting to serve in the USA. I checked off the Oaxaca Mission on our application and the Lord’s answer to me is being able to attend a Spanish Branch!” Side note, while we were in Huatulco in February, I received direction that I was to buy a Spanish Book of Mormon. While at the distribution center in Omaha, I purchased a Spanish edition of the Book of Mormon. Then the missionary leaders told me that on Amazon, you can purchase a side by side Book of Mormon with English and Spanish. So, I love that the Lord was preparing me to continue in Spanish.

I purchased a couple of books today. One I needed because my days of seminary (Doctrine & Covenants) are long past. That was my first year of seminary and it was home study. I need maps and I need to know why the Latter-Day Saints moved from this spot to that spot. It was first published in 2012 and this was an updated book, called, Mapping Mormonism. Plus I purchased, “Insights from a Prophet’s Life.” Erik has grabbed onto that is over half-way through already.

Sunday dawned with more rain but the temperature was going to 16 C. We attended the Palmyra Ward today. There was a large number of people attending and the Bishop stood up to conduct the meeting and said, “He loves spring when the crocuses start appearing as well as the visitors.” There had to be at least 250 people in attendance. I think between Spring Break and senior missionaries finishing their missions, a lot of families were visiting. Plus there were all the newbies, like ourselves who are starting their missions. We are meeting so many people and new missionaries who are trying to find their way. I do know that the Lord will uphold us all and give us the strength to do His work.

We usually go for a walk on Sundays and so, we togged up in rain gear and headed out for a stroll. Erik lead us along the canal path. It’s a path that the mules walked as they pulled the barges up and down the canal. There was a bridge that was closed to vehicle traffic. I’m not a fan of heights and I chose the paved sidewalk over the mesh bridge. I kept telling myself, “You’re going to be okay, you’re going to be okay. You can do this! You’re almost over the bridge!” We met a couple walking their Bernese Mountain dog. They also filled us in on information about the town and area. I asked what industry feeds the tax base and they responded with, “Well, the Mormons come here in the summer!” Hahaha…well, here we are!

We awoke at 6:30 am to the sound of the semi-trucks leaving. They had been stacked up like cordwood the past night. Erik and I were recommended to go to a Roadhouse/Saloon for supper. It was full of truckers and they were a friendly lot, sharing road conditions and what the situation probably was. We were asked if we had a hotel room for the night because it was going to become crazy with all the people waiting for the highway to open. Someone knowledgable said that it was probably Nebraska who closed the highway. The winds were incredibly strong, combined with blizzard conditions made for a dangerous situation.

It’s interesting to listen to people’s stories about their lives and understand that most people are simply trying to live a good life with peace and basic comforts. I met a gentleman who with his wife were moving out of California to come to Wyoming. Wyoming is the least populated state in the US. The state capital is Cheyenne. It’s not an easy state to live in because of the weather and the terrain. Much like Alberta, it’s western side is composed of the Rocky Mountains but the eastern half is high elevation prairie. Wyoming has an rich history with lots of explorers from the Spanish Empire and even French Canadian trappers who entered the area to trade with the tribes.

We had driven through Casper on the way to Cheyenne and there is a brand new temple there, built as one of the new modular systems. It was closed that day and we were feeling anxious not to be stuck in a blizzard so we didn’t even stop to see it.

After heading south easterly for the trip thus far, and after Cheyenne, we were heading east. Our next destination was Omaha, Nebraska. It is on the eastern side of Nebraska, so it was a 7-1/2 hour day of driving. Along the way we lost count of the number of semi-trucks in the ditch as well as a number of other vehicles. At first as we left Cheyenne, there was no snow and we wondered why the highway had been closed. Soon enough, the picture became evident with the huge amount of snow in the ditches and the fields. Again, we were blessed with good road conditions to drive on.

Erik and I went to an Indian restaurant for supper and then we met a family who are members of the church. They had a son serve a mission is Toronto and currently have a son serving in Scotland. I simply asked the dad a question that sparked the whole conversation. It was such an uplifting visit!

We had booked an appointment in the Winter Quarter’s temple in Omaha (which is actually in the old city of Florence). This temple has a lower entrance and then you climb stairs to enter the next floor where the change rooms and ordinance rooms are. The interior is based on the time frame of the 1800’s with dark wood finishings. Afterwards we headed over to the Winter Quarter’s visitor center. It was simply amazing to see the history of the Mormon Migration across the United States. Winter Quarter’s was a temporary settlement as the saints prepared for their journey. There is also a Mormon Pioneer Cemetery for the pioneers who died at Winter Quarters. There was illness that spread through the encampment and took a lot of lives. I could tell you a lot about this area but I feel that you could also look it up and read more than I can tell you. It was incredibly emotional to be in the area where so many people gathered and prepared to go to Salt Lake City via handcarts, wagons, train and sailing ship.

I went for a workout in the hotel pool and met a cute couple of boys, 6 & 8, while their mom rested on a deck chair. The boys and I started a pool ball game (like the size of a hackey sack) throwing to each other in the pool. Later the mom told me she was so grateful because she was exhausted and it was nice to have someone else entertain the boys. Then a crazy thing happened; an exit sign exploded and a big piece of metal was sent flying through the air. Then it started on fire and flames were shooting out of it. The smell of electrical fire was permeating the pool area. The little boys ran to the front desk to tell the tale. The front desk attendant came to see what was happening. It was a new hotel, so this was a little shocking!

The main crops grown seem to be corn and soy beans in these midwestern states. While driving through Montana and Wyoming, I was always checking my compass to see our elevation and direction. The highest I saw was 2900 meters.

After leaving Omaha, we drove across the Mormon Bridge into Iowa. There were still many vehicles in the ditches. Amazing how far reaching the blizzard was! We stayed on the I-80 until Des Moines and then we turned southeast. Our next destination was Nauvoo. As we stopped for gas, we discovered some stations wanted a zip code to process a credit card…hmmmm. They recommended that we try another gas station.

We wanted to stop for a little break (our car likes to tell us to stop and take breaks). We reached a little town called Pella in Iowa. It was founded by immigrants from the Netherlands and it’s a wonder of windmills and tulips and everything Dutch. As we started walking around, I stopped a lady to ask her where the visitor information was. Then we spotted a Pella factory and the light went on! We know all about Pella windows and doors from our construction experience. This is where the company started and continues. What a lovely surprise! This lady I met was Dutch and she told me that if anyone is around in April, the tulip festival is in full swing and a sight to behold. Erik and I start driving through town and he spots a quilt store…hahaha. He asks if I want to stop there; do leopards have spots? The Quilted Windmill was delightful and I ended up buying a tulip table runner kit. What a lovely respite from the drive.

We continued south east to Nauvoo. For a while we thought that our GPS had lost it’s mind because we left the interstate and were ding dong ditching through rural roads with no markings on the roads. We even came upon a farm truck parked at the top of a hill on our side of the road.

But eventually, we ended up in Fort Madison and headed for a bridge that crossed the Mississipi river. That was another interesting experience because it was a toll bridge but that day, we were given a temporary pass and didn’t have to pay.

I wondered how on earth Nauvoo was in the middle of podunk nowhere. In 1844, it rivaled Chicago for population. Erik and I rented a room in the Nauvoo Villas and from there it was only a 2 minute drive into Nauvoo. The town is so small that there is no grocery store but there is a Dollar General. The history of this town is mind blowing. I had never studied church history and even though I have read a couple volumes of the Saints series, it still didn’t register in my brain. But now, seeing all these sites in person is cementing the knowledge in my mind. We went to the temple the following morning and again the style of the building was that of the 1840’s. This temple is a replica of the original temple which was destroyed by fire, then by a tornado after the saints left Nauvoo.. The saints had left Nauvoo because of persecution and were leaving for Salt Lake City. 11,000 saints left the area. We saw the flats of Nauvoo with a few remaining buildings. A pair of sister missionaries toured us through the Red Brick Store and the Mansion House. Seeing the Red Brick Store was amazing because our General Relief Society broadcast was given in part in the top floor of the Red Brick Store.

I met wonderful ladies in the temple. One was a lady who had built harps and does furniture construction. She married a Samoan gentleman and they had 14 children. Irene was a delighful lady, full of joy. Then I met Nina, who with her husband is serving a mission in the Nauvoo temple. Again a very special lady, who I can call an eternal friend. I saw Nina the next day at church. We chose to attend the early 9 am Ward because our plan was to drive to Carthage.

Driving to Carthage was a gloomy, cloudy and rainy type of day. It suited my mood for visiting Carthage. I really didn’t want to go because it is the place of Joseph Smith’s and his brother Hyrum’s martyrdoms. Irene said that I must go and it is so important for me to see and experience the site. We arrived as it was opening for the day along with other members who I had previously seen at Nauvoo. The tour started out as a tear-jerker with the video presentation of Elder Holland and his stirring address about Carthage. We then moved on to the jail and our guides explained everything so well. As we moved upstairs in the jail, we first went to the criminal cell and saw how dark and miserable it was. The jailor could see that Joseph, Hyrum and their friends were not hardened criminals, so he moved them into his own bedroom. We sat and listened to the events that followed on that day of June 27, 1844. The door is still the original and has the bullet hole from where a musket ball went through and killed Hyrum. To walk in the same place as these pioneers was so moving.

Getting back in our car, we headed north to Indianapolis, Indiana. We found an amazing grocery store called, Market Garden. I could finally get some good fresh fruit. The hotel was really iffy which was surprising considering that Hilton owned it. We said, “It’s only for one night!”

In the morning we drove to the Indianapolis temple. The landscaping crew were there changing out all the seasonal plantings. I even got to speak Spanish with some of the workers. We took our picture and headed out to Kirtland, Ohio.

Arriving in Kirtland it was easy to locate the temple and the visitor’s center. We toured the temple as it is not an operating temple for the church. The saints sacrificed much to build this temple in 1833. This was the first temple built by the church. After our tour we drove the couple of blocks to Historic Kirtland and met a senior missionary who asked us if we wanted to see the N. K. Whitney store. It was an amazing store; very large for it’s time. Joesph also received revelations here in the upper room called the school of prophets. We met a couple who were visiting from Brazil. It’s still early in the season and full hours and visitors have not yet arrived, thus giving us a much more personalised visit in these sites.

Driving into Mentor we found a hotel for the night and then found a Mexican restaurant that had their own horchata. Muy delicioso!! The hotel was decorated in the style of the 1800’s style and was quite comfortable. Some of our hotels seemed to have rooms that kept shrinking the further along our journey went but this one had plenty of room.

We headed northeast the following morning along the I-90. Occasionally we saw glimpses of Lake Erie and eventually decided to take a secondary road to see if we could actually stop somewhere and get a full view of the lake. We deviated onto highway 5, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. Along that trail we did ditch into a little village and found a tiny park with picnic tables. We bundled up because the weather was only 3C and with a strong wind coming off of the lake. It was brutally cold but we had to step onto the sand and take photos.

Interesting observation I had was about the state of the freeways and the cleanliness. We were only in Pennsylvania for a tiny bit. The ditches were so dirty with a lot of debris and garbage. Once we entered New York state, the highways were pristine again. Some states are better than others at cleaning up.

Continuing along the I-90 we drove until reaching highway 21. This put us south of Palmyra. I could feel excitement building because we were on the final stretch; the last half hour. After 11 days on the road, we were definitely ready to stop driving. We drove past the Hill Cumorah and the excitement continued. Soon we were going to be “home”. Driving into Palmyra was surreal because we had been dreaming and planning for months and seeing it in person was very exciting.

We found our temporary apartment and started unloading the car. Knowing that we needed to get some supplies, we headed out for a shopping trip. Everything is close by in nearby towns. Unfortunately, Palmyra does not have a grocery store, but within 10 minutes there are stores to be found.

Road trip complete and now it will be day jaunts to visit other sites. The apartment wasn’t cleaned but I got right to work and started cleaning, while Erik was unloading the car. It reminded me of when Braeden went to Africa and the housing hadn’t been lived in for months and was left dirty too.

Time to do laundry and try and get some semblance of order back into our lives.

We headed out after a last minute mad dash to pack what we think we will need in the coming year. For those of you who know how much I like to be prepared, this was a little overboard (even I will admit that). I have my big Breville food processor, my Instantpot, my air fryer, sewing machine with embroidery module, to name a few things. I know how I need to prepare food so I packed what I thought was neccessary. People kept saying, “Just buy what you need when you arrive!” But for those of you who know the value of our Canadian dollar, I just can’t bring myself to buy it in New York. Our SUV looks like it’s loaded for bear!

Erik & I stopped in Calgary for a short visit with our daughter and to see her three children. What a joy to spend a few minutes with those toddlers & baby. We then carried on to Lethbridge to see our son and his family. I am known as Grandma Cheryl by my two year old grandson. We went to church in the snow in Lethbridge and watched it fall all day, hoping that the roads were going to be passable the next day. Jasmin & I attended the world wide Relief Society broadcast which was a celebration of the anniversary of our dear Relief Society. It was spectacular!

Monday morning brought us a stoppage of snow so we loaded and decided to try our luck. The day started ominously with heavy fog. The roads were wet and slushy for a while but then the slush was melting as the sun was trying to burn through the fog. Within an hour we arrived at the border. It was less than 15 minutes processing time to process our visa and permit us to enter the USA for a year. Our goal for the day was to get to Billings, Montana. I’ve decided to call Montana the “Black Cow State”. All the herds were black cattle. It was fascinating!

From Great Falls, we took the I-87 to pass by Geyser, Stanford, Moccasin & Hobson. While I am passing through remote looking areas I always wonder, “What brought these people here? What do they do for a living? How many generations have lived here?” It’s very pretty countryside through the mountains. We came to the Little Belt Mountains and that was fascinating too.

As we turned south onto the I-191, we entered the Judith Basin. It’s a huge basin for growing crops and cattle, surrounded by mountains. We stopped to refuel in Judith Gap. Of course, I needed to know how these people settled here. We met a lovely couple who run a mom & pop service station and mechanical repair. Jeff tells me that his dad started the business and recently retired so Jeff & his wife purchased the station from him. It might have been the cleanest station I have ever stopped in. They told me that they usually don’t get a lot of snow (except for this year) but they get a lot of wind. The wind whistles through the gap at quite the velocity. This is an historic town situated in the small gap between the Little Belt Mountains and the Big Snowy Mountains. The gap was used by settlers and Native Americans for centuries, including Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce during their famous flight to Canada in 1877. The railroad brought many people there to settle and in 2005 they had a bit of a boom because of a major wind farm being constructed. Ask questions and you can find out a lot of information.

We carried on to Harlowton and turned east for a spell. Then at Lavina, we turned south to Billings on the I-3. Billings is situated on the Yellowstone River. As we drove in we were driving along the rimrocks which gave a spectacular view of the city. They are sandstone cliffs along the north side of the city. Pausing at a viewing spot across from the airport, we were able to enjoy quite the vista.

We plugged in the address to the Billings temple and went to see it. On Mondays, temples are closed for cleaning, but we took photos and Erik got an amazing shot of the sun behind the spire with angel Moroni. I messaged my friends (Elder & Sister Hanson) who live in Billings but are serving a mission in Oaxaca Mexico right now. I wanted them to know that we made it to their hometown.

The weather took a turn for the worse and blizzard conditions started on our route for the next day. The highway was closed due the conditions so we opted to spend another night in Billings. It gave us the opportunity to go to the temple and preform some work for our ancestors. I may have met the nicest ladies in that temple. They had true characters of disciples of Jesus Christ; full of love and kindness. The temple is now 26 years old. It is absolutely stunning! The layout is all on one floor (no stairs or escalators needed). What a wonderful stop over this turned out to be!

Of course, I met people in businesses and helped people with their shopping, always asking about their lives. I had cooking discussions in the grocery store with a couple of people. One of the things I love is seeing the cultural makeup of areas. The Native Americans here are from the Crow Nation and there is a reservation towards Cheyenne. This is where the Little Bighorn Battlefield is. It’s so wonderful to be in historic areas and feel the energy of the past. This is also known as Custer’s Last Stand. Lots of controversy with that subject.

Erik is always checking the weather reports and it didn’t look good to head to Cheyenne. We considered going northern routes through the Dakotas. But in the morning we decided to go south after all. The roads were great, only wet in some places and a little hard packed snow just south of Sheridan. I prayed for sunshine to follow us throughout the day and we were blessed with that gift.

Alas, another storm system has the highway closed (I-80) going to Nebraska. The semi trucks are stacked up here everywhere waiting for the road to open. Hopefully the morning will bring sunshine and the highway will be open.