Excuse me while I Interrupt this Broadcast...

Let's take a break from Baby Tyse posts for just a quick minute!

While in Ohio, Jake and I took a 5 hour drive to Palmyra, NY [this was before the awful pregnancy sickness kicked in too bad, thank goodness] to visit the birthplace of our religion. It was SUCH a neat experience and I so wish I would have blogged my feelings right after our trip. My memory sucks but I do know that we had an amazing time. 

 Driving into Palmyra was an interesting experience to say the least. It was not what we expected at all! The town itself is...well...kinda redneck! There is a lot of trailer parks...and that's about it! We ate lunch at one of the very few restaurants in town and left our food on the table after about two bits. So...yep, it was interesting. But once we got to the part of town where the church owns, it was completely different and absolutely beautiful.

[Driving to the Temple]

We started the day with a visit to the beautiful Palmyra Temple. The scenery was gorgeous. It was a very rainy day, but it made the green scenery stand out even more so we really enjoyed it [keep in mind I did not edit these pictures at all...it was really that green]. The temple is built right on the acreage of the original Smith Farm. And believe me, it was sacred ground for sure. But we almost missed out on the opportunity to do a session. We are used to going to the temple in Idaho and Utah where you don't exactly need to reserve a spot in a session. Palmyra was a little different. The session we went to was completely booked. But thanks to a very nice man at the front desk, we were able to squeeze in. And I really mean squeeze. They had to bring in a ton of folding chairs to fit everyone. But I was so glad to be there, even though it was so cramped. Going to the temple is always a neat experience, but being in Palmyra made it just a little more special. 

 [Palmyra Temple - Palmyra, NY]

My favorite part of the temple was the stained glass windows. They were so beautiful. They were made to look like the Sacred Grove. And when you looked out of them from the Celestial Room, you had a perfect view of the actual Grove. It was quite breathtaking. 

 [Temple Windows]

 [Temple Grounds]

 [Smith Farm - Temple Grounds]

After our session, we went to the actual home of the Smith Family, just a few yards from the Sacred Grove. Again, a sweet sister missionary gave us our own private our - just like we got in Kirtland, OH. We were able to walk through the home and be in the same room Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith. To make this experience even better, we were there on September 21st. This is the exact date Moroni appeared in that very room, only 190 years later. Whoa. 

 [Smith Family Home]

[The room where the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph on September 21, 1823]

After we visited a few more historical buildings belonging to the Smith Family, we were able to walk through the Sacred Grove all alone. It was just the two of us in there. It was such an amazing feeling, one I cannot even describe. 

 [The path from the Smith home leading into the Sacred Grove]

 [No caption needed. Beautiful]

After spending quite a bit of time at the Sacred Grove, we visited Hill Cumorah. I would absolutely love to visit again during the Hill Cumorah pageant. I am sure it would be so cool. Jake and I hiked up the hill and it was almost as beautiful as the Sacred Grove. We just loved it. 

As you can see, Palmyra was quite the trip! We loved it and hope to return again!

Our Visit into the Past...

The tourist girl in me finally got to stretch her legs this weekend! After a long week of twiddling my thumbs in our cute new apartment, Jake and I hit the road to Kirtland, Ohio to do a little sightseeing.

The temple was such an exciting site to bear as we drove into the beautiful historic town. Like most places in our new [temporary] home state, the tiny "corporation" [as they are called in Ohio] was so quaint. It was made even quainter when I began to recognize buildings pictured in the back of the Book of Mormon.

Our first stop was the Visitor's Center operated by the Community of Christ. Inside they have a little museum focused on information from the earliest church settlers in Kirtland. After a quick look around [really..it was quick. I wont lie, the place gave me a weird feeling] we waited for our tour of the temple to begin.

The tour starts with a video projection of information stating how Kirtland became the site of the temple. Once the video was over, the projector was lowered and curtains were opened to display the temple. It was such a breathtaking thing! Honestly, there were audible gasps from others on the tour with us [myself included]. It was so cool to see the temple up so close through the window!

We then were lead into the temple. Our tour guide was quite the guy...I don't even have words to describe him. Well, yes I do. Awkward. He was so awkward. I loved being in the temple and recalling stories I have read about that took place in the exact rooms I was standing in, but...the guy was just weird. Moving on.

We actually had a few gentleman on our tour that are something like the Apostles of the Community of Christ church. The following day was what could be considered our Priesthood session of conference in their church which was held in the temple. It was very interesting to me. I reallllly wanted to ask them a few questions on their beliefs, but I decided to just Wikipedia it when I got home instead. My shyness got the best of me. Dang.

At the time, I couldn't exactly describe to Jake the feelings I had while we were in the temple. It was so beautiful, yet something was lacking. It wasn't until we visited the LDS Visitor's Center and buildings owned by the church that I could pinpoint what was missing.

When we walked through the doors into the LDS Visitor's Center and were greeted by Sister missionaries, I immediately felt the spirit - the exact thing that was lacking in the temple. The temple is sacred ground for sure, but I think it was just being in the presence of people who know and believe the same things I do that really made the difference.

Jake and I got VIP treatment - we were given a tour by two sweet Sister missionaries from Utah all by ourselves. Just the four of us. It was so great. And they were so sweet. You could tell the tour was tailored to nonmember tourists, but I think that made it even better. They asked us a lot of questions about what each room they showed us meant to us and asked for examples of trials in our own lives. It was such a special experience to be in the exact room where the School of the Prophets met and to share with these sweet girls our story of little baby Maycie. It was a moment I don't want to forget.

We were able to see the exact Newel K. Whitney store where Joseph and Emma lived for a time. We walked on the same wood floor they did. We sat and shared in the room where the Word of Wisdom was first put into place. We even saw the exact table Joseph Smith used while writing some of the revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants. Can you say awesome?

We then toured the real Whitney home, and replicas of the Sawmill, Ashery, and Johnson Inn. We also took a stroll through the Kirtland cemetery.

Hey guys. Guess what? The Church is true. Really. And our weekend in Kirtland just boosted my confidence in saying that just a little bit more than I would have before.

Can you imagine how I will feel next weekend after we visit Palmyra, NY? Uh, can't wait!

Until then...

And so it begins...

Hey guess what?

I live in Ohio!

Weird, right?

Super weird. But I am loving it.

Ohio is beautiful. Sometimes it takes my breath away. I keep saying that to people we run into here and they look at me like I am stupid. "But you're from Idaho" they say. "Idaho is the beautiful one". I guess we all take for granted what we have.

There are so many trees here! And guess what? Fall is a REAL season, guys! It's not just a week between the sun and the snow!

But boy am I glad the weather is changing into Fall. Because humidity... well, it sucks! It sucks big time. I walk out to get the mail and have to take a shower when I get back into the apartment. Humidity makes you a sticky, sweaty mess that's for sure! I don't like that part of Ohio in the least. That, and the allergies it brings. Allergies in Ohio are worse than allergies in Idaho. And allergies in Ohio make Jake snore...so you can imagine my disgust in them.

Jake is liking his job here - it will just take him a while to get into the groove of things. He is learning a whole new part of the insurance game, but he is loving the challenge.

And me? Well...I am bored out of my mind. The humidity outside really makes it hard for me to want to leave the apartment. That, and the lack of a car. Luckily, the weather is changing. And my husband gets home from work at 5! Five o'clock people! It is such a nice change to actually spend some daylight with him.

I am keeping myself busy watching re-runs of Downton Abbey and reading about sites to visit during our 6 months on this side of the continent. And waiting patiently for the weekends where we can actually do our touristing.

Speaking of, get ready for some super long and probably super boring entries about our sightseeing. Just deal with it...

[Flying out of Pocatello at the beginning of our journey]

[Jake outside his new office]

[Jake's Grandpa and Grace live 20 minutes from us! So fun to see them the day after we got here]

[There is this super pretty bike and walking trail right in our backyard]

[I never understood what a grove of trees was until we got here. This is right outside our back door]

O hi! (o)

Big things are happening at the Schwartz house. Big things indeed. Shall I make a list? Yep. Let's do it.

..........

Actually on second thought, only one thing really needs to be listed. I could tell you all about my new church calling serving as the 1st counselor in the Young Women's, my awesome dream job opportunity, our to-do list on our home, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. But let's just get straight to the point.

We're moving.

Say what?

Yep. We are moving.

To Ohio.

What the crap, right?

Ohio.

Ohio.

Sometimes I have to say it a couple of times to really make myself believe it.

Ohio.

Okay, I'm done.

On Tuesday [as in 6 days ago] Jake accepted yet another promotion at his job. That kid, he sure knows how to move up the corporate ladder. And surprise, the promotion requires a very sudden move to Hudson, Ohio for 6 months.

It's only 6 months - I just have to keep reminding myself of this.

I admit, there were tears. And whines. And downright childish responses to the news. You see, it turns out I was offered the job I have been craving for so long the day after Ohio came into our lives. Timing, right?

Stupid timing.

But through the roller coaster of emotions over the last 6 days, somewhere somehow an emotion I didn't expect came pushing through. Excitement. Teensy tiny bits of pure excitement!

Hudson, Ohio is a sweet little town. It's the perfectly charming historic place I have always wanted to explore. Even better? It is 40 minutes from Kirtland, Ohio. 4.5 hours from Palmyra, New York. And 7 hours from Manhattan. A tourist girl at heart's heaven on earth.

So here we are. Two weeks out from stuffing our entire lives into two suitcases, hopping on a plane, and jumping right into our future in Ohio. Two weeks. Yikes.

So, in honor of recognizing the teensy tiny bits of pure excitement, here's to new adventures. Here's to the unknown. Here's to traveling to places I have only read and dreamt about.

Here's to Ohio.

Cheers.