June, Blessings and Challenges

This was a great month, even though it brought along some difficult challenges.  The last of May my knees went out on me.  I stayed home and rested for about a week, hoping they would feel better.  They didn't.  They got worse, and I couldn't walk at all without holding on to something.  So I got an appointment with a doctor who gave me shots in both knees and a brace for my right knee which was worse.  He also gave me pain pills, Tramadol, which gave me a terrible headache and nausea.  But I found I could do okay on extra strength Tylenol.

Jerrol was a trooper and did an awesome job at the library without me for 2 1/2 weeks.  I rested and hoped that I would be recovered enough to meet our son and his family in Washington DC for a visit.

The shots helped enough for me to get around with a cane.  On the 17th of June we boarded the Amtrak train and met Matt, Lisa, and their kids in DC.  It was a wonderful three day adventure!  They rented a scooter for me to ride, so I was able to go along and see all the wonderful sites.

First, we went to the Washington DC Temple where they did baptisms.  

We met another missionary on the grounds.  She happened to be Sister Longhurst who has been assigned with her husband to come to the HSP library where we are and scan the card catalog.  (More about that in the next blog.)  What a coincidence!  She volunteered to take our picture.

After getting some lunch and changing our clothes, we headed for the Capitol.

The dome is being repaired and renovated.

Jaana is taking a little ride with me.  I liked that scooter.  I want one.

The Washington Monument

I took a lot of photos, this is one of my favorites.

Looking from the Washington Monument toward the Lincoln Memorial, you can see the WWII Memorial.

I didn't expect to be so moved by being there.  It was amazing!  There were so many who sacrificed so much.  I had recently watched the movie "The Longest Day" on D Day, so I  had much of it on my mind.

Jerrol and Peyton at the WWII Memorial

Another place that tugs at the heart is the Vietnam War Memorial.  Jerrol had a list of names of people he knew and the family helped him find them.

We went to the Space Museum, the Native American Museum, and the Natural History Museum.  I have lots of pictures if anyone wants to see them sometime.

While we were at the Natural History Museum, I had another trial come.  I began to see many floaters like spider webs in my left eye.  Soon my eye clouded over and the floaters were backed by a film like waxed paper.  It was scary. I didn't know what was happening.  There was no pain, and I hoped it would just clear up. 

We went on to the Lincoln Memorial, the last stop of the day.

This feels like a sacred place to me.

That night we drove back to Philadelphia and got home late.  The next morning (Saturday) we went to the Wills Eye Hospital emergency room.  I had a broken blood vessel in my eye and a torn retina. On Monday and Wednesday I had laser treatments at the Wills Eye Hospital

to repair my retina.  Then it has been a matter of waiting for the blood to dissipate and my vision to clear.  It has slowly cleared and after 2 weeks, I have only a couple of faint and fading floaties that should be gone soon.  It has has made me appreciate my eyesight.  Being blind in one eye and lame was humbling.  But I have felt the blessing and protection of the Lord.  Wills Eye is one of the top eye hospitals in the nation.  I was fortunate to be here.

While Matt's family was here we made the rounds of Philadelphia's best sites.

I thought they would run, but they took their time going to the top of the 

Rocky Steps at the Art Museum.

One of my favorite places is Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was approved and signed.

 

Can you imagine how hot it must have been in there during those deliberations in July with the windows closed?

Right next door is the Liberty Bell.  You can see Independence Hall through the window.

They came to the library to see what we do.  Paige Talbot, the director took them into the vault to show them the treasures.

Paige had a little trouble with the locks when we were done, so Peyton had the honor of locking the doors.

Since Kyra and Jaana are such great fans of Jane Austin, I showed them an early edition of Pride and Prejudice that we found at the library.

The following weekend we were in Palmyra, NY.

This is the beautiful Palmyra Temple.

If you look closely at the middle window, you can see that it is mostly clear.  It is the only window of a temple that you can see outside.  This is so you can see across the way toward the Sacred Grove.

The Sacred Grove is just beyond those trees and across a road.

This is the monument at the top of the Hill Cumorah.

The visitor center at the Hill Cumorah.

At the visitor center here at the Sacred Grove, they had a wheelchair that we used for me.

This chair had big wheels for going over the gravel path. We were worried that it would rain since it rained hard the day before when we drove up from Philadelphia.  But it turned out to be just cloudy.

Such a wonderful, peaceful place.

This is the replica of the Smith home where the Angel Moroni appeared to Joseph.
 
The missionary tour guide took our picture.

It would be a fun mission to be a church history tour guide.  They were wonderful!

This is the Grandin Print shop where the Book of Mormon was first printed.

We visited the Whitmer farm where the Church was organized.

Such humble beginnings for the Church.

It was great to have Matt and his family here.  It wasn't too hard to say goodbye because it won't be very long until we see them again.

Are we really in our last month?  My goodness!
I have mixed feelings.  I will be happy to be home, but will miss so many good friends here too.  Today after church, one of the little girls in the Sunbeam class came up to me and showed me a picture she had drawn.  There were a number of stick figures and she began naming them.  I was surprised and touched when she pointed at one and said, "This is you."  I am really going to miss Primary here.