Let the Ramblings Begin!

A few weeks ago John and I decided that we needed to carve out the time to go up to Pennsylvannia to see my Aunt Minnie. She is the last surviving relative on my Mother's side and she was always my favorite aunt. One of my big reasons for moving back east was to reconnect with family and to research my family history and so far I hadn't done much on that count, so, we decided on the date and gave Aunt Min a call. She was excited to have us come and invited us to stay at her home. Since we were going "up North" we decided to make it a ramble and see some things while we went!
First we went to Gettysburg. We arrived after the visitor center had closed but we were able to sit with a friend for a few minutes and make our plans for the next morning.


We then drove around the battlefield (a small part) and climbed a tower on Culps Hill so that we could see the lay of the land. Over our shoulder you can see Big Roundtop.

As we drove along I couldn't help but take pictures of some of the State markers. They all look like they have been recently cleaned and they are amazing!


We had a wonderful evening walking around the old town, seeing the still present bullet holes from the battle that took place right in town, and feeling the spirit of the people who had to endure the horror of war in their own back yard. Seeing all of the graves on cemetery hill in the still of night with a lit american flag above them was moving.
The next morning we went to see the largest picture in North America, The Gettysburg Cyclorama. The painting has been restored to its original size and condition and it is amazing! It is a 360 degree, floor to ceiling, two story high painting that accurately depicts the battle of Gettysburg!

We then toured the museum (So much stuff to see and read!)and then bought a car tour of the battlefields so we can go back again and do the tour.You can spend days in Gettysburg and still have plenty to go back and see! Before we left we stopped to see President Lincoln in a different place!

We headed on down the road to Hershey PA and toured the chocolate factory! Boy has it changed in 40 years! Papa looks happy doesn't he?

Finally we were on the road and headed to Aunt Mins. We had a beautiful visit with her and I was able to record her talking to me about all sorts of family history and we got to see two of my cousings too, Betsy and Terri. Aunt Min is still sharp as a tack and her sense of humor is great as always. We stayed up until midnight and then got up in the morning and talked until almost noon. I can't wait to go back and see her again!! There are lots of family places and cemeteries that I want to visit too.


We then had to leave and stopped at one last place,Valley Forge. My sisters and I were there 11 years ago and I was surprised at the improvements that have made since then. We drove the whole park and stopped and looked at all the sites, the cabins were made to hold 12-15 soldiers and each group of soldiers built their own. It was here in Valley Forge that the Continental Army truly became an Army and left with the strength and solidarity to carry on the war.
This is the railway station that my parents came to on my mom's 21st birthday and their first date.



I have a picture of them standing in front of this very cabin.

It was a very nostalgic time for me to think of my parents charming beginning to their lives together that led to me being here and to actually walk and stand where they once did!
What a wonderful Ramble this one was and it is only the beginning of the season!!

What a Great Friday!!

On Friday we had the priviledge of having Sister Julie B Beck, the General Relief Society President,in our area. She first came and spoke at the school and then spoke that night for a women's conference.
At school she spoke to the students and talked about the great value of coming to a small school. She mentioned the "wonderful thing" we are doing here and that the church needs alternative places for students to go since BYU and BYU Idaho have gotten so large and the church doesn't want to be putting more money into "brick and mortar" because the resources are needed for Temples. She gave very warm remarks about her time at Dixie College when they were much smaller and encouraged the students to cherish what they have here. She talked about missionary work, and the world around us and told them that they are the ones that will continue the preparations for the coming of the Savior.
She is such a warm and personable person.
At the women's meeting she took questions and then built her talk around those. One statement she made at the end was particularly impactful when she said that when we are prepared and not afraid, even as the world falls apart around us we can have the faith and courage to know that everything will be ok. She gave us wonderful insight into her own mother and the challenges that she faced and the influence that had on her. She spoke about the need for constant prayer and told us how after she has said her prayers at night that the prayer is still going on as she gets in bed and when she awakes in the morning it is still going on. She told us that the Lord sends her out to work through her to let us know what He wants us to know and to express His love for us. She came into the audience before the session and shook as many hands as she possibly could. When she bore her testimony of the Saviors feelings for us it was an amazingly strong feeling for me!
I am so grateful that I had this wonderful, once in a lifetime, opportunity!

Learning New Things

Yesterday was a great day because I was able to attend a writers workshop put on by Orson Scott Card here at the school. Later on in the summer he always does a week long workshop but I can't attend because of work. He decided to hold this one so that students could attend before they go home. He had Brandon Mull with him (wrote the famous Fablehaven Series!)and an editor and screenwriter so it was informational on many different types of writing. I love being here and having these opportunities! I don't want to write for publication, I just want my personal papers to be a little more interesting!
The lighting wasn't so great but at least I have some pictures! this one is the panel with Brandon Mull on the left and Orson Scott Card on the right.

Springtime in Virginia

It is springtime and Virginia is a wonderful place to be when that season occurs! I wanted to show you the some of the beauty and it is difficult to do it justice. Flowering trees grow wild in the woods and show their colors before the trees leaf out. Last week the flowering pear trees were in full white regallia and it really made the popcorn song come alive to me! I didn't get any pictures of those but I did take some of the "red bud" that is in bloom now. Although called "red" they are actually a brilliant purple and they are everywhere!!




The dogwood trees are just starting to bloom. This one is in our yard with the student Institute chapel in the background.

This is the Maury River that runs through Buena Vista. It is still very high from the rain we have had recently.

I love spring on both sides of this beautiful country!

Easter in BV

It appears that summer has already arrived in Virginia so what happened to Spring?? The flowers are quickly popping up out of the ground and on trees to try to catch up!
Last Friday the school had an Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn and Tommy and Jack were there for the fun!(it was 85 degrees)











We decided to have a family dinner on Sunday between conference sessions.(I'm still adjusting to the lateness of the sessions 12-2,4-6 and priesthood 8-10!). We failed to take any pictures but JJ was there and his friend Jordan,Emilie, Logan, Tommy and Jack and we ate outside in the 80 degree weather. A good time was had by all! Wasn't conference great?!