Idaho adventure

I just want all to know that the Belnaps did catch at least one fish. This is Andrew's first fish caught on a fly that he tied, a black leach. As you can tell the weather was truly frightful on this cold day, not! Steve and Belnap Brothers wish you were here.
Cooper really enjoyed the Nelson's cabin with Grandpa and Grammy Belnap. Here he is getting in touch with the family totem pole. Way too much fun. What little boy needs more than forest and dirt and indian lore to be happy.
I think Mason and Cooper thought that grandpa should mow the carpet.

Ferre's on the good ship Lolly Pop, Grandpop that is.

Great room
We wanted tall ceilings so that our kids didn't feel like they were having to duck their heads. We also wanted it wide enough so that the kids could relax on sofas and not feel like they were bumping into each other. Do you think we got it?
Master bedroom - We are looking forward to having a closet and a bathroom. Funny what living without those things will make you appreciate. The tub and faucets are not in yet. Master bath - Dad was the major designer for the master bath. He did the configuration on graph paper and made a paper model, long before we started. He also picked the tile for the shower.

Master shower Bryant in his toy store with a bay and a half to spare.
Laundry room sink with lady in pink.

House up date. The hardwood floor guy's son broke and arm and needed surgery. So we sit in a house with 3 days work for a certificate of ocupancy but can't move in yet. Sometimes life just doesn't work out according to plans. But someday over the rainbow we'll be there I promise.
Downstairs bath for rec room
Kitchen complete with maid.
Big front door or tiny women one or the other.
Stairs to basement and fun room.

Saturday 6/2 I got the boat out for the first time. We went to Ririe Reservoir and found this nice quiet spot. To our surprise we looked up and saw a beaver swimming about 100" from the boat. Soon the over sized rodent was on the shore eating grass. I just can see these things as a hat but apparently that was quite the deal in the old days to have a beaver hat. Maybe it's good that people wore animals on their heads. Maybe they wouldn't have come out west as soon as they did without these little guys.

Yes, "Glinda the Good" was with me and seemed to enjoy a day away from the house (Nelson's) and the house (new). The new house is about 8 miles from black tail boat ramp. I think I'll use it more often. The old house was 17-18 miles away from the lake.

Based on journals and old pictures this is a reproduction of the farm house where Joseph Smith grew up and where he lived in 1820. Its hard to visualize a large family living in homes of this size. I came home and was feeling sorry for myself having to live in a 2000+ square foot basement for a few months and then thought about this house and kind of got a grip on reality. There is in fact a big difference between necessities and conveniences. Though the people of this people lived in poverty by our standards, they were happy.
After Joseph received the first vision he came home. He was leaning on the fireplace and his mother, Lucy, noticed that something was different about her son. She asked "what the matter was? He replied, Never mind, all is well - I am well enough off." And later he explained the events of the day to her. Andrew is in font of the fireplace.
I'm standing in the room where in vision the angel Moroni first visited Joseph Smith and informed him of his mission to collect the Gold Plates where on the Book of Mormon was written. What a marvelous opportunity on a location that was so pivotal to the history of the world and salvation of all mankind. I really is true!!!

On Sunday we were in Palmyra, New York, at the sacred grove. What a wonderful peaceful day that was to visit the place where Joseph Smith received the first vision. It was a special day for all of us to have a reaffirmation of the spirit of those certitudes of the restoration which we hold dear to us. Andrew is in the background having some alone time in the sacred grove.



In Palmyra there are four churches on opposite corners of the same street. They are Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopalian. Though these building were not present in 1820 these are the congregations that were involved in the revivalism in 1820 when the young boy Joseph was trying to find the truth about religion and went to the grove of trees by his farm house to pray. This helps me understand the strugglings of the boy, who the Lord set apart to restore his plan of happiness.

Statue to statue tour- Here we are at the top of Hill Cummorah under the statue of the angel Moroni and all the history that it represents for the restoration of the gospel and the history of the Belnap, Shirley, Nelson, and Thorton Families.

Then there is Andrew standing at the very foot of Liberty (statue that is) with all that it represents to the world and our personal freedoms.
Looks like two migrant workers at the base of the statue with Manhattan in the background.
Believe it or not the lady in pink is Glenda often confused with Glinda the good with of the north and between the flags is Andrew. They are in the Ellis Island immigrant processing center. I'm thankful they let our fore-fathers in the country.

Welcome to the Marriot in New York @ Time Square. From the 28th floor we could look right down on Time Square. We who are possessed of mild height anxiety disorder chose to stand back an inch or two from the window.
One of the highlights of the trip was going to "Wicked" at the Geschwin Theater. Stage sets were grand and the songs and script wonderful. We had the best seats in the house, center stage last row or the balcony.
Hotel view at night, who has to go outside with a window looking out like this. Thank you!

Waiting in line was an exercise in patience. Here at battery park waiting for the Statue of Liberty, then security for the statue of liberty. Well over an hour in line. At the Empire state building it was much worse. Were I to do that aqain I find out when they opened the door for ticket sales and be there 30 min early. The line was light when we went and we waited for the Empire State building at least 90 min.