This last week, my parents drove all the way from Corona, California to Baltimore, Maryland to come see me and Sam. If that doesn't deserve some type of parenting award, I don't know what does. We flew out to Akron, Ohio and met up with them for the last little leg of the trip. If you aren't familiar with Ohio (like I wasn't), Akron/Canton is where Lebron James is from and where the NFL Hall of Fame is. My dad and Sam are alike in a lot of ways, and one of the biggest similarities is their love for all things sports and history. So the Hall of Fame was the perfect place for the two of them.
They were like kids in a candy shop.
After Canton, we drove a short little ways up to Kirtland, Ohio to see some church sites. We started off with a tour of the temple and although the temple is not owned by the church and the tour was a little different then expected, the spirit felt inside the temple was so powerful. To be where the first latter-day saints were and to imagine Joseph Smith at the front of the room was an amazing experience. As was touring around where Joseph and Emma lived and learning about some of the most faithful saints in that time. Such a blessing to be there. I recommend it to all!
We finished up in Kirtland and made our way to Niagra Falls! Something I have always wanted to see. A highlight from that day was going onto the Maid of the Mist. (Just like Jim + Pam. Who Sam and I were for Halloween!) It was SO fun. You literally go right up to the falls and you have to yell to hear each other and you get soaked and can barely see when the wind picks up, but you just cannot beat that view!
Palmyra was the last stop on our road trip back to Baltimore and we came at the perfect time for the Hill Cumorah Pageant, which is another thing I would highly recommend seeing! But, my favorite part was being able to walk into the sacred grove and to be where Joseph was when the Father and the Son appeared to him and brought him the knowledge of the gospel. Many of our church leaders have said that our faith depends so deeply on whether or not Joseph saw them. Either he did, or he didn't. I know that he did and how grateful I am that I was able to be there and feel of the special spirit that lingers in those trees.
We finally made it back to Baltimore and were able to score some awesome seats at an Orioles game! My dad grew up loving Brooks Robinson and it was an item on his bucket list to watch a game at Camden Yards! So the perfect (belated) father's day gift came to mind! They played the Yankees and they have only lost to the Yankees once in that series and we unluckily were at that game. And if I hear another chant of "Der-ek Jet-er" in that annoying NY accent. I think I'll puke.
The next two days were spent at our nation's capitol which is about 45 minutes away from Baltimore. I had done DC already and Sam has done it half a dozen times, but I swear you could go back every year and still not see everything there is to see there. So much history and so much to read! We spent 4 hours in the Holocaust Museum alone! On the way home, we stopped by the DC Temple, which is so so gorgeous. Not as pretty as my San Diego Temple, but a close second.
We finished up our trip in the blue ridge mountains of West Virginia just relaxing, playing tennis, swimming, and playing lots and lots of Mexican Train. It was such a great vacation and I may have shed a tear or two when I said goodbye to my parents. We will see them in a little over a month but even if I say goodbye to any of my family members for even just 1 week, I always miss them.
So we are entering our last 6 weeks living in Maryland and in preparation for the few weddings I am shooting this year, we bought a DSLR, and we are excited to document this gorgeous state and our last few adventures on the east coast. At least for now. ;)
