Combined Post – Kirtland OH

By Will: On our first day in Kirtland, we arrived at the campground at about 3:00. Liz, Colin, James, and Baby Liam arrived at our trailer at about 4:30. We then bounced on a giant pillow for about half an hour,

and then ate a yummy dinner of sweet and sour chicken. After dinner, Colin, Myra and I went swimming in a pond with some obstacles similar to a Wibit. After swimming, Colin and the rest went back to their Airbnb and we headed to bed. On Tuesday, we had a lazy morning and took Liz’s kids out to play at the playground. At about 1:00, we packed up and went to the John Johnson farm and house to receive a tour. The tour was very immersive, and the guide knew a lot about the area and had a strong testimony. After saying goodbye to the guide, we drove one hour to see the Kirtland temple with the Carters. The missionaries there told us all about the history and building of the temple. Some parts of the temple were original, and it was cool to see how the temple came to be.

After the temple tour, we went to the Joseph and Emma Smith homes, where we also learned more about the saints’ time in Kirtland, as well as some crazy stories of people who came to the house to learn more about the church. For dinner that day, we ate at a restaurant called Down the Block. My sandwich was very good aside from the fact that there were tomatoes on it. After dinner, we went back to the campground and swam in the pond some more with the Carters. By 8:00 PM, it was time to say goodbye, so we did, and went to bed. That was all that went down in Kirtland. Next: Dearborn, MI. Overall Rating: 9.1/10

By Tamsin: We only got a short stay in the Kirtland, Ohio area.  The campground was great for kids with a giant jumping pillow, a pool, and a pond with giant floating Wibit-like features.  It started to rain when we got there and Myra & Will had a great time playing on the jumping pillow in the rain.  Liz, Colin and the little boys arrived about an hour after we did.  James headed to jump with Zina on the pillow and the older kids disappeared.  A little later I found them in the pond playing on the inflatable features (not too happy they didn’t tell me what they were doing.)  I fed the crowd sweet & sour chicken and rice.  Zina finally got her way and we made her cake mix.  I frosted it and we had ice cream and cake for dessert.  The kids played more after dinner before Liz took the three boys to their AirBnB.

Tuesday I got up early to work since it was month end AND a board meeting day.  Liz & Co arrived for breakfast and to play for the morning before we headed out to the John & Elsa Johnson Farm.  Will’s blog will have the best report of that visit as I had to stay in the truck while I was connected to the Board meeting.  From there we raced to the Kirtland Temple to join the Carter’s, friends from our ward back home, for the 3:30pm tour.  Luckily the parking lot was right by where we needed to meet and we made it.  I was so excited to see Heather as she has been my early morning walking partner for the last 5 years!  And, her kids are good friends with my kids, her oldest daughter babysat them a lot.  I am always awed by the sacrifice of those early saints in building that temple and so grateful that it still stands as a monument to them.  The last time I took the tour it was not in the hands of our church.  I really enjoyed the tour given by the sisters.  When they spoke of the dedication they had us sing the Spirit of God.  I hope they appreciated the special singing talent in our group!  It was so fun to be with the Carter’s!  And, one of the sisters giving the tour is heading to the Spokane Washington Mission at the end of the summer!  After the temple we went to Joseph & Emma Smith’s home in Kirtland for another great tour.  We learned that Joseph’s paternal Grandmother travelled to Kirtland at age 93 and is buried in the nearby cemetery.  She told Joseph she wanted to be baptized but she passed away before that could take place.  

After our tours we headed to a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant recommended by some friends of the Carter’s.  The food was excellent though their seating area was quite toasty.  Then everyone headed to our campground to play.  I believe a fun time was had by all until we had to break the party up when it got dark.  Heather and Liz went to the pool, The teens went to the pond, and the little guys back to the jumping pillow.  I really enjoyed watching Heather, a trained pre-school teacher, work with James.  She is a master!  I need more lessons!