PA Adventure - Day 6

It was off to more cemeteries. This time we needed to see Nana's and put the "stolen cross" back on the tombstone. Apparently the cross was placed there and during a lawn mowing it got moved to the tombstone next to ours and so Aunt Barbara ripped it out of the ground and took it home until she could come back with hammer to place it where it belonged, but calling it stolen is much more funny. Nan, great Nan, great aunt pat and eventually great aunt Barbara will be buried in that location. Barbara prays every day to be taken. she doesn't want to live in this world any more. she doesn't like watching the deterioration. She is always saying "when I close my eyes..." i hope all my kids are going to church etc...

After we found that grave, we wanted to find Jo- who is Tobias's brother- but we were having a hard time. We decided to go ask at the office and the old man working there was very grumpy and said "I'm in sales." We just wanted a map and he said he was busy with an appointment. We decided to ask the grounds keepers because they might know where to look.  We asked if they could point us in the right direction and they were disappointed in the grumpy man who should have helped us. They went and got us a map. It was interesting to see them go immediately to where there had just been a grave side ceremony and plop the casket in the ground. They don't mess around. The people had literally just walked away. 

It was off to the next cemetery and the one where Tobias Sr and Helen Eck are buried at. Because Tobias served in WWI there was a veteran burial card with his section and lot number of where he was buried. Unfortunately there were no markings at the cemetery indicating where to start looking for section 1. We made some assumptions and divided up and started looking. It was really hot and muggy and the sun was beating down on us. We wandered and wandered. I kept saying "tell me where you are, lead me to you, please where are you?" Well, I kept feeling like I needed to go down into this other section. I felt really strongly about it, but while I was standing in the section I began reading the names on the tombstones and thinking that this particular area was a Jewish area and therefore could not be where Tobias Sr was. I couldn't figure out why I felt so strongly, but couldn't find anything. I wandered around for a bit, but told myself that I was being silly. I finally gave up and headed back for the car. It was then that it occurred to me that we should go and inquire at the tombstone store. My dad didn't think it would lead to anything and didn't want to check it out. Well, I've gotten really daring as of late and decided that it wouldn't hurt to ask. Armed with my ancestry app with the burial location card I stepped inside and waited for the lady behind the desk to finish her call. I asked if she knew the layout of the cemetery. She told me that if I had a location number, she had a map. Bingo! She pulled out the map and I gave her the information. Do you know where he was buried. Right where I gave up! I should have had faith in the feelings that I was having. Even Donna said, "that is right where you gave up, I saw you leave that area." There's lots of applications to apply that experience to in my life. Continuing on in faith when you've been guided by the spirit- not talking yourself out of promptings. 

It was so great to be able to share divine experiences with my family. To be able to testify that our ancestors are aware of us and that we are led and guided by the Spirit everyday. We don't have to be the same religion to share in those kind of experiences. Heavenly Father loves all of his children and reaches out and shows them he is there. 

We ended the day with Great Nan's famous potato pancakes. Making the pancakes is about a 2 hour process. You can eat them plain or put syrup on them- I prefer syrup. We also had some shoofly pie that was left over from our Amish roadside stand adventure. I was able to have the pancakes when I visited at the age of 12 and haven't had them again since. I also learned that you can make potato candy with your left over mashed potatoes that you make into patties and coat in flour and then deep fry. We didn't have time for potato boats, but that is something else I really loved the last time I visited. Funny story with the potato boats. I knew what was in them and it was stuff like onions and things that I knew I hated. I was grossed out by them, but they smelled delicious. I made a big stink about not wanting to try them and thinking that they were going to be gross. Somehow I was talked into trying them and then I discovered that I loved them. Thing was, I had a big ole pride problem even back at the age of 12 and I didn't want to admit it. Luckily my Great Nan saw right through me and said something about my pride not letting me enjoy the potatoes and that's all it took for me to laugh and admit that I loved them and shovel them down. 

After dinner we said our goodbyes to Chris and Mark since we wouldn't be seeing them again before we left the next day. It was so great the Chris didn't start work until the day we left. Divine timing. This last full day was one of the hardest for me because I kept thinking about how I didn't want to leave and wondering how I was going to go back home. I wanted so much to stay and be with my family all the time. We connected and got along so well. It was super easy and super fun and I wanted that in my life all the time. But, all the wishing won't stop reality and it was time to go back home.