Tuesday My parents, Heather, and Travis and their families arrived. Ashley and I came on Wednesday. Ashley and I shared a log cabin and everyone else stayed in the lodge log cabin. They were so nice. We had so much fun just visiting and cooking meals together. The kids ran back and forth between cabins.
Wednesday night we ate dinner together and then my parents shared a spiritual message about their favorite things in life. Heavenly Father, the Gospel, and family are on the top of their list. Then my mom made us all matching red shirts that say Hammer's choose the right with a jersey to be on the Lord's side and Nauvoo. She spent a lot of time making them. She was so happy for us all to wear them in public.
Thursday morning Ashley, Taylor, Andy and I took the young grandchildren on a carriage ride around Nauvoo. Then we went to the pioneer past times where the kids played with dress up clothes and little houses. The men went to the Gun Smith, and printing shop. We also went to the brick building. We then went to the Community of Christ to see the Joseph Smith homes. It was definitely a different spirit there. We also watched a movie at their Visitor's Center. It was nothing like what the church would do. The girl that took us on our tour was raised LDS in American Fork, Utah and then left the church to become Unitarian. She works and lives in Nauvoo at the Community of Christ (now Reorganized church). It was so strange. She was such a cute girl. Next we went to the Family Living Center where we learned how to make a rope. They showed us how they would have made candles and homemade bread.
Then we headed over to Carthage to have a tour of the jail and for the commemoration of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. They had a band playing, and the BYU a cappella group sing. Thursday was the only hot and humid day we had. Of course since we were on vacation Andy had to get sick and start throwing up. We have never missed a vacation were he hasn't gotten sick. Andy had never been to Nauvoo and so it was disappointing for him to miss out on seeing the Carthage jail. Thank goodness it only lasted 12 hours. He was fine the next day, but then it went through all the grandchildren, but ours. We felt bad that we passed it along.
Early Friday morning we took family pictures. The weather was perfect. It was 75-80 degrees everyday. It was awesome. No bugs either. Friday afternoon we went to see a musical called Anna Amanda. It was really cute. Next we went and saw another musical at the Visitor's Center put on by performers who had to try out, but then were set apart as missionaries once they arrived in Nauvoo. Friday night the kids got to decorate hats for the parade before Sunset on the Mississippi. The senior missionaries performed there with the same young performer missionaries.
Saturday morning we did our 1 mile trek. It was perfect weather. Couldn't believe it was 75 in Nauvoo. The trek was my favorite activity we did in Nauvoo. Dallin and Sydney rode in the wagon. Dallin cried the entire time because he wanted Andy to hold him. Dallin is obsessed with Andy. It is ridiculous how much. Andy was pulling the handcart by himself while I pushed. It was fun working together and it was a spiritual experience to think about the pioneers who crossed the plains. The senior missionary working at the trek site told some stories about what happened to some of the families along the way to Salt Lake. They had to endure so much. I am so thankful for them. After the trek we went to the blacksmith. The kids got iron rings made for them. Saturday afternoon my parents watched all the kids so all of us adults could go to the temple. It was so beautiful. I went to the open house back in 2002. I remembered seeing a lot of it. The temple displayed some need artifacts from the early Nauvoo temple. Such a peaceful experience to share with Andy and, my siblings. Saturday night a few of us went to see the a cappella group from BYU; Vocal Point. It was awesome.
Sunday morning we attended sacrament meeting, and then went to the Brigham Young home. We met a special senior missionary. She made the Brigham Young home my next favorite thing to see. She was great with the kids. She kept them entertained. She told us she was a convert. She joined the church when she was 21. At age 19 she was homeless. She decided to join the army and met a young man who didn't swear, or drink. She thought that was very special. She got to know him and they were married. She joined after they were married. Her other siblings were homeless too. They are drug addicts today. Their lives are very different from each other. It was a great story to hear. We drove home that afternoon. My parents and Heather stayed one more day. We had a great time being together in Nauvoo. The spirit was so strong and the weather made the trip so worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment