Well day three was probably my favorite day! We drove into Nauvoo and it was so pretty because we had an ice storm the night before. It really froze EVERYTHING! We went to do some more sites. Kennady had been telling us that we could get a ring from the Blacksmith, a brick from the Brick yard and a cookie from the Bakery...so we all wanted to hit those pretty bad! Duh who wants to pass up FREE souvenirs? When we got there all the sites were closed due to the ice storm. DANG! So we drove to Parley's street...and all got out to walk down it. I can't explain the spirit I felt as we did this. I am sure we looked pretty crazy to all that saw us! The road was completely iced over and it was FREEZING.
I read some of the journal entrees as we walked down and the spirit just hit me...this is what they really went through, but they couldn't run back to the warm van when it got way too cold for them. They probably didn't even have as heavy as coats as we did. I think we were pretty lucky the sites were closed, because I don't think this was on the agenda! As we were getting toward the end the babies were crying and I looked back at the city and it really was a beautiful site.
I am so grateful for the Pioneers and the testimonies they had to leave their warm homes to travel across the plains. I can't find my sheet with all the quotes that are on the markers on Parley's street, but I do remember one that really hit me. A midwife said she delivered 7 babies that night! WHAT? I felt so humbled, they all really trusted in the lord with all their hearts. I was scared to have my baby in the hospital with drs and nurses surrounding me. Could you imagine leaving your home pregnant and you didn't know when you were going to have a home again? I know these people were amazing. I wish I had the other quotes, but that one I remember and it just made me realize they were normal people like us with kids and pregnant and they still followed the prophet. That was an awesome experience and I know I will always remember it! I was just trying to find the quotes on the trail of hope and I read something intresting. "In the concluding dedicatory session of the Nauvoo Temple, President Hinckley made a special request of all those who were then in Nauvoo. He asked everyone to take a few minutes to "walk down Parley Street to the waterfront," to the landing on the Mississippi River from which the Saints departed Nauvoo and crossed into Iowa on their westward trek. He asked members to leave behind the comfort of their air-conditioned cars, to walk along this sacred path and take time to read the plaques along the Trail of Hope." So we were doing as were suppose to I just didn't know a prophet had told us to!
Next we went to the LDS visiting center. It was decorated for Christmas and was so pretty. We watched a movie about Nauvoo then just looked at all the stuff they had there. Jason found a Brother Missionary to talk to and get all his questions answered. I love the Older Missionaries! They just have something about them that makes me feel so good I have a great love for them. I hope Jason and I can serve a mission when we are older and I think Nauvoo would be the perfect place! 
After the visiting center we ate lunch at this nice sandwich shop and then decided to do temple sessions. We were so lucky to be there with Joe and
Joe came and got us...he got pretty good at driving on pure ice! We got to hang out with the kids for a while when Joe and Andria went to the temple. We had fun played hid-n-seek in a HUGE house, ate cookies and watched a movie. I love all my little nieces, and Reddek was a good sport with all the girls. He LOVES Avery! I know this was a pretty uneventful day, but I felt the spirit so strong that it made it my favorite :)
9 comments:
Wow, sounds like you guys are having a great time. I would love to go back and see and experience all that you have done. What an amazing vacation! Have fun and keep the posts coming. I love to read them. Love ya
Wow, I want to go to Nauvoo so bad. I love to hear all of the pioneer stories and all that. Sounds like your having some amazing experiences.
Katie, it sounds like you should come help me learn more about the church and help me strenghtn my family to be better and do what is tight I was not raised in the church so my foundation I have taught my self and lets just say it is not as near as strong as yours! and I don't have time to read my scriptures everyday " because we blog" duh j/k but I just have a hard time doing it 1. b/c of the kids and 2. I just dont understand it and I would like to descuss what I just read with someone that know as much as someone like you. YOU ROCK KATIE...) Keep up the post they help me alot to be better.
Some of my best memories as a kid are of going to Nauvoo two or three times with my cousins. I remember the last time I was there, I was about fifteen and I looked at the tiny little temple replica they had by the temple site(which was bare at that time) and just crying at the thought of watching the temple burning down. When President Hinckley announced that it would be rebuilt, I cried again at that memory.
I haven't been back to Nauvoo since the temple was rebuilt, but you've reminded me that we need to make it a priority one of these summers! Thanks for the fun posts!
I would say I can't believe you came to Nauvoo in the winter because it's so cold, but then perhaps its smart...a LOT less people, and if you don't like heat, the summer would probably be worse than the winter. It was fun seeing you too! I was very surprised. It took me a while trying to figure out if it was really you.
Katie! I just finished the book Beloved Emma, and started Emma and Joseph their Divine Mission! I think you might really like to read them especially after a trip like that!! I am so jealous! I almost started crying seeing all your pictures!! I am soooo jealous you got to see all those awesome places! I am going to have to talk J into taking a little trip there! Looks like so much fun!
Oh and your picture of the temple is so pretty!
Wish we could have made it with you guys! your pics are awesome. Oh and we are missing from your friends and family list!!!! Hey we love you guys! we are just about ready to share our trek trip and movie with gene if your interested we will let you know when we come up.
That is so special. I think it makes it super real since you were there in the winter and could feel what it must have felt like even for a few minutes to walk on the ice, even if it was just on a road. They walked on the river iced over to begin their journey. That is crazy about the 7 babies.
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