Trekking it Home

One of the favorite activities we participated in during our week together was a little handcart trek.  It was a self-directed course and we were given a map to follow.  By way of caution, the senior sister missionary told us about several groups that had recently gotten lost.  How difficult could it be?

Aaron started out helping me pull Quinn and Elsie but then Tanner jumped in so Aaron could help elsewhere (and take pictures).

Jameson and Jantzen had everything under control.

So did Garrett and Breanna.

At least, until they hit this tricky spot.

Brinley and Anna worked well together but neither cared for the manure covered portions of the trek.

After helping each other through a low-flow river and up a muddy hill, we decided to rest for a few minutes.

Bryant with the map.  Uh-oh.  Trouble ahead.

Elsie in cart, Tanner, Quinn in cart, Brinley

We weren't completely lost.  Just a little bit lost.  After exploring our options, we managed to get to a paved road and found our way back to "base camp". 
  Clearly, the maps needed a little adjusting!

It was warm enough that most of us didn't mind the rain that decided to fall while we were "trekking".

Quinn tried using Brinley's jacket as an umbrella.

At the end of the pull, we parked the handcarts back in Iowa City.

A little wet, a little muddy, a little smelly.  Ah, lots of fun!

Early Thursday morning, Aaron, Bryant, Bonnie and I were able to return to the Nauvoo Temple with a few family names that needed work to be done.  It was a sweet surprise to have a couple serving from our home stake be officiators at the same time we were there.  We also met and talked with the Temple Matron - the mother of one of Aaron's favorite missionary buddies and owner of the Temple View RV in St. George where G-pa LaVerne spends his winters.  Always a small world in Nauvoo!

That afternoon we visited the tinsmith shop, gun shop, blacksmith shop, John Taylor's home, Brigham Young's home and so forth.  Love the old stuff!

Bonnie and I prepared most of our meals from food purchased at a grocery store - and for good reason.  Even if eating out weren't costly, there are very few dining options in the area.  For our final evening in town, we splurged for the buffet dinner at the Nauvoo Hotel. 

After getting our fill, we headed for the outdoor theatre for two evening performances.

Elsie and Quinn - in the kids' craft corner making hats.

Elsie with a few YPM's.

Before the evening performance of "Sunset on the Mississippi", there was a children's parade.

It was very patriotic and the kids had fun.

Not sure how Anna and Lillian ended up on stage?

These two cousins were inseparable and had a fabulous time together!

Brinley - telling stories before the show started.

Wow - check out the mystery man photo bomber!

Tanner and Breanna

Let's try that one again...

Along with "Sunset on the Mississippi", we really enjoyed watching the BYU-sponsored "Living Legends" perform.  The costumes and dances from the Polynesian, American Indian and South American cultures were so vibrant and exciting.

Elsie posed with a few dancers afterwards.

And a few of the YPM's too!  They were so fun/ny.

Next morning we packed up and prepared to hit the road.

We put this "modern" kitchen to good use.

The home we rented slept 15 people comfortably.  There were two master bedroom suites and plenty of beds and bathrooms.  The arrangements couldn't have been better.

The simple style and decor perfectly reflected the time period we immersed ourselves in for a few days.  It was very lovely.

Good-bye 40 Kimball Street!  We enjoyed our stay.

A final drive by this magnificent temple.

And a quick stop at the General Mercantile for a last souvenir item.

Our three beautiful daughters!

Mississippi River

Homeward bound.

We were making good time - in the wrong direction.  

There is a difference between Jamesport and Jamestown when using GPS.  Bryant retired/got fired from his navigational duties:).

Jamesport is Amish country.

I snapped this shot from inside the car forgetting Amish don't allow picture-taking.
 Perhaps they were Mennonites.

We met a resident in the local market place (for a potty stop, of course) that noticed our license plates and first spotted Anna and Elsie.  She later told us she was 100% certain our girls belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because of the way they were dressed and how they acted in public, etc.  She introduced herself to us as a member in a small branch in the area and shared her conversion story of how she moved from Switzerland to America because she had to "save" her sister from the Mormons.  Well, it didn't take her long to realize the truth of it all and she and her mother decided to be baptized.  The flame of testimony continues to burn within this sweet little lady and she enjoys living among the Amish and the Mennonites as they share a wonderful relationship with each other.  We learned a lot about the different groups in the region as we talked with our Swiss friend.
 
 The weather was absolutely perfect for our visit to Adam-Ondi-Ahman.

Garrett, Breanna, Jameson, Tanner, Brinley

We drove around to a few different "look-out" points and enjoyed the amazing scenery.

Definitely a peace that surpasses all understanding felt in this place.

The quiet time Aaron spent here was a highlight for him during this vacation.

Aaron, Anna, Lillian, Bennett, Quinn

Breanna, Tanner, Garrett

On to the Liberty Jail Visitor's Center where we enjoyed a personal tour by a senior elder yet again.

 This replica of the Liberty Jail was built in the exact location of the original building with the Visitor's Center built to literally house the jail.  Some of the stones used are also originals.

The dark and dreary conditions were endured by Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon (released in Feb.), Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae and Caleb Baldwin from December 1838 - April 1839.  No bedding was provided, food was scarce, brutal winter weather, and the ceiling measured near 6 ft. so the men literally could not stand erect for nearly five months.

It was here that Joseph Smith received the revelations now found in D&C 121-123.

We stayed the night in Independence, MO (dinner at Chick-Fil-A) and parted ways in the morning.  Our family had a few extra hours of travel and Bryant and Bonnie wanted to drive through some of Breanna's mission (she leaves Aug. 20 for Wichita Kansas Mission).  It was absolutely fantastic to travel with them - so grateful we were able to coordinate our efforts!

Wind and heat in Kansas with tornado warnings on the way.  Bonnie and Bryant watched one.  We missed them but passed through a golf-ball sized hail storm just outside of Denver, CO where we stopped for dinner Saturday evening before arriving in Laramie, WY later on.

Funny - the "Colorful Colorado" state sign was the least colorful of all the signs we saw.

This was the longest road trip we've ever taken as a family so I was not sure how the travel would be with the eight of us sandwiched into our Yukon.  The car topper helped as did all my planning:).  The kids did quite well and I'm very grateful for that!

Aaron drove every. single. mile.

It's not that Tanner and I couldn't, it's just that we didn't.  Crazy, I know.

Only roadkill we were responsible for.

  Sorry little birdie!

Sunday morning the kids brought Aaron an awesome continental breakfast in bed.  

Easiest clean-up we've ever had on Father's Day.

We drove until Rock Springs, WY where we attended a random sacrament meeting en route.

It's tradition for me to take a picture of Aaron with all of the children each Father's Day so I lined them up outside the church building before we hopped back into the car.

Beautiful country.

At this point in our Sunday drive, we were happy to see this sign.

Like a horse to the stable, we were ready to be home.

After arriving home at 7:30pm, Aaron and I stopped by to wish Bob a Happy Father's Day.  Meanwhile, the kids wrapped a few gifts and prepared a little surprise for their own awesome father.

And like my own awesome Dad always says, "It's good to go and it's good to be home."

We enjoyed our experiences and made forever memories together!