We had and amazing fall break! We took the kids out of school a few days early before fall break -- mainly because we were DRIVING to Illinois. My brother Doug and his wife Karen live east of Nauvoo about 3 hours. My siblings and mom had planned a siblings reunion there. Doug and Karen were fantastic hosts! It was a VERY long drive to get there but was totally worth it. We were determined to get there in one day - and we did. I learned a valuable lesson in that even though you have a GPS to get you places --ALWAYS take an atlas like the good ol' days!! When you think you know exactly where you are going and turn off the GPS to listen to the MP3 player that it also is - there can be trouble. We went a but too far on one highway and didnt turn where we were supposed to. OK - I admit -- Todd was a sleep and I was driving and took the wrong turn ......Anyhow.....
About and hour into the trip the kids asked where the DVD earphones were. Hmm maybe back in the garage??? We had 10+ movies but no earphones. It still worked, however everyone had to listen to the movies - thus, I was listening to the MP3 player!!
We go there late - very late on Wed night and they graciously waited up for us. My sister Suzy and her husband Chuck had arrived a few hours earlier. My mom had already arrived a few weeks before. We got some good sleep and then the next day prepared for Jay, my oldest brother and his wife Marian to arrive. Unfortunately, we had a few missing - my brother Ralph and his wife Teresa. Teresa's brother had just lost his battle with cancer and they were at the funeral. We MISSED you so much and were thinking of you!!
Thursday we also got to visit Doug's dental lab. He is a tech there and it is amazing to see his work and the process involved! They have a small lake a few miles away so we had a great walk and enjoyed the beautiful colors. Unfortunately, it was too cold to sail but we did all get to ride Doug's motorcycle!! The kids LOVED that! We went bowling together and had a pie making contest that the kids judged. Gma took first in looks and taste for her famous lemon merengue. Todd and I were close second with the a simple pumpkin - just because we knew they love that. I managed to do a crust although I will admit I need more practice. There was also an amazing apple pie. I kept trying to sneak away t o the grocery store but they wouldnt allow it!
Karen had also organized a service project where we prepared and sewed Christmas stockings for the military troops and we wrote letters to put in them. We ate a lot of great food and visited and played games. My brother Jay gave us a great presentation about our family heritage. I find that as I am getting older those sort of disscussions are much more meaningful. It was very interesting! Thanks Jay! We were also able to see 3 of Dougs kids and their families which was a treat. David, Michelle and Nathan. Doug and Nathan played their guitars for us. It has been so good for us to be better in touch with my family!
On Sunday morning we followed Chuck, Suzy and my mom to Nauvoo. I must say that we were all excited to see the Mississippi River and later to get out and touch the water. Before we even checked into the motel we went to the visitors center to check things out. We went to many of the Old Nauvoo presentations and displays that the senior missionaries do. The blacksmith, the gun shop, the Family Living Ctr - with ropemaking, candle making, breadmaking, pottery and more, the brickmaking shop, historical homes and Joseph Smith's Red Brick store and of course the temple grounds. It was all so amazing!! The next day we took a wagon ride and a carriage ride around, went the the gardens with the women's statues and went to the play, Rendevous. The play was so fun! We decided that the senior couples must just have a great time serving there as well as doing that play. The town was not crowded at all so we were blessed to see as much as we could as fast as we did.
Our last morning in Nauvoo Todd, Brandon and I had the opprotunity to do some temple work - baptisms - It was very special to be there with Brandon. He has done work before in our home temple with the youth but I have never gone with him. It was extra special because we were doing family file names that Todd's parents have been working on. It was a neat experience to part of the inside of the temple. The font is the biggest of any temple the exact dimentions of the first one.
We also had time to shop, swim a bit, get ice cream and have a catfish lunch. On the way to Missouri we stoppped at Carthage jail. What a sacred place. The kids had just been learning some of this very church history in their church classes so it was very meaningful to tham as well as Todd and me.
We met up with Chuck, Suzy and mom again in Missouri at my Uncle Dale and Aunt Mary Jo's Bed and Breakfast in Jameson - a mile from Adam Ondi Ahman. Their place is on farm land with several fishing ponds. The kids were thrilled!! It was so beautiful there and it was fun for me to take some cool pictures. Christen finally caught her first fish and we came home with 12 all together!! Bass, Croppy and Catfish. It was nice to visit and relax there and see my cousin Teresa and her family too. I would highly reccommend their place to stay if you are travelling through!
Their Bed and Breakast link is : http://marydale.com/ Check it out!!
While we were there we also were able to see Jamesport - the largest Amish settlement west of the Mississippi. That was a fun experience to learn more about their culture. On the way home we stopped off at Libery Jail. It was amazing to be there and to read the sections in the D&C after of that place and all of what we had visited.
It was an incredible trip for out family! We felt very blessed.
