Visiting Beautiful Nauvoo – Part 3 of 4

Monday morning we checked the girls in to EFY, and dad and Bonnie led my family and Natalie on a tour to Carthage Jail. This was, of course, another highlight of the trip. I found again and again that it was quite surreal being at these actual sites that had become almost legend in my mind, having heard about them all my life. I'm grateful my family could experience Carthage and that my teens now personally know the place where the Prophet Joseph Smith spent his final days.

Bonnie, Dad, Natalie, Eliah, and Daryl at Carthage Jail Visitor's Center Theater.

The second-story window from which Joseph Smith fell to his death after being ambushed and shot by an angry mob.

Throughout the rest of the week, dad and Bonnie worked their temple shifts and met up with us when they could for more shows and tours. It was fun to run into Meili and Abbie's EFY groups almost on a daily basis. The general size of historic Nauvoo is small, so this was inevitable. A really special day was the one we spent in the Nauvoo Temple. Dad arranged for us to be there while he and Bonnie worked in the baptistry. Daryl was able to really help out, performing confirmations and baptisms, and Eliah and I both were able to be baptized for family members on my mom's side. Natalie had done an earlier endowment session but was there also to watch and support us. Afterward dad and Bonnie showed us some unique and beautiful features of this temple.

Another noteworthy excursion was on the afternoon we four (Nat, Daryl, Eliah, and I) decided to drive the surrounding areas outside historic Nauvoo. Without even a site map, we kind of stumbled upon the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds. After a short hike up a wooded hill and through a cobweb-filled wooden pavilion, we found the most enchanted, sacred spot. All of Nauvoo feels apart from the world, but this peaceful sanctuary felt completely isolated and protected. We walked quietly among the weather-worn tombstones and statues. This was, without a doubt, my favorite site. I must have been so caught up that I forgot to take a single picture. Here's one I found online:

Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds

Visiting Beautiful Nauvoo – Part 2 of 4

Late Friday afternoon Meili and I arrived in Nauvoo. We met up with dad and Bonnie in their home on Parley Street. What a unique opportunity to live right in the center of such important, historic sites. I felt immediately at home, though back in time. Bonnie fed us a scrumptious meal right away. (We were starving, and it was so nice to not be in charge of the trip anymore.) After dinner, we went straight over to the pageant.

As expected, the pageant was a moving story of faith, tragedy, and hope, very well acted. It was so worth seeing, especially when they bathe the temple in light. The stage is perfectly positioned so that in that moment, in the darkness, you look up the hill and see the beautiful sight. Quite a spectacle. I wish I could go every year.

Dad got us up early the next morning for a special pageant event on the Trail of Hope. This section of Parley Street honors the memory of the exodus from Nauvoo with signs bearing quotes from those who left their beautiful city. At any time, you can walk down the street toward the river and read these signs. This particular morning, actors from the pageant lined the street and, in character, told experiences of real saints who left their homes, walked this trail, then crossed the cold river as they began their long journey west.

Dad and Bonnie had temple work to do at this point, so Meili and I spent the next few hours wandering around our temporary home, seeing the sites and taking advantage of the last day of special pageant events around Nauvoo.

A short program in the Seventies Hall. "Go Ye Out into the World."

Later, we met dad and Bonnie at the Nauvoo Visitor's Center for the show "High Hopes and Riverboats," which we all really enjoyed and which featured the amazing young performing missionaries. And that night we all gathered at the outdoor stage to watch "Sunset on the Mississippi," a nightly show put on by the site missionaries and young performing missionaries. We loved this!

Sunday morning we attended church with dad and Bonnie. The neat thing about this was observing all the missionaries, young and old, in a traditional Sacrament meeting, wearing modern clothes; whereas the night before everyone had been in period costumes. Seeing especially the young missionaries singing the hymns and preparing and passing the sacrament was heart-warming and faith-affirming.

Around noon we had another delicious meal (thanks, Bonnie!). Meili and I took a relaxing walk around the Smith family sites, which are literally just around the corner from dad's home.

Meili near the Smith family cemetery, where Joseph, Emma and Hyrum Smith are buried.

A little later, my dad and I left for St. Louis to fetch Natalie and Abbie from the airport. Once we got them, we all had a fun, lively drive back to Nauvoo. On the way, we planned our next trip to the Midwest. It'll be to Mansfield, Missouri, home of the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum. (Try finding that on a map!) After a late evening return to Parley Street, my husband Daryl and son Eliah surprised us by calling from our hotel. I hadn't expected them until the next night. A fun week for everyone was about to begin.

Visiting Beautiful Nauvoo – Part 1 of 4

Meili and Abbie both registered to attend a special session of Especially For Youth in Nauvoo after we knew grandpa would be there. All summer we planned our trip, making physical preparations as well as studying early Church history. Meili even had an opportunity to participate in our stake's youth pioneer trek. She was better prepared than any of us, actually, to appreciate the faith, rigors and sacrifices of the early Saints.

Following is a detailed description of our journey, told in four parts, in hopes that it might help inspire other family members and friends to make their own trek to Nauvoo.

Meili and I flew out ahead of Daryl and Eliah (who drove a couple days later) in order to get Meili to EFY on time and also to have a chance to see the Nauvoo pageant before it ended. On our way out of St. Louis, we stopped to tour the Gateway Arch, which, for your information, is the tallest national monument in the United States.

Against all bets to the contrary, I stepped into the pod and rode to the top of this 630-foot structure, peered out the teeny, tiny windows, then promptly took the next tram down. I actually loved it, but it was almost too amazing. You know? 

The drive from St. Louis to Nauvoo takes you right through the city of Hannibal, Missouri, boyhood home of Mark Twain. There we stopped to tour the home, museum, and other significant sites. We even got to paint Tom Sawyer's fence.

I can't say enough about the Mississippi River. It was a continual and steady presence our entire trip, from the Gateway Riverfront to the edge of Parley Street in Nauvoo and most destinations in between. It is so impressive at nearly a mile across. Crossing it is quite an adventure; it feels so unnaturally wide. As my sister Natalie said the following week, we in the West think our rivers are pretty cool, but really there is no comparison. The Mississippi is mighty indeed.

I had my mapquest directions, but dad told me to go a different way, and I was so glad I took his advice. The drive in on the Great River Road that late afternoon was breathtaking. As much as I came to love Nauvoo, I took advantage of any reason to leave the city that way in order to drive along the edge of the Mississippi.

View of the Mississippi from the Great River Road.

Cooking with Ana

For her birthday, Ana received this from Aunt Natalie:

I finally made time to help her prepare a recipe during trek/EFY week for Mei and Ya. Daryl also happened to be gone on business, so it was just the two of us. Ana chose a classic pasta dish.

She gathered all the ingredients and formed the meatballs. . .

Then dropped them into the sauce. . .

and prepared to sample the finished dish.

She took a nice big bite!

Lincoln and Scout were Ana's special guests for dinner. They tried it too:

This was a delicious recipe. Can't wait to try the rest. Thanks, Nat, for a great gift that the whole family is enjoying!

Stake Handcart Trek

Meili participated in our stake's pioneer trek last month. For several days, she "walked and walked and walked and walked." We met up with the tired but happy group at the final stop, where there was a short program. I'm so proud of her for being determined to do this, and I'm very proud of myself for helping her get her clothes ready.

Jessica and Meili counting down the minutes before leaving.

Posing in the traditional manner.

Meeting her company.

What is it about pioneer dresses that make them look so sweet?

Last pose before I said goodbye.

coming in four days later.

Her "family"

Her "ma" and "pa" (the Blacketts)

With "sister" Kelsie

Eliah spent the week with Ben at EFY in Provo.

He had the nerve to complain about the quarter-mile walk from the car to this meeting area.

Ana gets a lift.

Back with her real family and headed home for a long shower.

Driveway Drawings

Robynn drove back to Utah right after we did, so the boys could go to EFY together. Brooke, Scout & Ana hung out for a while at our place. Cute cousins! Brooke makes us all laugh.

3 Weeks in California

We spent some real quality time with cousins this trip. What a blast! Thanks, Nat and Robynn, for taking such great care of us and for having such awesome pools. I didn't get tons of pictures 'cause I wanted to relax too, but here are a few.

Ya in his very favorite happy place:

Ana, Emily, and Brooke striking a pose before diving.

Jake doing his "Crazy Eyes."

Meili saving the baby birds on Grandpa's back porch. That was an ordeal!

Reconnecting with my Tami & Wendy, my BFFF's (Best Freakin' Friends Forever) at--where else? Leatherby's! We brought our kids and had just the best time laughing over all the memories and great pictures Wendy brought. Everything about the 80s was awesome, but these gals made that time extra memorable for me.

Meili and Abbie came to see the triplets they connected with years ago. They used to call the two of them "Abbilee." Still works, I think.

Only shot I got of Dylan, Kelsey, and Callie. Can't believe they're 10! We just love 'em.

Ana LOVED her clown sundae. I think she was the baby of this group. As always, though, she fit right in.

Eliah and Ben making a polite appearance before heading out to the car to listen to the radio. Typical.

Tami with her sweet daughter Coral. It was so great to get to know her better. This was a great day. Thanks for more memories!

Last shot of the trip: Most of the cousins watching "Hairspray" at Dave & Robynn's. All happily bonded.