To continue on posting about our summer RoAd TrIp, I need to mention all the things we did in Nauvoo, Illinois! Driving back towards home was so much fun this time around because we had more to our group. The Abercrombie Clan was taking on the road with us. Oh, the games that we played on the walkie talkies together. The laughing so hard that you cry and need to use the bathroom scenario, the hilarious knock, knock jokes from all the kids even when the punch line was missed, comments on the scenery like, "Holy windmills Batman", or the try to guess the movie line trivia. It got really good when we tried to sing the theme songs to the movies as well.
The Abercrombies were traveling to Nauvoo because Joe's (Br-in-law) Mom owns a house there on Palmyra street and her and her husband Wilson were so nice to let us all stay and visit.
Joe had the days mapped out for us and a perfect plan. Visiting different stops all through out the day. We just wished the weather would have been on board for it as well. Not a cloud in sight for rain, or any bad winds, just lots and lots of heat!! HOT, HOT, HOT. It made us have a new appreciation for the pioneers who houses were not air conditioned like some of the renovated ones are now that we visited. Not only was it hot but very humid. So much so in fact that our oxen and horse carriage rides were cancelled due to the heat index. The kids, my 3 and the Abercrombie 5, only had a little time at the Pioneer Pastimes before they closed up shop. Which was for the best though because this is where the kids could dress up in pioneer clothes and play old time pioneer games, but with the heat the supervisors didn't want and kids getting heat stroke while playing in lots of clothes and running after big wagon rings.
Some of the great places we were able to go and enjoy were:
Brickyard * Brigham Young Home * Joseph and Hyrum Smith Memorial * Webb Brother's Blacksmith Shop * Lucy Mack Smith home * Joseph Smith home * Red Brick Store * Visitor's Center and of course the beautiful Nauvoo Temple
My boys loved seeing all the details of the Nauvoo Temple up close. Justin kept repeating, "Moon, stars, sun". It was great just being on the temple grounds and discussing with my children the importance of such buildings and what they mean to me personally. The hardship and trials that the early pioneers went through to make such magnificent temples is truly amazing to me. There is so much history in Nauvoo. It makes you want to research everything and get to know the stories and background of each building, landmark, and people who lived there. My beliefs are confirmed and my testimony stronger that there is purpose in all things and everything has its time and place here and under heaven. I am so glad I have the gospel and am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. It keeps me grounded, it keeps me strong.
Nauvoo Temple
Here is our clan enjoying the Frontier County Fair that they put on every night before the Nauvoo Pageant begins. Cast members from the pageant that are dress in full pioneer attire, which made me even hotter just by looking at them, helped visitors: play 1840's games, dance, sack race, rag braiding, hand cart pull, log sawing and much more. So fun to watch the kids giggle and play.
The Nauvoo Pageant was amazing! They have over 150 volunteer cast members who tell the story of Nauvoo, how it came to be, and what it meant to those who lived there in the 1840's. The pageant also pays tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith, commemorates the building of the original Nauvoo Temple, and celebrates universal themes of faith, family, and community. As the pageant's temple was being built, piece by piece, I loved the feeling that I had after it was completed and how the saints felt at that time. I was completely moved when towards the end of the pageant when the cast reenacted the time when the saints were driven out of the Nauvoo area and the temple prop was removed and the actual Nauvoo Temple was lite up on the hill for everyone, cast and audience, to gaze at. It was as if we were all saying goodbye to it as well in that moment in time.
Carthage Jail
Carthage Jail was the site of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum on June 27, 1844. Joseph and Hyrum, with two companions, were imprisoned here. A mob broke into the jail, shooting through the door, charging in and killed Hyrum and Joseph who was shot while falling out of the two story window. There is still a bullet lodged in the door today. Visiting the jail cell and the quarters in which the Prophet spent his lasts days is a very humbling experience. John Taylor, who was one of the two companions with the Prophet in jail said these words:
D&C 135:3
"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents: has sent the fullness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained to the four quarters of the earth, has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men: gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!
There was so many activities and stops made that my camera did not capture. My boys absolutely love their cousins and have non stop fun with them. We walked creeks looking for arrowheads and treasures. Visited the Dickson Mounds Museum. Talked, laughed, and cried when we had to part. Can't wait for another adventure like this one!!
Navy Pier.
Chicago Skyline
This was just a little squirt up water park but everyone sure had fun at it. Especially Justin, who usually likes watching Clay and Hayden get all wet, but this time he was soaked too!
