when we moved here, we were excited to be so close to so many historic places, and swore we would take weekend trips to see some of them. this is the first time we've ever gone to Nauvoo, and we met Eric's brother John and his wife Tina and their kids.
we had so much fun! we realized when we got there that we had only had to stop once on the 7 hour trip, thanks to the fact that we no longer have any babies! Yay! no diapers or car sickness or feedings! it was great! and thanks to movies, pretty uneventful.
the weather was cold. i thought it would be perfect, seeing as how it was the second weekend in may, but it was in the low 50s and windy. brr. and i had a touch of the flu on the way out and that evening, but thank goodness, no gross stuff. just a fever and tummy ache.
what an amazing place! it's hard to believe that the early saints built it and then left it in a manner of a few years. at one time it was the second largest city in the state, after Chicago.
its so fun how they have these cute missionary couples running everything. we made rope, saw demonstrations on candle-dipping, weaving, barrel-making (did you know that Joseph Smith, Sr. was a cooper - made barrels), baking (got a sample!), brick-making, wagon-building, horseshoe making, gun-smithing. all taught by these wonderful senior missionaries. i think it would be a fun place to serve a mission, but Eric says no, and here's why.
thursday evening we got to see a show - "Rendezvous" - which is put on by the missionaries. the senior missionaries. it tells the story of old nauvoo in song and acting. a little cheesy (to quote a song, "willingly, because we have to") but fun and well done. and EVERY missionary participates. even if they don't do that sort of thing. so, Eric's hoping that when the time comes, his mandarin chinese fluency will get us sent somewhere else.
the temple was amazing. i can't believe the hard work it must have been for the early saints to build the original, only to have to leave as soon as it was done.
we saw Joseph and Emma's home, their store, and many other buildings. we walked down Parley Street to the river, which is where the wagons lined up, waiting for their turn to get on the ferry and go to Iowa. it was cold, but the saints left in February in zero degrees, without enough food, clothes, etc. to make it through the winter, let alone across the plains to salt lake they had had to leave their homes so many times before. i'm sure it took a tremendous amount of faith to leave everything and start over again.
we stopped at the Carthage jail on our way back, but it was closed so the missionaries could attend church. we'll go back this summer to see it.
our weekend in Nauvoo was a much needed spiritual boost - i'm so thankful for the sacrifices those early saints made.
these are not my pictures - i forgot my camera. i found them on the internet.
4 comments:
i would love to see eric performing as a little old missionary man in a pioneer skit - the thought of it just warms my heart ;)
Did you see the Footes? They are serving there in the temple.
I think eric would be an awesome performer maybe he could get up and do a play by play of "Rub-Rub"!
I am glad you guys had fun, we missed you!
Aw, Rub-Rub. I'm picturing Eric in some pioneer britches singin' and dancin' away now.
We told the Foote's we were going to try and get out there this summer before their mission ended, but I guess we lied. So, thanks for sharing this. I got chills reading all about it. So grateful!
I also was going to ask if you saw the Footes. What a fun trip! Visit these places while you can... never know where you might end up in the future ;)
Love you! Miss you!
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