Our Trip Home

Unfortunately, the time for us to come home came and despite the many pleas of our children we headed home.  We had countless bathroom stops on this trip.  It got to the point that we had to just laugh or we would have screamed.  Everyone would get out to go to the bathroom and within 30 minutes, often less than that, a cry from the back of the bus would alert us to a dire emergency of someone having to go to the bathroom again.  Oh, the joys of traveling!  We did make a half hour detour so we could see the Chicago temple.  It is beautiful and our children were surprised that the temple walls had a grey color to them and not all white.  After walking around the grounds for a short time we drove the rest of the way home.  I'm grateful for the opportunities our children have had this week to feel the sweet spirit found on temple grounds. 

Final Day in Nauvoo

We started early on Friday morning visiting some of the outdoor places that we had not yet been to and that did not require a tour. We visited the quarry for the original temple rock.  Then we went to the Pioneer Memorial.  This is at the end of the Trail of Hope near where the Saints crossed the Mississippi River on their exodus out of Nauvoo.  This is a memorial with over 2,000 names of Saints that were known to have died on the trek west to the Salt Lake Valley.  We found 2 family names on the wall.  The name of John Worsley, my paternal 4th Great Grandfather who died in Missouri.  We also found the name of Julia Hills Johnson.  This is the mother of Joel Hills Johnson, a great grandfather of Joel whom he is named after.  This brought such an overwhelming feeling of gratitude to us. We also found the names of other ancestors of ours that were in Nauvoo and made the exodus west.  I can't find the words to describe the wave of emotion that overcame us as we thought of the legacy our ancestors have given to us.  We were walking on the grounds they walked on as they so valiantly and courageously left all they had to follow the council of the prophet.  As we drove down the trail of hope with our children we talked to them about why the Saints left Nauvoo...that it all came down to the fact that they left because the Prophet asked them to.  We looked back at the beautiful temple and we could almost see the thriving city of homes, stores, shops, and farms that they left behind.  The kids all talked of how hard this must have been.  Sammy, in particular, mentioned many times how "they must have been so sad to leave their homes.  I bet they cried a lot...even the dads."  We took the opportunity as we sat looking back at the temple to remind the kids that there may be times in their lives when they think it is hard to follow the counsel of the prophet and we want them to remember this moment and to remember what the Saints did to follow the Prophet.  We promised them if they remember this feeling they will find the courage and the desire to always follow the prophet.  This one moment with our children was worth the trip.  I pray they will remember this time and will find the courage and fortitude to continue to develop their testimony of our Savior and to always remember it is Him that our Prophet speaks for so it is the Savior they are following when they follow the Prophet.

We then went to the Sarah Granger Kimball home, Wilford Woodruff Home, and Heber C. Kimball home.  While in the Heber C. Kimball home we learned that his family had lived in a shack made from the wood of an old barn, and mud huts for the first years in Nauvoo before they were able to build their beautiful home that we toured.  They had lived in their home for only 4 months before they left it behind and headed west.  What obedient and humble people they were.  We have so much to learn from them.  Then we made another visit to the brickyard, which was a favorite of all.  After lunch we spent the rest of the afternoon in the Family Learning Center learning about pottery and making more ropes.  Then we went back to the Seventies Hall and the children signed the registry as Descendants of John Worsley, a Seventy in Nauvoo.

That evening we went for a short drive.  We drove into Missouri just so we could say we had been in that state.  We even bought gas there!  Then we drove to Montrose, Iowa which is the city across the Mississippi River that the Saints went to when leaving Nauvoo.  It was amazing to be able to see acorss the river to Nauvoo and to see the temple so clearly on the hill.  We pondered how difficult it must have been for the Saints to look back and see the temple...it looked so close and really in distance it was so close, yet it was so far away and they knew they would never return.

This has been one of our most memorable Christmas vacations ever.  Sammy cried last night as we were driving back to the condo.  He kept asking us through his tears, "Can't we stay just one more day?"  We would have loved to say yes but knew we needed to come home.  None of us wanted to leave the peace and wonderful Spirit found in Nauvoo.  It definitely is a "Beautiful City."

Nauvoo...Day 3

Thursday was a BEAUTIFUL day!  We started the morning walking to the school house.  In the schoolhouse we learned how important education was to Joseph Smith and the early Saints.  At that time in history about 1 in 6 children were educated; however, Joseph felt all children needed to have the opportunity to attend school.  This was a very fun stop and the kids enjoyed doing some math problems to calculate that in Nauvoo there were approximately 2600 homes that housed the 12,000 people.  That is astounding when you consider Nauvoo now is a town with a population of 1100!  Following the schoolhouse we went to the shoe shop to learn how shoes were made.  Then the kids really wanted to walk around the temple grounds some more so we took advantage of the beautiful weather and spent almost an hour walking around the beautiful temple.  As we were walking the kids began singing "I Love to See the Temple."  How grateful we are for the opportunity we had to share together.

We went on the wagon ride again, as this was a favorite of everyone's!  We hurried back to the condo for lunch and decided we were going to extend our trip one more day because none of us were ready to leave!  We had originally planned to leave early Friday morning.  The kids were beyond excited when they found out we could stay one more day.  After lunch we went to the Seventies Hall.  The kids enjoyed being able to pretend they were giving a talk at the podium.  Then it was off to the Blacksmith Shop to learn how wagons and horseshoes were made. Everyone was given a prarie diamond...a horseshoe nail that was bent to make a ring.  We then enjoyed a pleasant walk to Brigham Young's home.  It was really neat to be able to go inside his root cellar and see how much cooler it was inside.  We then walked over to the cultural hall for a tour.  We were able to go to the top level where dances were held and the kids went to the balcony to pretend they were the band for the dance!  And, oh how they echoed!  I'm so grateful the missionaries are all grandmas who just love children and are not bothered by their excitement for life!  We took a long walk back to the van and the kids loved running in the fields.  We went back to the condo for dinner and then to "Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo" again.  This is a highlight for our kids and they have been singing the songs, complete with hand gestures and facial expressions, all week!  I can't even begin to describe the excitement, energy, and love that the missionaries share during this performance.  We enjoyed meeting and talking with the cast afterwards outside.  These wonderful Senior Missionaries make Nauvoo amazing.  They recognize our children and remember things about them.  They talk with them and love them.  It is amazing how strong of a bond that can be formed when we share testimony and feel the Spirit of our Father in Heaven together.  I'm so glad this was not our final day in Nauvoo.  None of us were ready to leave.

Day Two in Nauvoo

We started our morning driving out to Carthage, Illinois.  We had a wonderful tour of Carthage Jail.  I was somewhat apprehensive, at first, to visit this place because I wasn't sure how I would feel with the sadness of learning more of the martrydom of Joseph Smith.  I was surprised how comforting the tour was.  We learned about Carthage Jail.  The Jail was in the home of the Jailor and his 7 children.  The jailor told Joseph and Hyrum they were not criminals and he was not going to treat them like criminals so he had them take his room so they would be upstairs, in a safer place and more comfortable with the summer heat and humidity.  When the mobs broke through the door of the house the jailor was not home; however, his wife and a few young children were.  She grabbed her children and ran out the back door so they were, fortunately, not in the home when the marytrdom took place.  It was so powerful as we listened to a recording depicting the events of the matrydom.  What an example of faith and testimony Joseph was.  It was recorded that the last things the Prophet Joseph spoke was how he wished he see and be with his family one more time and that he could teach the gospel one more time.  What a reminder to me of where my priorities should be.

As we drove back to Nauvoo I made sandwiches and we ate while we were driving so we wouldn't lose any time in Nauvoo.  At a turn in the Mississippi River we could see the Nauvoo Temple off in the distance so we pulled over to walk around a bit and take some pictures.  When we got to Nauvoo we walked around the Memorial to Women statues for a few minutes before taking the Carriage Ride around Nauvoo Countryside.  This was about an hour long and we learned more about the life of the Saints during their time in Nauvoo.  We went to Joseph Smith's home, the Red Brick store, and the Mansion House.  We then learned how to make bricks at the brickyard and were given a commemorative brick.  We ended the day learning how barrels were made.  This was amazing.  It took 7 years to become a master cooper (barrel maker).  That was longer than it took to become a doctor back then.  Just goes to show how important a commodity barrels were to them.

We came to the condos for dinner and then the kids had a party in the condo while Joel and I were able to attend a session in Nauvoo Temple.  I was awestruck as we walked inside the doors of the temple.  It is breathtakingly beautiful.  I could have spent hours in the temple.  I tried to soak it all in while we were there.  After our session a temple worker walked us around the temple so we could see the batistry and other parts of the temple.  They were so kind to us as they took the time to tech us and show us many great things.  I was overcome with the sacrifice the Early Saints made to build this temple and, then, to continue building it even when they knew they would be leaving it behind.  I thought of the Saints waiting on the roads for their turn to cross the Mississippi River and looking behind them to the temple they had sacrificed so much to build knowing they would never again enter the doors of the sacred building.  It helped remind me of the eternal importance of temple covenants and the peace they bring in our lives knowing we can be with our families throughout eternity.  It also makes me realize how blessed I am to live only 3 hours from a temple and to know that as we leave the temple each month we know it will be there for us again the following month when we return.  How grateful I am for President Hinckley's desire to rebuild this beautiful temple.  We told Thomas and Spring that if we are still living out here when Spring turns 12 we will bring them back so they can go inside the temple with us.  I loved how their faces lit up when we told them this.  I love how much joy all the kids have being here and walking these sacred grounds.  We are exhausted at the end of the day, but it is the best exhaustion we could ever have!

Nauvoo...Day One

We started the day early as we headed to the Nauvoo Visitor's Center.  We were able to watch a short film entitled, "Remembering Nauvoo" which related some experiences of people who lived in Nauvoo in the 1840's.  We then went on an hour long (COLD...complete with snow and freezing rain) wagon ride through the streets of Old Nauvoo.  We learned about the history of the town and some highlights of each of the restored buildings.  We then visited the Family Living Center where we learned to make rope, learned how bread and candles were made, and learned how to weave cloth to make rugs.  The children all loved this place and Mary and Joshie loved that there were toys for them to play with.  We visited the Lyon Drugstore and a few other sites.  I brought the younger 3 back for a nap and Joel took Thomas, Spring, and Sammy back to Old Nauvoo.  They walked around the temple grounds, visited the Browning Gun Shop, Post Office, Print Shop, Tinsmith, and John Taylor home.  They came back and picked us up and we headed back to the Visitor's Center for a few minutes before it closed.  Then we hurried to the condo to make dinner and then back to the cultural hall for "Rendezvous at Old Nauvoo."  This is a musical production performed by all the Missionaries serving in Old Nauvoo.  It was spectacular, to say the least.  We were all so touched and enjoyed a lively and spiritual evening.  It was fun to meet the cast afterward. 

In the evening we were exhausted yet full of joy, contentment, and peace from the many testimonies that were shared with us by the wonderful missionaries.  How blessed we are to visit such an amazing place.  The Spirit of the early Saints is so profoundly felt as we walked the streets and into the homes, stores, and buildings of this beautiful city, Nauvoo!

Trek to Nauvoo

We packed up last night and headed out this morning for Nauvoo. It was so fun. We really are blessed with children that travel really well together. We first passed into Indiana and had to take a photo at the sign, although Joshie didn't want to get out and we knew if we got Gideon out he would not want to be put right back in his seat! A while later we crossed into Illinois. Then, as we crossed over the Mississippi River on a bridge we realized we had also crossed into Iowa. We traveled in Iowa for a short while before crossing back into Illinois and heading into Nauvoo. Before we headed to the condo we are staying in, we drove by the Nauvoo temple. As the temple came into view I was overcome with the Spirit. I love the feeling of being near a temple, especially this time. I never imagined how large the Nauvoo temple is. Maybe because we are used to smaller temples...but this temple is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to be near it again tomorrow with our children and to go inside later this week. As we were driving around the temple (it was dark and cold so we didnt' get out tonight) Mary said,"Mom, this temple is just so beautiful!" She is absolutely right!

We love the condo we are staying in. As our children say, "It's like staying in a home away from home!" I love that there is a full kitchen so we are just cooking all our meals here. There are 2 bedrooms and a large front room and kitchen. After we made dinner and had baths the 4 younger ones headed to bed while Joel, Thomas, Spring, and I stayed up and played games together. This is going to be such a wonderful week. I am so looking forward to a week of seeing the sites, spending time as a family, and having very little outside distractions.

Merry Christmas

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year.  It started bright and early, well it wasn't exactly bright but it was early.  Thomas was up around 2:00 am and around 4:00 am he and Spring kept coming in to talk to me.  Finally, at 5:00 we let them wake up everyone else.  It was nice to be able to be relaxed as we opened all our gifts and still be to church at 9:00 that morning so we could enjoy Joel's talk!  It was wonderful to see their excitement as their siblings opened the gifts they gave and to see the joy in such simple things.  All morning we heard, "This is what I've ALWAYS wanted!"  I felt truly spoiled this year.  Thomas, Spring, and Sammy worked for about 3 months to compile all my recipes (and get some from my mom) into a wonderful cookbook.  They retyped all my recipes and put them together so nicely.  Sue Ann helped them as she allowed them to come over and type at her house and helped them with trying to decipher some of my handwritten recipes.  I will forever treasure this wonderful gift.  The coolest thing is it was all their own idea and they put so much effort and time into it.  We also received a beautiful quilt that my mom made for us.  I love the colors and I love how soft and cozy it is.  Again, I know this is a gift that took so much time on her part. 

Our children opened their gift from us last which was a poem telling them we were going on a trip to Nauvoo the following day!  Joel and I have been so excited for this and can't wait!

Christmas Piano Recital

This year Thomas' piano teacher decided instead of having a formal recital she wanted her students to visit a local rest home and play Christmas music for the residents.  Thomas loved this idea, as did we.  Here is one of the pieces he played.  After they performed they took time to walk around and visit with the wonderful residents of the nursing home. I am so grateful for his wonderful piano teacher who values teaching her students the importance of sharing their talents with others.

Sammy's Gingerbread House

Here is Sammy's gingerbread house he made with his 4th grade buddy at school.  He came home from his last day of school before break so excited.  "This was the best day ever, Mom!"  He had so much fun making Rudolf, his gingerbread house, having his teacher read him Christmas stories to them.  I love Sammy's excitement with life.  He is so excited about everything!  I love this guy!

Christmas Concert

Last night was our last school concert and it featured Sammy and Spring.  Each grade level sang 2 songs and the Bulldog Pups Choir performed a Musical entitled, "Snow Way Out."  Spring really loves being in the choir and is looking forward to when she is in 5th grade because that school has musicals throughout the year.  Spring wasn't even nervous for her solo part of one of the songs either.  I asked her after how she couldn't be nervous and she, very matter of factly replied, "When Sammy found out I had a solo he told me that Thomas told him that when you are on stage you just pretend everyone in the audience is your family and then you aren't nervous at all."  Simple, isn't it!

Sammy loved being on stage and he was ecstatic that Thomas let him borrow his Christmas tie that he has worn to all his concerts.  I was really surprised that he participated so much in the songs because he often doesn't when he is in Primary.  I couldn't believe how grown up he looked up on that stage.  When did my little ones grow up without me moticing.

Remember the Meaning of Christmas

My sister, Alanna, shared this video with me last year and it has become one of our favorites.  It is so worth a few moments to watch it and reflect on the miraculous gift our Father in Heaven gave us in His Son, Jesus Christ.  I love this time of year to remember and recommit to following in His humble footsteps.

Traditional Gingerbread House

Notice all the empty wrappers!

Tonight was our night for our traditional gingerbread house making!  This year I decided to just use all our leftover Halloween candy and I think it worked out wonderfully.  It finally got rid of the big bag of candy that really hasn't been touched for the last month and the kids thought it was great.  I have to admit...Joshie didn't put a single piece of candy on the house but he sure did put a lot of pieces in his mouth!  It is so fun to watch them create and just have so many ideas on how to make the house "just perfect!"  I can see this evolving into more than one house in the next few years!  I'm so glad the kids love this tradition that I loved as a child as well.

Don't you just love Sammy's eyes in this one!

Bathtime

Last night the younger kiddos were in the bath and out before we got Gideon upstairs.  Gideon was having a great time in the bath all by himself and we had time to just let him play.  Joel and I realized this is probably the first bath he has had by himself.  I have given him quick baths in the kitchen sink but when it comes to bathtime he always has playmates with him!  It was so fun to watch him play and enjoy his time in the bath.  He was so silly and giggling.  It was a fun time for Joel and I to laugh, play, and share in the simple joy of a bath!  We also realized this is the first time we have pictures of this little guy in the bathtub!  Wow...slacker parents!

We have an 11 Year Old!

He was showing us he is "11" now...really not horns!

Somehow, we have an 11 year old child now.  Crazy how that happens right before our eyes.  Thomas had a fun birthday celebration with our family yesterday.  I love that it was on a Saturday that we didn't have other obligations and we could just spend the day together at home.  Thomas requested turtle cheesecake for his birthday and, of course, wanted to make it.  So, he and I made it first thing Saturday morning.  He chose a well rounded dinner of hot dog boats (hot dogs sliced lengthwise with mounds of mashed potatos and shredded cheese baked in the oven) and homemade fluffy dinner rolls.  We spent the day playing games together and just being with each other.  I think it is one of my favorite days we have had in the last few weeks.

The thing he is most excited about now is being in Boy Scouts!  He has already been going through his scout book reading and studying the information.  The 11 year old scouts have been invited on the Klondike the first weekend in January and he is so ready to go.  We will see if he is as excited when he comes home!  Joel is excited for Thomas to be able to be there with him as well.

We love you, Thomas.  We love your example, your humility, your passion for music, your desire to help, and your desire to make righteous choices at all times!

Christmas From Sue Ann

Sue Ann asked if the kids could open their present from her early so they could enjoy it before Christmas so she came over on Friday evening.  We all love when she comes over and the kids LOVED their gift from her.  She gave them a Karaoke machine with a CD of Christmas songs.  They have all had a great time with it.  Joshie loves to sing into the microphone...it is so cute because sometimes he is singing the right song and sometimes it is something completely different.  Spring has found so much enjoyment in it as well as she is really loving to sing lately.  Maybe we will have to record a performance of them sometime as Sammy is preparing to play his guitar as the rest of the gang sings "Jingle Bells!"

Another night...Another Concert

Tonight's concert was the 5th/6th grade orchestra and choir concert for Thomas.  The orchestra played a few songs, the choir sang a few songs, and then the orchestra accompanied the choir for the last few songs.  Fortunately, we were able to have a sitter so the other kiddos could stay home and go to bed at a decent time and Joel and I could enjoy the time to focus on Thomas' performance.  Three concerts down...2 to go (and we only have 3 kids in school so far!).

Musician of the Month

Thomas participated in his first band concert this week.  It was amazing to watch him interact with the other percussionists before and during the concert.  It was very obvious that he was definitely in his element. He carries himself with such poise and he is so happy.  I loved watching him enjoy performing in a group.  He has had ample solo performances and I loved seeing he was just as happy when the spotlight was not on him, but on the band as a whole.  His passion for music becomes more and more evident every day.  During the performance we all had a surprise when he was named as "Musician of the Month."  I love that he loves to share this gift of music that Heavenly Father has blessed him with.  He loves to practice and improve this talent and he loves to share it with those around him.

Ward Christmas Party

Last night we had our Ward Christmas party.  We were so glad Sue Ann could come with us but didn't get a picture with her, unfortunately.  The kids were able to visit with Santa before dinner.  They were in there long enough for a picture and that is about all.  Joshie and Gideon wanted nothing to do with Santa so we were lucky to get them in the picture.  We enjoyed a dinner and then a nativity program that all the kids were able to take part in. 

Cake Pops

Sammy's best friend, Sue Ann, invited him over yesterday to make cake pops and decorate pretzel rods.  He had a blast.  Sue Ann told us he was so excited and kept repeating, "I can't wait to show my family. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they see these!"  We have all enjoyed them.  Sue Ann shared a frosted pretzel rod with Gideon and he was in heaven!  How blessed we are for Sue Ann's friendship and kindness to our family.

Fun Times

My mom told me about these fun foam craft kits so I was able to get a couple of them for our kids. We were going to do them over Thanksgiving weekend but didn't have time so Spring chose to do them for our Family Home Evening activity.  The girls worked on one and the boys worked on another one.  Gideon jsut crawled around getting into all sorts of mischief opening drawers and emptying their contents, which seems to be a favorite pasttime of his!  They were all so happy to discover they got to keep their creations in their rooms too.  Thank you, Mom, for the great idea!

All City Orchestra Concert

Thomas participated in the All-City Orchestra Concert last night.  In our town there is one Intermediate School (Grades 5-6), one Middle School (grades 7-8), and one High School.  All schools have the same Orchestra teacher so they all performed together last night.  It was a fun evening and it was so fun to see Thomas enjoy performing with the Orchestra.  He has really enjoyed the opportunity to play with others and learn more about the violin.  His school played 6 pieces as well as playing one song at the end with everyone.  He was in the advanced group of his school which allowed him to take part in the introductions of each piece.  I don't know what it is lately but everytime I look at Thomas I feel like he has grown up a little more.  He is losing the "boy" look and becoming more and more a young man.  I'm excited for the opportunities this will bring but saddened by it as well.  There is a part of me that feels sadness when I think of our first child growing and maturing into a young man; however, another part of me feels such joy because of the young man he is trying to become.  I know he will be an influence for good in all that he does and will continue to bring joy to others around him.  I'm just not sure this mom is ready for all the changes ahead of us in the next year.