Papa's birthday

We listened and played along as Papa told stories about his childhood 

Larry playing "Gravity's Grabbin' me!"

Papa, in his animated way, telling stories about his childhood games!

Nauvoo Day 4: "To think I knew Joseph Smith..."

Our visit to Carthage Jail was immensely wonderful. Granted, the senior missionary tour guide didn't quite know what to do when the 36 of us trudged into the visitor's center there, but my mom knows how to make the rowdy crowds reverent.

The grounds around the jail are beautifully kept. Everything there is peaceful and lovely. Jon carried Jade in the Ergo the whole time... one tough daddy... 

 The tour of the jail was tricky with so many people, but we all got to see the debtor's cell, the dungeon upstairs where John Taylor was put after he was shot, and the very martyrdom room. I could tell Dawna was very touched by what she could feel there.

After the tour, we all gathered around the monument outside the back window. We began by singing "Praise to the man" and had a little testimony meeting where we shared our feelings and thoughts about Joseph Smith. He was an amazing man and prophet of the restoration. We all partook of the sincere testimonies of my sweet nieces and nephews as they shared their growing testimonies of the prophet. I couldn't be prouder of them! 

Amanda and Luke stand together as siblings just as Joseph and Hyrum did. They love and protect each other as I hope my children do. 

Abbie, so astute and observant and aware of all things spiritual, recording her thoughts and feelings from the experience there. 

Nate, so anxious to do and be good. At the tender age of 7, he records the inscription on the monument.

 

Mom and Dad, who raised us all in righteousness, and continue to provide good examples of gospel living in everything they do. 

My beloved family: I was stuck in the back feeding Jade during the testimony meeting, but Dawna bore her testimony sweetly and I add mine to hers to say that I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.   I pray that all my family will continue to seek and improve upon their testimonies. 

Nauvoo Day 3: Shows to Watch

So... Back from the edge of the earth, here is the next Nauvoo post...

I highly recommend visiting Nauvoo in the summertime because it's a land of no end of educational and spiritual entertainment! Lots of stories to enjoy and music to hear, tours to take and missionaries to admire! To mention a few...

The Wagon Rides: pulled by two horses, a tour of historical Nauvoo and the sites around the town. Here is Xochitl showing off the temple on the hill

The kids all loved getting friendly with the horses before and after the tour. 

 Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo: a great performance featuring the senior missionaries and a quick cameo appearance of the Young Performing Missionaries. Performed in the historic Masonic or Cultural Hall on Main Street.  All who attended loved it!

 After Rendezvous, the matching girls posed on the stage for pictures! So dang cute!

Just Plain Anna-Amanda: A kid-focused show with a puppet show at the beginning and plenty of little-kid fun! This is the one my kids talk about the most! Xochitl got this cute idea to have the star YPM (Young Performing Missionary) autograph her Nauvoo journal. Sis. S. was flattered and obliged like a good little superstar.  :)

 Little Nathan got pulled up on stage for the closing number. He's still beaming from the experience :)

 The Young Performing Elders! Larry and Isaac were very taken by them!

 A new feature in Nauvoo entertainment: The trail of Hope. On two evenings during the week, the YPMs stand at selected placards down Parley St. heading to the Mississippi river.  At each stop, they tell the story of a family or a person who walked down that road and crossed the river to begin the trek to Salt Lake City with the Latter-Day Saints.  It was amazing--though we paid the price the next day keeping the kids up late...

 Sunset by the Mississippi was phenomenally done! This is the children's parade before the show began! I was glad to notice the marching song was exactly the same as the one we played 9 years ago... and part of the history of the song had been lost. I happily filled them in on the details: that the song was originally written for a TV commercial for a children's bouncing toy and it had lyrics about a bouncing kangaroo and everything! The sister missionary here with Xochitl was thrilled and tickled at such a prospect and they all immediately began learning the words as they were marching around. I loved it!