Roadtrippin' Part 2

Day 7: 2nd day of reunion in Nauvoo.  We toured the rest of the houses,  including the houses owned by the Reorganized Church.  You have to pay to go in those houses and cannot take pictures.  I looked at that date and it looks like I did not take any pictures that day.  

The best thing we did in this day was go to the temple. Renae called ahead of time (because its by appt only) and booked a sealing session for us.  Ryan's sister and her husband live not too far and had been before so they volunteered to watch the kids and we were able to go. It was something I will remember for the rest of my life,  the temple is always a spiritual experience but this was one of the top I have ever experienced.  We were able to do sealings and then we stayed in our whites and were given a tour of the baptismal font.  You could see and feel the love and faith the pioneers had for The Lord.  I sat their thinking about my trials,  especially our trial to have a baby and how much more I think I appreciate my child because of it.  Through my trial I had to have faith in The Lord, faith in my husband,  faith in the doctors and faith in myself.  It made my relationship with my husband and my Saviour stronger.  I kept thinking about the faith they must have had. You hear the stories but actually going their and feeling and seeing it is a whole new appreciation.  I am in awe of the heart, love and faith they had. I would hope I would be as obedient and faithful as they were.

Day 8:  This was our last day in Nauvoo and ended up being one of the best.  We spent the majority of the day at Carthage Jail.  To actually see where Joseph Smith died and to see THE bullet holes in the door that killed Hyrum was surreal. 

These pictures are not flattering of me at all but I have to post them because I love how much Holden's cousins loved him.  We were sitting on the temple grounds letting him stretch and get out of his car seat and they couldn't get enough of him.

 Day 9: We left Nauvoo to head home.  We went to Independence Missouri.  Because of the weather (the heat and humidity). I can't say I ever want to return but if you have the chance to go a must see is the visitors center. It is the best one I have ever been to,  and I thought the Washington DC visitors center was amazing.   We saw Far West,  the dedicated temple cornerstones and Adam-ondi-ahman also. 

Day 10 and Day 11: I try to forget about these days 8+ hours of driving in the RV with a baby who was over it.  We got home on June 24th.

The trip was long, hot and a little stressful staying in 8 hotel rooms over 11 days with a 6 week old but I am so glad we did it.  Memories I will have forever.