Nauvoo 2009

We have just returned from an eight day-3000 mile journey of a lifetime! We left Friday, July 16 towards Nauvoo, Ill. After driving for 800 miles our first day we made it to Florence, Nebraska on Saturday morning. This is known as Winter Quarter's for the member's of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is where thousands of member's of the church stayed the winter before heading the rest of their journey to Salt Lake City, Utah. We had a lovely tour around the visitor's center by Sister Rosa who was from Brazil. It was neat to learn about events that transpired here. My 3rd great grandfather died close to this area at the Platte River.

The Winter Quarter's Temple was dedicated in 2001. It is a beautiful Temple just below the cemetery. There was a very peaceful feeling around the Temple and cemetery.

After leaving Winter Quarter's we were headed towards Independence Missouri. It is a long drive! Just off of the road we saw a sign for "Bridges of Madison County". We decided we could use a break so we pulled off. None of us have ever seen the movie or read the book but we thought the little town was very quaint. There was a car show going on--lots of neat old cars. I just love little old towns. The old covered bridges were just like old paintings.

Miss A and the little man are very close. He just adores her. This is one of those pictures that I will treasure forever.

Sunday morning we went to Independence. This is a very special area to members of our faith. There is a visitors center here where we learned a lot about the events that transpired. There was also an incredible exibit of portraits portraying events in the life of Christ. It was a really wonderful experience to have with our children.

Across the street from the LDS visitor's center is the Community of Christ's temple. It was a very strange building. Very futuristic. Interesting thing to our family is how different we felt inside as we walked across the street, rather empty. I was happy to walk back across the street.

After Independence we drove to Liberty. This is where our Prophet Joseph Smith was held for about five months in the dead of winter. This is a recreation of the actual building, built on the actual original footings. This is where the Prophet was tested. It is said that it was a "refiner's fire" for the Prophet. It was stated that we all have our "Liberty Jail". We all have to go through the refiner's fire to truly know and understand. I wonder how we know when and if we have had our 'liberty jail'?

After Liberty we headed to Far West, Missouri. This is where the Saints had fled to for safety before settling in Nauvoo. There was a large amount of members that lived here, before the mobs ran them out again. Now there is a lovely green park like place with a fence around four cornerstones of the Temple that was never built. A beautiful place, with very few homes. It is hard to believe that there was ever a town in this area.

Next we went to Adam-ondi-oman. This was the most reverent, serene and beautiful place.

Next we headed across the beautiful country roads of Missouri. This is an absolutely amazingly beautiful state. Rolling hills, green everywhere. Along the road we saw this Amish buggy. I would love to one day experience a bit more of the Amish lifestyle.

We finally made it to beautiful Nauvoo, Illinois! We set out the next morning to experience as much as possible. We went into almost every shop, house and business. They are all completely authentically furnished, using pieces from the time period. We went on a wagon ride around Old Nauvoo getting a perspective and some history.

We went into the little school house, a blacksmith shop, a gunshop, a brickmaker shop, bakery, post office, tin shop and general store. We visited numerous family homes as well as some community buildings.

It is a funny thing when you find people you know so far away from home. My Mom's dear friends(Romrells) are serving a mission at the Nauvoo Temple---I found them through their name tags! We were blessed to be able to go to the Temple twice. Once for baptism's and once for a session. It was a treasured experience.

We watched three different plays. MissE and the little man got to be in two parades.

We were amazed at the performance given by all the Senior Couple missionaries. It was incredible. We all loved every minute, it was so much fun.

In February of 1844 thousand of Latter day Saints were forced to leave their beautiful city. They left willingly, to avoid the mobs. These people walked down Parley Street into the unknown. At the end of Parley street is the Mississippi river. The miracle that happened that cold February was that the river froze solid so that thousands could cross that river quickly. There is a memorial at the river. There are names of at least 2500 people that left Nauvoo but died along the way never making it to Salt Lake City. I knew the name of one grandfather. We found his name on that memorial.

While visiting the blacksmith shop I felt certain that I knew the missionary talking to us. After he was finished I asked him where he was from. He was from my home town ward growing up! His wife was in the next building. When I went in and said my name Sister Hendrickson immediately remembered me. She still lives a block from my Mom, although they are in a different ward now. Strange the people you meet!

Tuesday brought rain. We braved it and went on a carriage ride through the countryside. The teamsters(Missionary men) told story after story about the early Saints. The testimony that was born was very powerful. There was never a doubt that this man knew what he taught was true.

After the carriage ride we drove to Carthage Jail. This is where the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by a mob. This is a very humbling, sacred place. The Spirit in this building is so strong that it can't be described.

Wednesday we went to more buildings and then prepared for the Nauvoo Pageant. There is a pre-show where there are all sorts of games that would have been common in Nauvoo. Our children had a ball! It was fun to watch them run from one thing to the next. I took the opportunity to visit with some cast members. They all had such wonderful experiences being in the pageant. One man said that this was their second year and they would sign up for next year. He had four children---under seven! Maybe we could do this?

The pageant tells about Joseph and early Nauvoo. About people coming to Zion and about building a Temple. At the end of the performance after the stage temple has fallen because of fire and a tornado, the lights shine on the new(2002) Nauvoo Temple. It is an incredible feeling to see that beautiful temple.

This was an incredible trip. Not a typical vacation. It is one of those experiences that is hard to describe. Most of what made the trip so wonderful was the feelings that were felt. The Spirit was strong. So strong at times that no words could be spoken.

I am grateful that we had the chance to experience this with our children.

I have memorized these moments and have them burned on my heart forever.

I'm here!

I ran---after not running for almost two weeks it was hard, like I was barely starting. I managed two miles!!

Hiatus

I will be taking a hiatus-I can't seem to find the time! I will try to put some pictures up soon--check back in a week or so.

10K update

I ran 3+miles today! No stopping.

New Biker!

Is there anything much more exciting than getting a new bike when you are a kid?

The little man needed a new bike. He has been riding the old family beginner bike. It has been around since #1 child. So-it was pink-and really well used and loved(abuses). The perfect bike to learn on, unless you are a boy! However, the little man never complained(ok, almost never). Well, the pink bike came to an abrupt end when my sister backed over it in her driveway. She didn't realize it was totalled. So, we went to choose a new bike!

This is what we came home with!

It took a few days with the training wheels and then the big boy M convinced him to take them off. I had to run up and down the street next to him -just in case but he took right off. He was so ready. He is a natural now. We took him to the ball field/skate park and he started to go across the edge of the jumps. He stands up, goes down the big hill, across the rocks and grass and basically looks like he has been riding for a year! It is a joy to watch him love it so much.

Just the beginning of many "big boy" activities.

Another week is flying by

Summer is moving along quickly-too quickly for my liking. We are preparing for a lovely excursion so my thought process is totally fragmented. I have also had my daughter tell me that she reads this blog and that I basically talk about how messy my kids are and about my foot. So---I am not sure what I will write about. Talk about censorship! I am certain that it is strange for a child to read the musings of a mother. So-I am in a quandry. Do I continue to just talk about the basic day to day stuff-the bikes, ball games and such--and paint my life without the reality that also exists? There are many many things that I have never written about-and never will, that would be inappropriate. However, do I not write because some of my readers are not thrilled with what I write?

I ran three miles--without stopping! Still slow!

More 4th of July!

The 4th at Bear Lake!

We had so much fun spending the 4th at Bear Lake. It is so funny to watch all the old tractors pulling the boats and jet ski's in and out of the water. These tractors are ancient and their owners LOVE them.
The little man really loved the Ranger. He would have ridden in it for hours. I know that I drove him in in for at least two.
We stopped on our way in Evanston, Wyoming to get REAL fireworks--as M calls them. No little wimpy ones for us! They had a ball lighting them off--so did everyone else up and down the beach! It was a great way to top off a super 4th of July.

July 4, 2009

Parade Day! July 4, 2009

We had a new experience celebrating the 4th this year. We are usually at a lake somewhere-no where near a parade.

This year we were invited to Bear Lake by our dear friends. It has been sixteen years since we have been there.

We decided to go to the tiny little town of Paris, Idaho to celebrate at their towns annual parade.

I just love little towns and their parades!

Old guys on tractors-some restored some not. Little kids on trucks. Young guys showing off their hot rod cars(which were very cool--I took this picture for you Gerad!).

Funny folks with hot rod golf carts!

Tons of candy for the kids, horses and lots of red, white and blue.

We had to top our parade off with a traditional Bear Lake Fresh Raspberry milkshake from the malt shoppe.

I hope that it isn't another sixteen years before we get back!

Saturday at the Lake

Saturday was a beautifully warm summer day. After the majority of June raining it was fabulous to be out on the lake with blue skies and warm temperatures.
M is always up for some wake boarding. This day Miss E wanted to try---she hasn't been able to try since we went to Lake Mead in April. She managed to get up! She just kept trying and trying. She finally just couldn't hold the rope any longer. Give her one or two more rounds and she will be a natural.
The little guy(J) has really never liked the water from the boat. I am certain that it is just scary to not be able to touch. He also just doesn't really understand about the life jacket helping him float. M convinced him to get in and he actually stayed in for more than two seconds!
Miss A was sleeping on the front of the boat.

I have never been a dare devil. Quite the opposite. However, I could ride thrilling rides at amusements parks without thinking about the lack of a five point harness safety system. I could ride a chairlift without thinking about how far down it is and that there is no five point harness safety system. I skied starting at eight years old ---without a helmet. We rode in the back of moving pickup trucks---often.


Then I became a mother! Everything changes when you become a mother. Raw cookie dough? Are you crazy? There could be salmonella. Riding a scooter without elbow pads? (well, at least the first child wore them!) I have what I describe as an acute case of Mother Fear. The parks that I grew up going to still have these massive slides-the ones that they have taken out at most parks across the country. I spent hours going up and down those slides. When I watch my children climb those steep steps and get their footing on that narrow landing my stomach just falls. As I sit with my child on a ski lift I have panic if they move the slightest bit. I have a panic attack when I see my older children start a fire-will they get burned? Using a pocket knife---they might cut themselves.


This disease only affects mothers. Father's do not have the slightest problem letting their children light a fire by using "boy scout water" (gasoline). Fathers encourage the children to climb to the top of the motor home or the highest tree. Father's are proud of the bruised, cut leg from the great crash.


In the last six months I have had two terrifying Mother Experiences.


Driving with my newly licensed teenage daughter























And photographing my son flying over a car on his motorcycle.



Don't Ever Tell Me I am Not BRAVE!

A New Baby Boy for Brittany!

July 1st, 2009

This little girl became a Momma today!

Congratulations, out little Brittany. We can't wait to meet your little blue bundle of joy!

Strangest part? I am now a GREAT AUNT.

My sister is also---she is probably the crazy Aunt---a lot like Great Aunt Claire!

Part of the plan?

I am becoming a runner. I will be a runner. I will run a 10K this year.

Today I ran about 3 miles again. Had to stop for a minute at the 1/2 way point.

Came home and realized that I had bird poop on my shoulder!

I ran almost 3 miles!

To become a runner

I want to become a runner.

I have been talking about this for years. Well--yesterday I actually made progress!
I ran 1.9 miles without stopping! This is big news for me! Two years ago, before I hurt my foot I had finally worked up to 4.5 miles. Since the injury I haven't been able to get beyond 2 without my foot really hurting for days. So, I was aware of my foot after the run yesterday and it is slightly noticeable today but nothing like it has been forever. Perhaps I am on the mend. Perhaps I can actually get passed the 3 mile hurdle. I have read so many peoples thoughts about running, saying that the first 3 miles are the hardest. So---I am getting closer! I am taking days off in between for protection of the foot--maybe someday I can run more often!

Hopefully, someday I will be able to run a bit faster than that man!

Wow--it is already June 24th! That date feels like summer must have been around for at least two months instead of the two days of loveliness we have had. Yesterday was a beautiful, sunny day. We had a swimming party last night with the entire student LDS stake(group of small congregations). It was fun to watch the little man start to be more comfortable in the water. Comfortable enough that I had to watch him like a hawk! He has just stayed out of it up until now.

My house is still a wreck-it must just be the way my life is going to be. I have tried to change this trend--for about 16 years. Sometimes it is at a dull roar that I can handle. Usually, it is just much more chaotic than I truly can deal with. The problem lies in between! How to keep it rolling along without falling apart. Consistency---that is the problem! I struggle keeping my children consistent (and myself). I struggle because I feel that my children have been taught but they seem to have not learned! Is this because I have not truly taught them or because they are still young? They are all bright children-I feel that they have been taught--do we have to go through the same teaching routine until they are 21? I have good friends who seem to be much more on top of things than I. Is this because they have taught their children better than I or because their children are smarter-more obedient than mine---OR because they PERSONALLY are more on top of things?
I am leaning towards the latter. I think that most children do not really learn to intrinsically care about things until they are much older. They see every single mess as something that is Mom's responsibility. I have not encouraged this. It just seems to be the way that they are wired.

So, my role as Mother is to teach and nurture my children. I continue to read and read and to teach and teach. The question remains ; how to keep the mother consistent without being a bit over the fence. I have friends that will never let their children have friends over because the kids will make messes. They have to wear socks at all times because toes leave toeprints on the floor. There is no pancake making by nine year olds, no art time for the four year olds. There are no tents built. I am NOT willing to live like that---however, their houses are much cleaner than mine! How do I find the balance? That must be the key. BALANCE.

How do you find BALANCE?

Sunshine!

I hate to jinx it---The Sun is Shining in my world!!!

I hope that this will be a trend, we are all a bit tired of pouring rain. I have had very little energy(what's new?) and I am usually much more energetic in the summer. I usually wake up early because of the wonderful light. Not this summer. I still feel like it is January!

I am hoping to be able to really run again. Now when I say run, it really means moving a bit faster than walking. My first born likes to tell me that I don't pick my feet up when I run. I have been trying to run a few(when it isn't raining) times a week. I am only up to two miles---however---the best part is that my dumb foot HAS NOT HURT! That is huge! It has been two full years since my plantar faciitis started to bother me. I am hoping that I will be able to get to three miles very soon and then up to at least six. It is a personal thing---before I am dead I would like to actually try a 10K---maybe even a 1/2 marathon.

I hope that it is lovely all day!

Rain Rain

Rain Rain go away ---come again another day!

I have decided that the Lazy days of Summer is something that exists in childhood and is something that we continually long for in adulthood.

These images are where my summer dreams were developed. This is my childhood home. The porch swing has been there almost my entire life. The other beautiful additions have been added here and there by my talented Mom.

This porch is where I read Charlotte's Webb 10 times in the same summer. I learned about Kindred Spirits by reading Anne of Green Gables on this porch swing. I took naps on this swing in the warm summer air, always protected from the sun. I woke up to the sound of the swing, Mom would be reading the morning paper .

This porch is where we would watch the world drive by and we would sit and visit, read, eat and just be. Those precious moments of summer.

This is what I long for now as an adult. The truth for me is that I don't have a front porch with a beautiful expanse to create a little outdoor garden space. Another truth is that right now I am in the middle of raising my children-there is very little time for me to sit anywhere and read anything, much less take a nap on the swing in the breeze.

As an adult I realize that my Mom wasn't on the swing nearly as much as I was--she was the Mom after all. There was laundry, dishes and other needs to be attended to. However, my Mom took solace in her porch swing(still does). It is like therapy. She has mastered the art of catching moments, moments that help to buoy and strengthen the soul. She has figured out how to do many things outside on that porch swing. If there is nice weather and it is portable it can be done on the front porch.

I miss the sound of the front door opening below my bedroom and the familiar sound of the swing being put into motion. I miss coming down the stairs looking out and seeing her still in her p.j.'s reading the morning paper.

I miss being a kid. I miss this porch.

Brittany's Baby Shower

This past weekend we headed to Idaho to attend a baby shower for my niece Brittany. We had silly games such as diaper a balloon and decorate a onesie. I got quite creative with my onesie and actually ended up doing two. They turned out so very cute.
It was fun to visit with Aunts and cousins.
My other niece Gina made the adorable diaper cake. She is much more creative than she gives herself credit for!
We arrived home at 12:04 am---Sunday night/Monday morning-we got stuck in traffic from a terrible accident. You know it is bad when you see the helicopter come in. It was a fast and furious weekend but it was still nice to go home, even if only for a bit.