Nauvoo Thursday

This is how the day started out for Samuel....always happy! Even when I went to the Nauvoo Temple. I met a couple who served in ...... Melbourne Australia! as the mission president. Can you believe it? Go half way across the country to meet a native from half way across the world, anyway, during that time, Gary had taken them to Old Nauvoo to bake bread, make candles and make pottery.

The family in front of the Joseph and Hyrum Monument.

The Nauvoo Temple.

Boys learning to make rope.

Just like family, every piece of rope is brought together to make it stronger... all the boys except Joseph and Samuel helped make this piece of rope. After this activity, we went to the Blacksmith where Ammon was given a handmade horse shoe. We then walked down the Trail of Tears, where the pioneers walked right before they crossed the Mississippi to Salt Lake. It was amazing to read of what some went through....

The ox on the right is named Gary....stubborn as other Gary's we know....

Sitting in the wagon for an ox ride.

Skipping stones across the Mississippi.

We drove back through Carthage today. It was amazing to see the jail where Joseph Smith spent his last few hours. The gunshot hole was still in the door... the jail cell was very dark and dingy.

The debtor's cell.

Standing outside the Carthage Jail, where Joseph fell out the window.

NAUVOO

The road to Keokuk was closed, so we had to detour through Quincy Illinois - that's 2 1/2 hours out of our way, south then north again.. but it was a beautiful city.

Bridge crossing the Mississippi at Quincy, Illinois.

The road to Nauvoo - so lush and beautiful.

When we got there, Gary got a call from a client which meant he couldn't come with us to Old Nauvoo, so the kids and I did it alone. We got to the visitor's center and found out that the show was sold out, so we took some photos in the visitor's center. Whilst we were taking photos, the sister called me over and told me that the Lord was watching out for us, since a family had canceled, and we could get tickets to the show...

The Visitor's Center in Old Nauvoo.

Joseph Smith had this garden created to commemorate mothers and all they do. There were bronze statues of all kinds - mothers with their sons, their daughters, their talents, their ageless wisdom.....

The Women's Garden out back of the Visitor's Center, playing tribute to women.

After we walked through the garden, we made it to three sites, before the show: the gun shop, the post office/supply store, and the printers. The kids got to each carry the water carrier to see what 10 year old boys did every day to bring water to their homes.

Jacob carrying a water carrier in the post office.

We got to see a show - Rendezvous in Nauvoo - with the senior missionaries acting in it. This is one of the performers. I could see Mom Steele doing really well in this performance.......

This was how the day ended - watching the Sunset on the Mississippi with the kids participating in the show.

All the pictures of Nauvoo can be viewed on the Missouri slideshow.