My Mom, Dad and younger sister Jenny came to Indianapolis to visit us! We were so happy they came. They had planned this trip several months before we found out we would be in Virginia. We still have our home in Indy so it worked out. Nels and I flew from Virginia to Indy and welcomed my family.
We had lots and lots of fun. The first day they were here we drove up to Lafayette to see Purdue. They wanted to see where we spent two years. So we showed them around.
Me and Jenny:
All of us in front of a fountain at Purdue. No water though, it was very cold.
In front of another fountain at Purdue.
Then we went back to Indy and went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This is a huge art gallery consisting of all types of art from contemporary to Asian art to American and European art…sculptures, paintings, pottery and much more.
Over the weekend we loaded everyone up and drove to Nauvoo, Illinois. Nels’ parents and younger sister Anna-Lisa came too. It was a great trip!Quick story: We wanted to go to Carthage first but we didn’t know the address so Nels typed in 0 street on the GPS, thinking it would just take us into Carthage. Well, there is a 0 street in the middle of nowhere! The GPS announced that we had arrived at our destination. We looked around and we saw snow covered fields on all sides of us and we were traveling on a dirt road. Haha! Don’t worry we eventually found our way to Carthage jail and the visitors center.
We were able to do so much at Nauvoo here’s a few:
Rendezvous in Nauvoo (a play by the senior missionaries…singing, dancing and some great acting! J)
Brickyard (learned how the pioneers made bricks)
Blacksmith (learned how to make wagon wheels, horseshoes)
Bakery
Gunsmith (learned about the Browning family’s gun inventions)
Family Living Center (learned how to make rope, bread, candles, barrels, cloth and rugs)
Carriage ride and Inspiration point (very cold, had lots of quilts on us, but it was very good. The senior missionary told stories about different people that lived in Nauvoo.)
Fireside by Joseph Smith’s great, great granddaughter (she wrote songs about Joseph and Emma, particularly songs about Emma and why she stayed in Nauvoo instead of going with the Saints to Salt Lake. Jenny (my little sister) loved the song called the Willow Tree. This song was about how Emma cried many tears as she lost the people she loved.)
One of my favorite experiences was going to the temple with my parents, Nels’ parents and Nels. Wow! It was so neat to sit between my mother and mother-in-law in the temple. How often does that happen?? I’ll always treasure that experience.
The people of Nauvoo crossed the Mississippi river to leave in February. It was about 30 degrees when we were there, but when the saints left it was -30 degrees. We drove down the trail of hope to the place where they began to cross the river. We felt cold in our heavy coats and warm clothes. I cannot imagine what it would feel like with very little clothing and a lot colder. Their testimonies and the Lord’s help must have kept them warm. I’m so grateful for their conviction and sacrifice.
Rendezvous in Nauvoo (a play by the senior missionaries…singing, dancing and some great acting! J)
Brickyard (learned how the pioneers made bricks)
Blacksmith (learned how to make wagon wheels, horseshoes)
Bakery
Gunsmith (learned about the Browning family’s gun inventions)
Family Living Center (learned how to make rope, bread, candles, barrels, cloth and rugs)
Carriage ride and Inspiration point (very cold, had lots of quilts on us, but it was very good. The senior missionary told stories about different people that lived in Nauvoo.)
Fireside by Joseph Smith’s great, great granddaughter (she wrote songs about Joseph and Emma, particularly songs about Emma and why she stayed in Nauvoo instead of going with the Saints to Salt Lake. Jenny (my little sister) loved the song called the Willow Tree. This song was about how Emma cried many tears as she lost the people she loved.)
One of my favorite experiences was going to the temple with my parents, Nels’ parents and Nels. Wow! It was so neat to sit between my mother and mother-in-law in the temple. How often does that happen?? I’ll always treasure that experience.
The people of Nauvoo crossed the Mississippi river to leave in February. It was about 30 degrees when we were there, but when the saints left it was -30 degrees. We drove down the trail of hope to the place where they began to cross the river. We felt cold in our heavy coats and warm clothes. I cannot imagine what it would feel like with very little clothing and a lot colder. Their testimonies and the Lord’s help must have kept them warm. I’m so grateful for their conviction and sacrifice.
At Carthage:
At the Brickyard:
All of us after the carriage ride with the horses named Ned and Mike.
We drove back to Indianapolis and then Nels drove to Virginia. I took my family to the Indianapolis Speedway Museum and Cheeseburger in Paradise. Both were a lot of fun.
Then I flew back with family to Utah! I was soooo happy to see all of my family. I had four new nieces and nephews to meet. So we went from one house to the next and spent time with each of my siblings families. Oh so fun! I went from one activity to another. Gymnastics practice to swimming to a cub scout award (I don’t know the official name of it.) to playing games and always eating great food. I also got to go to Idaho and celebrate my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. Congratulations! It was so great to be home. My parents remodeled their kitchen and added on. It is amazing! They did a great job. I happened to be home when one of my cousins came home from his mission. So I got to hear him speak in church and Jenny (younger sister) sang the musical number. It just felt so good to be with family.
I did a lot of shopping and as Jenny pointed out I kept going to the same stores. I will admit I went to the Distribution Center 3 times. But give me a break we don’t have them around here. Anyways, it was wonderful to see everyone!
Ne Nephew: Joseph
New Niece: Lynzi
A special thanks to Nels for making it happen and enduring on without me. I have to brag about Nels. He picked me up at the airport and he brought me a huge bouquet of flowers. So sweet!
