On Saturday of last week, we packed up the car and left for a week-long road trip! My sister’s daughter, Mandy, won herself a spot as a performing missionary playing trombone in the Nauvoo Brass Band and we thought it would be great fun to see her at it. It had been 9 years since our last trip to Nauvoo and my kids still remembered it as one of their most favorite vacations ever, so why not do a repeat? Especially since Mandy would be there? It has been so awesome and we are so glad that we did!

On Saturday we had lunch at Little America in Wyoming where Grandpa Jim worked as a teenager and was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We had dinner at a rest stop and arrived at our hotel in North Platte around 10pm. The girls rated each bathroom along the way and took a picture in the mirror of each bathroom. They’re so fun. We listened to the 12-hour playlist we created special for the trip, and also listened to Saints on the gospel library.

Little America ice cream cones!

This was the last rest stop in Wyoming where we had dinner.

On Sunday, we had lunch in a park in Lincoln, NE and then attended church at the same building Kevin and I attended when we were in Nebraska for his master’s degree. We drove by our old house and the UNL campus and then drove the rest of the way to Kevin’s cousin’s house in Gallatin, Missouri where he provided dinner for us. Mike and Laura were excited to see us again and were such wonderful hosts. They took us to see Adam-Ondi-Ahman that night as it is just a few miles from their house.

Cali found a dinosaur with a saddle!

Dressed alike

Where the history of the Katy and Kevin Skinner family started.

Also dressed alike!

Preacher's rock.

Look at that moon!

On Monday, we drove down to Independence, MO and toured the visitor’s center, learning about the settlement the saints had there. Then we stopped at the new Kansas City temple before heading to Liberty Jail to learn how Joseph suffered but also grew in his understanding of God while incarcerated. We drove from there to the Far West temple site, looked out over the sprawling corn fields and tried to imagine 3000 people living there. We finished the day by driving over several dirt roads to see the site of the old Haun’s Mill settlement. That night we had pizza at Mike and Laura’s again and played games in their big yard.

Mariah found pretty places to run.

Independence visitor center in the background while we stand on the temple site.

Kansas City temple!

Liberty Jail

Far West temple site

Kevin with his cousin, Mike Bird.

On Tuesday, we woke up early to get to Nauvoo and meet Amy and her family at the “singing tree” for Mandy’s first performance of the day. Mandy was in charge! She announced the songs and interacted with the crowd AND ran over to all of us and gave us big hugs. She was so happy! We were so happy! It was such fun! We saw some more performances that day from the singing/acting missionaries and toured some of the sites before seeing Mandy’s band performance in the concert hall of the visitors center at 2:30. And Mandy sang! Accompanied by the band, she sang, “Here is Hope,” from the Lamb of God. It was beautiful and one of my favorite parts of the day. We drove down to our bnb after that and Amy made us all dinner. We drove back to Nauvoo in the evening for the big band, singing, dancing, acting show “Sunset on the Mississippi.” We cheered and hollered and clapped along in delight. What fun! After the show, we drove to Parley Street for the “Trail of Hope.” We walked from the Seventies Hall down to the Mississippi River and along the way were educated by actors and actresses who quoted from journals and letters of saints who expressed their feelings and experiences when having to leave Nauvoo behind. It was beautiful.

On Wednesday, we started at Pioneer Pastimes and met up with Diane! She and their family drove up from St. Louis where they were visiting to spend the day with us. We went on a wagon ride, toured more sites, saw more performing shows, and had lunch with Mandy and her companion on Main St. At 4:00 we saw “Remembering Joseph,” another great performing show in the visitors center and then hustled up to the temple for a 5:00 baptism appointment. I went to the playground with Hannah, Ezra, Roxabelle, and Jocelyn. We had a great time, but so did all those who went in the temple. Ben was baptized for Paul’s dad and Liam did baptisms for the first time. What a great experience! Diane’s family left after that. The rest of us had some sandwiches at a picnic table, waited out the rain, and were able to watch a late-start of “Sunset on the Mississippi” again!

On Thursday, after a little sleeping in and a good breakfast, we went to Carthage Jail. We were touched by Joseph and Hyrum’s testimony and their willingness to endure even a martyr’s death for their Savior and the things they knew to be true and necessary for the Kingdom of God. Amy and her family left after that. We went back to the bnb for a hot lunch then went back to Nauvoo to see the last couple of performing shows we’d missed, tour some more sites, visit Joseph’s house, and yes, see “Sunset on the Mississippi” for the third time. We got goodbye hugs from Mandy, went back to the bnb, the kids did their own reenactment of “Along Came Jones,” and we called it a night.

On Friday, we headed home! We had one last stop to make at Winter Quarters just across the Missouri River. We learned about the trek west and that eventually 100,000 saints made the trek to Salt Lake City before God called it good and asked instead that the saints make strong stakes of Zion right where they were at. I’m so grateful for the strength all the gathering provided because now there is a church that gives strength to millions and blesses my life with an individual, beautiful relationship with my Savior. Hurrah for Israel! Love this church. Love Nauvoo. Love my family and the chance to share all this with them. Life is so, so good.

Had to get Runzas in Nebraska

Ice cream cones at Little America, again