Our Nauvoo Trip-part one

What a great summer we had! The highlight of our summer was our much anticipated trip to Nauvoo, Illinois to visit Lance's parents while they were on their mission there and to see and do everything. We have been hoping to go ever since they received their mission call and left two years ago. Because of our crazy house adventure we didn't get to go the first summer of their mission. However, after putting things in the right order and paying off all of our debts, except our house, and saving for the trip and Lance's parents extending their mission an extra six months we were able to make it. It was worth all of the effort!!! I think it even ment more to us because of the extra effort put into planning and working for the trip. In about March, Thayne started praying for us to be able to go almost daily from the time we told them we thought we could do it. What an example of faith he is in our lives.

After the month of June, which focus was me getting ready for Girls' Camp and the month of July with weeks of swimming lessons, Dallin's 12th birthday (more later) and a super fun visit from my parents (more later, too), we made it to the magical day.

We left Nampa with our van loaded up with food, videos, Dave Ramsey podcasts, new sunglasses, four clean changes of clothes for everyone plus Sunday clothes and a favorite blanket on Monday, August 4. We drove all day to Laramie, Wyoming only stopping for several bathroom breaks and lunch in Bountiful, Utah. Unfortunately, I didn't read all of the mapquest directions and I took us through Salt Lake City to I-80 instead of heading through Ogden Canyon. It was a bit longer--about an hour or two. Next time I'll already know that. We headed for Laramie, Wyoming where we stayed at a hotel with a pool and in a room with three queen beds. This was our long day of driving.

Tuesday morning we headed out for Nebraska. This was an exciting day because it was the first time for Bruce, Thayne, Hunter and Luke to be in a new state to them. Thayne and Bruce moved into the middle of the van and we had a much more peaceful drive across the very long state. A favorite memory is of Hunter and Luke at a rest stop just outside of Lincoln. They were just standing on the sidewalk staring at some bushes very intently. As I walked closer to them I could hear what they were looking for and not understanding, cicadas. We stopped for lunch at a Wendy's along I-80. We made it to Bellevue, Nebraska which is outside of Omaha where we stayed with friends from Utah State, Dave and Dayna Scott. We haven't seen them in lots of years and it was so fun to get to visit them and meet their children. While we were there the local fire department came to the neighborhood for the "neighborhood night out" or something like that. They were so nice and let the children try on their helmets, pants, boots, and coats. Hunter, Luke, and Elizabeth Scott all enjoyed the fun.

Wednesday morning we visited a bit more--the boys all really liked playing with Josh--and then we loaded up and headed for Nauvoo. We drove through Iowa to Des Moines where we headed south. This drive was our shortest day, but we did get lunch outside of Iowa City. This is important, because this was the point were Dallin decided he wanted to make sure he had a meal in every state he went through. We made it Ft. Madison and weaved through the city toward the Mississippi River just in time to wait for the draw bridge. The boys were impressed with the size of the river and the bridge. Then we headed straight to Nauvoo and went to the Visitors' Center to find Sister Warnick. Thayne noticed the original 1840's sunstone encased in glass in front of the Visitors' Center and he was so excited because that is what is on the front of their Nauvoo shirts they got for Christmas two years ago. The sunstones became one of the boys' favorite things in Nauvoo. We headed up to the barn to say hi to Grandpa. Then we drove around for a few minutes to get our bearings. We found their house and unloaded a bit before dinner. We were able to eat dinner with Grandma and Grandpa every night we were there, but then shortly afterward they would be off to do their next assignment. Wednesday night took us to "Rendezvous" which is a play that is put on all year long by the missionaries. It was great to see what we've been reading about for years!

Thursday morning we headed over for a wagon ride around Nauvoo which Grandma was working on that day. So we saw Nauvoo and learned about the many places we could go visit while we were there. We saw the Joseph Smith movie at the Visitors' Center and took pictures in the Women's Garden. We saw several sites that day and then after dinner we went to the pre-show for the pageant and played games. Thayne is super good and rolling a metal hoop with a stick and Bruce liked it too. Luke was in two sack races and loved them. This is where Dallin pulling his brothers in a handcart. Afterward we enjoyed the pageant which was spectacular. My favorite part was went Joseph Smith first came on stage and gathered a bunch of children around him to talk to them. I looked over at Luke and he was listening to him just as intently as if the actor really was Joseph and he was really there with Joseph. Then I noticed that all of my children were watching with just am much intensity. The feeling was very strong that this was truly how children felt about Joseph then. I have no doubt that Luke would feel that way if he meet Joseph in person. The message of the pageant is very strong that the spirit of our forebears lives on in the beautiful city for us and when we come to the city of Nauvoo they are there too.

It is an incredible feeling to see just a glimpse of what my ancestors left and lost, but willingly pressed forward across the plains to settle in Utah. I am so grateful they left and stayed strong and grew stronger in the gospel. I'm especially grateful they passed it on to their children so that I could be blessed in my life from the very beginning of it because of them.

Well, this is just the first part of the "best vacation ever" according to the Warnick boys. I'll work on adding more in a few more days. Enjoy the pictures which accompany this post on the slide show.