Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.
Conner is CONSTANTLY hungry, hence his size. We decided it was high time he tried something a little more substantial. Our first try with rice cereal was a big hit. He got very excited, flailing all about and opening his mouth wide.
July 8, 2008
Liberty Jail - Joseph, Hyrum, and a few others were put in this jail for about 4 months in the winter when the temperatures got done to 30 below. The ceiling was only 6 feet high, and one of the men was about 6 foot 7 inches, and had a hunched back for the rest of his life, as a result of staying here.
Jesse James' Farm - We found this by accident!
Adam-ondi-Ahman
(I broke my shoe here racing RJ back to the car, and didn't even win. I bought flip flops at Wal-Mart, which of course gave me blisters, and then had to buy socks and looked like a dork for the rest of our vacation wearing socks and tennis shoes.)
The journey begins.
"Prairie Diamonds" - We received these at the Blacksmith Shop, they are nails made into rings.
At the Blacksmith Shop, the "blacksmith" demonstrated how early pioneers made horseshoes, by making this tiny one while we watched. He then gave it to Sienna because she had the nearest birthday from anyone in that tour.
Seventies Hall
Oxen Ride - Yes, I am holding the horn of a real, live ox.
This is a view of the temple from the Trail of Hope (or Trail of Tears). This is what the Saints saw as they were leaving Nauvoo.
We found a turtle!
Statue of Brigham Young and Joseph Smith at the bottom of Parley Street (Trail of Hope), looking out at the Mississippi River, contemplating where they are going next.
The kids and dad in front of the Mississippi.
Mom giving us a tour of the post office.
Ryan was most excited to visit this home and show of Jonathan Browning, inventor of a revolving rifle (I might have remembered that wrong).
Sunset on the Mississippi
Before the show, all the kids got to make hats and march in a parade banging sticks together. RJ is above. Braden is below. Braden wouldn't take any sticks and it was difficult to convince him to march, but by the end, he was the last on stage and wouldn't get off!
Mom kicking up her heels in her dance solo.
Mom playing the spinster sister.
Ryan on stage being honored as a Marine.
Wagon Ride, Mom gave us the tour. It took us through Old Nauvoo to see all the houses and buildings that have been restored.
Heber C. Kimball's house - Mom gave us the tour.
Porter Rockwell's property (Ryan's hero)
This sign is next to the temple and I thought it was funny.
"Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo" - This is a little show put on by all the senior missionaries and was lots of fun.
Mom has a friend who gave us this buggy ride - not something most people visiting will ever get the opportunity to do. He told a great story about Isaiah somebody who never used a whip on his horses and people would tease him about it. One day Joseph Smith asked him why he didn't use a whip, Isaiah said, "You know I would never whip my horses," and Joseph said, "I think you ought to buy yourself a whip." So Isaiah immediately bought one that very day. The next day, as he was halling rock for building the temple, his horses were spooked and started prancing, which caused his wagon to start sliding toward a cliff. Everyone was telling him to jump, but he remembered the whip, whipped each horse once, and was pulled to safety. The moral of the story is, if a prophet speaks, listen.
One of Ryan's favorite memories of his grandparents' house in Salt Lake City were the snapdragons. He was very excited to find some in Nauvoo, and helped the kids pick one and showed them how to make them open and close like a dragon.
Conner was such a good boy for the whole week, always stuck in his carseat, but as joyous as ever!
Family Living Center - This is where the kids learned how to make a rope and got to keep the rope we made. We also learned about making bread and candles with animal fat, yuck!
Carriage Ride - This ride was a very spiritual journey through the country of Nauvoo. We were told many stories about brave pioneers who used to live here.
Women's Garden
The Women's Garden is on the site where my ancestors, Howard Coray & his wife, Martha Jane Knowlton, used to live in Old Nauvoo. My mom gathered us here, and told us one of my favorite stories, of how they met and fell in love. When Howard Coray first came to Nauvoo, he introduced himself to Joseph Smith, who immediately asked him to be his clerk, and of course Howard accepted. Howard was a small man and one day when he was walking with the prophet, Joseph Smith said something like, "It's too bad you're not a larger man, I would like to have some fun with you." Howard said, "Don't let that stop you," to which Joseph responded by putting a hold on his leg and accidentally breaking it. He felt really bad and carried Howard to his house and set the leg. He kept checking on Howard, and at one time, Howard asked for a blessing, which Joseph gave him, and part of the blessing promised he would soon meet someone to marry. It wasn't long after that he met Martha Jane Knowlton, and it was love at first sight.
Picnic at Nauvoo State Park with our family and all the bugs!
Marina & Ed relaxing in the Women's Garden
3 generations
These two pictures are inside the Nauvoo Visitor's Center. This is where we watched the Joseph Smith movie, the show, "High Hopes and Riverboats," and another short video called "Remembering Nauvoo" that mentions our ancestors Howard & Martha Coray
