In March our family and Daniel's brother's family (Benji, Norma, Mariah, Lucy, and Ethan) had a wonderful vacation in Nauvoo. Our first stop was the Visitor's Center and the garden of statues behind it. It is a peaceful and special place.

Then we went to the Family Center to learn how they lived in Nauvoo in the days of Joseph Smith.


We learned how the whole family worked together once a year to make candles using boiled down animal fat, string, and rocks,



And how they made bread ,

And rope.

Elora announced to me early in the trip that she was going to stay with Lucy. She did!


Naomi loved playing with the kinds of toys children back then would have had.

I bet they didn't have a baby back pack, but it's a good thing we did! Levi pretty much missed out on all his naps during our trip.


Next we rode in a wagon drawn by two horses that took us around the town. Naomi used her dollar store reading glasses (with lenses removed) to ensure clear vision.

All of the buildings looked like this. This store and home belonged to "the" Jonathan Browning of gun innovation fame.


And here is the beautiful temple, so full of symbolism of the history of the people who built the original one and their sacrifices and faith. Over and over again we looked at that building and the beautiful, quiet town and marveled that the saints willingly left it all behind, as they had done so many times before, in search of somewhere remote enough that they wouldn't draw the violent attention of misinformed neighbors. I felt grateful that my misinformed neighbors will at least let me share their town without fear of physical danger. Some here in Arkansas truly believe my family and I are going to hell, but at least they don't try to send us there prematurely! I also felt that if God asked those saints to sacrifice their blood, sweat, and tears to build a temple He knew they'd have to leave and they obeyed and prospered in the end, I can also obey when the command may not make sense and may seem to take me away from my righteous desires. We all just need to trust the Lord, no matter what.






Next we pulled handcarts across one mile of rough and muddy terrain, through cow pies/pastures, up and down hills and through creeks.


Daniel and I quite enjoyed the challenge, but the girls definitely did not. It was cold, scary, and as Vivian announced, "dangerous!"



Handcarts were used by families who could not afford wagons and oxen. It worked, but it sure was a lot of work!



Some must push and some must pull! The extra female helper is Jen, a family friend who came along.





We watched a video about the life of Joseph Smith and learned how he was spoken of by saints and historical figures.






Here we are posing outside the Carthage jail where Joseph and Hyrum were killed. Touring the jail was a sacred experience.
Joseph fell out of the top window after being shot both from outside and inside the building.





We also fit in a quick and cold Easter egg hunt in the snow






Before we left town we made time to pose near the temple.