City of Jospeh

1,200 miles in two days equaling twenty hours in the car  was totally worth it 

just to spend a few days with our favorite missionaries 

and finish out our church history tour.

Darren and Loalee are loving their mission.  They are thriving there, I'm afraid they won't want to come home. It was so wonderful to see them, listen to their stories and feel of their testimonies.

 Darren gets up first and usually walks to the barn every morning to harness the horses and participate in a teamster devotional. We went with him one morning and the elders sang Cold, Clear Water a'Capella, just for us!  Loving it doesn't even begin to express how great it was.  

We loved all of our wagon rides, cold though they may have been.

Gavin can't wait to wear a name tag just like his grandpa!

Loalee was able to guide quite a few of our tours that first day, as it was their p-day.

She shared how our Grandpa Jeremiah Hatch starred in Pizarro, the first play produced in the Nauvoo Cultural Hall.  He shared the stage with some big names like B. Young and G. A Smith, E. Snow.

 

Would you believe Hyrum's dance partner Kelli was in Nauvoo on vacation at the same time? She was more than happy to preform their routine on the upstairs dance floor for our Grandparents!

Gavin's favorite site was the blacksmith and 

everybody loved their prairie diamond ring.

In the dry goods store:

Grandpa teaching us how to be coopers.

Grandma showing off her spinning skills:

In the school house:

Grandma and Mark teaching us in the 70's Hall, (aka the predecessor of the MTC).

This statue always reminds me of my sister Amy who's passed on, 

loved getting to see the original:

I think we were able to see all the sights in our four days. 

Plus, had time for extras like a drive by Jeremiah Hatch's house.

While we took the teens to do baptisms one afternoon, Grandpa who finishes his day earlier than Grandma took Hollie and Gavin to collect shells along the river 

and visit a fun park.

That evening after Jotham and I went back to do a session, we found some original temple clothing framed and on display in one of the temple hallways which was really cool.

There is something about the City of Joseph, a feeling.

That sense of gratitude and awe mingled with reverence.  

Learning all that our ancestors fought for and struggled with and gave up...

All for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Its humbling and strengthening.

We finished our last day with a visit to Carthage.

 And while all of Nauvoo was fun and uplifting, 

going stick hunting with Grandpa on the one warm-ish day we had 

was probably the kids all time favorite thing we did. 

Nothing beats a romp in the woods

searching for that elusive hard wood called "osage orange"

that according to our favorite missionary 

makes the perfect walking stick. 

And with that bundle of sticks secured to the roof, we repeated that 1200 mile journey back home.

And as we drove into the green, green valley after the brown and barren wasteland known as Wyoming, we knew that this was still the "right place!" and it felt so good to be home!