Day 8: a place i've traveled

Back in August 2010 my momma, sisters, baby P. & I headed on a road trip from Washington to Texas. After we picked up my sister, Laura, in Rexburg, Idaho we followed the Mormon Trail backward to Nauvoo, Illinois hitting historical sights along the way. Besides all the squabbling we did :) it was a really amazing trip.    

Our first stop was the Martin's Cove Visitors Center.
This is where the Martin & Willie handcart companies were finally rescued.
Wyoming is so beautiful.

Devils Gate at Martin's Cove

P. was the best baby the entire trip!! Look at that cute bald head!!

Here we are standing in some actual Wagon Wheel Ruts that can be found at numerous places along the trail. 

Stretching their legs at a rest stop. 

Beautiful Winter Quarters Temple in Nebraska

This is at the Winter Quarters visitors center- my favorite VC.

Dancing in the corn in Nebraska. Yeah. we're cool.

My beautiful Momma!

The Kainsville Tabernacle, in Iowa, where the Prophet Brigham Young was sustained by the church.

Best traveler ever!

We kept seeing these signs when we were in Nebraska & Iowa. Rachel wanted to see some Amish people so bad!

This is at the actual location where Come, Come Ye Saints was written. It was down this crazy little dirt road.
Yes, we sang it there and the hymn has not been the same to me since.

On our way down that little dirt road we found an Amish community. Rachel was so excited!! It really was fun seeing men, women, and children all dressed just like you see them in the movies. The men all had beards too. But they looked liked they lived in regular houses and even had tractors, lawnmowers and other modern conveniences. One house even had a giant big toy!

Our toes in the Mississippi River. 

We finally made it!

Me and P. in the Red Brick Store. This is the room where the Relief Society was organized. The spirit was strong in this room and I could just picture the meeting there nearly 170 years earlier.

The Prophet Joseph Smith's grave. Buried with his brother Hyrum and his wife Emma.

One of my favorite places in Nauvoo was this beautiful sculpture garden. There were close to 15 sculpture with a corresponding scripture. All of the statues had to do with womanhood.

Here is Laura with her favorite statue. She had been recently engaged!

We took an authentic ox pulled wagon ride. The wagons were a lot narrower then I would've thought and the oxen were way slower then I pictured!

Beautiful Nauvoo Temple

This is looking across the Mississippi River from Montrose, Iowa. This is would've been the last view they had of their beloved city and the beautiful temple.

Feeding P.
The Carthage Jail is the brick building behind me.  Being able to stand in such historical places is very facinating. It brings things to life. It make stories we've only heard about real.

Us at Adam-ondi-Ahman.
Simply one of the most beautiful places on earth. Pictures don't do it justice.

This is a recreation of the actual Liberty Jail. It was so interesting and the story of how they have the actual measurements of the jail is unbelievable. 

We also were able to tour The Community of Christs' (formally the Reorganized Church) temple in Missouri. That was interesting. 

And our last stop before Texas was at the Oklahoma City Bombing memorial. If you ever have a chance to go, go.

We traveled through 11 states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas) and practically killed each other along the way. But following the path of my spiritual ancestors was such an unforgettable experience. 

It was awesome.