Beautiful Nauvoo

Spur of the moment.

Last weekend, the day before the Castillos got baptized, Ammon came to tell me about his plan. We'd leave for Nauvoo right after the baptism and come back the next day. ONE DAY IN NAUVOO with 14 hours travel time? No way. So, I changed it to the next weekend so we'd have at least two days, and we'd leave Friday 9/11. So, dressed in red, white and blue, we started on our journey early that morning with Teri and Joe following behind in their brand new 2010 black Camaro (which everyone is completely obsessed with).

Five states.

Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois. More to add to Matthew's list. For some reason, we didn't think it would take us as long as mapquest told us it would. We ended up arriving in Nauvoo a little over eight hours after we left. Long drive for us, much longer for Matthew.

September 11th.

I couldn't believe that it was already 9/11 as we were driving. I remember 2001 like it was yesterday really. I was sitting in my first hour trig class my sophomore year and had already been to seminary. Mr. Turner immediately told us about the attacks when the bell rang, and most of us hadn't heard. The rest of the day, we watched the news and saw the second tower fall. Even on the west coast, America was in mourning even though when it was on the east that everything happened. I remember thinking, even though I was only 15, how eery it was that at that one moment, there was not an airplane in the sky. I wrote in my journal that day, knowing that it would go down in history. I remember everyone crying and President Bush's voice heard over the news, radio and TV both. To think that it has been eight years already made me think how much our patriotism has changed since then. Can you imagine, eight years ago, when every American was flying and waving our flag on cars, doors and houses, that we would be electing a president with the name Obama? Wasn't it Osama that was responsible for most of the attacks? Now, it's rare to see a flag at all, much less people being polite, friendly and giving to everyone. I remember not even hearing people honk on the road, yell in the stores or show an unfriendly jesture. We were united and it seems like that was so much longer ago than eight years.

Teri called him the golden child

Parley Street.
It wouldn't have been a Nauvoo visit without the very first stop being the temple. That vision of the temple popping out from the trees as you drive on the curve of the 96 never gets old. I got butterflies as we drove across the river and thought about visiting such a wonderful place. The spirit, even in the car, was much more than anything that could be replicated anywhere else. The next best thing is walking down Parley Street, to feel the Saints' spirits and testimonies of the temple, Joseph and the Lord.

I was the mid-wife and delivered nine babies that night.

This sentence never gets old. I think seeing it this time really hit home for me. The last time I was there was when I went through the temple for the first time in March 2007, and having a baby was the last thing on my mind. Now, with Matthew being only one, I can still remember how much I couldn't stand being pregnant. Honestly, how hard did I have it? I realized how much I complain, how much better I can be, and how much more is expected out of me.

Matthew got to put his feet in the Mississippi as well, something I didn't do until I was 18-years-old!

Joe, Ammon and Matthew with one of the statues of Christ

Statues from Kirtland.

Ammon was so excited when he learned that the woman who had done the statues we saw in Kirtland had moved them to Nauvoo. We aren't sure where they are headed after they leave Illionois, but we'd like to follow them wherever they're going to. First thing Saturday, we headed straight to the Visitors' Center, got to go on the carriage ride (Matthew was afraid of the horses we found out), and started on the flats.

The Relief Soceity gardens.

We were the models for this one

The Brick Yard (they changed it from the last time I'd gone. They added three news rooms to do the tours)

Do you have a hanger by chance?

The sites are only open from 9-5 after Labor Day so needless to say, we kind of skipped lunch at ate before the tour of the Joseph Smith sites started. The only thing opened when we were ready to eat was the Nauvoo Bakery so we ate some sandwiches. As Ammon was changing a diaper, Matthew was playing with the jeep keys. He ended up throwing the keys beneath the seat and since he had locked the door, Ammon finished up and left the keys inside. He asked the girls working for a hanger and they thought he was nuts. They actually had two that were holding up shirts for sale and Joe and Ammon were able to break in just in time for us to head on over to the Red Brick Store before it closed.

The temple.

Since all the sites closed at five on Saturday, Ammon and I were fortunate to be able to go through the last session that night and Matt stayed with Teri and Joe at the hotel. Joe was sick and Matthew was pretty worn out, so they relaxed and we rushed off. The session was wonderful and I loved getting to see it again for the second time. It was our first time going together in a long time, so it was much needed and much appreciated.

Paintings of women without mouths.

Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo. Who could really visit Nauvoo without seeing this performance?! We were able to hit the second show Saturday night and while Joe stayed at the hotel, we had to be split up in the Cultural Hall since we ended up being late after the session. Matthew continued to rock out to all the music and we laughed pretty hard at the jokes and the senior missionaries who do such a good job. In it, Agatha is constantly on her husband's back about one thing or another. Finally, she asks him why he stopped painting pretty things like birds and flowers and started painting women that didn't have any mouths. The whole audience laughed out loud, but you could easily hear Ammon's laugh above anyone else! He wasn't even sitting next to either Teri or me, but his was definitely the loudest! RUDE!

Carthage Jail.

Sunday started off with a bang when the Castillos started home unexpectedly. Joe ended up not feeling well, so it was just Ammon, Matthew and I that got to go to church together. We learned how blessed we are (the bishop's wife told a story about how the car they had growing up only went in reverse) and we learned about being more humble (I'm still working on it). Afterwards, we checked out of the hotel, ate at Grandpa John's Cafe on Mulholland Street, and headed to Carthage before we headed home. I was reminded of the 23 mile walk we took from Nauvoo to the jail when I was living there, and I became that much more grateful for our car! The spirit in the jail was a sad one, but we grew for a better appreciation of Joseph and Hyrum. I learned something new as well...Joseph was the only one actually being held in the jail. The other nine people there with him were simply there to support him and Hyrum actually died in support of his brother. Ammon still wants to name our next boy Hyrum and after hearing that story, I am almost willing to let our next son have that middle name!

Thank you Matthew...

Such a faker.

The boys. Love all of them. Matthew cheesed it up in this one.

Keokuk.

Yes, that's me with Walmart. Since this was our hangout when I lived in Nauvoo, we couldn't leave town without visiting first.

Nauvoo is a wonderful place and I am so grateful for the Saints, Joseph and for the temple! I can't wait to go again! Matthew will never remember any of this, but I just keep remembering what an elder said to us when we visited Kirtland. It is so good to take even your babies to places they can feel of the spirit. I know Matthew will not remember, but we are blessed to have the experience, and I know one day, he'll thank us. I just hope the Castillos got to feel of the same spirit that we did.