June 25, 2016 - Saturday in Nauvoo

We had another early morning walk with some very pleasant temperatures.  Today's high hit the low 90's with over 70% humidity, so the early morning walk was wonderful.  We had our morning devotional and prayers completed by 5:00am and were out walking all by ourselves.  The sun was making its way over the horizon, but never peeked over until we got back home at 6:15am.  We have been without any significant rain for several weeks and the grass is showing the effects;

5:30am walking down Parley Street

Another 5:30am view walking down Parley Street

Mom and I reported to the Handcart Station at 7:30am this morning.  We had 3 groups scheduled beginning at 9:00am.  Does it look like we are ready to go?

The Handcart Station - a little protected cove of cooler temperatures!

One of the three groups became a no-show.  We got everyone back from their trek experiences by 11:00am.  It is interesting to note how different the trek experience affects the families.  Some have such a spiritual connection with the pioneer Saints, and others seem to just make it back to the depot glad the experience is over.  We had a sweet family of three girls, ages of around 12 to 15, and a brother who was around 8, and their mom.  The dad had stayed home in Colorado to work.  What a missed opportunity for him!  

The boy was pretty miserable when he came in from the one mile trek, but the girls, and particularly the oldest daughter who was 15, seemed to have a connection to the Saints and the challenges the Saints had in traveling by handcart.  This older girl was dressed in the pioneer dress and bonnet and had experienced Martin's Cove, Rocky Ridge and Rock Creek in her stake trek last year.  She wanted to "re-connect" with that choice experience from last year.  I think she did, and I think her sister's were now anxious for their turn at Martin's Cove.  As they left the site to begin their trek, I mentioned to mom that this girl would make a great missionary, and when mom asked her if she was thinking about a future mission, after they returned to the handcart depot, she did not hesitate in saying, YES!

After both our groups got in, we got to call Cody and sing him the "Happy Birthday" song.  Happy Birthday, Cody!  Last year on your birthday we got to celebrate it with you when you and your family arrived in Carthage and stayed with us!  We sure love you and we hope you have had a great day!

Then, after our assignment for the day was completed here in the Handcart Station, we went home and prepared for the 1:00pm temple session.  By this time, the temperatures were heating up!  It was so nice to be in the temple! And then we found out that Zac was also in the temple back home in Rexburg!  This was his first time that he was able to go to the temple as a 12 year old, and he got to go with his mom and dad!

Our oldest grandson's first temple trip!  Way to go Zac!

How can we close out the day before we also recognized a second generation beauty queen?  Our Kenzie absolutely loves putting on her make-up!  I also understand that she is featured in some cosmetic endorsement contracts.... (room and board in payment)...

Mirror + Make-up = Happy Kenzie (mirror optional)

And finally, the heat was stifling as we came out of the temple session at 3:00pm today.  But I had to catch this picture of the clouds from the front portico of the temple;

Thunder-heads building up over the Mississippi

It has been a great day!  Thank you for checking in with us tonight!  We love you, and we are so looking forward to the Sabbath Day tomorrow!  What would we do without the Holy Sabbath Day?  Oh, and one final picture tonight of an exhausted shopper.  He was out doing the Costco run with mother and sisters and it just plain tuckered him out yesterday! -

Is that the look of comfort in the car seat?