History

When we were doing this whole job interview Jake and I talked about all the pros to moving out to KS and all the fun new places we could visit.  I grew up traveling to church history sites with my family and always wanted to go back.  Jake hasn't been to any outside of Utah so visiting some of these special historic church places was at the top of our list.   

Two weekends ago we traveled up to the Independence Vistors' Center and Liberty Jail. It was interesting seeing what I remembered from when I was here last (like 13 maybe?) and watching Jake experience it for the first time.  Even though we were standing there seeing everything it was still hard to actually picture these men staying in that jail for months.  It is something that is hard to wrap your head around and yet at the same time makes reading the Scriptures and Doctrine and Covenants more amazing and spiritual uplifting. I wasn't able to get any pictures inside because Bubba was having a melt down but I snapped this one on the way in

Then this past weekend we decided to travel more then 30 min and go to Nauvoo! We debated about driving up Friday night when Jake got home, but just decided to wake up really early Saturday morning (4 am) and drive all the way.  One of my favorite things about living in KS is the sunrises and sunsets. Because most all of the land is completely, utterly flat all you see is the sun and its amazing!  I wish I could somehow capture how beautiful it actually is!

  

We started off with visiting Carthage Jail. I love this place! You start with a video on the prophet Joseph Smith and then move into the jail. They begin with telling you all about the jail and how the prophet came to be there. Jake and I were talking about how little it is known that he was sent here for his protection as opposed to being forced to be in jail. They then take you up to the room they were supposed to be in but since the room can get up to about 120 degrees the Jailer and his wife offered them their own personal room wish was cooler. The best part about visiting this jail is that all the inside doors are original. So when they close the door and play the hymn that was sung before the mob came in you can see the bullet hole that broke the door and the one that came through and killed Hyrum. Its a truly remarkable church history site and well worth visiting. 

We then traveled the rest of the Nauvoo and saw as much as we could until we were completely and utterly rained out. Of course it would rain the time I wear white shorts and forget our umbrella! Anyways we had fun while it lasted.  Now on to planning trips to Winters Quarters, Nebraska and a fun long trip to NY and DC with a stop at Palmyra.

We stopped to get lunch at a little bakery and tried to wait out the rain

The Mississippi River is HUGE

Hope your weekend was a wonderful! PS Congrats to my beautiful cousin Allie and Jared! We wish we could have been there, so excited for you guys to start this new life together!