Nauvoo Trip 2010

Early Monday morning, 5am to be exact, we loaded up the truck and headed off to Nauvoo. I haven't been there for two years so I was especially excited to go once again. We took Cami along as she is always talking about "Auvoo." She insisted she have her picture taken with her babies.

The reason we planned the trip at the time we did was that Roland and Christi were getting married. I spent some time with them on Tuesday morning taking photos. I took more on Wednesday after the wedding.

It was a very hot and sticky time. The temps were in the 90's both Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was a bit cooler with the sun hidden for part of the day and the breeze blowing.

We saw several shows. The BYU international folk dancers were there so we watched their show on Monday night. We

saw High Hopes and River Boats as well. That show has changed so much since we first saw it. I enjoyed it none the less.

Erin and Pat spent some time in the temple on Tuesday morning. We went to see Just Plain Anna Amanda in the Cultural Hall. It's a show designed for children so they get to sit in the first two rows. Cami enjoyed that.

We went later in the day to see Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. I LOVE that film. I still get teary even though I know how it ends.

Cami loved the statue garden and had to have her picture taken with most of the statues. I especially loved this picture as she hugged the "little brother."

She got her own personal picture of the Savior to bring home with her. She would've liked to climb on the Christus but obviously we didn't let her.

We had dinner with the Fuller/Jefferson clan on Tuesday night. During which a storm came through and dumped about an inch of rain on us and cooled things down at least 20 degrees. That was wonderful!!!

Wednesday morning Pat and I headed to the temple. I had some thoughts on a particular scripture passage I've been studying, expanded as never before. It was so wonderful. I told Pat, even if I didn't do anything in the temple, it was worth going to receive that wonderful personal revelation.

As always, our trip was way too short and we had to come home before we got to do and see everything we would have liked to. Either way, we'll be back. I love Nauvoo and the special Spirit that is there. Next summer's youth conference is highly anticipated by one who has the opportunity to be the on-site coordinator.

My first bear sighting!

While at camp this week, Cheryl and I went to Antigo to make some photos at Walmart. On our way back I spotted this bear not far from the entrance to the camp. He/she was probably last year's cub as he was about the same size as a St. Bernard. I told Cheryl I saw either a dog or a black bear so we turned around to go find out. I didn't have my camera but Cheryl did so I rolled down my window and she shot these photos.

Cheryl and I shared a bunk house and in our sleep deprived state, we found humor in the following:

Bear Warning:

The Forest Service has issued a BEAR WARNING in the National Forests for the summer. They are warning everyone to protect themselves by wearing bells and carrying Pepper Spray. Campers should be alert of fresh bear activity and should be able to tell the difference between Black bear dung and Grizzly bear dung.

Black bear dung is rather small and round. It contains fruit seeds and/or has squirrel fur in it. Grizzly bear dung smells like pepper spray and has bells in it.

I had so much fun "living" with Cheryl for the past five days. We laughed ourselves silly.

Off to Girl's Camp

I'm off to girl's camp this morning and won't return until Friday. I hope to enjoy being with the girls once again. I know I'll enjoy being with the other sisters. I always do.

I Need Thee Every Hour

Today our choir sang I Need Thee Every Hour with an accompaniment by Suzanna and Jasmine on the violin. It was so beautiful. Not everyone was there to sing, but it was alright. I swear there are unseen angels that sing with the voices that are physically there. At times I hear them sing and it sounds great, but then there are times like today when I get goosebumps because it is celestial sounding. I love those beautiful voices that come to practice and then in turn perform. Just so you know, being part of the choir is one of the most rewarding things I've ever been involved with in the church.

Thunderstorms

After some intense storms yesterday and lots of potentially wild weather, we were blessed with this sight last evening. It was such a bright rainbow.

This is a shot of the sky off to the west. The clouds were beginning to clear and the sun was trying to come out.

We had inches of rain. So many inches that I had water standing in my garden.

When a lot of rain falls in a short time, there is always a puddle on the neighbor's lawn. This puddle was so large that it was on our lawn as well. as a kid we would have gotten out bikes and ridden through all the puddles while the last of the raindrops fell on us.

As you can see, the rainbow was "full." So often when there's a rainbow in the sky, we see only the ends of it, but not last night. We were blessed to have safety throughout all the storms that came through our area.

The Velvet Dress

When I was a little girl about 3, my mother sewed a red velvet dress for me. The velvet was so soft and I remember LOVING that dress. Well, I still have it. Cami tried it on this morning but didn't end up wearing it to church after all, which was okay with me since it's really getting quite fragile. Clare wore it for Christmas when she was 3. Therefore, I can officially say that this is a 3 generation dress. I don't know what I'll do with it other than take it out of my closet and look at it from time to time. It reminds me of my mom and if for no other purpose, I'll keep it for that reason. Yes, I am sentimental underneath all my brassiness.

Good-bye Old Friend

I should know by now that there is nothing that we own that is off limits to Craig's list when the price is right. Yesterday our motorcycle was posted on Craig's list and this afternoon a stranger drove off on it. We enjoyed it for nearly 5 years and we actually came out really great on the deal. Now to find another to replace it. We don't ride enough, but I will miss it until we get another one.