Mormon History Pilgrimage

The troops and I just got back from an LDS history tour. First Stop was Independence, MO. to see the temple site.

For those raised in Missouri (especially the western part) it is required that we periodically visit Harry Truman's home, so we took the opportunity to punch that ticket.

Then it was on to Liberty, MO. to see the jail.

 

 After that we went to Far West and took in the temple site.

 Adam-Ondi-Ahman is only a valley, but it is very beautiful place to reflect on the history.

 For an added bonus, we stopped by Polo, MO. to honor the birthplace of my Mother.

 Then it was on to Omaha, where we did a session at the Winter Quarters Temple.

 There is a really nice visitors center across the street, where we learned more about the pioneers.

 Although the Saints only spent the winter at "Winter Quarters", over 600 of them died and were buried up in this Mormon Cemetary.

The Ozark Garden

Behold the Ozark garden – complete with trucked in dirt and a fence to keep the “critters” out. The plan is to expand each year by 64 sq. ft. (because the 2x8’s are 8 ft. long). Try not to be jealous.

Memorial Day in Drexel

Audrey, Neva and I just got back from spending the long weekend in Drexel with Mom. We had to check out the old neighborhood so we drove by this barn which was once a hide-out for Jesse James!

The highlight of the trip was Saturday when Neva & I went to the newly opened Kansas City Temple! We didn't have reservations so we went early and squeezed into the 9:00 session. It was beautiful and even smelled new!

Weekend in Memphis

Neva & I made plans to meet Tony & Charlie just south of Memphis to pick up Audrey for a visit. We decided to take advantage of the opportunity to get a closer look at what Memphis had to offer!



We started off the week-end with a temple session. (Most people we talked to didn't even know there was a temple in Memphis!) 

Then it was off to the famous Beal Street to take in "Africa in April", which was basically a corvette  show with lots of soul food, vendors selling African products and street musicians playing the blues!

For the benefit of those of you not into the Blues (and as such don't know about "The Beal") it is the birth place of the Blues. This is a statue of W.C. Handy, the blues granddaddy of them all.

 After Beal St. we went to Union Ave. to tour the Sun Records studio. This is the desk where Elvis bugged the secretary for a year before she talked the owner into giving him a chance.

 The highlight for me was getting to sing into the same mike that Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins used in their orginal recordings at the studio.

This old studio is hallowed ground for musicians and has attracted many other artists like Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. These drums were used by U2 in recording their Rattle & Hum album.

A Trip to Nauvoo

Neva and I just returned from a wonderful trip to Nauvoo and Carthage, Ill.! It was a very spiritual and emotional experience we wish we could have shared with all of you. Since that was not possible, we will share some of our favorite pictures!

Neva by the "Mansion House" which was the last residence Joseph and Emma shared in Nauvoo. 

We found it ironic that the Community of Christ owns the land where Joseph and Hyrum (as well as other members of the Smith family) are buried.

I have been reading the "History of Joseph Smith" by Lucy Mack Smith and she is my hero! I have a new appreciation for her, she was so spiritual and long suffering!

The Carthage Jail and the infamous second floor window. We toured the jail and sat in the room where the Prophet Joseph Smith was being held when the mob arrived. Being in that room where the Prophet Joseph had been was such a touching and spiritual experience!

On the way back home we stopped in Hannibal, MO., the birthplace of Mark Twain. Naturally I had to take my turn white washing the fence!!!!!

Happy Army Nurse Corps Birthday / Valentines Day

Neva decided to celebrate Valentines Day by making me a red velvet cake. This is special because our wedding cake was red velvet and as such; a symbol of love.

 We decided to celebrate the Army Nurse Corps Birthday (Feb 2) by consuming a big cookie (mainly because Neva had been given one). As you can see we have a major oral gratificaton problem which we are celebrating by extra time on the tread mill!!!!!

More fun than I can stand (almost)!

I am in NC this week looking after the munchkins while Matt & Steph are in Utah attending Kevin's wedding. The easy part is getting up at 05:30 to get 4 kids off to school. As for the hard part:
If you ever look up the term "high maintenance" this is probably the picture you will see by it.

Guess who took this photo.