Nauvoo, Illinois - Part I

Poppy and Jace in front of the Nauvoo, Il. temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

After Jill and Will arrived at our house Ryan and I ran around like chickens for well over an hour packing. We left late and had to make a mad dash to Nauvoo. We made it just in time for Ryan and I to do a temple session.  During which, we left Robin and Rue in charge of the Grandparents!

Outside the Zion Mercantile store.

As you can see, those Grandparents had a marvelous time!

I love this monument.  It depicts Hyrum and Joseph looking back on their beloved city on their way to Carthage.  It sits across the street from the temple.

Mom and Dad in front of the Abbott Manor.

We were so fortunate to get to stay at the Rufus Abbott Manor House.  It was built in 1839 by Mr. Abbott.

He lived there until his exodus west in 1846.  This home is rented to one family at a time, so it was all ours for our stay.

Here is an upstairs bedroom.

Me and Dad in the dining area.

Us!

Here is the kitchen with original fireplace and period furnishings. 

                                                                                                           

Ryan and Grace in the enclosed porch dining area.

The view from the back porch or east side of the home-I can't tell which.  But beautiful!

But best of all was the kitchen drawer!

Before the pageant, Jace got all the official pageant and church news read.

That evening we went to the pageant. 

Boston--look who I met at the pageant. I forgot her first name!  But she said you were really good friends.  Her last name is Harris.

Here is the temple up on the hill overlooking the pageant-so gorgeous.

After the pageant was over and we got the blanket of bugs scraped off our car and windshield, we went back and hung out together at the Manor.

Listening to music, telling stories, and eating large quantities of Reese's Pieces!

It was so fun just being together. 

I was feeling really sick again.  I had been suffering with the flu for the previous 24 hours-such great timing- so I had to go to bed, but it sounded like they were having a wonderful time.