We just got back from our week long vacation to Nauvoo. When i pictured my dream vacation it was definitely not snowy and cold! But our trip was a dream come true!
My grandparents served their mission to Nauvoo 15 years ago and we had the chance to go and visit them while they were there. Shortly after they returned home, the church announced that they were going to rebuild the Nauvoo temple and my Grandma told me and my sisters that one of us needed to go get married there so that she could go visit the new temple. Well she passed away before it was even dedicated and my Grandpa passed away a year and a half ago! So when mike got baptized we contemplated the idea of going to Nauvoo. I didn't think it would happen but then I heard rumors that the Boise temple would be closing. So we made our plans to go to Nauvoo! As the date got closer we realized that the Boise temple wouldn't be closing anytime soon but i was so excited about going to Nauvoo that we still planned our trip there.
Well we traveled all day saturday the 8th and finally got to Nauvoo! Our apartment was perfect and had plenty of space for all of us! Sunday we went to the local ward and then drove out to Carthage Missouri. What an amazing place to visit! it was so much fun seeing again the last place that Joseph Smith spent his time.
Monday we went sight seeing. We tried to see as many places as possible. Nauvoo is a little restored town that has lots of different shops that are run by missionaries. They are all set up to look like an 1800's home and they demo how people made things and such. The first place we visited was the brick yard where they used to make bricks. Maeli tripped and hit her face on the door jam so she had a huge lump on her face for the rest of the week. We also got to go on a carriage ride in the 20 degree weather and froze to death. But we came across the house my grandparent lived in when they were there. Then that night we got to go to Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo. Its a play that the missionaries put on. It made me remember my grandparents and we were all bawling by the end :)
Tuesday was the most special day! Mike and I both took out our endowments and then we were sealed to each other for all eternity! The most special and wonderful part though was when they brought Maeli into the room. She was so adorable all dressed in white! She was perfect!! i started bawling my eyes out and she just wanted me to hold her :) What a special and spiritual event.
Wednesday Brittany and Adam and my dad all flew home. Bryce, Mom, Mike and I stayed till friday. We saw some more sights and went back to the temple and just soaked up every ounce of the special spirit there in Nauvoo up that we could. We saw Rendezvous again!! Friday we flew back home and enjoyed the rest of our weekend.
It was definitely a wonderful week. We had so much fun having the whole town to ourselves! And I am so grateful to be sealed to my family now. I feel a much deeper love for Mike and we have both grown so much from it all!
