Monday began with us working in the Baptistry. Bridger and Sam came and did family baptisms. It was neat to have them there and participate in the ordinance. Of course we were excited to show them off as well. We had a steady stream of eleven families come in and then one large extended family came at 12 p.m. There was plenty of work to do.
When the boys were finished Kendal picked them up and took the children to some of the sites and attractions in the flats. We all met up for lunch at the apartment afterward and then did more sight seeing.
Here we are in the Heber C. Kimball home. He is the children's "Grandpa's Grandma's Grandpa!"
McKenna, Bridger, Kendal, Grandpa, Grandma. Eme, Nick (mouth open), Sam.
They had a great time at Pioneer Past Times in learning all the games and things to do there. We met up with Sister Queensberry whom the children had met on Sunday. They had a great time with her showing them how to play some of the games. She and Eme and McKenna are busy playing Fox and Geese.
Monday night we went to the Cultural Hall and saw Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo. We enjoyed the singing, dancing, and acting. Wow, those senior missionaries sure can do it! There was plenty of laughter, clapping, and cheering on our part.
Tuesday was busy with more time together. Kendal and I were to the temple and Bob had a doctor appointment. Kendal took the children to a few more sites and then it was time for them to head home. We traveled together to Carthage and Quincy. As we were coming to Hamilton Bob could see a barge coming to enter the lock. We took a detour and drove over to the bridge at Keokuk to watch the process.
It was a pretty windy day! Grandma, McKenna, & Kendal.
The barge is loaded in the lock and the water is rising for it to go out. When the tug entered the lock the orange life ring you can see was at the window of the tug cab. It was amazing to watch the tug rise up. The whole process took about an hour and was interesting to watch.
In the same area is the George M Varity Steamboat Museum. We stopped in and took a tour to see the runnings of a steamboat. We were able to go clear up to the wheel house and ring the bell.
We headed on to Carthage and watch the video and then tour the jail. Bridger, Nick, Eme, Sam, & McKenna.
We attended church in Nauvoo Third Ward on Sunday. During Sunday School they hold a class for visitors and the topic is history of Nauvoo. We went to it and learned a lot about early Nauvoo as well as present Nauvoo. Sister Martin was the teacher. She is the only person who owns and lives on the land her pioneer ancestors lived on in Nauvoo. She offered a tour of ancient burial mounds in the area at 5 p.m. We met her and others and took off to see the mounds.
Here we are with the group as Sister Martin (to the right of Dad) tell about the area and the mounds while pointing to the one behind the group.
The plaque at the site: "This is an area of many ancient burial mounds. There are ten large visible ones registered by the State of Illinois and dozens of smaller ones throughout these 20 acres. They date from the Mound Building Culture circa 300 B.C. - 500 A.D. This is sacred ground. It is up to us to protect these and other sites for future generations. Our own history is a continuation of those who lived, loved, and died on this river bluff and we will fail ourselves if we do not preserve these memorials of those who came before us. Please respect this area as you would any Cemetery or Native American Burial Grounds."
You can see how tall this one is with Dad standing to the side of it.
Some think these can be burial mounds from the Book of Mormon times. Some reasons stated: The Mississippi is the only river of its size in the Americas that can be walked across. Sidon means river of many fish and that is what the Mississippi is. If it is the River Sidon, then the Nauvoo area is the Valley of Gideon and Zarahemla is west across the river. The difference between a Lamanite Mound and a Nephite Mound is trinkets are found in a Lamanite mound as they were superstitious, and they are not found in a Nephite mound because they believed in God and Jesus Christ.
Another mound.
This little jail was built out of stone from the original temple. The big white thing between it and the temple is the city water tower.
Temple Fact: Plans to rebuild the Nauvoo Temple were announced on 4 April 1999, by President Gordon B Hinckley, and ground was broken that same October on the 24th. The 54,000-square-foot temple sits on the original 3.3-acre temple block. Just like the original temple, there are five floors and a basement level. The temple was financed by contributions from Church members throughout the world and was completely paid for when dedicated on June 27, 2002.
From Home:
Trevor was off to Washington D.C. to represent the National Children's Alliance. Here he is receiving the National Philanthropy Award from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Sister Joy D Jones, Primary General President. Wow, we have a famous person in our family!
Peanut is biting the bullet!
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