A Two Week Vacation to Nauvoo - Great Times!!

We left home on June 24th bound for Missouri and on to Nauvoo. It became so warm that we looked forward to the ride in an air-conditioned truck and sleep in an air-conditioned fifth-wheel. We are so blessed to have dry heat in Utah. When we got to Missouri it was 98* with 90% humidity. Good thing we took extra clothing!!

Grandpa & Grandma posing for a picture along the way. (Looks like the old tractor at home)

It is hard to choose just a few pictures to add from the hundreds that were taken along the way but to blog just a few .....

The group at Far West, Missouri

Far West was a fun place to visit. It is such a humbling experience to walk the paths of the pioneer saints and to see some of the sites of their hard labors.

We were excited to get to Kirksville and to visit with Bart, April and kids. One of the highlights of our visit was the meeting and blessing of our newest grandson, Elias.

April served a great breakfast for all and they came out to the camp with us for dinner later that evening.

Before leaving Kirksville, the Worthington's took us to an Amish and a Menonite store. Then we went on a tour of the tornado impacted community. The tornado took place just weeks prior to our visit. It was sad to see such destruction that can happen in just a matter of minutes.

Just one of the homes badly damaged by the tornado. Some were worse and some were just mildly hit. It was amazing to see how selective a tornado can be. One home could be nearly gone; whereas, the next one to it would have no damage at all. Amazing!!

Next, on to Carthage and Carthage Jail ....

The upper window where the Prophet was mortally wounded and fell to the ground.

Outside Carthage Jail

On to Nauvoo ........

Nauvoo Temple

On the wagon ride with our good friend, Elder (Dallas) Leishman, as our tour guide.

Setting up camp at Circle G campground in Carthage. We traveled back and forth to Nauvoo from Carthage each of the three days that we toured Nauvoo.

Caleb as wagon master.

It's on to the oxen and wagon ride!

Grandad taking a rest at the feet of Joseph and Brigham along the Trail of Hope.

The drug store at Old Nauvoo. Not exactly what Mike Sr. and Grandad are used to working in.

Grandpa and Grandma pause at the statue of Joseph Smith just outside one of the Nauvoo stores.

The Old School House was one of my favorite places in Nauvoo. The tour guides were great! We had a lesson in math, phonics and history.

Elder Leishman teaches Grandad how to make rope.

Elder & Sister Leishman

Lunch in Old Nauvoo

Gravesite of the Prophet Joseph Smith & family members. This site is owned by the Community of Christ church.

We had such a good time in Nauvoo but as in most vacations, we had some "down" times along the way. It seems like we spent more than our share of time like this ......

"We are running out of tires!" Note: Every job needs a supervisor ... In this case we have two.

Mike & Richard under the trailer again trying to fix electrical wiring. The blowout actually severed several wires. They taped them up and we were on our way again. We will have to have them fixed when we get back to Utah.

This one damaged the rim, hub and bearings.

April and kids returned to Utah with us! Three days on the road home was a little hard on the young and old.

The vacation experience was great! Although we had a few set backs, we could feel of the blessings, protection and love of our Father in Heaven. We realized that the things that happened could have been so much worse had it not been so. It seemed that each flat tire could have been so much worse had we not received a blessing with it. Our time at Nauvoo was a spiritual experience in itself as we walked the paths of the early saints and felt of the spirit there. We left there wishing we had more time to spend! Everyone needs to visit Nauvoo at least once in their lifetime. We feel happy and blessed to have had these experiences with the Fawcett's and especially with Grandma & Grandpa Fackrell and Grandad.