The Drive...

Over 40 hours of driving...

More than 2800 miles...

Three kids, a Uhaul and a minivan...

Only two breakdowns/delays... (a tire explosion on the Uhaul when we were in the middle of nowhere in Nebraska; not ideal, but we dealt with it. And having the breaks replaced in the van while in Kansas City, Missouri) We were VERY blessed to not have any major problems.

And this AMAZING lady who literally made moving clear across the United States stress-free and fun. She also helped me stay awake the ENTIRE time so I can actually say I drove every mile! A few of those miles were spent driving the Uhaul while Thayne slept, but I think it made me appreciate what he did for a week straight. That Uhaul was AWFUL to drive! I was praying the entire time I drove (which happened to be in the middle of the night down a winding mountain pass somewhere between Nashville, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina) that we would arrive safely. We did arrive in one piece and I gained a new appreciation for Thayne and all that he had been through driving that thing the whole way. 

Raylene was a lifesaver for us. I won't mention how nice it was to have adult conversations the whole way either. Haha. Needless to say, I miss her more than I imagined I would so I'm hoping she gets bored in the deserts of Utah and feels the need to pay us a visit in the future. (hint, hint)

I wish I could post all the pictures that we took while driving, but that would take forever. This was a giant nutcracker in Nebraska by a gas station where we stopped for a bathroom break. Thayne was sitting on the side of the road stranded at the time, waiting for the repair guy to come fix his tire while we tried to get to the hotel before midnight. (we arrived at the hotel around 11:00 but Thayne didn't get there until 6:00 the next morning. Poor guy!)

We saw a lot of flooding through Missouri and Iowa. The rivers rising and the rain made fields look like lakes. It was so beautiful though, everything was incredibly green and lush. 

 We decided to make some fun stops along the way since we would be driving close by anyway. It was a good thing we did. After driving for three days it was the perfect time to take a short break. We stopped in Independence, Missouri where we were able to see a lot of the church historical sights. This is the Community of Christ "temple". We were going to tour it, but decided to go to Adam-ondi-ahman and the Far West temple sight instead.

 We also went to the Liberty Jail. The kids really enjoyed this, and I think it made some of the stories that we have told them about Joseph Smith seem more real to them. It was a neat experience for our family to be there together and feel of the special spirit that is there. 

 It also reminded me of how grateful I should be for Joseph Smith and all that he went through. The persecutions that he and his family had to bear were so much more than I think I could have handled. And yet through it all his faith never wavered, and his testimony never died. 

 As I read D&C 121 and 122 after visiting the jail I was also reminded of the amazing revelations that he received while he was there. These sections were some of the most incredible revelations he received, and the words have been so helpful to me in my life in helping me put my trials or doubts into perspective. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the trials we face, and sometimes we blow them slightly out of proportion, thinking we are given more difficulties or hard times than other people, or perhaps more than we can actually bear. But Heavenly Father knows us well. He is with us through every trial, and he is lifting and shaping us every step of the way, no matter how difficult it may seem, he won't let us fall. Even through the most difficult times, "know... that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?"

 I am grateful for the revelation that Joseph received which helped me to remember my place, and purpose here on earth... not to have some easy free ride of fun, but to learn and grow and be tested in so many ways. And to remember my savior and all that He has done for me - and everyone - to make this time on earth worthwhile, and eternity possible. 

 We also visited the Far West temple sight. It was beautiful, and such a neat experience to contemplate the savior's second coming.

It was such a beautiful place to spend our Sabbath day. but I think my favorite (for that day anyway) was visiting Adam-ondi-ahman.

 Just standing on that sacred ground was incredible. The peace that I felt as we walked on that hallowed ground was amazing. I wish we could have stayed longer. 

I think the kids recognized that it was a special place too. 

The next day we went to Nauvoo. (One of my favorite places in the whole world.)

 The first evening we were only able to walk down Parley street (the Trail of Hope) and along the Mississippi River. But it gave us a good feel for what to expect the next day.

Once again, the spirit was incredible. Being in places like Nauvoo and hearing the stories of those saints who paved the way for us in these latter days gave me a greater appreciation for the religion that I have, and the blessing that it is to be able to worship freely. I am so grateful that they didn't give up. That they didn't loose faith. Because of them I am able to raise my own children in the true church and teach them about the Savior in a way that wouldn't have been possible without their sacrifice. 

I can only imagine how difficult it was for them to leave their beautiful home in Nauvoo after they had finally settled into a place that they should have been able to call home forever. And yet the cause of the gospel was worth it. Worth leaving everything behind one more time and pressing on, with nothing more than hope for a brighter future and faith in their Savior that he would help them through their trials. Their faith was truly amazing. 

 The sunset on the Mississippi river was breathtaking that night. I wish I could have captured the beauty of it better.

 The best place to visit in Nauvoo is the temple. It was beautiful to see it lit up on the hill, but even more beautiful is the inside.

 Ever since the semester I spent in Nauvoo I have secretly had a goal/dream of going through the Nauvoo temple and being able to climb that beautiful circular staircase to the Celestial Room. Well, Tuesday morning Thayne and I were able to do that when we went through a session. I was an experience I will never forget. 

While we were in the temple Raylene took the kids to a couple of the sites around Nauvoo which included a ride in an Ox drawn wagon.

I'll admit it, I'm a little jealous that I wasn't there to experience that. :) But the kids LOVED it!

 After the temple Thayne and I went to more sights in Nauvoo with the kids. I only wish we had more time to spend there. One day wasn't even close to enough. Especially since we had to hurry to Carthage for a tour before the day was over. 

 The blacksmith shop was the kids favorite. They thought it was the coolest thing to watch a horseshoe being made, especially considering they got to take it home with them. The horseshoe nail rings were pretty awesome too. 

 We had to make Carthage a short stop simply because we didn't have enough time in the day. We were able to join in on the end of a tour, and take lots of pictures, but next time we will have to make this a priority and plan more time for it.

 Origional staircase in the Carthage jail.

 Upstairs room in the carthage jail where Joseph and Hyrum were martyred.

Original door with bullet holes still in it.

It was a memorable experience to visit these places as a family and feel of the spirit there. But after a couple days of touring we had to get back on the road. We were only too glad to pull into Charleston, South Carolina three days later. The drive was exhausting and we were ready to be out of the van for good. I feel grateful that we were able to arrive at our destination without any problems, and further grateful for the fun we had along the way. In spite of the amount of driving we did, it really wasn't too bad. I'm not saying I want to make a move like that again anytime soon, but it turned out better than I thought it would. :)