Visit of Neil and Pam's family

It was a joy to have Neil and Pam's family come. We planned out their stay and they took it in stride.

First we walked down the Trail of Hope on Parley Street to the river. There were vignettes by the actors telling stories of the pioneers.

The actor who portrayed Brigham Young. (He got married in the Nauvoo Temple while he was here!)

The actress who protrayed Jane Manning.

The kids waded out in the river to pick some lotuses.

Esther in front of the Brigham Young house

At the end of Parley Street by the river.

We went to the visitors center and the Women's Garden. There was a baby bird fallen out of its nest and Erik climbed the tree to restore it to the nest.

In the Womens Garden.

We saw High Hopes and Riverboats in the afternoon. The teens thought it was a little corny, but I enjoyed seeing it again.

We went to the Pageant on it's last night. There was a brief shower that cooled us off but it didn't dampen our spirits nor the actors'.

On Sunday they wanted to attend the full block. The meetings were all good. I noticed Neil was sketchnoting! Gideon was good throughout the three meetings.

After Sunday dinner we drove to Carthage. It was super crowded which was not good. Esther and Zachary led us in a song while we waited.

Waiting at Carthage

Singing "Praise to the Man"

Brothers

At sunset we went up by the temple.

On Monday we went on a trek with a handcart. They found geodes in the river beds.

Then we had a baptismal session. Neil baptized Erik, Zachary and Esther. After that Pam and Neil were the witness couple on a small session that we officiated. That was so cool! We showed them around the temple afterwards, even up to the bell tower! President Jensen, who lent us the key for it, told us what the original temple consisted of. The baptistry was finished in the basement. The assembly room was finished on the first floor. From there on up was unfinished without even floors. The two live sealing rooms on the top floor were then a food preparation room and a reception room. Behind that in the attic which you couldn't stand upright in, were where the endowment was given. It was partitioned off in "rooms" like the creation, garden, world, terrestrial and celestial with canvas which was later used for the wagons.

They stayed in the Hotel Nauvoo the first two nights and the log cabins the last night. The cabins are sweet!

At the hotel, the kids' room

The Danielson cabin, 2 bedrooms and a bath

 Monday night we went to Sunset by the Mississippi and Rondevoux. In between they saw lots of the sites.

They left on Tuesday morning after doing laundry and going on a wagon ride.