Midwest Church History Trip - Part 2

Yay for more details about the trip! After Nauvoo, we headed down to Missouri and stayed in a Hotel for three days in proximity to multiple Church History Sites! We saw so many different churches and a couple temples this day. The sacredness of a temple can be felt in and around the grounds. When true ordinances are being performed, and sacred covenants are being made with the authority of God, a special spirit resides. I always feel that peace when I am around a temple. To me it feels like safety and security. I feel safe with the people I love and knowing that they belong to me forever.

Look for the Angel Moroni on a temple. This is a symbol that it is a true temple that operates under the true authority of God.

Independence,  Missouri

We made it to Zion! We visited the our Church's visitor's center as well as the Community of Christ's Temple across the street. The Community of Christ is a break off that happened in Nauvoo when Joseph Smith was killed. They believe that the calling of Prophet came through lineage, and up until a few years ago, their Prophet was a descendant of Joseph Smith. (Until his line ended). In their temple, we saw many cool artifacts that come from those early days and could have belonged to Emma and Joseph Smith. In our visitor's center, we had questions cleared up about where the Temple lot is dedicated, saw presentations about the purpose of life and our families, and then went through a museum that depicted the Saint's history in Missouri.

Across from our visitor's center is a grassy field where we found corner stones for the dedicated temple site. The plot does not actually belong to our church, (nor does it belong to the Community of Christ). It belongs to a whole different branch off. 

Spreading out across the future temple lot

Here is our favorite Uncle Hunter again teaching the girls to drive a wagon

Standing in front of our Church's visitor center. We even have a small Stake Center on the land as well. We attended Sacrament Meeting there.

This was a good view of the Community of Christ's temple. They designed it after the Fibonacci Sequence.

Kansas City, Missouri, Temple

We visited the Kansas City Temple on the way back to the hotel that night.

My forever family because of Temples that operate under God's Power, the Priesthood.

Midwest Church History Trip

Summer is flying by and it is crazy and sad. However, I feel pretty accomplished so far. We saw a lot. Still so much more we want to do and see... but still we saw A LOT. My family took a few kids that are still at home and drove across country. They stopped at a few National Parks along the way, spent a night in Iowa City and started the trip back in Nauvoo Illinois. We drove back with them and stopped and saw everything relating to our Church history on the way to Idaho! So much fun and SOOOO tiring. I love looking back on these pictures. Pictures have a way of just reminding you of the good times. Babies were definitely whining, wetting their pants, and throwing fits in the car. However, indispersed throughout were fun things to see, amazing stories heard, and silly coincidences and conversations. Looking back, I learned so much about God's church and the sacrifices that helped it endure through its trial ridden beginnings.

It was HOT HOT HOT most days! Madi spent her time shuffled between Grandpa, Dad, and Uncle Hunter's shoulders when her little legs were worn out. 

Nauvoo, Illinois

We stayed here for 2 and half days and could have stayed more! There is so much to do and see. We learned about what life was like in the city of Nauvoo and toured renovated homes that showed artifacts and gave a little history about certain known people. We even saw both pageants while in town!

Touring Wilford Woodruff's home

The Women's Garden is right outside the visitor's center. They had so many beautiful statues depicting women. I bet in the Spring, these flowers are beautiful!

The podium at the School of the Prophets. They told us this was like Nauvoo's MTC!

Above the School of the Prophets they had record books of people that resided in and around Nauvoo. We looked through them to find our ancestors, their occupation, and where they lived! We found one of my ancestor's lands. (pictured below). They other owned land and farmed or ranched it quite a ways outside of Nauvoo. We didn't go out that way. :) 

One of our 'claims to fame'! We descend through the Ashby's from my Mom's side of the family.

We rented a house right outside of Nauvoo that was just a skip from the Mississippi River! Madison and Uncle McKay at the banks!

This girl sure loves her Uncles! (Hinckley, McKay, and Fielding pictured) 

This girl had A LOT of trip trauma. 

The county fair that happens in the evening before the pageants was a blast. We wished we had another night to try out more activities. I even tried the stilts! :)

My mom was definitely the best...like for real!

Tug-of-War!

Grandpa bought us all some snow cones!

Waiting for the pageant to start and watching the sunset!

We took an oxen ride! I was climbing aboard the wagon when one of the teamsters commented that I may not have made it to Salt Lake City and would have had to hide in the wagon to hide. He said that the Indians liked the Red Heads and would barter to trade for them. My husband pointed out that he is an Indian! We had a good laugh.

This gal spent a lot of time in my arms, way more then she ever does at home. 

Learning how to make rope!

Posing at the quarry overlook

We walked East on Parley street to the Mississippi one afternoon and read plaques along the way about the pioneers and their trek west. We came across this one about a Pottawattamie Chief! This is the tribe my husband (and daughters!) belong too!

The view the pioneers saw as they left their Temple and their city!

Touching the Mississippi where the Saints crossed and began the walk across the plains

Carthage, Illinois

This is where the Prophet of the Restoration: Joseph Smith was martyred. The original jail still stands! They have a beautiful tour through the jail. There really is a sad, yet peaceful spirit at this location. Carthage is definitely a highlight of the Nauvoo part of this excursion. 

Posing with the statues of Joseph and Hyrum Smith

Uncle Hunter should definitely earn a reward. He is so kind to my kids. We love our missionary in Finland!

Picnic Lunches

This is one of the places we stopped and had lunch. Right on the banks of the Mississippi between Carthage and Nauvoo!

More to come over the next couple of days!

4th of July - 2017

Almost forgot to post these! Just pictures! We had a great 4th of July! Parades, Barbecues, and fireworks! We did the whole thing!

WE LOVE THE USA!!!

Gingham Skirt DIY

I did my first copycat pattern. I looked at a picture, made my own measurements and made a skirt! I am a pattern girl. This is huge for me. I saw this gingham skirt on a blogger that I follow. I fell in love. She posted a link to the skirt and it was $51!!!!

I chose lavender gingham to mix up my closet colors. It gives it more of a dainty/girly look which I love and hate at the same time. I wish the mustard color was available like in the picture, however, I wore this skirt today and it is awesome. It is so light and flowy! I felt comfortable, trendy, and beautiful. (and sort of pioneerish at first!!! But I love pioneers :) )

Working with gingham is a dream. The fabric is good quality, but still flowy. All the straight lines make cutting simple, and it runs through the machine nicely. All in all my skirt cost $12!!!

You will need:
2 1/2 yards of gingham (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon)
7-9 inch invisible zipper
thread
measuring tape

1. Take your measurements. You want your waist, or where the skirt will fall and then you want how long you want the skirt to be.

2. Cut your waist band out and the ties for the bow. You want your waist band to be exactly your waist plus allowance for side seams and zipper. I cut it like one big rectangle that I folded down from the top and ironed. You can add interfacing for some sturdiness as well.

3. Times you waist measurement by 1.6 and make your skirt piece that wide, cut as long as you desire. Mine was around 28" I wish I made it a few inches longer. The bottom is kind of a rounded look that you cut as well. I just eyeballed this by looking at the skirt. I made the skirt one long piece that I sewed up the back.

4. Next, you cut the ruffle. You get this measurement by multiplying your skirt hem by 1.6. That is how long you make the ruffle. You then decide how wide to cut your ruffle. I made my ruffle 7" wide to leave room for allowance and hemming. I wish I would have made it closer to 9' or 10'.

5. Sew and iron your ties and then sew and iron your waistband placing your ties at the side seams as you sew.

6. Baste the top of your skirt and gather to fit to your waistband. Pin right sides together and sew together.

7. Fold and iron the top of your ruffle down 1/2 inch and baste along that finished edge. Gather and fit to the bottom of your skirt pinning wrong side of your ruffle to right side of the bottom of the skirt. (Look at one of the pictures if you need a visual.)

8. Put in the invisible zipper at the top of your skirt and sew down the back of the skirt. Hem the bottom!

There you have it! Don't forget to iron!