Nauvoo, 2013

Colin and I went to Nauvoo this past long weekend so that I could become endowed, and so we could be sealed together. That experience was very special, and I am glad that I am sealed together to my husband and my baby for all of time and eternity.  Colin's brother wasn't able to make it with his family, due to some prior obligations to the Army, but we kept the date because we wanted to work it in after Nathan's heart surgery, but before Colin's grandmothers' back surgery, and my mother's knee surgery. Nathan, Colin's parents, and his grandma Nunally were all able to come and celebrate our sealing with us, and several people from our old ward came by to witness our sealing as well, which was very sweet  - including our old Bishop and Colin's old Bishop, Bishop Helton - - who was who Colin chose to marry us initially for our civil ceremony almost two years ago. The Ceremony was very spiritual, and a great experience, and Finnigan of course, stole the show. =)

Nauvoo is a quaint little town that reminds me a little bit of Keokuk where I lived when I was a small child. It backs up to the Mississippi river, and has a lot of restored/replicated old buildings so that a little settlement exists - - like the miniature settlement that existed there in Nauvoo when LDS folks fled there to escape persecution in MO. We watched a play that is put on there by volunteers about the time that the saints lived there, before they were again forced to flee to Salt Lake to  escape the same fate as recently martyred Joseph Smith. It was very touching, and I believe that I cried 10 times, imagining what it would be like to put so much work and effort into building a temple, a community and a life for yourself, only to have to leave it all and start all over again.

The Nauvoo temple is Colin's favorite temple, which is why we chose that temple for our sealing. The original temple was destroyed by tornado and fire, and this second temple was rebuilt in 2000, but Colin's family came and visited Nauvoo prior to that ever being announced so Colin could learn about his pioneer ancestors.

It was very hot in Nauvoo this weekend, so we were not able to get to do all the activities that we wanted to, and see all of the sites, because of the baby and the heat, as well as trying to accommodate his nap schedule. We tried to do all of our site seeing early in the mornings before it broke into the upper 90s, and that is when we were able to take an hour long wagon ride through old Nauvoo with Finn.

On the way back home, we stopped in Iowa at the American Gothic Home, where I learned that what I thought was a couple in that painting, was actually a father and his daughter. Colin and I got our picture in front of the home, although I was reluctant, because I hadn't yet showered or washed my hair that day, I was going to do that after our journey was over and we were back home. Finn enjoyed running around in the grass. It seems he is finally used to the grass now. 

We found a street sign that read Finney.

And I turned Finn's car seat around even though he's not yet two, because he's the size of a two year old, and I wanted him to enjoy the view and the ride. He did. Mission Accomplished.

Finnigan is a very easy traveler. He has had practice! He has been to Florida, Minneapolis, Denver, Chicago, and Nauvoo, IL in his short year on the is earth so far. On to planning next years vacations!