Road Trip...More Middle

We had a nice night at our hotel. It was safe and lovely. But despite the loveliness, this is when I realized that I did not want be on the road anymore than necessary. So I changed our plans and got a hotel in Ohio for the next night, which meant I had two 11 hour days ahead of me instead of three seven/eight hour days but I didn't care. I knew I was running out of steam. 

So Day 5 we headed to Carthage, Illinois because our hotel was closer to it than Nauvoo. Carthage is where Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed. They were put in jail for unfounded charges and while here an angry mob stormed the jail with the intent to kill Joseph Smith and "finally put an end to the Mormons." 

It may seem like a strange place for a pit stop but it is an important part of the history of our faith and I wanted to share it with my kids. (Even if you aren't Mormon, it's interesting history)

Carthage Jail

Inside part of the jail.

This is the room that the men were in when they were shot.

This is the window Joseph fell from after his was shot.

This is Maya listening to the story of what took place.

This is the door that Hyrum was trying to shut when he was shot and killed.

People can think what they like about the Mormon faith and the "founder" of the strange religious beliefs that we have, but if people took the time to study accurate research of Joseph Smith as a man, they would have nothing but respect for him and how he lived his life. It takes a fair amount of study and faith to believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I am so grateful for him and the sacrifices he, his family and many others made so that the restored gospel of Jesus Christ can once again be on this earth. I want my children to have their own witness that Joseph was a prophet, just like the prophets of old, who were called of God and gave their lives preaching his word and doing his will. I know they felt the spirit when we spent time in this special place. I hope they will always remember it.

On to Nauvoo!

The kids looking at the graves of Joseph, Hyrum and Lucy Mack Smith (mother)

I didn't get a picture of the Mercantile shop where the girls got their bonnets and C got his old fashioned candy. We spent a lot of time in there while the girls carefully made their choices of what to spend the souvenir cash that their grandparents gave them. C on the other hand new within five second what he wanted to spend his money on...a bag of butterscotch candies.

(Maya with her cute bonnet)

The Mansion House. The girls really wanted to go in this house but you have to take a tour to do that and we couldn't wait for an hour until the next tour started. Thankfully they were happy with a picture in front of it.

The kids loved the blacksmith shop. We were the only ones in that tour so we got a lot of attention and the blacksmith guy made C a tiny horseshoe.

Inside Lucy Mack Smith's home.

Nauvoo Temple up close.

Notice how C is absent from the last couple of pictures??? Yeah, he was exercising the little control he had and refused to be in pictures. 

Now back on the road!

Bridges. Love Them. Their were lots of them...

Thank You Indiana for being a small state and allowing me to get through you with no traffic and not even so much as a pit stop. You were kind to me.

Ohio...I think you welcomed me but I'm not sure. Your traffic was hideous and I wanted to cry but you were our last stop before seeing Aric again and arriving in our new home. I didn't get a picture of your sign, but I did get a picture of this city, I think it was Toledo?...

I never...let me repeat that, NEVER give into my kids when they beg me for something in a store. Whether it's a pack of gum, a pair of shoes or a toy. They know that if they make a scene it's over. Well I gave in on Day 5 of this trip that felt like it was never going to end. We stopped at gas station/Subway for our dinner, pee and gas stop. While we were there Camden about died of joy after finding an M&M filled light saber. He was dancing all over the place and swinging it everywhere while singing some made up song about how he "lubbed light sabers" and he "sinks he needs one really reeeeeally bad"...

Don't even judge. It's how I kept my sanity for the next five hours.

We made it to Cleveland around 11:30pm. I was so beat...so so beat.