Bucket List

Just wanted to write down something on my bucket list.  While passing through Indiana I learned of Barn Quilt tours.  Barns across Indiana paint big quilt squares on their barns and then you can go and tour all these different barns through out Indiana.  It would be so lovely to see all this beautiful country side and top it off with a view of a quilt.   Is this heaven or what?

Kirtland

I toured through Kirtland with the University of Utah Institute Choir in 1979.  I still remember it fondly and was so excited to see it again. Oh the Church history here.  Again another lovely day.  We couldn't have picked a better time to travel. It has been perfect weather. A little rain, but that makes it perfect to me.

On our way to Kirtland. I cannot get enough of the barns and the fields. 

 KIRTLAND, OH

Views of the Kirtland Temple as we approached.

The Kirtland Temple is owned by the Community of Christ Church, formerly known as the RLDS.  We took an wonderful, informative, interesting tour in this great place.

Then we went over to the Church historical sites and toured there. I loved what the Mormon tour said about the Kirtland temple.  "It is a silent reminder of the love and sacrifice of the early saints."

Newell K Whitney Store. The Whitney's did so much for the church and Joseph Smith and his family during the Kirtland days. 

Inside the Whitney Store

Upstairs in the Whitney Store

Joseph and Emma lived with the Whitney's for a year and a half and this is where  lots of  church history occurred, meetings, revelations, etc

Where the Whitney's lived.   I loved this little yellow house. 

In the Whitney house

I loved this yellow door in the Whitney house.

Whitney Store

House on the Whitney property

Johnson Inn.  This is a rebuild of the original that burned down.

C H I C A G O

Outside the Apollo Theatre waiting to see "Million Dollar Quarter"
This play was amazing!

Johnny Cash (on the left :) )

Elvis Presley

Jerry Lee Lewis.  Loved this guy!

Giordano's Pizza    Yum yum can't wait......

Giordano's 

Our deep dish pizza.
Crust
Pepperoni
Cheese
then sauce
Sooooooo  gooooood!

Our walking tour around Chicago

The Bean

On the bridge over the Chicago River

Chicago: Navy Pier and Bubba Gump

Entering Illinois.

The bridge we crossed back and forth the last few days going into Nauvoo. We stayed in Iowa and traveled to Nauvoo each day.

Soybean fields of Illinois. On our way to Chicago.

Bubba Gump
 Ian is very happy to be in Chicago. He was here on choir tour in April and loves it here.
He had two food requests..
.Bubba Gump and Giordana's Pizza. 

Navy  Pier, Chicago, IL

Beautiful Nauvoo

I did not know if we would be able to fill our day with things to do in Nauvoo, but what do I know.  We could definitely spend a couple of days here.  We had so much fun today. We rented bikes from the Willard Richard bike rental (cool crusier bikes, I might add) and rode around the city.  

 There is a great spirit there.I loved the feeling at the Smith cemetery where Joseph, Hyrum, Emma and Lucy Mack are buried. Joseph was a very special person. I know that. Everything we saw today was so cool. There was a little bit of rain and it felt so good. We visited a bakery and got a cookie, a place where we could weave or quilt or bake some bread.....and ate some yummy bread. We got a prairie diamond from the blacksmith. It is just a nail bent into a ring. There was so much more we could have seen, like many of the homes of prophets and early saints. We went to the records center and I looked up James Case whose son is Solomon Cowles Case whose son is Fredrick Aaron Case. James Case and Solomon Cowles were here in Nauvoo.   That was very cool. We took a covered wagon ride and a carriage ride. We then went to Carthage Jail, 35 minutes away from Nauvoo and went through that jail.  I really felt the spirit there too. tonight was a play put on by the senior missionaries here in Nauvoo.  It has  been a great day. 

And while we were waiting for one of the tours to start we sat under a tree and read Heidi's weekly email. It was so good to hear from her and feel her Spirit. And to do it in Nauvoo. I am so grateful for the Gospel and all that it brings to my life.  

The Sunstone at the query in Nauvoo where we visited after church

The carriage ride. Pioneer stories were told along the way. Inspiring!

We crossed this creek while on the carriage ride.

The great Mississippi right on the shore of Nauvoo.

 Bill and Bob were the horses that carried our carriage.

Waiting for the covered wagon ride

Beautiful Nauvoo.

The Mississippi River with American Lotus

More Nauvoo

Nauvoo Temple

From the Covered wagon ride

It was simply breathtaking

More Nauvoo Temple

St Peter's Catholic Church, right next to the Nauvoo Temple

There is quite a large Catholic population in Nauvoo.

The Catholics and the Mormons have very good relations.

2nd floor of the Cultural Center, Nauvoo, quilt display

Carthage Jail

Carthage Jail, the window that Joseph Smith fell through

A bullet hole in the door leading to where Joseph, Hyrum, Willard, John Taylor were

The cell next to the room where Joseph and Hyrum where shot to death. Willard brought John into this room after the shots, hoping to save their lives. 

The window where Joseph fell from

Another view of the window

Lovely Jen, Ian and Rick 

Joseph and Hyrum