Ogden's Visit To Nauvoo

Sunday, 6/19

Tonight Heather, Nathan & family arrived

in Nauvoo and were greeted

with.....

this beautiful Sunset

(Nauvoo has great sunsets)

After relaxing for a little bit we

took them down to see

the YPM's presentation along

the "Trail of Hope"

They all are so excited to be in Nauvoo !

It was just after dusk and

we had to wait in line for a while so

the kids noticed the fireflies and ....

started chasing after them.

Kyler had this one on his arm .... too bad

it didn't light up for us.

(They did catch several that were "glowing")

When our turn to walk the trail

came up the missionary leading our group

pointed out the 

Rays of the sun

shining from the sunset...

kind of unique and beautiful.

This was the scene as we began

It wasn't quite dark yet but the 

light from the lantern and 

the quiet voice of the 

Young Performing Missionary

lent itself to a reverent feeling

in our group.

As we progressed down the trail

the lighted Nauvoo Temple

became visible in the distance.

The Trail of Hope is a very spiritual

presentation and helps all

who participate understand just a little bit

more about the trials, heartaches, 

and yes, hope our pioneer ancestors had.

Monday 6/20

We only had one day to see

as much as we could

soooo ....

we began right next door to our house

at the Brick Yard.

Steve did a nice tour,

gave the Ogden's their souvenir brick

then gave them a little tour of

the room where they actually

make the bricks.

From the Brick Yard we walked

(and rolled) on down to

Main Street where the 

YPM's (Young Performing Missionaries)

 and Nauvoo Brass Band

 were performing ....

right there in the middle of the

street .... So we dropped everything 

and ran out to join them.

When the Band left, the

YPM's sang some songs for us

Tunes like ....

Give Said the Little Stream,

I'm Peanut Butter and you are Jelly 

I Feel My Savior's Love and

Beautiful, Fair Nauvoo.

Now we were off to the Blacksmith Shop!

Everyone listened carefully as Steve

told us about building the

wagons that were only 

3' wide and 11' long and designed

to hold 2,000 lbs of provisions .... not people!

as we moved into the blacksmith shop

Steve got busy making a

souvenir horseshoe for the Ogdens .... 

boy were they impressed !

They also liked the little story about

the Prairie Diamond Ring

and they each had fun trying on

 their own rings & finding the one that 

fit just right.

Working in the sites isn't always 

serious business ....

Sometimes you just have to let go

and have a little fun !

We still had a little bit of time before

our first show of the day would

begin so we walked down to

Pioneer Pastimes !

The kids had fun ....

racing the Nauvoo Bears up the rope ....

learning to push a hoop ....

playing different pioneer games ....

carrying the buckets on a yoke ....

and marching in the Nauvoo Brass Band Parade !!

Even Heather got into the act ....

getting up on some stilts .... still a kid at heart !

Soon it was time to head down the street

to the Cultural Hall.

After getting all situated 

and everyone in their places

we were ready for

"Just Plain Anna Amanda"

to begin !

It is a cute, live play !

and even though it is geared toward children,

everyone enjoyed it

And after the show ....

It was PICTURE Time with the

YPM's

Cortlyn & Anna Amanda !

After the play we found Malani drawing in

the dirt outside the building

It looks like she must be enjoying her time

here in Nauvoo !

We had just enough time to go home,

grab a bite to eat and get

up to the Visitor's Center for another show.

This one is performed by the YPM's 

and called "The Promise"

It is an hour long and worth every minute !

the YPM's really outdo themselves ....

by the end of the show

everyone is in tears .... including the

performers.

Cortlyn with two of the YPM's

After the show we had a couple of hours

to spend visiting a few more sites ....

so, off we went !

1st stop .... 

the Bakery for a sweet Gingerbread Cookie,

and then to the Family Living Center.

We began with .... bread making AND a sample of

homemade (in the bustle oven) Bread !

Next .... Rope Making.

Malani gets things started by ...

 turning the big wheel at one end

and having fun too !

then ....

Kyler uses the "spider" 

to keep the rope tight.

Cortlyn helps by ....

whipping the ends of the rope

and finally Seniya has the honor of

cutting the completed rope .... ready?

1 - 2 - 3 CUT

Elder Waite checks the rope for tightness ....

this is a good tight rope, see how

it can stand straight up by itself ?

Great job Ogden Family !

Now here is your souvenir rope.

We had just enough time to see a couple

more sites and have some dinner

before the evening shows.

We decided to stop off at the 

Jonathan Browning Home and Gun Shop

So Elder Waite could tell us about

Both Jonathan & his son John Moses

and the guns they each invented.

Across the street is the John Taylor Home

so Sister Waite gave everyone

 a nice tour which included ....

the story of the little wooden rocking horse.

 Today we also visited the
Print shop and the Riser Boot Shop
but didn't take any pictures

Tonight the Ogden's will attend two shows

Sunset by the Mississippi at 7:00

and

Rendezvous at 8:15

We do two Rendezvous shows each night

and the 1st show is at 7:00

with a call time of 6:30.

Before we left for the Cultural Hall, 

Heather wanted to take a picture of us

in our costumes ....

so, here we are dressed and ready to perform

in the show Rendezvous.

While we were off doing our 

"Rendezvous" thing

The Ogden's were at the Outdoor Stage

enjoying the one and only

exciting ....

Sunset by the Mississippi show.

As soon as the show ended they had to

pack it up and quickly head for

the Cultural Hall to catch

the 8:15 show

Heather took a few pictures of our performance.

tipping our heads while singing

"Pick a bakers dozen at the Scovil bakery"

and the R.S. sisters giving the "evil-eye" 

to the editor so he would leave and let

us get on with our meeting

The Men singing about leaving Nauvoo

"Willingly, because they had to"

And finally we sing about having to leave

this little town of Nauvoo

After the last musical number the entire

cast exits the Hall and waits

out front to greet the audience as they

leave the theater 

Cortlyn had fun trying on

Linda's Bonnet

and with a little bit of help ....

Malani got to try it on too !

It has been a very long .... very busy day

but at the end of the day

a few of the Ogden's still wanted to

go up the road a few blocks

and look at the temple

It is a beautiful sight at night

Tuesday 6/21

Believe it or not, everyone was up

pretty early.

Heather, Seniya & Kyler went up to

the temple and did Baptisms

and

Nathan took Malani & Cortlyn up to

go on an Ox Wagon Ride.

It was Seniya's 17th Birthday today so

when everyone returned Nathan

took us all out for

breakfast at Grandpa John's Cafe.

On the way home we drove over to the

Smith Family Cemetery

and while we were there we ran

into some good friends of ours from Bend.

Chuck & Terri Hutchings

Steve & I walked home and then

we went to work !

 The Ogden's visited their last

site .... The Prophet's Red Brick Store

then went home to load up and

continue on with their trip back to Boise.

Before they left town they dropped by

the Family Living Center where

we were working and said

goodbye.

We LOVED having them visit us here in

Nauvoo and wish they could have

stayed longer.

We heard that

it is the highlight of every senior

missionary's day to have family or friends

visit them here in Nauvoo ....

 We totally agree !

Safe travels Ogden's .... we will miss you !