Going to See the Temple

We spent one morning just walking around the Temple grounds.  I can't remember were I heard this, but the more times you let your kids experience the temple grounds and the importance of it, the more likely that going to the temple will be one of their future goals.  It, like every other Temple I have seen is exquisite its beauty is in describable to me.  What Joseph Smith and the other early settlers endured to build the first Temple that sat here just completely builds my testimony of the truth of the church.  Why would you chose to go through so many trials if what he had seen in his first vision wasn't true? You wouldn't. Why is it so hard to believe in a living prophet?  It's not!  The bible had living Prophets.  I just can't image being a pioneer and enduring the hardships of leaving everything you own, and being driven out by mobs...It is just so much emotion to take in.  I am so grateful for each opportunity we get to go to the Temple and how the spirit can strengthen me so much, not just me anyone with an open heart!  I am especially grateful for the blessing that come from temple work, like having the chance to be an eternal family.

Our Eternal Family

 My attempt at a picture with my three kids...

 These two are so funny together..A is a year and a half older and they just love to run off and do their own thing together.

 Bryn's ready open up..

 The Z Eternal Family

 The kids and boys were more interested in catching all the butterflies that were around.

 Two Peas in a Pod

 I love this picture of Mark holding Jaylee's hand as the walk onto the grounds...What is said is that before we know it she will be all grown up!

 The 3 musketeers....or naughty teers...Oh boy can these three cause some trouble, what amazes me is that Bryn has no trouble keeping up with them.

 Can you feel the love???

This is the view from the Temple is sits way on the top of a hill overlooking the Mississippi into Iowa.

Hotel Room Fun

I don't know what it is but hotels are always way more fun!  Not like we do anything different in them, and yet more fun.  This one had a pool so we went swimming in the morning and then got ready for the day. 

 These two seriously had so much fun in the window.

 Then they took turns talking into the air conditioner.  My room stunk soooo bad which turned out to be awesome because they were completely booked so i couldn't get a new room, but we ended up getting a discount which is even better!

The Nauvoo Pageant

In July we were able to go to the Nauvoo Pageant with some of our really close friends.  It amazes me the trials that the pioneers went through to bring forth the church.  I am so thankful for their strong testimonies that made the growth of the church possible, I am thankful that Joseph Smith was given the gift from god to translate the Book of Mormon.  Most of all I am thankful to have a living prophet of god.  The experiences we have when we go to Nauvoo always build my testimony and give me such a greater love and understanding for the sacrifices that so many people made for us.  This is just such a wonderful production.

Pioneer Games

A beautiful Midwest sunset...honestly when I moved away from here I was so excited to get away from all the corn, I hated Iowa....but now I have such a great appreciation for it here!  I love it so much and have loved being back here and giving my kids memories where I grew up!

 A little hand cart pulling..seriously the pioneers pushed these through snow, rain, tall grass...can you imagine walking from Iowa City all the way to Salt Lake?  WOW.

 Jj was soaking up some special time with L

 MJ was soooo excited to come..he remembered from last year it was so cute.  He ran in front of us and said come on guys.

 The older girls loved the sack races..little miss Jaylee was so stinking fast too!  She won a ton of the races.

 I love these two together..A is so nurturing and loving with her its so cute.

 The kids made sock puppets and participated in a little show.

 A little more stilt fun..why these are so fun I am not sure..but they ARE.  The pioneers really had some fun pastimes..

 JJ was made because she wanted the little stilts...:(