Last week's trip to Nauvoo

HOLY COW!!!The first time we drove past, we thought these were statues. The second time, they moved! It was a quiet day, midweek and after the height of the tourist season last week in Nauvoo. When we parked to take a closer look, two "senior" missionaries got out of the car they had been waiting in (we woke one of them from his nap) and told us about the yoke of oxen and the companies of Mormons who left Nauvoo in the 1840s in covered wagons. One of them told us how to approach Gabriel and Gary and took our picture with them. Cows/bulls have such beautiful eyes, and we enjoyed seeing them close up and petting them. (You might notice Bob was placed by Gabriel, the more aggressive ox!) We were given a private ride in the covered wagon, pulled by Gabriel and Gary. The pioneers leaving Nauvoo walked alongside the wagons because the wagons carried their household goods and their food.

We visited some of the other historic restorations in Old Nauvoo, but the true highlight of the trip was attending an endowment session at the rebuilt temple.

A couple visiting from Michigan were kind enough to take our picture in front of the temple. It was a cool, crisp autumn day with loads of sunshine. Years ago we came to Nauvoo when our kids were little and felt the Spirit as we visited the temple grounds. At that time, all there was to see of the temple were some of the original brick footings and baptismal font area that had been uncovered by archeologists. About 10 year ago a member of the church made a multi-million dollar donation to start a fund to rebuild the Nauvoo temple, so we today have this beautiful and holy place reclaiming its original intent. We feel blessed that we were able to go there so easily.
This picture is only a hint of how gorgeous the temple looks at night.

Bob and I spent two days in Nauvoo, Fort Madison, and Keokuk. We love to find old buildings and I insisted we stop to take pictures along the way.

This is the front of a Catholic church in Keokuk, Iowa. It was built in 1884. I got some pictures of the stain glass windows on the side of the church and on a small rectory in the back. Oh, the craftsmanship of this old church!!

This bank in Fort Madison, Iowa, was also built in the 1880s. It has decorative beveled glass windows on the side, and I did get a few shots of those. However, I still haven't learned how to post more than five pictures to a blog entry, so I'm putting only a few pictures here today.

It was good to get away and take things at our own pace. It was good for Bob, especially, to have a week when he didn't have to use all of his energy working as the mailman to his patrons in Brooklyn Park. We slept until we woke naturally. We took time to read and relax together. It was a great getaway.