anniversary trip

for our anniversary, we went back to nauvoo. just like our wedding weekend, it was sweltering outside. so nostalgic. we basically re-did our wedding weekend a year later-- we ate at alpha's in fort madison, went to the temple, visited carthage, drove the riverfront from keokuk to nauvoo, and watched the sun set on the mississippi.

i never dreamed of getting married in nauvoo. after he first visited, todd brought up the idea and i turned it down immediately. but after visiting the first time, for just a few hours, i was convinced. i love the peaceful little historic city and the gorgeous temple keeping watch over it from the hillside.

it is so special to us that we were married in a place that the early saints sacrificed so much for, especially because our own ancestors were among them. we each have pioneer ancestors who lived in nauvoo and were married in the first nauvoo temple-- we even have ancestors who were literally next-door neighbors there!

this was my fourth trip to nauvoo, but i had never been to any of the historic sites. i loved visiting all the old places with the nice missionaries... we especially loved how there are NO lines, NO parking fees, and parking right next to the sites. big change from chicago!

the first time i went to nauvoo, i was so in awe that i was in a place where the prophet joseph smith lived. and carthage... this is where he died. i've sat in the same window he fell out of, landing just feet from where we are standing in the picture. the prophet joseph was here.

we were the only visitors to the john taylor house sunday morning. the sister missionary who gave our tour was so awesome-- she pulled back the ropes and let us walk into the rooms. she was so stoked to take our pictures here because todd and i both have family history involving john taylor-- todd is a great great great grandson (we think) and i am a great great great grand niece (we think. does that even exist?).

the rocking horse in this picture belong to one of john taylor's sons. something like two days after the taylor family left nauvoo, his young son was inconsolable to discover they had to leave his favorite toy rocking horse behind. john taylor felt so badly for him that he rode all through the night to nauvoo and back to retrieve the toy. it traveled with the family across the plains to utah, and is now back in the children's room of the john taylor home in nauvoo.

nauvoo is so peaceful and special. we love the history there-- both the church history and the history of our own little family. we will miss being able to visit. but i'm sure we'll be back some day... probably with kids in tow, annoying them with stories about family history and their parents. :)