Last-Minute Vacation

In mid-February we decided to go on a last-minute, self-guided, church history tour/vacation.

We had a wonderful time visiting the sites of those who paved the way to the blessings many of us share today.

We started out in Adam-ondi-Ahman. At this location it was revealed that Jesus spoke with Adam here, and that someday when Christ returns it will be used as a gathering place. (D&C 116)

We had a great time having a snowball fight right near the top of the hill.

Here is a view of the area. It is nicely fenced in with white fencing throughout (Can you imagine how beautiful it must be in the summer?):

This area near Adam-ondi-Ahman is also very beautiful. Despite the snow we had a great time, and it wasn't unusual to get hit in the back now and then with another snowball.

This is the Far West Temple Site. The cornerstones are in each corner preserved in glass casing (I spaced taking a picture of them.) It was SO terribly cold that the girls stayed in the van. Far West is a beautiful area as well.

This was our crazy girls on the way to Jacob Haun's Mill. The girls did a lot of patient sitting.

The following two photos are the only markers that this area is where the Haun's Mill Massacre took place. The LDS Church does not own this property, so it's not as well kept as we'd expected. There is just the broken rock slab, and a post that says "Haun's Mill."

This is Thad in front of the river just to the left of the above photo, where I suspect the women and children fled through the water to get into the forest. A very sad feeling is here.

Here is the plaque that talks about the mill stone believed to have been taken from the site of Haun's Mill. It was most interesting that we found it in a nearby town park. And we had to scrape all the snow off the plaque in order to read it...

On our trip we visited a few grave sites. We found David Whitmer's headstone, and the memorial to Oliver Cowdery. They are buried in the same town, but Oliver is in an old pioneer Cemetery that the Church owns.

(Weird pose, I know, but the sun was in my eyes.)

TV eyes...travelling is so...so....so.....so...... What was I saying?... (Some of them quite enjoyed their Oreo cookies!)

The lucky chauffer...

Here we are at Liberty Jail in Liberty, MO. I'd been here previously as a young girl...we didn't like our guide much because she kept criticizing the other local religions, but hearing the history again was nice.

My little Pioneer girlies!

Giddy-up, Darlin' -- yee-haw!

Which chicken is real? (Hint: she's wearing a pink shirt.)

Here is the Community of Christ Temple across from the Visitors Center.

This land lot (dedicated for a future temple) is owned by the Temple Lot church. Three different churches with just a street width between them.

Then we headed on down to Kansas City, Missouri. Here we are at Union Station.

Union Station on the right. We are standing over the street for this picture, in an overhead walkway. The tower in the back in a memorial at the National World War Museum...

Of course we had our pool time each night:

And we very much enjoyed our hotel room. We were upgraded because we wanted a bottom-floor room. It was fabulous!

Then off to the Federal Reserve in Kansas City. Yeah, the kids really are worth at least that much!

Anyone in need of 27 POUNDS OF GOLD?!?!

I am covering up the 1 million dollars mark. There are 40 million dollars in this case of money...

...because they are all $100 bills. I only wanted one, but they said no.



We didn't have time to tour the art museums, so we just took a few pics with the outside art. Badminton, anyone?

This one was Emery's favorite; titled "Crying Giant."

This is MY favorite "Crying (not-so) Giant."

We really had a nice time visitng the different Church History Sites. The neat thing about going that time of year was that we got a REAL idea of the bitter cold that the saints had to endure after being pushed from place to place.