commitment, sacrifice and faith

as sarah steed returned to her tent, her frost bitten feet barely moving the frozen snow, she shuffled forward, her little hands wrapped in canvas, she could no longer feel the small sticks and piece of sagebrush she had been able to gather for what surely would be her last night on earth.

Many of Sarah's companions had left england with such high hopes, their boat had been delayed in Liverpool as supplies were hard to gather, rough seas had slowed their voyage another week, arriving in Boston's harbor on June 30th. They hurried to the train station to catch the next train to Iowa, there they would meet up with other saints who had answered the a Prophet's call to gather in the Rocky Mountains.

sarah's family had heard of a new gospel of Jesus Christ, one that professed to have a modern prophet who had talked to God the Father and his Son, he translated a golden record of ancient scripture, the Book of Mormon... another testament of Jesus Christ. Her mother and father had read the book, had felt the conversion power of the Holy Ghost and desired for their family to live among the saints.

They were a poor family, not able to afford all the provisions and transportation costs, but had prayed and determined they could save enough to send one child each year, geoff her brother went last year and now it was sarah's turn. Mother and father would come next year and oh what a reunion that would be.

Arriving in Florence the middle of August, she had expected to see a town busy making wagons, loading supplies and alive with anticipation of the journey west. To her surprise, the town seemed deserted, many of the 500 log cabins empty, the sod huts which had once housed so many, barely visible having been turned into a corn field soon after the vanguard company had left in mid april.

there was a great amount of discussion about this set of emigrants and missionaries who had just arrived expecting to join one of the companies of mormon pioneers in their trek west. It was much too late to send anyone in late August they argued, you need to be to gone by July 4th, at the absolute latest, to have any chance of arriving in the valley before the snows came.

that night they had a meeting. a captain Willie and captain Martin seemed to be in charge, they were saying they could get them through, but would have to leave soon. All in attendance were anxious for the final vote to be taken when a Br. Savage, one of the missionaries returning from england spoke, he said they should wait, that yes, God would watch over them, but that God expected them to use good judgment... winters can be harsh across the plains, provisions were few and handcarts hand been made out of green timber, and they would be lucky if the carts would be able to hold up to the rigors of the journey. He suggested they wait through the winter and leave in the spring when conditions and provisions would be more favorable.

Captain Martin wanted a vote, each hand went up in favor of leaving now. God would provide, they had responded to the call of a prophet and were anxious to be numbered with God's saints, build his temple and receive his blessings. they would go, all would be well. Surprising, Br. Savage didn't hang his head, he said he would go, share in their labors, and die with them if necessary.. if that was the vote of the people. It was.

sarah was assigned to a Smith family, each handcart was to provide for 5 people, they were a sweet young family of 4, they were happy to receive her and said she could help by caring for their two small children, and gather wood for the fire at days end. this was great, sarah was lonesome for her family back in England and now she had a family here in America. Sarah had heard they were relatives of Joseph's brother Hyrum, they seemed like nice people and she looked forward to getting to know them better and taking care of their children as they journeyed across the plains.



They left on August 25th, nearly two months later than was recommended. with a prayer for an indian summer and a shout hurrah they were off.

All seemed to go well as they traveled across. the trail was well marked, worn and dry. they did experience equipment problems as the hastily thrown together handcarts, struggled over the rough terrain. Many needed repair along the way, a few of the 500+ who started with the martin company turned back, or would stop in settlements along the way, those going ahead would transfer their belongings to the better carts leaving the worst behind.

Each passenger was allowed 17lbs of personal belongings, most brought a few books, their bibles and Book of Mormon, a few small pieces of furniture or glassware, but mostly they brought clothing, blankets and supplies. Each was given a 100 lb bag of flour to haul in their cart. the company brought milk cows, a few chickens for eggs, and steers to slaughter along the way. they started on reduced rations the first week out, and then really had to cut back when a buffalo stampede came through and many of the oxen, used to pull the tent and supply wagons escaped. Men became weak as they shared much of their small ration with their families, pulling a 500 lb handcart is tough work, all able hands were required no one rested. Days were long and hard. Some nights they were too tired even to cook, choosing sleep over what little nurishment they might receive.

Real trouble began on Oct 19. The weather had been getting colder each day, the company was already worn out and had little clothing to keep themselves warm. Bitter winds cut to the bone and when an early blizzard greeted them the morning of the 19th, despair and discouragement could be felt within the entire camp. they had just crossed the last crossing of the north platt... every step became more difficult, many of the men cried out they couldn't take another step, but they did. setting their sights on the tree, stump or rock ahead, they would press foreward. they somehow made it to New Red Bluffs, no one knew how, some said they saw angels helping to push the wagons along... no matter, the weather had gotten worse and they were now snowbound. They could not move another inch, it was decided they would wait here for rescue or death, either being a welcome sight.

Six days later messengers from a small relief company finally arrived and convinced them to keep moving forward or they should perish. Their provisions were few, they shared what they had... but for most of the worn discouraged company, these messengers brought hope. Brigham would not let them parish, the Utah boys were coming with help.

a few relief wagons met them two days later, they had used up most of the provisions just getting to the company, but again they brought hope and to those struggling the most a ride!!

Sara and her newly adopted family made it past Devil's Gate, one of the many landmarks crossing the plains. whether you were with the Oregon, California or Mormon companies each had to pass by this landmark to know you were on the right trail. it was a welcome sight.

Piercing winds again forced them to seek shelter at sweetwater rocks. Continuing storms locked them down in their well worn tents, meger rations and limited clothing. the Utah boys had built fires and removed most the weight from their handcarts, storing them in a bunkhouse near where the camped. the bitter cold force the company back into a cove where rock mountains on both sides helped shelter the wind and block out some of the cold. there they stayed for 5 nights and 4 days.

when the weather finally broke on Nov 12, the company moved on, 2/3rds of the original company riding on wagons, the others walked until the final rescue teams arrived then all would ride. as they looked back on what now is called Martin's Cove, 56 of their number were buried having died during the 5 days they were there, 100's more if Brigham hadn't sent out the Utah boys to find them and bring them safely home. Numbered in the 56 was Br. Smith from Sarah's newly adopted family and one of the small boys she had been asked to watch along the way.

On Nov. 3o just over 300 of the 500+ who started, arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.

Sarah Steed was one of them.

i was not prepared to walk in Martin's Cove and feel the spirit there. As i took to the 5 mile trail, i had chapstick to protect my lips from the wind, sunglasses to shade the sun, and new nikes to protect my feet. as i walked i could feel the water bottle brushing against my leg, the weight of the camera slung over my shoulder and an annoying peeble that somehow got in my shoe. i can't imagine what they felt... or didn't feel, their starved bodies worn out, their feet bleeding, their hands, faces and bodies no doubt numb from the bitter cold.

i came hereout of curiosity, they had come heeding the call of a prophet, with a burning desire to be with his people, build his temple and receive the blessings promised therein.

it's a story of commitment and sacrifice, they are now my heros... everyone of them.

Winter Quarters... place to pause, to rest... to die

Lo, we have left all, and followed thee... Luke 18:28

Winter Quarters is a sobering tribute to some 2500 pioneers who settled in make-do shelters along the Missouri river and thousands more spread over 90 different settlements within a 40 mile radius of Council Bluffs and Omaha/Florence Neb.

The visitors center looks over a pioneer grave yard and the Omaha Temple erected in 2001. It is somehow fitting the the grave yard and Temple are linked together... both are tributes to a God fearing, obedient people... one living and one dead. The work done in the Temple provides eternal rest for those 400+ saints buried next store, over half under the age of 3. It was a sad but familiar sight, like the statue above, of parents burying their child, wife or husband who died of exposure in the bitter cold, or other diseases. It was an unbelievably hard time for the pioneers, one i cannot give justice to, but in the end they became a seasoned, durable people more than ready to take on the 1000 mile journey which lie ahead.

During those brutal months, Brigham Young and others carefully prepared for the final push over the Rocky Mountains; charting their path, gathering information, equipment and supplies. They also organize settlements for and made preparations for the winter ahead.

I am in total awe and have a renewed respect for Brigham's skills as an organizer and colonizer. this man had a plan/vision of how a settlement should be set up. Kanesville, the settlement now known as Council Bluff, is still set up exactly the way Brigham laid it out. i think when old Brigham spoke folks took notice and obeyed... Where Joseph was a magnet, Brigham was a hammer.

Winter Quarters consisted of neat, organized streets, 500 log cabins, 83 sod houses, other make shift shelters to protect the emigrants who just kept coming, all erected from mid July to October. they also: gathered and stored food to survive the winter, set up a grist mill, tannery and smoke house, 2 printing presses, wagon shop, blacksmith repair shop, shoe shop, make shift saw mill, set up corrals for all the livestock, gather grasses, plant seeds for the saints coming to harvest on their way through etc, etc. trust me if you had a skill which could help prepare the group, Brigham made sure there was a place to get it done.

Brigham always was looking ahead, planning for those who would follow. Over 30,000 pioneers would come through Council Bluffs... and over 70,000 through the surrounding areas, before the trans continental railroad was complete. this was an event and movement of people unparallelled in the history of the USA.,all lead by Brigham Young.... amazing.

couple other significant things which happened there:

The mormon battalion...
500 men called to the service of there country. can't see this going over too well, this was the same government which multiple times said they couldn't help or protect the saints and gave no restitution for the injust exodus. Again, it was Brigham who convinced the people that the $42 given to each for clothing supplies, boots and rifle would greatly add their cause. Most of the $42 went to the emigration fund, helping the many who were unprepared and ill equipped to go. at one point Brigham stated that the salvation of the church depended on raising that army.

Sustaining of Brigham as the new President of the church...
After Brigham made the first trip to the Valley he returned to Kayesville to see his family and eventually help them across. He also met with the leadership of the church to determine who should be named its new leader. By unanimous vote of the quorum of 12, and later the membership of the church, Brigham was named the 2nd Prophet of this dispensation. It was decided that a tabernacle should be built for the occasion, so the building was erected in 3 weeks, the statue of Brigham with the first presidency stands in front of a replica of the original building.

the 136th section of the DC...
outlining exactly how the company would proceed. For safety and efficiency they formed 2 large divisions, which were later divided into companies of 50 and 10, each with a leader, a code of conduct, and outline of daily activities along the trail. Another example of the Lord leading his people through his prophet.

set the course for others to follow...
this well-disciplined lead party would improve roads, set up trail markers every 10 miles, build ferries, and make detailed notes of camp sites, watering holes, treaties and partnerships with the indians, all part of the grand plan to aid those who would follow.

They were asked to give all they had, their homes, possessions, their families and for many... their lives to follow him. We are the rich recipients of their sacrifice and commitment.

i am again, humbled and grateful.

trail of hope

tomorrow i will visit winter quarters the place the saints had to stop for the winter prior to their final push into the Salt Lake valley.

In February 1846, the first party of Mormon pioneers, WILLINGLY left their beloved city of Nauvoo. It was important to Brigham that the saints leave voluntarily demonstrating a desire to be a peaceful people in search of a safe place to worship freely.

articles in illinois newspapers editorialized on the injustice being shown the saints.

Great injustice inflicted by a lawless and irresponsible mob. Can these things be done in a republic and not be rebuked by an efficient expression of public sentiment? ... Bloomington (Illinois) Herald, October 30, 1846

The great body of Mormons removed voluntarily, but a small remnant of them were barbarously expelled with force, and in a manner which reflects but little credit on the state or its institutions... Illinois Governor Thomas Ford, December 7, 1846.

the initial plan was to leave in the spring of 46, or when the grass was high enough to feed the cattle, targeting late april or early may. Brigham however called for a hasty retreat in Feb. fearing the mobs were about to come upon the saints.. in an effort of good faith he called upon a selected few, including the leadership of the church, to evacuate immediately showing they were serious about the promised spring migration, hoping to deflect further attacks by the mobs. (Geoff, again i am sure the Steeds were numbered among that group, i just can't find a record which has their name on it. )

The first train of wagons ferried across the Mississippi on February 4 and then camped for nearly a month waiting for Brigham to finish business in Nauvoo, and allowing others to join them for the initial push. March 1, some 500 wagons left camp heading across Iowa toward the Missouri River, if all went well they would cross the river by late April and arrive in the Rocky Mountains by fall.

We all know the story too well. Wagons lined parley street for over 2 1/2 miles waiting to be ferried across the mile wide Mississippi. Each ferry would only handle one wagon and team at a time... thus the long wait to finally get started. Harsh weather, froze the Mississippi so more could cross... but many of the saints who left in a panic, were poorly supplied or equipped for the trek... failing to heed Brigham's instructions on what to bring.

Bad weather, heavy rains, early thaws and thick mud brought wagons to a halt. Families waited in miserable camps while men fanned out across the territory to work for food or pay hoping to build supplies for those who were so terribly unprepared.

the initial camp spent a month crossing the first 100 miles, a distance that should have taken 10 days. Eventually they would end up here, from Counsel Bluffs to Winter Quarters... a time to regroup, replenish, and prepare. By Winter, some 2500 Mormons would settle into make-do shelters along the east bank of the Missouri River. It was a long, hard, sad winter. More than 700 perished of exposure, malnutrition, scurvy, pneumonia, malaria and other diseases. "Scarcely a family escaped sickness and very few where death did not make an inroad, stated Lorenzo Snow....the rest pressed forward.

Heber J. Grant said of Winter Quarters, " There are times and places in the life of every natiion when great spiritual heights are reached, when courage becomes a living thing, when faith in God stands as the granite mountain wall - firm and immovable - while hardships, want, hunger, sickness , sorrow, and death beat down to crush. Winter Quarters was such a time and place for the Mormon people.

Somehow these pioneers comforted and helped each other along; those who had food, bedding, and shelter shared with those who had none; those with musical or literary talent used them to try to comfort and inspire others. As Pres. Grant indicated their hardships brought the people together, forging their faith and identity. I've heard about the refiners fire, but with all they had already endured??? the Lord wanted a solid foundation on which to build his church in the latter days. He DID NOT make it easy.

These early pioneers became a Zion people, relying on the strengths of each other, relying on their new leader and newly sustained prophet of the church, Brigham Young, relying on the Lord to take them to a safe place a top the rocky mountains.

On a cold winter night in south central iowa, William Clayton, penned the now famous hymn celebrating the birth of his son and showing courage and good cheer to the saints around him... "Come, come ye Saints, no toil or labor fear; But with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day... All is well, All is well.

i look forward to tomorrow..

pictures...

top left... brigham and joseph overlooking the mississippi with maps of the trail they would take.

leaving Nauvoo

a couple days back Karen asked who the two guys on horseback were... the plaque tells the story, but as Paul Harvey would say, "and now, the rest of the story..."

the night before this trip to Carthage and the final ride depicted here, Joseph, Hyrum and Willard Richards took a skiff across the Mississippi to begin their flee to the Rocky Mountains. Tensions and hatred against the prophet has risen so high that he felt it best to leave that night.

Early the next morning a posse arrived in Nauvoo to arrest Joseph and Hyrum with a message that Governor Ford was so determined to apprehend the prophet that he would send troops to "Guard the city until they were found, if it took three years to do it."

About one that afternoon, Emma sent Orrin Rockwell and Reynolds Cahoon with a letter to Joseph requesting him to return to Nauvoo and give himself up. When they met with Joseph, Reynolds and others accused Joseph of cowardice for leaving the people... it was then that Joseph uttered the now famous quote... "if my life is of no value to my friends it is of none to myself." he asked Hyrum what he should do, "Let us go back and give ourselves up, and see this thing out," to this Joseph replied "if you go back i will go with you, but we shall be butchered." Hyrum disagreed, and indicated they should put their trust in the God that they would not be harmed. it was the strong persuasions of Reynolds Cahoon, Lorenzo D. Wasson and Hiram Kimball, who were carrying out Emma's instructions, that induced Joseph and Hyrum to return to Nauvoo.... and now you know the rest of the story.
top left... the mansion house, Joseph and Emma's second home in Nauvoo... this only shows about half the actual house, because the Smith's entertained so many outside guests they added an entire hotel to the back half of the house... there were multiple sleeping rooms, a large meeting room or hall and another kitchen and serving facility added on back. after Joseph was martyred he and Hyrum's bodies lay in state in the lower hall, it was said over 10,000 people came to the viewing to pay their respects to the Prophet and his brother Hyrum.

top middle... the original log cabin of the Smiths... It was added onto 3 different times, the white section on the left became a living room and parlor as well as a new wing to the front with additional bedrooms and a summer kitchen.

top right... main street which passed between Joseph's original log cabin and the Mansion Home. it is said to be the longest continuous street in the USA. Nauvoo jets out into the bend in the mississippi river... Main street dissects Nauvoo connecting the Mississippi on both sides, with a circular driveway at both ends, making it one continuous street. Main Street was also the main street of commerse in town.

bottom left.... just to the side of the cabin home near the Mississippi River is the Smith family grave yard. Joseph's parents, other family members and as shown the final resting place for Joseph, Emma and Hyrum.

bottom middle... looking back at the temple from parley street. It is a breathtaking sight.

bottom right... one of the 13 boot and shoe shops in Nauvoo. Nice to know i could have gotten work there.

consider the following:
- the population of Nauvoo grew from 1000 to 12,000 in the 7 years the saints lived there
- they were a learning people with 20 schools and 1 university
- they erected 2500 homes
- there were 7 brick manufactures
- every manner of artisanship was there
- gristmills and bakerys
- a gunshop
- 3 or 4 sawmills
- a cultural center
- the assembly hall
- 3 newspapers and printers
- 2 libraries
- a majestic Temple, which was a landmark for all who traveled the Mississippi
- it grew from an unpopulated, undesirable swap, to become the second largest city, (chicago was the largest) in 7 short years... just a few of the facts i remember.

this is for Karen... the grounds around the visitor's center are filled with flowers, trees and grasses. they'd love to have you as their gardener.

cheers

the trip to carthage

walking on the grounds of the carthage jail leaves one to ponder how such a barbaric, cowardice act could happen in this sleepy little town, on this quiet and peaceful setting. Joseph knew he would not return to see his family, he knew his martyrdom was necessary in order for the church and its people to grow; he knew he had done all that was required, as on the afternoon of his death he wrote to his sweetheart Emma, " i am satisfied with the work i have done, give my love to the children and may God bless you."

The mob, which some reports say numbered over 100 men, some with blackened faces rushed the jail with one thought in mind... kill the mormon leader, old Joe Smith and his brother Hyrum. just after 5:00 pm, the deed was done, first Hyrum was hit, leaning all of his 6' 2" frame against the door taking a bullet in the cheek and died instantly, John Taylor fell next taking a bullet in the hip, falling back toward the window, then Joseph taking two bullets in the back through the window and two in the chest... then he fell, " Oh my Lord, my God."

the prophet Joseph was dead.

i went through the tour of the jail twice, once by a senior missionary from outside Boise and once by a sis. missionary from New Zealand. both had been on the property all summer long giving countless tours and no doubt knew the script and story by heart. i would have thought, that after all this time on the site, they would be numb or somewhat guarded about their true feelings toward the prophet, masking their appreciation, their love and feelings toward him... how wrong i was.

both got emotional as they bore their testimony of the prophet, Br. Gale broke down at least 4 times during the course of a 20 minute presentation often pausing to contain his emotions before being able to go forward. One of the CD's i bought on the trip, (and i've bought a few) is titled, "they knew the prophet" which has over 100 accounts of people's feelings for the Prophet Joseph... " i am unable to discribe my sensations when in the presence of this wonderful man... i have never heard any human voice, not even my mother's, that was so attractive to me." Even his bitterest enemies, if they had the privilege of hearing him speak, became mollified, and forgot their anger... "General Wilson rode with Joseph to his trial in Missouri and said, " He was a very remarkable man. I carried him into my house a prisoner in chains, and in less than 2 hours my wife loved him better than she did me." some were for him, some against, yet all seemed to come away with a sense of awe... he carried the mantle of authority and calling of a prophet well.

John Taylor stated, "Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save it be Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it... and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood." I believe that, his people believed that, satan and his followers believed that and today thousands upon thousand throughout the world believe that.

this trip has given me a much deeper testimony, a greater gratitude and appreciation for the prophet Joseph. other than the Savior, there is no other man i desire more to meet, to listen to, talk with, and personally thank. i have a feeling he would welcome the conversation, invite others to come along and we'd end up in some sporting or service activity, enjoying each others company not wanting it to end.

you feel his spirit, innocence and desire to know the truth in Palmyra, you feel his love for family, hard work and integrity on the Smith farm; you marvel at the industry and dedication of the people in Kirtland; you feel Joseph's spirit and preparation of his people on the grounds of the "land beautiful" Nauvoo; you feel of his love and calling, in the testimony of those who walk where he walked and tell his story, the story of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

i thank Br. Gale for bearing his testimony and letting his feelings for the prophet come to the surface over and over again, i too love the Prophet, A Man of God... Joseph Smith


a view from inside the jail... the stairs the mob came up, the upstairs window the prophet fell from, the actual bullet holes in the door and if you look close by the lock.

The prophet and 10 others who came in support of Joseph and Hyrum, stayed in three different rooms in the jail. the first was the barred room upstairs, the temperatures rose to over 110 degrees in the jail that first day, so the jail keepers, knowing they weren't hardened criminals, moved them to the downstairs debtors cell on the main floor where it was cooler and the open windows would let the afternoon breeze pass through. after a day of getting to know the prophet, and fearing for his safety, the jailers felt compelled to give up their own room , as the mob could easily see and shoot through the downstairs window, moving down to the parlor to sleep, so the prophet and his associates would be more comfortable.

the conspiracy to kill the Prophet ran deep. the bar on the outside door at the bottom of the stairs would normally have a cross bar to reinforce it... as you can see below it was set aside and the door left unlocked. the nauvoo greys who were sent to protect the prisoners were issued guns with only powder... no bullets. it was said the greys guarding the door simply shot their muskets in the air and moved aside to let the mob through as none of them were injured.

after the prophet fell from the window, the mob rushed downstairs to see if he was dead. Someone in the crowd yelled, "the mormons are coming" and the cowardice mob fled, fearing the Nauvoo legion was coming or revenge. by morning the next day, the entire town of carthage was evacuated, fearing the mormon's would burn the town, yet the mormon's didn't come following the counsel of willard richards to "keep the peace," as he had given his word to the leaders of carthage as they returned to Nauvoo with the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum.

a little surprize in Nauvoo

i am tired...

ten days; just over 2000 road miles; 4 road games; a committed attempt to take in all the exhibits, history and shows each historical site has to offer; and of course my nightly blog... six o'clock wake up, lights out about 12:00, and i'm beat.

soooo, this will be short.

one of the restored buildings in Nauvoo is the Assembly Hall. this building was suggested to joseph, funded and built by the 70's of the church. a little background:

- of the 5000 original saints who settled Nauvoo 490 were 70's
- there were 1000 seventies in 1844, and 15 quorums of seventy at the time they departed.
- the leadership of the 70's felt they needed a place of learning... here they could study scriptures and instruct each other, practice their speaking skills, a little teaching of the geographys or countries they may be called to, a museum of artifacts brought back by missionaries from around the world, a library of books donated by the citizens of Nauvoo etc.
- they also kept a record of each and every 70 who lived in Nauvoo

one of those was James Standing, son of John and Mary, husband to Nancy Varley, and our great, great, great relative... not exactly sure how it all fits together. he played in the Nauvoo brass band, (i guess Barney playing the flute was in the genes), was a stonecutter listed on the temple records, and a body guard of the prophet Joseph.

now the good part... after i found James in the record of 70's, i went to the land and records building were they provide you with key information re: each church member that resided in the Nauvoo area... namely what they did, where they lived, activities, priesthood ordinances and blessings etc... they even give you a CD of all the records they find.

Nauvoo was laid out in 4 acre sections, each section consisted of four 1 acre lots. picture the way SLC is laid out... everything organized, neat and equal. when the saints came to Nauvoo each family was given a 1 acre plot of land to homestead, drain, build a home, business and garden. don't know how they passed them out but our boy James got a good one.

when i got the plot map, it showed James lived on lot 116, just off parley and main street. this address sounded familier as i had just walked down main street which was THE hub of activity in Nauvoo... (not counting the Temple) the printing press and paper, the post office, Jonathan Browning gun store, John Taylor's home to name just of few of the store fronts which have been restored on what was the busiest street in the city.

walking to the place i determined was lot 116 i was excited to find James kept pretty good company. just across the street, or so i thought, sits the home of Brigham Young... i was close, Brigham owned lot 123 which is still just across the street and kitty corner to Jame's, lot 116 sits behind the printing press, John Taylor's home and the post office. so it would seem if Jame's were to have a backyard bar-b-que, he could shout over the fence and invite the Taylors, stand on his front porch and wave in the Youngs, if it looked like a big social event the paper/printing press could open their back door and interview all in attendence. Jame's no doubt kept pretty good company including the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd presidents of the church. not bad.

point of interest... Geoff, i checked to see if any Steeds were registered in the record of 70's and couldn't find them. guess they changed their names when they got to the valley.

tomorrow is another big travel day as i go to omaha neb. for a view of winter quarters. plenty of time to ponder all that i saw and heard. a lot to talk about tomorrow night, Carthage jail visit, Jonathan Browning and the story of Quincy, senior missionaries and what they do in Nauvoo, as well as any parting thoughts i may have from Nauvoo. i'm treating this blog as if i were a reporter... one story a day... stay tuned.

just to see if you're paying attention i'd like a little input on the best traveling foods you'd take for a long trip.. i've got a few coming up in the next three or four days and would like your recommendation on what to snack on along the way... you name it, healthy, refreshing, keeps you awake, whatever... give me your best shot. thanks in advance.

good night

pictures..

upper left... shot from behind John Taylors home. check out the red building in the upper left corner... Brigham's home
upper right... inside assembly hall
lower left... shot from Brigham's front porch
lower right... give some perspective to where the printing press is, John Taylor's home would be next, and then the post office.

the heartland of america

thought i would give you a look at the view between chicago and nauvoo... row after perfect row of corn... farm after farm, silo after silo and much to my surprize toll after toll... $2.90, $1.90, $.90, .80, $.50, again and again and then the big one $6.00 coming out of Ohio. good thing i cashed in my stock...

couple helpful hints for those of you who are considering making the trip.

1. as mentioned above, have plenty of change for tolls.
2. one day is really not enough for any of the sites... you can do it, but if you have the time plan two... it's worth it.
3. i've been lucky with the temperature... august is normally 85+, with lots of humidity... ask nina, i'd go spring or fall next time.
4. bring bug spray to nauvoo... misquitos, big black flies that sting upon landing, and funny little black things, draining the swamp didn't clear out the bugs... they're thick and they're everywhere.
5. go early to the sites... the senior couples are great and love the company... by getting to the sites early, i've been lucky enough to be alone and get my own personel tours.
6. read up on the sites before you go. knowing the history before you get there allows for better understanding and you can dig deeper with the guides to clarify the questions that will arise when you go through the tours.
7. i have appreciated the presentations by the Community of Christ church who owns the Kirtland Temple, and Joseph Smith property's in Nauvoo. They do a great job, but pale in comparison to the presentation the church does. Makes you appreciate the attn. to detail, upkeep of the properties, and sincerety & knowledge of the senior and lady missionaries. the spirit they bring to their presentations is infectous... they thoughtfully present the material and always close by bearing their testimony. there is a sweet and undeniable spirit at each of the churches sites seems to be lacking at the others.
8. take in the plays and musical groups, saw two today and both were great... even the senior missionaries get to perform.
9. talk with the other folks visiting the sites. most are LDS, but i got to tour with a community of christ gentlemen and had a great conversation with him re: the differences in the two churches, why he's there etc. good fun, get meet people and learn things from another perspective.
10. go with somebody, this has been great but would be even better to be able to share it in person with someone...

cheers...

The Nauvoo Temple: Jewel of the Mississippi

Brigham Young said of the prophet...

"Joseph took heaven figuratively speaking, and brought it down to earth; and he took the earth, brought it up and opened it, in plainness and simplicity, the things of God."

i have seen more than a dozen temples, all are in beautifully landscaped settings, majestically overlooking the surrounding area, adding beauty and meaning to all who enter or simply pass by. My favorite has always been the Logan temple, it's simple rustic beauty separates it from the more modern design of todays' temples, it was where karen and i were married for eternity, for me is a step above all the rest.

as of today, i have a new favorite.

it is simple elegance. i cannot imagine how this poor struggling people built such a majestic building. it is the Lord's house... the design had been shown to Joseph in a vision. the pattern is unbelieveably intricate and the craftsmanship meticulus in every detail; the crescent moonstones, the signature moonstones and my favorite, the five-pointed starstones. the design is unique, i can't imagine anything more perfect for this place. i love the belfry and the clock tower dome with Moroni in his familiar place on top. When Pres. Hinckley gave his dedicatory address he explained why Moroni faces west, not the traditional east direction of other temples; he explained that now the Nauvoo and SLC temples face each other and serve as bookends to the sacrafice and dedication of the saints in the early days of the church... from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City and everything in between.

the saints once again sacraficed all to build a house for the Lord. they did it out of committment and obedience... they did it to receive their promised blessing in the Temple before they had to leave... covenants that would unite them to their families for all eternity. martha thomas explains far better than i, "we esteemed it a privilege to work on the House of God... until it was finished. We were then called to the house to receive the blessings the Lord has in store for the faithful, which amply paid them for all their labors."

a place on earth, where the things of God could be performed in plainness, simplicity and beauty. i again am humbled to be in their presence....

"I looked upon the Temple and City of Nauvoo as i retired from it and felt to ask the Lord to preserve it as a monument of the sacrifice of his Saints." Wilford Woodruff... i believe his prayer was answered.

the cubbies

sorry,
for some reason the cubbie shots won't upload on the blog. i used the small camera and they must be configured differently. guess you'll have to see them when i get home.

cheers

travel day, the cubbies, and the golden dome

the big adventure today was to get to chicago and wrigley field... as i hit the road at 7:00, planning 5 1/2 hours to make the trip, i forgot that i gained an hour by crossing into the central time zone. soooo an opportunity to take in notre dame, the hallowed football stadium and the golden dome.

wrigley field... this has to be the most fan friendly park in america. the stadium, field and set up ARE outdated and definately are showing signs of wear and tear. big deal... you are so close to the action, most take mitt to their seats for shear protection, the bleacher bums are cool, the fans are completely behind their beloved cubbies, people watching is almost as much fun as the game... if they make the playoffs, this place will go nuts again.

as you look at the stadium shots can you tell which outfield stands are part of the stadium and which are ACROSS THE STREET. love the ivy, the bricks and old school feel.

i couldn't wait to join 30k+ of my closest friends stand and sing, "take me out to the ball game," and was not disappointed. griffey got 3 hits, the cubbies 12 runs and 20 hits. hey hey, cubbies win, cubbies win.

parting thought from kirkland...

driving to chicago to see the cubbies today, my thoughts drifted back to kirtland. you cannot help but be impressed by how the Lord put everyone in place... the harris's, whitmers, pratt's, whitney's, oliver, sidney rigdon, young's... all there with support, talent and the faith necessary to restore the church again.

my thoughts however went to emma and the calling and sacrafice she was asked to make. during their courtship she must have first questioned and then became convinced of joseph's calling to restore the church and become it's prophet seer and revelator. i doubt she had any idea of the sacrafices to come and the trials she would be asked to overcome. i think history may paint a poor picture of the women i hope to meet someday, and thank her for all she must have done which allowed Joseph to fulfill his calling... consider the things she had to endure;

- marriage to a man her parents forbade her to be with and all the anxiety and hurt that must have caused.
- the loss of her first 3 children, 2 at birth and one before the age of one.
- became the foster parents of the murdoch twins 9 days after losing her own... and then losing the baby boy to exposure shortly after her husband was pulled from their bed, tarred and featured then left for dead.
- the countless days and nights she worried and prayed for her husbands safety and deliverance.
- the countless days and nights she was left alone to tend to the house, children and affairs of the family while her husband was called upon to do the affairs of the church.
- the persecution she must have endured each time she walked through towns being the wife of the prophet.
- the doctrine of poligamy!!
- having to move from place to place, in support of the church, her husband and the community which followed
- learning to live on next to nothing and somehow making ends meet for her family and all who came to her door.
- the only time she was able to call a home her own was 3 short years in kirtland, living in borrowed rooms of her parents, her in laws, the whitney's, morleys, johnson's and the whitney's again before finally moving into a house of their own just south of the temple in kirtland. the rooms they called home for a majority of their married life were barely big enough to fit a double bed, yet that may have been her only sanctuary.
- was a hostess to thousands of visitors who sought the prophets time and attention
- she was a partner, wife, mother, creator of the first book of hymns, a scribe, a confidant and a living witness to the plates having been shown them by an angel... she may have murmured a bit, and in revelation was asked to repent and support her husband which she did faithfully until his death.

and much much more..

i have watched my wife and my mother, as well as other wives and mothers quietly & efficiently support their husbands... they are called upon to take care of the house, the kids, the cooking, the cleaning and the organization of a family... now that i've been home a bit, i can honestly say that i was the lucky one. my role as bread winner was a piece of cake compared to what karen accomplished on a daily basis while the kids were growing up. marriage is a partnership, we each have a role to play. one cannot be successful without the other. i am eternally grateful for karen... for her support, and unbelievable talents which allowed me be out of the home and chase my career goals.

in the garden of eden, it was determined adam needed a helpmate, a partner to be his equal and soul mate for his sojourn here on earth. learning a little more of the challenges the saints faced in the early days of the church, the burden which each was called to bear... especially the prophet, i know he could not have accomplished what he did without the Lord's help AND a worthy partner.

thank you emma and all the wives, we are worthless without you.

pictures from upper left to right;

-whitney's guest room where smiths stayed when first arriving in kirtland
-conference room above whitney store... revelations were recorded, guests were seated and hosted, next to small room where the school of the prophets was held.
- john johnson's farm, where smith's stayed for 1 year. this was the room Joseph was dragged from then tarred and featured

bottom row... left to right
- finally a home to call their own... just south of the kirtland temple
- historic sign outside the smith home in kirtland
- john johnson home... after joseph was tarred and featured he gave a sermon from the front porch the next morning, some of the mobsters from the night before were in attendence.

a sense of urgency

"... go to the Ohio; and there i will give unto you my law; and there you shall be endowed with the power from on high;"
D&C 38: 32

it was said the 2 purposes for the saints stay in kirtland were; first, get the law; second, be empowered by on high... they accomplished that and much much more.

many of the apostles call the Kirtland area the "crown jewel" of church history sites. Sixty five sections of the D&C where revealed here; the first presidency was organized here, Joseph was first recognized as the president of the church in kirtland; the organization of the church was set up; the school of the prophets was the first formal missionary training program and on and on. it was overwhelming to hear all that happened during the 8 years the saints resided in the kirtland area... the most impressive and inspiring was the fact that 4 of the 5 known visitations that God the Father and the Savior made during the organization of the church were made in kirtland.

- in the room above the whitney store where the school of the prophets was held ( pictured above red rm with the benches)
- the kirtland temple
- the school house on the morley farm (wooded area)
- in the revelation room at the johnson farm. (pictured with bright orange like trim moldings benches and a table)

i stood in each of these rooms, or near the site where the school house once stood... again it is an awe inspiring feeling to know that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ were here. they appeared and instructed the leadership of the church re: the organization, the structure and the doctrine which was to again be Christ's church here on the earth. the oath and covenant of the priesthood, the revelation on the 3 degrees of glory, the word of wisdom... Christ was setting up his kingdom and joseph was his prophet. i stood in those rooms, again i wondered what it must have been like, what that must have felt like... it is a special place... i stood in those places

It was also made known to joseph, in the morley schoolhouse, during the first official conference of the church that the church would eventually move to the rocky mountains and that the gospel would spread to north and south america and the whole earth. twenty three newly named High Priests where in the room, these were rough frontiersman... not exactly high society folks. i'm sure they had no idea where the rockies were and may just have started to understand what a temple was all about, or who or when or where each of them would be called on missions. they were quality, hardworking, ordinary people. they walked by faith, when joseph told them of the word of wisdom revelation they instantly supported, walked to the fireplace, threw in their pipes and chewing tobacco and never touched the stuff again. during this first conference satan again made his presence felt, just as he did in the sacred grove, Joseph had to cast out devils so the church could roll on and these men were being taught what they must do.

eight years was all joseph would have to set up the church, prepare his people, send out missionaries to begin spreading the gospel. he had seen what the church was to become, i also believe he knew he wouldn't be there when most of it would happen.

when joseph and emma arrived in kirtland in feb. of 1831, there were 150 saints... by june of the same year there were close to 2000. growth and industry had to happen. imagine the number of families who sacraficed all just to get there with nothing more than the shirts on their back. image what the saints that were there had to do to welcome and care for them, imagine the amount of work that needed to be done to house, feed and protect them, imagine the strains of a prophet to care for his people, organize a community, as well as prepare them for the trials he knew would come.

we know he grew into his calling as a prophet, he also had to grow into his leadership role. he knew and was determined to get all that he could done before he had to leave this earth. kirtland was a place of learning, of industry and of preparation. the Lord never let the saints rest. each family had to set up their own household, as well as build a temple, and build all the necessary support facilities of a growing community as the surrounding sawmills, printers, grist millers etc stopped services to a growing mormon community... we often look to brigham as the example of a great colonizer and leader, that he was... my guess is he became that by modeling himself after many of the things joseph must have taught him.

throughout the day i was struck by the magnitude of the calling joseph had, by the things he knew he had to get done, by the short time he had to do it in. i have felt that each modern day prophet feels a sense of urgency to get things done; ie Joseph setting up the framework of the church in this despensation; Brigham to trek west; Pres. Bensen a renewed importance on the Book of Mormon, Pres. Hinckley the building of temples. the Lord gives his prophet instruction on what they must do and they have so little time here on earth to get it done. joseph knew what he was called to do and worked tirelessly to get it done. in his last hours in the carthage jail he spoke fondly of his time in kirtland. it was here that he accomplished the most, it was here that ordinary folks, working together, accomplished extraordinary things. i had great respect for the prophet before i got here, i can't even express the feelings i have for him now.

a little catch up

i clicked on the blog this morning and noticed the pictures of the hill cumorah didn't download... i guess there is a limit to the number of pictures you can put together

the hill cumorah is a beautiful place... i was surprized at how steep the hill was, as i seem to remember a photo of it showing it to be more of a rounded hill. the one picture that looks like a golf fairway is the face of the hill that has been cleared for the pagent. they build multiple stages out from the mountain so the play can be performed. the view from the top gives you a feel for the landscape. rolling hills, dense folage and large farms.

if i can download them the other group is of the hall of fame... pretty self explanitory.

travel day

today is a travel day... 256 miles from palmyra to cleveland which is about 23 miles west of kirtland, tomorrow's agenda.

the trip should have taken a little over 4 hours, but seeing a sign along I90 stating that niagra falls was only 26 miles away, i decided to take a little detour to take in the view... great decision, all i could think about was, where is all this water coming from!!! i cannot imagine why anyone would try to go over the falls in a barrel, but they do, on the canada side of the river they have a graveyard for those who don't live through it.... true story. love this trip.

random things:

1. the temperatures have been in the low to mid 80's, moderate humidity and unbelieveably pleasant.
2. i have put over 1200 miles on karen's car in 4 days
3. yes, every tourist at niagra falls has a camera and they all want their picture taken.
4. jacobs field is outstanding... these new parks are beautiful... still get goose bumps when first walking through the tunnel and seeing the green grass and perfect symetry of a baseball diamond.
5. huge thanks to jeff and naomi for setting me up along the way in the family of marriott hotels. tonight and tomorrow i'll be at the ritz carlton in cleveland, regular marriott in chicago and then fairfield inn outside nauvoo... get to have a clean room to return to every night, the employee discount is much appreciated.
6. yes, i would do this trip again... i'm surprized i really haven't minded going solo, probably good theropy for me. i get out early, listen to sport talk radio in each city, talk to folks all over the country on the new blue tooth system, etc.... i have been the only person at most of the historical sites so the sr. missionaries are thrilled to have someone to talk to, give me my own personal tours, answer all my questions etc. we'll see how it goes from here but so far it's been great. next time however, karen your in...

pictures are of the hill cumorah visitors center, niagra falls and then cleveland... enjoy!!

sacred ground

driving back from my second visit to the hill cumorah visitors center today... i again passed by joseph smith sr's farm, the sacred grove, through palmyra and the 4 corner churches symbolic of past religious fervor, past alvin smiths grave and finally martin harris's farm. i tried to recall another time when i felt i had walked, witnessed and experienced sacred ground. only on the battlefields of gettysburg did i feel so completely humbled and eternally grateful to those selected few who had risen to an eternal call, had sacraficed all for the good of mankind.

nothing rocks you to your core like walking through the sacred grove where God the Father and his Son appeared, looking down from cumorah's hill knowing that here a sacred record was buried and angels visited; viewing alvin smith's tombstone and recalling joseph's words, that alvin was the purest man he had ever known, but in a strange way i felt most humbled by the small cabin and the frame house which sits on the 100 acre smith farm.

in this humble 18X20 two story home 10 people lived, worked, loved, sacraficed and were prepared for the Lord's work to come. oh how they must have worked... historians figure that on this land 1000 trees grew within every acre, the smith family cleared 60 of those acres for planting and harvest. 1000 trees an acre, some 4 feet in diameter, with only an ox, a plow and 6 boys or men to do the work. they lived on the farm for 3 1/2 years, obtaining the land with 2/3 down payment on a $1000 note, yet were never able to make the final payment... finally being forced to leave as the saints moved to ohio.

during the tour, you get a since of their industry. planting and harvesting 4 different types of seed crops, harvesting sap from trees, mother smith painted, in the winter they trapped and sold pelts, they hired themselves out and pooled their money while maintaining their own crops, made barrels, erected houses and barnes, logged and sold timber.. yet there was no access to pay off their remaining debt and finally own the farm.

you get a since of their support, commitment and love for one another exemplified by alvin's gift of the frame house to his parents, hyrum's support of joseph to their deaths, and what it must have taken to live in such tight quarters and work shoulder to shoulder to make ends meet.

you marvel at their preparation for the call, and willingness to be obedient, having been taught from the scriptures by their mother, father and ancesters.

you are grateful that joseph went into that peaceful grove and called upon the Lord for an answer to the burning question in his heart and even more grateful that he accepted the calling he had been foreordained to perform. it was a day i will never forget.


i wonder...

could i have done 1/10 as much
could i have been so humble
could i demonstrate such industry
could i have listened to the message and believed
could i have withstood the persecution
could i have moved and been obedient without murmur
could i have given all for zion
could i have been strong enough
could i have been faithful enough
could i have endured

i hope so

cooperstown and the baseball Hall of Fame

wow... every little leaguers dream is to one day either be in, or visit the baseball hall of fame. since i barely missed being voted in this year giving gwynn and ripken the opportunity... the visit was nearly as good. the drive through PA. and up state NY is beautiful, i got to see more of it than i anticipated as i somehow punched in the navigation system that i didn't want to go on the interstate freeways... allowing me to take every back road to cooperstown. i kept thinking there had to be a major freeway somewhere but just kept driving enjoying the view. luckily i corrected that on the way back.

the drive was only outdone by the hall itself. the first thing you see is the tribute to its latest 2 members, gwynn and ripken. you turn the corner and the walls are full of each member's induction award. i found myself looking for the players i remembered growing up... mays, aaron, mantle, gibson and off course the babe. i then started looking for my favorite players... yaz, brett, sandberg, brooks, schmid, ryan ect... finally i gave up and looked at everyone's, surprized at how many memories i had of the players honored. i must of spent 2 hours reading each players accomplishments, sharing memories with the patrons as the stood by their favorite players plaque snaping pictures and sharing stories with anyone who would listen. i thoroughly enjoyed talking to other baseball fans and marveled at the passion and joy the grand ole game has for many of us. it may be a boring game to watch, as i struggle to watch more than an inning of any game on tv, unless it's a red sox/yankee matchup. however childhood memories of players already mentioned, teams such as the redsox, big red machine, the robinson's/palmer/powell/murray orioles, atlanta, cubbies, the damned yankees all have stories to tell and memories to recall. Quiz who were the first 5 players inducted and what was the year?

i loved the section called "sacred ground" which was a tribute to some of the grand old ball parks, ebbets field, the polo grounds and a great tribute to the wrigleys and the care they took in building wrigley field for the fans. i think owners are paying more attn to the experience of the ballpark, there's a tradition and history which comes with the old ballparks... fenway, wrigley, yankee stadium, etc. i will be lucky enough to visit 2 of the 3 this year... now i've got to schedule a trip to NY and go to yankee stadium one more time before they replace it in 2009. fans remember the teams, the players and the stadiums where they experience joy, triumph and defeat. they collect memorbillia, artifacts and stats... heck tapkas has 4 seats from old memorial stadium in his garage... next thurs when i visit wrigley field i'll now go an hour or two early to drink in the stadium the fans and the atmosphere and of course a wrigley dog that comes with it.....

it was a great walk down memory lane. i even enjoyed the tribute to the yankees. the tribute to the babe, was great... gehrigs locker, mickey's story and maris's home run chase. i may not like them but you have to respect all that they've accomplished with 26 world series championships. i marveled at the records room where they compare the all time record, who holds it with the current player and how they stack up. rose may not officially be a member but his hits record stands as one of the most impressive, as is bonds 758, biggio's 3000 hits joining 28 others, the 300 wins for glavine, 500 HR's for ARod, all very impressive. it was great to finally get there, hopefully it won't take me another 54 years to get back.

much more to this show and tell but i'll save it until i get home.

tomorrow the mormon history portion of the trip begins... stay tuned.

day 1... baltimore

here we go...

the trip begins at 5:20 am, wheels up, portland to pheonix to baltimore. if you're familiar with some of the troubles the hill's have traveling, this trip was a dream. a 30 minute delay in pheonix, circling for 1 hr before landing in baltimore were just enough delay to allow me to finish the book bourne ultimatium before landing. (read the book if you like, great book, but the only things in common with the movie are his name and background, the storyline is completely different.)

just like clockwork, jeff tapkas is there to pick me up, we have known each other through our mutual employment with nike for 25 years. jeff provided housing, taxi service and unbelievable hospitality for the duration of my stay in baltimore. he reminds me of the odd couple's felix, his home is beautiful, the grounds and setting pristine, every room beautifully furnished and emaculate., which is what you'd expect from 2 type A perfectionists who have never been blessed with children. you feel a little guilty sleeping in the bed for fear you might wrinkle something, but i did my best to wipe down the shower, do hospital corners on the bed and replace all i touched in the exact position i found it. a couple simple examples of their hospitality; upon arrival i found 2 perfectly folded suvenior guthrie t-shirts revealing the orioles logo and guthrie name and number on the back and then when leaving saturday morning, gabby had packed a small travel cooler filled with water, diet coke, protein snacks and a red sox baseball for me a die hard red sox fan. they were the perfect hosts...

back to the thursday night activity... with my flight being late, we went directly to camden yards for the oriole/mariners game. jeremy had 2 tickets for us at will call, it was raining when we arrived so jeff took me up to the orioles corporate box. his wife gabby works for the orioles selling corporate sponsorships, we walked right into a 1st baseline suite, had some bbq pork, veggies, fruit and ice cream as we waited out the rain delay. game highlights included a tejada grand slam, a brief oriole comeback before the mariners strung together 3 hits and and error on tejada to complete a three game sweep of the orioles.

friday was just about, almost, but not quite a perfect day. first we picked up the car. we were standing at the door when it opened at 9:00. i had an 11:30 tee time so wanted to give myself enough time to learn the navigation system and finish the transaction. i love professonalism and efficiency, this dealership did not disappoint. everything was in order and the instruction crisp. it took us longer than anticipated because of my learning disability, still don't completely understand the navigation system causing me to take all the backroads from cooperstown to palmyra, but more on that later. i walked away completely satisfied and so far am extremely pleased with karen's new car.

i got to the course just in time to have my partner pick me up at the car in the cart and drive directly to the 1st tee. we played chartwell country club, which was the second time i'd played it, the first time being 9/11. it's a tight course which doesn't play to my strength, but i keep it reasonably straight, took a couple OB's and still shot an 85. we played the course in just over 3 hours which gave us enough time to get in another 9 just for fun. yeah ha!! a quick trip back to jeff's house for a shower and change of clothes and we're off to the ball park to watch the orioles play my beloved red sox. a classic pitcher's duel between bednard and matsusaki with bednard taking a 1-0 lead into the 8th only to have the red sox score 5 off the oriole bull pen... we thought we were safe to leave thinking the red sox bull pen would close the orioles out, only to leave and miss a oriole come back of 5 runs in the 8th, 1 in the bottom of the night to beat the red sox by 1. nice trading deadline pick up for the red sox... gagne, all he's done is blown 2 games in the 8th in the 4 he's been in. you can feel the sox fading as the "damn" yankees put on an late season push. so my near perfect day was tainted by a sox loss, but the golf more than made up for it.

in the beginning

as i begin this blog, there are a couple things you should know.

first, i am not really a writer, i've always preferred the spoken word to written; i'd rather call you than e-mail or text message, a verbal commitment to a contract and a little spontanuity to being programed. HOWEVER, with my recent retirement i've got more time on my hands and a desperate need to DO SOMETHING to fend off boredom and laziness, thus the planning of this trip began. it is the opportunity of a lifetime and with all the new technology available to us, i decided this was a good time to develop some digital skills, sharpen my photographic eye, and with my memory fading, write down a few memories of the trip while they are still fresh in my mind.

second, about 5 or 6 years ago, my daughter cami decided a move to boston would broaden her experience and open some employment opportunities for her. so... we jumped in the car on july 5th and drove across the usa in 4 days, 4 days!!! not the way to SEE the amber fields of grain, trust me. at some point along the trip and my countless exclamations, "this is the heartland of america" i decided the next time i do this i'll do it right.

third, some time ago my brother steve gave me a book titled, "100 things to do and see before you die". over the years i have kept a mental list of some things i would like to do before i leave this earth. numbered among those is a cross country car trip, visiting church history sites, ball parks and playing some golf along the way.

as feat would have it, i had also decided to replace Karen's car this summer... opportunity knocks. why not buy one on the east coast and and drive it back. a phone call to a good friend and Nike rep, put me in touch with a dealer in annapolis maryland who was willing to give me quite a good price on the car we wanted, the savings basically paying for the trip cross country. with all those ducks seemingly in line the decision was made.

many thanks and much love to karen for allowing me to go and trusting i'll get her car back safely. she gave some thought to joining me, but the weather report, the uncertainty of the trips' length, a very full schedule complete with 5 ball games and equal number of golf matches planned and finally, ryan and brittany moving to bend the first part of september, made her decision for her. i'm still hopeful she might join me in chicago, but trust me, there will be another trip, mayber even in september/october to pick up a car for my dad.

this will be my attempt to document the trip and if it all goes well there maybe others to come. enjoy!!

if you're wondering about the photo above... karen, that's your car, i hope you like it.