so this past week i've been on vacation with my amazing family! it was probably thee greatest family vacation thus far! We definitely had some rough patches, but it was all worth it. It started out Thursday at a family reunion on my mom's side. We watched movies on a screen under the stars, rode horses, went to a water-park, went to a melodrama (so much fun! a skit where the audience boos the villains, cheers for the heroes and watches the cast fight for the money that is thrown on stage!), and got to see long lost relatives. Saturday morning we left for Kirtland Ohio, where we would meet up with a family that we're all very close to. The drive from Omaha, NE to Kirtland was excruciating! Took us all day. along the way we stopped at Iowa; where we decided the strangest people in all America were located. [i won't even mention the neon green hair, flapping pant legs, and lady with a fake tail! no offense to those from Iowa, i'm sure it was just a bad day. (let's hope)] we then soon realized we had forgotten our passports which we obviously needed for our trip to Canada. everyone was pretty bummed out including myself! but none of us could stay sad for too long. my dearest mother felt so bad, as if she had ruined our whole trip. We then proceeded to get lost and somehow ended up in Michigan. although the state was beautiful and far better than the interstate, it was not on the way by any means. at last we made it to only our second stop of our long trip. the next day we attended church in Hirum and then visited the Johnson Farm where Joseph Smith stayed for sometime, receiving much of the Doctrine and Covenants. I had no idea how much had taken place there. We took many tours there and got to see the first temple built by the Latter-Day Saints. The following day we drove a few hours to Niagara Falls. Because we had forgotten the passports we were afraid that we wouldn't have such a great time, but we were wrong! it was great, we took the maid of the mist out to the falls, saw the whirlpools, got to stand under the falls, walk through the cave of the winds, and luckily, see the lights at night. so beautiful. After our adventure there we drove to Palmyra, NY. We went to Joseph Smith's log cabin and other buildings. We each had the amazing experience to walk through the Sacred Grove. What an incredible testimony builder it was to actually be able to pray to our Father in Heaven near the very place where he appeared to fourteen year old Joseph. It was beyond incredible. We then had a temple session, climbed Hill Cumorah; where the plates were buried, went to the printing shop; where the first Book of MOrmon was published, visited Alvin Smith's grave, saw where Martin Harris' farm was, ate some great pizza, and waited for the Hill Cumorah Pageant.The Pageant was amazing!! i can't even put into words how strong the spirit was throughout the show. I loved every second of it and i couldn't stop snapping pictures. The following morning we said goodbye to the family who had been with us and went on our way to the Peter Whitmer Farm where the church was first organized. We then headed off towards Nauvoo, IL where the Nauvoo Pageant was still taking place. we loved the HIll Cumorah one so much we decided to stop through and watch this one. although it was a long drive, it was definitely worth it. again the pageant was so spiritual and just amazing all the way around. we finally got home the next day after a week and a half. the vacation had it's ups and downs for sure! but i couldn't have been on a more inspirational, spiritual, and uplifting trip as the one i just returned home from. I'm so glad i know the things i've been taught and i'm so very blessed for not only this great Gospel in my life but for my amazing family who believes and understands how very blessed we are to have it.
The Girls on the trip
Kirtland Temple
The Lights at Niagara Falls
The Falls
Characters from the Hill Cumorah Pageant
again, a little blurry
Opening scene from Hill Cumorah Pageant
Opening scene from Nauvoo Pageant
