Nauvoo

About a month ago I was able to go on a trip with my best friend, Jessica Roberts,  and her family.  It was a 7 day trip start on a Monday ending on the following Sunday.  We started the drive to Chicago, which we only drove through and then reached our intended destination in Indiana.  They had cousins there that they wanted to see.  It was really fun getting to know her cousins and family.  We got to see a few cool things there like Lake Michigan.  The family we stayed with weren’t LDS and it was kind of funny to listen to Jessica and her brother try to explain to them that they were both going to be gone for almost 3 years because of a missions.  On of the guys said that Jessica should just come to Indiana for her mission and live with his family.  I think she really liked that idea.  On Thursday morning we took off really early to get to Nauvoo.  We first stopped at Carthage Jail where we not only got to have a very spiritual experience on the tour, but we were surprised to find Elder Neil A. Anderson and his wife there.  We were able to get a picture with him and that was pretty cool.  We then went to Nauvoo and luckily we were able to get a hotel room there in Nauvoo just a couple blocks away from the temple.  They only had two rooms left, what luck!  We did some sight seeing and then ended the day with the best part of the whole trip!  We went to the Nauvoo Pageant.  It took place on the big field of grass west of the temple. It was all about the saints experience there in Nauvoo.  It told of how they came there, and told stories of certain people that came to meet the Saints in Nauvoo.  When we first arrived  at the pageant it was already very crowded and we were pretty far back.  We could see, but not very well.  About 3 minutes into the program a woman came up to me and asked me if me and my family would like to come up and sit with her and husband.  They live in Nauvoo and there kids weren’t able to make it so they had several seats saved in the THRID row!  I couldn’t believe it so we moved to the front and had the best view of the pageant.  During the program the saints were building the Nauvoo temple and once they got to the point where the saints were forced to leave Nauvoo they had a recording of President Hinckley when he announced the rebuilding of the Nauvoo temple. Just then in the background the all the lights on the temple had been off all night and were gradually growing brighter until it was fully lit.  I can’t describe the feelings I felt at that moment .  It greatly reaffirmed my testimony that this church is true and what the saints had to go through to allow us to worship in temples all around the world.  After the pageant the lady and her husband talked to us for a bit and she told us she felt a prompting to ask us to share those seats.  It was such a simple gesture that meant the world to Jess and I.  He husband was a composer and he invited us to his place the next day to hear some of his songs.  He is extremely talented.  The next day we got up and toured the rest of Nauvoo and went on a beautiful carriage ride around the outside grounds of Nauvoo.  A side that most tourist don’t take the time to see, but it was so beautiful.  Most the people in Nauvoo and the missionaries there claim it is the best part of all Nauvoo.  Saturday morning we had to leave, but I had one request for the whole trip and that was to do the Trail of Hope.  It started at 8 in the morning and you go to Parley Street where they have actors along the road leading to the Missouri River.  These actors represented actual people that had left that day years ago and told stories of what happened.  It was a very tender experience I’ll never forget. Knowing the pain each of these saints were going through and to think of the hope and faith they had to start this amazing journey to the Salt Lake Valley.  It gave me new appreciation for those people and the testimonies they had.  It was a trip of a lifetime and I hope everyone gets the chance to go to Nauvoo and partake in the many spiritual moments that happen there.  I received inspiration for things I have been pondering, answers to my prayers, and guidance for my life.  It was a much needed experience to bring me closer to my Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ.  My suggestion is that if you do plan to go to Nauvoo go in July.  That is when they have they have the pageant and the Trail of Hope and many other great shows and activities.  On our way home to Idaho we made one last stop at Adam-on-di-omen (spelling?) .  It is a very beautiful valley, but it was very hot and I was very tired from the long trip.  I am very thankful for Jessica and her family for taking me on that trip.  It was an amazing experience. 

Quick Update

So much for trying to keep my blog updated…opps. Well, here is a new post for all my faithful 6 followers.  Attentions everyone! I have officially graduated college. I just recently finished my student teaching in Vegas. I can’t tell you how satisfying it feels. I have now moved to Saratoga Springs Utah to live in my sister’s basement. It is ok here. I need to find a singles ward and some friends as well as a job and then I think I will really enjoy it.


I need to briefly catch you up on the past couple months in Vegas. I was teaching Health and English and that was a blast. It was really hard work and frustrating at times to not have my own classroom and constantly following someone else’s classroom rules, but I realized why I love teaching so much. I really starting making good relationships with my students and I’m really going to miss them (even though they probably won’t miss me). They weren’t that sad when I left, but it was their spring break so I’ll blame it on that not me.

I also made some great friendships in Las Vegas. Amie was a gem and introduced me to a lot of new people that I got to know and love. I loved my roommates and had some fun times with them. I also met a really special person. His name is Samuel Jensen. We dated for a month or so while I was there. He is so amazing and I’m truly going to miss him so much.

I know this is short, but I hope that now that I’m done with school I will be more dedicated to writing here. As of right now my main focus has been spent trying to find a job. In fact I have several applications to fill out today so I better get started on them.

Living with my niece and nephews is certainly going to be interesting. I love them very much and I know they love me since they follow me around everywhere I go. Stockton seems to have a strong attachment to me as well as Ellie. He is always begging for me to pick him up and wants to sit on my lap when he isn’t busy playing. He is a cutie. Logan also has grown very friendly with me, which I’m happy about because he never has really liked me much. He likes to tease me mostly, but sometimes he will cuddle with me. All three of them are sure a handful. I don’t know how Mindy does it really. I think I’m starting to grow out of my baby hungry stage a bit.

Well that is it for now. I’ll write more later!

Big Adventure to Las Vegas

So as you all know.  I have begun my crazy adventure in Las Vegas.  My adventure began when I packed up my tiny Nissan Sentra and a little in the van and drove to Utah.  The trip was spread out which was nice because I didn’t feel like it was so much driving.  We went to two family get-togethers and then drove to Mindy’s to spend the night.  We left at 9 the next morning and drove all way to Vegas.  I drove the whole way and all around Vegas.  I was so proud of myself.  I was so thankful that my mom and dad stayed with me for a few days and made sure I was comfortable and settled in.  I became used to the roads really fast and the traffic has not been bad for me yet at all.  even driving to and from school it wasn’t bad, probably because it is way early! Life in Vegas has been interesting.  I have been kind of bored because I don’t know anyone yet to go do stuff with.  There are things I want to do, but not by myself.  None of my roommates are too interested in doing things either.  Two of them love to talk on their phones incessantly to their boyfriends.  The other seems to only like things that has to do with English and nothing else.  I invited her to go the a basketball game (my school against hers) she wanted nothing to do with it.  I would really like to go but I would feel silly all alone.  The high school I work at is really nice.  It is way big and only 2 years old.  The principal is really great and really cares about the education of his students.  I have two cooperating teachers Mr. Gibson and Mrs. Welch.  They both are really nice.  They are so helpful too.  It has been fun observing them and getting used to the high school life again.  The students just crack me up.  They have to wake up so darn early in the morning that they are so exhausted during first period.  So that is the best time to teach, since they are so dead quiet.  I haven’t done a lot of teaching yet because it is the end of semester and so they are getting ready for finals so there is no point in me teaching because I have no idea what they are doing.  I am going to be taking over two health classes in a week and that will be way fun I’m excited for that.  I get to teach the book Night by Eliezer Wiesel for my two Honors English I classes.  It will be good I’m just a bit bored during my preps that is why I’m writing this during my prep.  I’m sure I have something I should do but I don’t know what exactly.  I don’t have much to say about school yet.  It is good though.  Things are going well down here.  I am excited to take over some classes so that I can get in some teaching experience and not be so bored.  I’m way tired everyday I don’t know when my body is going to start getting used to getting up at 5 every morning, but it certainly hates it right now.  Plus Aunt Rosie came to visit so I’m even more tired and grumpy than usual.  Well that is it for now.  Maybe I’ll get some pics of my new place and the school soon, but I’m just not much of a picture taker and even worse at downloading them.  Well that is it for now!