On Friday, September 16, 2011, we left the MTC; I went home and Emily came over and helped me pack my car and put the finishing touches on the house so it would be ready for rental. Many, many thanks to Emily, Kassy, Courtney, and friends Lindy Pehrson and Sharron Campbell who helped so much so I could be ready to go. Friday night our family enjoyed a farewell dinner together at Bishop Thompson's, then Saturday morning I picked Kassy up and we were on our way!!! We met Sister Harper along the way with her daughter, Kristan Paolacci, so that we could meet up for meals and at night.
Our first night we stayed in No. Platte, Neb., then drove to Illinois, crossed the Mississippi River and stayed in the Nauvoo Inn, then toured the towns of Nauvoo and Carthage the following day. This was such an awesome, spiritual experience. We didn't have time to go to the Nauvoo Temple, but we could really feel the Spirit as we walked around the temple grounds, through the town and visitor's center at Nauvoo, and later at the Carthage Jail.
NAUVOO
Crossing the Mississippi River
The Nauvoo Temple
Kassy Buehner, Kathy Brown, Jean Harper, & Kristan Paolacci
In the Visitor's Center
THE WOMEN'S MEMORIAL GARDEN
Joseph and Emma
A Child's First Steps
CARTHAGE JAIL
We left Carthage and headed north to Chicago where Kristan's daughter, Marissa, lives and attends school at Columbia University. Working her magic, Kristan arranged for us to stay the night in the Hilton and Marriott Hotel for $100 each! The following morning we met Marissa and her boyfriend, Christopher for breakfast at a cute restaurant called 'Toast', and we were on our way once again...
Chicago Skyline
Our room at the Marriott
We left Chicago and drove to Cranberry Township, PA., over one hill and down another, all covered with corn. To get there we drove through Illinois and Iowa, and the landscape began to get greener, even though it was still covered with corn, corn, and more corn...Cranberry Township was pretty much a nightmare~by the time we arrived, there were only four rooms left in the whole town: all in the Marriott, at $250 each~so much for the fantastic deal we got
in Chicago...
CORN, CORN, CORN, CORN, CORN
and MORE CORN!!!
