MCO Boston Tour

We were very excited to clean, pack, and get ready for Boston! No one complained about chores, laundry, and packing this time. Justin and I went to Cabela’s hoping to find a soft rooftop carrier with a lower profile. Thankfully, there was one in stock! I stocked up on some snacks, games, library books, library audio books, and supplies for the trip. We took along 3 sleeping pads and two pillows for Evelyn and Josie to sleep on hotel room floors. My food goal was to only buy dinners and rely on hotel breakfasts and cold lunches, so along came the cooler. We left with a prayer hanging in the wind for Justin to find employment, the van to function properly, and speed under our tires. 

June 13

Drove to Jeremy and Yulia’s home in Morgan Ut. Our journey started around noon.  I made the same mistake of stopping at the animal rescue farm with the crossed out bathroom sign in the ghost section of Idaho…no bathrooms. I about whizzed my pants but held it together with sheer will. The kids HAD to spend some of the precious quarters feeding the cute llamas, alpacas, ponies, donkeys, goats, and sheep. Then they noticed all the free feed others had scattered, spent a moment free feeding the animals. Evelyn vibed with the llamas. Pasha welcomed us with a warm hello, invited us to sleep on his floor. Jeremy’s kiddos were very excited to host their first sleepover. Yulia fed us a yummy meal of chicken cordon bleu, corn, and potatoes. I went sort of crazy and helped her shove food storage under their beds in order to clear a closet for space. We loved all the baby snuggles and funny phrases the babies said. 

June 14

We made a pit stop at Sidney for dinner. Stopped at our old home 1209 19th Ave! I rang the doorbell and asked the owners if we could take some awkward photos on the porch and backyard. She went the extra mile and let us explore the sideyard and inside! We regaled her with many stories about our times living in that house. The floor, paint, carpet, and kitchen are all the same. It was so fun to dive into memory lane and visit. The kids exclaimed several times how small everything seemed 7 years later! We had a splurge dinner at Oya Grill, where once again I was denied the knowledge of what type of cheese they use in their scrumptious shrimp terra dish. We drove 675 miles to Cozad, NE. Drove through a hellish storm that poured so much rain our visibility was only 2-3 feet. Learned the car top bag is NOT waterproof, all the choir clothing was damp. Our hotel was a line away from roach motel, Evelyn barely slept because she spotted a spider. Amelia claimed the bathroom was not “that” bad…until she put her contacts in the next morning. We all felt a little itchy. Learned the next morning Cozad’s claim to fame is that it sits on the 100th Meridian! Definitely noticed a difference in vegetation from arid high desert to rolling green hills. My dang knee gave me terrible grief most of the trip. I survived with constant ice and keeping my leg/knee locked while standing.  

June 15

Drove to Joliet, IL (now called Joilet the toilet), took about 10.5 hours about 673 miles. We enjoyed listening to Rush Revere teach us about the Pilgrims. Had supermarket dinner in the same town Ronald Reagan was born. Took numerous photos in Ohio, because Ohio! Noticed how different the toll roads are from non-toll roads. The roads are very scenic with travel plazas every hour or so. The travel plazas are like airports with expensive food and beverages. We left the toll roads just to save $30 on dinner. I had to find a laundromat to dry the damp choir attire, swim towels, and dirty clothes already accumulating. The hotel laundromat was quite the happening place. As soon as I entered a drunk dude accused me of dumping his clean clothes on the floor. I waved my hands in denial. Another gal walked in going straight to the washer. She was the culprit, he nearly dragged me to the hotel desk as a witness of the laundry crime. I backed away…never mind…I’ll find a local laundromat.  

June 16 

Drove to Utica, NY our longest day by far! Travelled 733 miles took us 12 hours with breaks. We enjoyed glimpses of Lake Erie. Josie sang a song about the Erie Canal last school year, she was very excited. We were missing Justin in particular as it was Father’s Day. We left him notes with Paula Titus to deliver on Father’s Day and Heidi made a pan of brownies for him. We love our Justin. I found hotels as we drove using the Choice Hotels app, just picked the cheapest with availability. I picked a winner! We pulled in around 10:30 pm, noticed there were only 4 other vehicles. Went in to check-in and the Indian guy immediately asked me if I had more kids. He actually walked outside to count my kids instead of letting me answer. He said I would need 2 rooms, I rested my chin on my phone trying to digest his demands. He accused me of videoing the encounter…like seriously? I showed him my phone, nope…just texting Justin. The clerk then walked away, left me standing there not checked in. I wasn’t sure what he was doing so waited a few minutes. Rang his stupid bell. He was watching TV?! I repeated my request to check-in, that I could not get a refund because the app requirements don’t allow for refunds for the price I chose. I was not about to make my kids sleep in a separate room across the motel like he wanted. Finally, he suggested an upgraded suite for $55 more. Whatever. Insult to injury the rooms smelled like mildew and felt grimy. He had the gaul to approach us the next morning with a smile asking if the crappy breakfast was ok. I was in the wrong shoving 6 people into a 4 person hotel room, not a win-win situation. Mostly I just felt humiliated. 

June 17

Beach day! Hooray! We left early hoping to get to Old Orchard Beach in Maine around 1:30 pm. The 5h30 drive took over 7 hours instead. At one point the ETA read 3h30 for over an hour, traffic delays extended the supposed shorter day of travel. We pulled into a local park first to change clothes and use the bathroom then went in search of beach access. Sigh! I love the beach. It was overcast and almost chilly outside. We would pine for those temperatures over the next few days. The girls found huge clam shells! We braved the cold water, it was so cold my scalp was tingling. Finally made it sea to shining sea with the kids, that was a fun moment. We dried off after reaching critical coldness and went in search of dinner. I was set on having a lobster roll from Maine. The town is a tourist trap, cute and peachy. We found a restaurant and split two lobster rolls and some clam or lobster chowders. After dinner we strolled around the boardwalk area, stopping at a candy store so the kids could spend their own money. High tide was coming in, headed back to the beach and pier area to play in the water some more. It was heaven! Drove to Red Roof Inn in Woburn, MA another 1.5 hour drive. 

June 18

Went grocery shopping for sandwich supplies, fruit, veggies, milk, snacks, and such. Decided to explore Plymouth Rock since we learned about the pilgrims. Had a lovely picnic lunch down by the harbor and a statue of William Bradford. Plymouth Rock is really small, more of a mythical item than one actually used. We toured several cute stores and noticed a replica of the Mayflower. Decided to pay a lot of money to tour the boat and the replica pilgrim village at Plymouth Plantation. We imagined smashing 100 people plus animals into the hold! Enjoyed the image of Liberty the horse hidden on the poop deck, thanks to Rush Revere. Plimouth Plantation was really interesting, the humidity was not enjoyable. We stepped into a Wetu like the Wampanoag build, the smell was not appealing to the kids. Learned about how the Indians planted the 3 sisters, corn, beans, and squash and how to make a canoe. We were damp and hot so sought out the crafts center for air conditioning. Josie fell in love with a tiny bottle that contained the Magna Carta, Phillip bought a hiking stick, and Everett found a tiny lego Mayflower in the gift shop. We went back out into the heat to quickly tour the pilgrim village before it closed at 5. Several actors walked around in costume talking like the Pilgrims may have talked back then. Evelyn guessed correctly that Miles Standish’s home was the one with the suit of armor and the only wood floor! We met a goodwife preparing gooseberries (very tangy) for a sauce to go over fish. I loved the tiny gardens behind each wooden home. Josie and Evelyn finally got to see a real thatched roof! We read about thatch in the 4th Indian in the Cupboard book we’re reading. At the last home the kids could try out games the pilgrim children played like a hoop and stick. The reserve was very pretty with lots of trees, bushes, flowers, and animals. We got a kick seeing the “Mooflower” back at the visitor’s center. The Ostlers met up with us back at Plymouth Rock! We had a happy reunion before fighting over dinner. Everyone wanted cheap so we tried to find something affordable. Sara and I hobbled over to the pier, everyone else walked. Our knees were griping quite loudly, ironically both of our right knees are hurting. We sat down at one restaurant wanting just clam chowder, it was $13 for just a cup. I had no qualms standing back up and walking out waving the cheap ticket. We should’ve checked the menu outside before sitting down. We opted for Chik-fil-a just a 12 minute drive away. That was a blessing in disguise! The restaurant had a fun family night going on with games, free balloon animals, and free meal cards. We returned early to the hotel because we had to be at Minute Man National Park the next morning by 6:30 am. We made sure all the outfits were laid out and ready for a 5:15 am wake up call. 

June 19

First day of tour! We literally shut down the North Great Road. The visitor’s center only allowed about a 100 parking spaces. Imagine 2,000 MCO participants swarming the area, lots of Mormon Assault Vehicles. At first the traffic control guys said we could park along the road once the parking lot was full. That turned into a class A disaster after 30 minutes. I found a niche near the entrance, squished my mini van almost touching the Ostler’s van. The kids rushed out not wanting to miss a thing. We could hear drums and a fife playing as the Grand Chorus finished recording Concord Hymn. They arrived even earlier at 5:45 am! The excitement was palpable. I found the attire staging area and immediately delved in to help pass out bowties, ties, buttons, safety pins, and solve attire issues with the leads from Arizona and Utah. Sara helped assemble flags some of the youth would carry. Once the youth were lead off to the filming area message runners came yelling that everyone needed to move their vehicles or else the highway patrol would shut down the filming event. I was very sad to leave but had to as the only available driver. I could hear dulcet tones floating in the early morning air. I drove down to Concord and Lexington to pass time. Stopped at Orchard House where Louisa May Alcott penned Little Women. Tried to find a bathroom at the Old North Bridge but it was closed, so walked around the peaceful site where the first shots were fired that started the American Revolution. Amelia texted me to come pick up everyone just at Dusty arrived to the Old North Bridge. I went back and picked up all my kids plus Sara and Ambree. It was a madhouse! My group was off to the side when a guy stopped traffic. I motioned for everyone to jump in…only Everett reacted quickly enough to jump in. I had to move on, turn around and head back. The kids and Sara were all running toward me with a large group of motorcyclists in front of me! They got cheered on as they ran toward me piling in as I slowly rolled on with the door open! That was exhilarating and quite fun. The kids reported that singing in front of Hartwell Tavern was so fantastic. We spent an hour in Concord, amazing to think about all the history in that town. The houses were all quaint colonial restorations. I voluntold Dusty to do the Freedom Trail with us that afternoon. I knew concert day would be crazy and everyone would be dead tired afterwards. 

Dusty found affordable parking near the Boston Commons. We still had to walk quite a ways to the start of an audio tour I rented for $7. It was so hot, 98 degrees plus humidity that day. The heat killed us. We walked from Boston Commons to the first public park in America. The Calls ate our lunch of hummus, fruit, and cheese…shared it with all. I hobbled over to the info kiosk to see how much the trolley tours were, a ghastly $38 per person. Never mind, we whined and complained for the next two hours as we valiantly tried to follow the freedom trail. The trail is marked with a red-white-red brick pattern laid out length wise on the sidewalks. We saw the State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Grounds, King’s Chapel, Ben Franklin’s Statue (First Public School Site), Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Boston Massacre Memorial, Faneuil Hall, and Paul Revere’s House. We stopped for a moment to wet our feet at a splash pad, the water was warm so that was not refreshing. We promised the kids if we made it to Paul’s House we would turn back and get a cannoli at Modern Pastry. Hallelujah! The Paul Revere home tour was only $15 total for my group. The clincher was the air conditioning! Blessed heavens the cool air felt like paradise. We learned that Paul had 8 children and lived in the house on North Square during most of the Revolution. His home is within a brisk 4 minute walk to Old North Church where the “one if by land two is by sea signal was given.” We had a quick bathroom break before heading back to hotels, my kids were waiting in a small room near the bathrooms. I walked in and Jen Spackman accosted me! Hooray! She was waiting for her group to finish a similar endeavor, was scrolling through FB and looked at some photos I posted earlier that day, looked up and there sat Amelia! I loved seeing all the MCO tour shirts popping up all around Boston. I wish we had money to do the Boston Tea Party Museum, but it was fully booked during our free hours and too expensive. We walked back through little Italy and stopped at Modern Pastry for a much deserved sweet treat. Everett and I tried the pistachio cake (yes, please). Amelia and Phillip had a cannoli and some other dessert she paid for. Josie was content with a chocolate ball and Evelyn had a red velvet cupcake. Resting our barking dogs felt awesome. We turned in early again that night, or tried too! Took me way too long to find a pizza place and order enough pizza for dinner and lunch the next day. 

July 20

We had another early, early morning, mind you to us it felt like walking up at 3:30 am. Everyone danced the delicate one bathroom dance to change and get ready for concert day, packed lunches and backpacks, and changes of clothes. Thursday was also tour shirt day so I made sure everyone had their shirts to wear. We didn’t have fancy lunch bags so used ice in sandwich bags to keep food cold. That was a disaster because some kids (Everett) did not zip up the bag securely. More than one kid ended up with soggy pizza. I secured a parking spot under the large church across the street from the Boston Symphony Hall. As I pulled in to enter the garage, which was not clearly marked, an older gentleman blasted me with the best bombastic side eye I’ve ever witnessed. He could raze buildings with that stare. I was not even close to hitting him either, was a good 6 feet away as he slowly trundled by. We exited the parking garage to witness the most gorgeous cathedral and plaza. I used my super powers as a lead to skip the entire line! The holding rooms were so nice, air conditioned and more comfortable than the floor at the Morrison Center. I soon had a long line of singers missing bits and pieces, those Concert Choir Men cannot keep track of their bow ties, button covers, and pocket squares. We ended up lending about 40 ties in total. I cannot speak too loudly since my own son, Everett, lost two bowties. He left one at the Minute Man Park and misplaced another in the van. I snuck into the theater to watch some of the MCO magic, try to locate my kids positions. The choirs were singing “Grand Ole Flag” without the drum line, which in my opinion sounded MUCH better. The acoustics were amazing! Brett informed the audience that the Boston Symphony Hall has the 3rd best acoustics in the world. Seated next to attire was the medical crew, soon after children’s chorus went up to practice, we had a little visitor come and stay for a while. After some prodding, he said his mom would NOT want him singing in the place with naked statues. He wanted to call his mom and ask permission! He was also worried about all the other kids seeing the same statues. He decided to return to rehearsals after the guys manning the medical station told stories about dealing with uncomfortable situations on their missions! What a tender young boy. I completely loved the concert. The songs sounded so amazing in that venue. My favorites are still Concord Hymn and Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. I did love the Brett arrangement of “God Bless the USA” with Casey Elliott from Gentri. Right after the concert we rounded up our things so the red cast could start their rehearsal for the evening concert. Everett left his smart watch somewhere, it took quite some time to find someone to look, no luck. The other kids awkwardly changed clothes in the van, sweating bullets in the underground garage. I struggled to find the garage entrance, Amelia had to come open the door before I found it/her. I made the kids endure the rest of the Freedom Trail starting at Bunker Hill. Unfortunately, we got there at 4:30 to find the museum had closed 30 minutes early. We all needed a restroom so walked around for another 30 minutes trying to find a place we could use without paying more than a few dollars. The 7-11 said we could try Starbucks, yes we could IF we bought their fancy water for $4. Whatever. We went back to 7-11 for slurpees, our current state definitely counted as HOT and BOTHERED. My complaining troops made the trek back to Bunker Hill with a slightly better attitude. It’s hard to believe the Patriots threw up the bulwarks over night. Impressive. We drove down to the wharf area to see the USS Constitution and the Paul Revere landing site. We invaded a toddler’s splash pad just to cool off our feet, the water was blessedly cold. Thank you Navy for building a lovely public park. I headed back to the Concert Hall with an hour to spare, GPS said the drive back would take 15 minutes. The drive back did NOT take 15 minutes, it took an hour just to cross the Harvard Bridge. The view of the Charles River with sailboats and rowing teams was very idyllic. I got tired of the Uber cars racing to the front of the merge lane and cutting in by driving over the grass median, positioned the van to block the line cutters. My city driving skills were in full force. The kids made it to the Symphony Hall with only 20 minutes to find their seats…and no dinner. The chips, fruit snacks, and cheese sticks had to hold them over. I rented another parking spot in a small alley, the only one still available. I got quite frustrated finding the spot, Google Maps had no idea how to get to the location. After the 3rd pass I noticed a tiny alley allowing a parallel alley behind the one Google thought I needed to be, success! I squeezed the van with inches to spare on each side, finally spotting the correct parking space I rented. Another family was looking for someone to watch their two little boys while the rest of the family was performing or attending the concert. I made it to the front with only 2 minutes before the concert started. Phew. Next thing I was walking along the reflecting pool dragging CJ and Patrick hopping along. We spent a moment getting our feet wet in the splash area, Patrick was keen on immersing himself. It’s never enough to just wet the feet. I bribed him away with a promise of ice cream. Patrick ordered a delicious looking bowl of Minion ice cream with marshmallows from Coldstone (dad gave me $10 for a treat). As soon as we walked outside a tremendous blast of wind sprayed sand and dirt all over. We had dirt ground into our faces, hair, wet legs, and clothing. Patrick started crying because his ice cream was covered in grit. I quickly walked the boys away from the buildings know the dirt would cling to the buildings rather than the open spaces. We made it back to Symphony Hall moments before the heavens opened, gracious it pounded rain for an hour. The little boys and I spent a rather happy time splashing around in the puddles until the concert was over. My kids thoroughly enjoyed attending a concert for once, to see the magic from the audience end. What a place to see a concert. We were all hyped up on goofy balls! Amelia played with Patrick in the rain until I spotted Jeromy West and his girls exiting the theater. I was an hour past my parking reservation, prayed the van was still there unticketed. Yes, yes it was. While trying to find the correct alley, driving in circles 3-4 times I noticed signs for speed humps. My brain instantly started cracking inappropriate jokes. Could I keep them to myself? Nope! We were laughing so hard, our van was humping the speed bumps, speed humping. The comic relief was much needed after several stressful days. The kids were starving, found a chicken place still open at 10:45 pm, the fiends were fed. 

21 July 

Slept in, woke up the troops at 8 am. We had a long way to travel back to Palmyra that day. The information letter said the area did not have many grocery stores, I stocked up on more fruit, veggies, and snacks to tide us over through Monday. We finally checked out and left around 10:30 am. On the drive we started listening to Saints Vol 1 in preparation for the change from Patriotism to Restoration. I really wanted to stop at the Priesthood Restoration site in Harmony, NY but we started too late in the day. Instead we arrived at Victor, NY with enough time to enjoy the swimming pool. I rented a larger room at a hotel with a pool knowing we would be there over the Sabbath Day. We stopped halfway there for lunch, the kids had a picnic while I cleaned their stinky concert clothes at a random laundromat near the freeway. The kids enjoyed swimming for an hour before the pool closed. I got to stay up late doing another load of laundry because kids forgot to add dirty socks, undies, and such to the laundry bag. The older kids had to be at the filming site by 6 am in concert clothes. I arranged with another group to take their boys along with my kids at 5:30 am. I left the little girls snoozing away for some much needed rest. The fresh morning air was glorious! Our morning brains were not switched on, forgot to send bug spray with the Amelia. She was eaten alive standing out in a field of chest high weeds. Mia said her group was excused before the large group drone shots. There was not enough room for all the singers at once and the logistics demanded half the singers be picked up before the entire filming was completed. Phillip got to stay since CCM is the smallest group. Phillip said it was lightly raining until the choir started singing, “Joseph, this is my beloved,” the clouds parted for a lovely ray of sunshine. His heart was quite touched with that experience. Amelia was not so impressed, a gnat flew up her nostril right when the camera was pointed at her. She had to sing and not react to the insect dancing the samba in her nose. 

I got back to hotel, ate breakfast at 6:15, without all the hustle and bustle I normally encounter. I got the girls awake and dressed, lunch packed, and breakfast snatched from the buffet. All the kids loved Joe, the cafe worker. He handed out bowls full of ice cream to any child that asked! He even had 6-7 choices ranging from unicorn party to chocolate raspberry. Joe won my kid’s hearts. I reserved tour times for the Whitmer Farm, didn’t realize the time difference put our reservation plus 2 hours. The Ostlers and our family decided to just go and take our chances. Since our names were on the list we were able to get in right away. As we walked into the Visitor’s Center I recognized the senior missionary couple and commented on that. The gentleman said, I have a very recognizable face. I responded, no, I really do know you. Snap! You’re Catherine’s parents! Indeed Catherine Taylor’s parents are serving their mission in the Palmyra area. We got to watch a video about the Whitmer family before going out to see their cabin. The tour is given in several stops before, inside, back outside of the log cabin. We loved the plowing miracle that allowed David to go fetch Joseph and Emma from Harmony, PN. The feelings of testimony were strong in the log cabin where the church was organized, replica or not. The Ostler’s arrived 10 minutes before we did so they finished well before we started. Once again the Spackman family was in our tour group. Jenn brought tears to my eyes when she hugged me and asked for our miracle story. That woman is amazing. We had time to drive over to the Hill Cumorah for that tour. We were lucky our names were on the reservation list, they were turning folks away who had not signed up. The tour started in the visitor’s center in a room with a Christus statue and sister missionaries. I loved that Everett snuggled Josie while listening to the presentation. We chose a hike route up to the top where the church dedicated a monument then walked up to the top. Sara and I once again hobbled up on our gimpy legs. Oh the pain. The view is magnificent up on top! The last time I visited the Hill Cumorah the hillside was cleared and staged for the pageants. I noticed wildflowers are cultivated on most public land including along the freeways, the flowers make the drive so enjoyable.  Wildflowers covered the old stage area, letting the hillside return to its natural state. The mosquitos were flocking to my delicious children, Phillip and Evelyn, mmmm delicious. 

We returned to the hotel with a couple hours to spare before curtain call at 3 pm. The time went by quickly as we decided to eat an early dinner at Taco Bell. By the time we walked into our room we only had 30 minutes to get ready, pack dinner, and rush out the door. It was smoldering hot with temperature and added humidity. I knew in my bones it was going to rain, after living through NC summers and the daily rainstorms the chances for rain were about 99%. Checking in my singers was a madhouse! Palmyra had over 2,000 singers and instrumentalists from 6 different states converge for the outdoor concert. We were looking forward to singing “The Vision” in front of the Sacred Grove. 

In the blazing hot late afternoon heat the conductors arranged everyone on the hillside for a professional photo. I felt so bad for the men especially wearing their tuxedo vests and coats. I did not have much to do for attire so went outside to lend a hand wherever I could. I was able to serve the choirs by fetching cold water and squeezing that water into many thirsty mouths in sports bottles. Several singers fainted with heat exhaustion during the photo session. Thankfully, the choirs had an hour break in the air conditioning for dinner before the concert. Bonus, the men removed their coats for the outdoor concert. The Ostlers and I sat next to each other, I played several rounds of Slamwich to pass the time. Blessedly, clouds started rolling in as the concert started at 7. Josie was standing almost straight in front of me! MCO performed the patriotic songs and then moved into the religious portion of the concert. Jared Halverson, podcaster of Unshaken, was the concert host. As he moved the concert into the religious portion thick, black clouds rolled in, it was apparent there was a storm swirling our way. I, and probably the entire choir and audience, prayed with full confidence that it would NOT rain during the concert. As the inevitable moved closer my prayer changed to, please allow MCO to at least perform The Vision. As Brett lead the children’s song, The Story of a Boy, the soloists’ microphones started glitching, rain spattered down, they persevered. Then the random rain drops suddenly switched to a pounding downpour. Immediately, chaos ensued. Audience members covering themselves with their picnic blankets; members of the orchestra hurriedly protecting their instruments, choir members trying to cover the electronic equipment with their clothing. It was pandemonium! I sat there savoring the cool rain, the relief, knowing somehow a miracle would happen. We stuck it out for 10-15 minutes hoping everyone would come back  because Brett did not announce the concert as concluded. A contingent of string instrument performers were carefully escorted to the stake center, that felt like the end. Grand Chorus members started drifting away, but a few stubbornly remained, like the rain that softened and stopped. I heard a commotion coming from behind me, Grand Chorus singers were rushing back to the hill. The audience cheered as the choirs cheerfully returned. Brandon used a megaphone to ask, “Do you want more?”, loud applause and whistles answered back. Brandon said the concert would continue with The Vision and Praise to the Man, but that the songs would be performed without microphones of amplification, as the sound system was removed and packed away. He instructed the singers to wrap in a horseshoe around the orchestra as tightly as possible. The audience instructed to come forward as close as possible then sit down, the audience could even wrap around the back of the choirs so everyone could be close enough to hear. The orchestra re-tuned then silence fell as Brandon raised his arms. 

What happened next was nothing short of magical. The youth-many the same age as young Joseph when he entered the grove to pray-sounded angelic as they sang, “if you lack wisdom…ask of God.” With the rain passed, the birds that were silent before the storm suddenly emerged and sang along, perfectly setting the stage for “Oh how lovely was the morning, radiant beamed the sun above. Bees were humming, sweet birds singing, music ringing through the grove. The music changed, sadness conveyed “when the powr’s of sin filled his soul with deep despair.” The orchestra played the haunting Isle of the Dead (Rachmaninoff) as the singers sang a Latin text: Dies irate, dies ill solver sacrum en favilla. Meaning, Day of wrath, that day will dissolve the earth in ashes to represent the sense of doom Joseph felt as destruction was imminent. 

Softly, the orchestra portrayed the light overcoming the darkness. I love that this section was soft and gradual rather than a sudden boom. I was watching the faces of the youth as they sang “Joseph, this is my beloved Son. Hear Him!” The spirit deeply bore witness to us in an intimate, unbelievably sacred expression of testimony. It felt different than the experience just that morning for the video recording. The concert performers didn’t just sing about what happened in the Sacred Grove, they were singing their own “Sacred Grove” experiences or perhaps singing the feelings newly gained as the song progressed. The tour was not just a thing that happened, it took months of planning and preparation, just like Joseph planned to enter the grove to pray. The religious portion of the concert was stopped, as the rain halted the concert, much like Joseph was bound. We were able to finish the concert after the rain passed, the performers “got possession of themselves” and carried on with the concert. We felt the darkness, the rain, the disappointment, the sadness-then He delivered us all. Everyone participating from performers to audience were enriched and touched as the concert went on. My heart thrilled as the choir sang Praise the Man, millions shall know brother Joseph again. Millions know him already! The concert ended with that. We were all gathering our things when from the Concert Choir Men refrains of God Bless America suddenly drifted through the air. The song grew from a handful of young men to the choirs joining with the percussion joining to finish the concert with “Amen and Amen!” I felt a thrilling rush with that ending. God Bless America, the cradle that allowed Joseph Smith to “happen,” cradle a new American born religion.     

The whipped cream came a while later. Fetching the younger 3 was a three-ring circus with so many parents picking up. I cracked up as a creative Dad yelled a name, raffled off going once, going twice, back to the holding room! We walked back to our van parked at the Ostler’s hotel, just behind the Stake Center. Fireflies gently blinked off and on. We had glitter surrounding us for a magical end of the night. 

23 June

Sunday was our day of rest. We all slept until at least 9 am, ate breakfast, I went back to sleep for another 3 hours. So tired! The kids enjoyed swimming, ice cream from Joe the breakfast cafe guy, and resting their feet. Instead of church we visited the Sacred Grove and the Smith farm then the Grandin Print Shop. After the storm, it was quite pleasant all Sunday with temperatures in the 70s. We passed many MCO families doing the same thing we were! As we walked toward the Smith Home Tour a Sister Missionary said to look to the left halfway down the path. The Palmyra temple peeked through the trees of part of the Sacred Grove, a floating temple spire right there next to the Smith Farm. After the tour we all walked through the Sacred Grove. I challenged the kids to find a spot and say a prayer. The little girlies and I went in a group while the older kids split up. It was so quiet and peaceful, the only sound was quiet laughter and chatter from a large family and then the breeze through the trees. Amelia said she saw Brandon on the path in front of her, she embarrassingly passed him, then ran/quick stepped away. I envisioned an awkward Napoleon Dynamite run with hands extended behind her back. Everett also saw Brandon, stopped him to take a photo with my camera! The grove is an outdoor temple, a sacred space where God the Father once stood with His Son. 

The Grandin Print shop was also very informative. We learned more about the story of how Grandin changed his mind, the job earned him $3,000. That doesn’t sound like much to us today but back in 1830 the job cost over $100,000 to print 5,000 copies. Joseph wanted the copies bound in leather not just the generic white binding. The first batch of books have an imprint of an iron used to weigh down the pages, Grandin made a marble press the exact size of the pages to get rid of the iron imprint. So, some of the first books have iron outlines on some pages. We saw an original copy of the book at the end of the tour. We ordered Chinese food for dinner at a very popular shop across the street. I wish Chinese food was something I liked, usually my meal is blah. The kids were happy so there is that. Everett used his magical powers to move a can (it was really the wind). We retired to bed after a swim and phone call to Justin. 

24 June

Ate ice cream for breakfast, the girls were very sorry to leave Joe at the hotel. Joe even helped me check the oil, Phillip poured an entire container of oil instead of the half I instructed him too. I couldn’t tell if the oil level was too high, thus Joe’s opinion came in handy. My knee was very ouchie, it was swollen and not doing well, basically I could not bend my knee or bear weight on that leg unless my knee was locked. We headed to Niagara Falls for the day. Evelyn was acting really tired and slow all day. We started out the day with an hour drive to Niagara, then a picnic lunch before exploring. I really wanted the kids to experience either the Maid of the Mist or the Cave of Winds. The latter was cheaper by $10 per ticket, so Cave of the Winds it was. We had to wait a while for tickets but our reservation was only a 10 minute wait after I got the tickets. We watched a short video about the falls history then took an elevator to the bottom of the falls. After walking through a tunnel we got rain ponchos to cover up. The feel of standing nearly under a tremendous waterfall is quite exciting. Our shoes got thoroughly soaked! On the second set of stairs something popped behind my knee causing an explosion of pain. I was stopped nearly biting through my lip the pain was so terrible, my eyes watered so badly I couldn’t see anything but stars. Getting down the stairs took all my will power, getting up the stairs took nothing short of a miracle. The kids loved the falls, me too! We boarded a trolley and went on a tour of the park instead of walking, quite frankly, not an option. Evelyn was not doing well after the Cave of Winds, poor kid was red-cheeked and over wrought. I wanted to see Horseshoe falls so we slowly made our way to the other end of the park. Majestic! I had enough wifi reception for a video call with Justin to see the sights. He urged me to find an instacare and see a doctor before closing. I found an instacare along the route to Kirkland, OH. I hoped it was in our network, the website said it was but the clinic didn’t know. I got a shot in my bum and a 5-day prescription for prednisone to reduce the swelling. 

Justin called with another miracle! He was offered a job to work as Director for SEC Reporting for Myriad Genetics based in Utah. The position is fully remote so we can stay in Nampa! Someone went to bat for Justin getting him a comparable offer to the one he left at Cascadia, $20k more than the advertised pay. We were all joyfully crying that he was offered such an amazing job. Looks like his start date is 16 July 2024. I drove another couple hours to Fairview, PA near the town of Erie. 

25 June

Evelyn woke up with a high 103 degree fever. My best guess is she had heat stroke. I had her take a cool bath right away. She did not sleep well all night because she was so hot…I’m surprised she did not wake me up. I told her if she did not sip gatorade every 10 minutes for the entire day she might end up in the ER with an IV in her arm. She was quite incentivized to drink, after a few hours drinking without using the bathroom and some Tylenol she started to feel better. Phew. 

We toured Kirtland, OH most of the day. It was a lovely, overcast and misty rainy day. We got a tour time for the Kirtland Temple at the visitor’s center. There was enough time to drive over to the Morley Farm and walk around, most of the land is private property but we could walk over to a plaque about the first schoolhouse located further up the path. It started raining during the drive so we popped out the rain ponchos and umbrellas to explore the path. The temple tour was really awesome. It started in the Visitor’s Center with a large picture window looking out at the temple through a lovely garden space. Each time I’ve visited before I see things the last tour did not include. Now that the temple was acquired by our church the tour was markedly different. We got to see all 3 floors this time. It was easy to imagine the dedications miracles while sitting in the pews. The missionaries led us in singing, The Spirit of God, on the ground level. We could all feel the special spirit the temple holds, the testimony the edifice gives that God once appeared in its walls. Phillip, Evelyn, Josie and I went on a walk past the cemetery and on to the home Joseph built for Emma. The church acquired the home over 10 years ago, took the church many years to research and agree on how to restore the home. I loved the tole painting on the walls in the parlor, one of the Smith dependents said that tole painting is still a big art skill in the family. We saw replicas of the canvas mats Lucy Mack Smith painted to beautify homes. The Smiths were rarely alone, a father and son lived with them for 9 months in the office room. One story stuck with me about the temple: When Joseph received the revelation to build a temple and was given the site he immediately went to work. The revealed site was a wheat field at the time, he gathered the crop in then started digging the foundations. As he worked help flooded in, I’m sure the excitement was contagious! I love that the temple site was first a field of wheat ready to harvest! We went to Historic Kirtland next to see the Newel K Witney Store and home. Jana said a couple from her ward are serving there. They were out at the Johnson Farm so we didn’t get a chance to connect. We were all tired and a bit grouchy. The tour through the store included the rooms where the School of the Prophets was held, where the Word of Wisdom was revealed. We switched from listening to Rush Revere to Saints Vol 1 when we drove from Boston to Palmyra, we were able to see the sites as we listened to the history unfolding. Made the stories all the more real! We drove halfway to Nauvoo after seeing Kirtland. I was nearly giddy with excitement to spot a weather Goose dressed for the 4th of July. We spotted many weather geese after the first one I noticed. We stayed in Fremont, IN after a 3.5 hour drive.  

26 June

Travel day. The best perk was driving close to Chicago, IL. The reason? There was a BonChon close to the freeway! We stopped for our favorite Korean fried chicken instead of another picnic of sandwiches. Yum! Our hotel was in Ft Madison a 30-minute drive from Nauvoo, a hotel with a pool. The kids got to swim and relax while I made another laundromat stop to clean all our sweat drenched clothes. The kids went swimming with me again for 30 minutes before the pool closed. The heated hot tub helped my knee more than the ice. 

27 June

Nauvoo Day! There is so much to do at Nauvoo we didn’t get much accomplished. I booked a wagon ride, a carriage ride, and a play about Joseph Smith at the Visitor’s Center. Our horse for the wagon ride was named Justin, so Justin was able to see Nauvoo with us! The kids loved patting the huge draft horses. The horses get “p-days” aka pasture days every other day they work. The horses pulled us along the streets while one of the Missionary drivers told us about the homes we passed. Recently, the church also acquired the Joseph and Emma Smith home and cemetery. The kids really wanted to check out the cultural center where they learned how to make bricks (and got a Nauvoo brick), buckets, rope, candles, bread, and weaving. Next we walked to the outdoor children’s pavilion where we could play pioneer games. The Nauvoo brass band stopped while we were playing and gave a fun little concert. They even played the Bluey Theme song! The kids got to march in a parade banging on pipes. Phillip said he felt a little over grown for that activity. The boys wanted to tour the John and Elizabeth Browning home and shop. Amelia stayed with the little girls because they still wanted to play. We learned that Browning was not a member of the church but moved to Nauvoo because the individual who owned the building was selling it for a really good deal. John and Elizabeth were eventually converted and became exceptional church members. Browning did not paten any of his designs, wanting the knowledge and concepts available to the public. His son later patented designs just to ensure the ownership was linked to the family. We had yet another picnic with sandwiches and a bonus of veggies. We stopped at Aldi’s before driving to Nauvoo for fresh picnic supplies. The kids were scarred from the days of high temperatures. They insisted on getting neck fans to keep cool! So funny. We watched the Joseph play performed in the Visitor’s Center auditorium by the performing missionaries. It was very well done. Next we stopped at the blacksmith and wheel shop. Each family got a handmade mini horse shoe! We also learned that the back wagon wheels are taller than Josie. Our final event at Nauvoo that day was a horse carriage ride. I really loved this ride. The missionary that told all the stories was a masterful storyteller. The carriage went through the wild, more natural side of Nauvoo so we could get a feel of what the Saints had to conquer in order to tame the wilderness. We heard multiple stories about families surmounting all odds through faith in Jesus Christ. My heart was deeply touched. Several missionaries suggested we head to Carthage Jail for a special fireside commemorating the 180th anniversary of the martyrdom. I called ahead to ensure we would get to tour the jail before they closed at 5, the last tour started at 5! We headed downtown to check out the gift shop and snag some frozen custard. One shirt said, “It’s Nauvoo not Naboo,” ha ha ha. Everyone got a little something to remember Nauvoo at the cute little shop. Unfortunately, the custard shop was closed. The drive out to Carthage wound us through numerous corn fields and side country roads. We arrive at 4:25 hoping to get into one of the last tours. Unfortunately, the tours were full and they stopped 15 minutes early because of the fireside. So, we snacked on chips and more sandwiches for dinner while we waited until 6:30. That was a looooong 2 hour wait for some of the kids. I honestly enjoyed sitting on the beautifully cultivated site under the shade of trees that probably stood when Joseph and Hyrum were there. At 6:30 the Nauvoo performing missionaries gave a 30 minute devotional of music. Close to 1,200 people attended the program! We heard messages from President and Sister Mehr, the site leaders for Illinois Historic Sites and then from Joseph Monsen, the Historic Sites Division Senior Manager. Brother Monsen played a large role in the recent acquisitions from the church. The speakers touched on their personal experiences that lead them to know Joseph as a Prophet of God, Millions Shall Know Brother Joseph Again. 

We got back to the van only to find it was dead, D.E.A.D. Not even enough power to close the door Phillip opened. I waited until the folks parked next to us arrived to ask for help. They had a rental car, but were completely willing to give our battery a jump. Once the hood was opened Phillip and I noticed the battery was no longer securely attached. All that driving had jostled the battery loose from its holding place. Another guy, one of the horse missionaries, sped over with his tools to lend aid. Soon another gentleman walked over to see if we needed help. The battery cables were barely attached which was the root of the issue. The guys had the battery cables reattached, the battery securely screwed back into place in just a few moments. We were on our way with important things properly attached once again. 

28 June

We drove back to Carthage the next morning to tour the jail. Justin and I both had pivotal early experiences in the Carthage Jail, felt the need to pass that on to each child. The jail was not at all busy, more peaceful than the bustle of the prior night. The Sister missionaries took us solemnly through the jail. We saw the entrance room, the downstairs bedroom, then upstairs to the holding cell for criminals. Lastly, was the jailer’s own bedroom. We quietly listened to a rendition of “A Poor Wayfaring Man” the hymn Joseph requested several times that John Taylor sing. There was a sacred, solemn feeling in the room. It sounds made up, yet, there is a feeling of strength and testimony in that small space. We know that brother Joseph is not at the end, the martyrdom was not the end of the Lord’s church or Joseph and Hyrum. I felt gratitude for the price they paid to live true to the faith. After Carthage we drove back to Nauvoo to see the Smith family cemetery. It is a lovely place, surrounded with wild Mississippi River flowers and birds. Next door we sat through a tour of the Red Brick Store where the Relief Society was established and the Endowment was revealed. Amelia was touched during that part of the tour. We had another loooong way to drive so we turned toward Iowa and said goodbye to Nauvoo. The roads I drove on were mostly two-way country roads, an epic view of America. The skies were wild with huge clouds, rain, and brilliant blues peeking through. I about squealed when I spotted an Amish guy driving his carriage on the road. So cool! We caught some dinner at Subway, the most ubiquitous fast food store in all America. I think even the smallest towns can boast a Subway. Our stop for the night was at Uncle Duane Baerwaldt’s home in Essex, Iowa. Josie is very impressed Uncle Duane built an entire castle in just 8 years. Their home is really a huge mansion. Of course the first thing my kids said was: Duane the bathtub I’m drowning. Kids! Duane gave us the grand tour from the basement-basement to the rooftop sky-gazing platform. We counted at least 6 staircases, 5 bathrooms, many bedrooms, a spa and play place in the basement, to a pool in the backyard. The kids were very excited to share their Palmyra concert miracle. We met Rebecca’s mother who lives with them. Duane grilled up some hot dogs, my always eating boys shoveled down several more hot dogs in spite of the large sandwiches they pounded for dinner. The kids swam in the dark while fireflies danced in the dark. It was quite idyllic. We slept comfortably for the first time in several weeks. Amelia was thrilled to have her own room and space for a few hours. Rebecca arrived after the play she is performing in was over, we enjoyed some time to talk and catch up. 

29 June

Apparently, Everett slept so well he was up and ready to explore at 6 am. He patiently waited until 6:30 to serenade us all on the piano. Uncle Duane did NOT kick us out to the curb, which I would not be so patient if we switched places. Everett was excited to drive a four-wheeler around the property. We got our stuff packed into the van torn between staying another day to rest and wanting to get home. After a delicious breakfast Duane let the boys follow him around the property on four-wheelers. Rebecca was feeding the chickens so the girls followed her into the coop. Rebecca even let the little girls drive the golf cart around for a while. In all the hustle and bustle of the morning Josie let her beloved Ellie behind. I was sure Ellie was wrapped up in her blanket resting on top of her suitcase. The next stop we made was at Winter Quarters Visitor’s Center and Temple grounds in Council Bluffs. The Visitor’s Center is under renovation. Missionaries conducted us through the museum and showed us a film. Those early Saints endured so much, Winter Quarters was no exception. I am constantly amazed at the stories of joy coming out of miserable conditions. The Saints had a forward looking view that seems to rest briefly on hardship then willingly choose to look for the happiness. We walked over to the Pioneer graveyard intentionally situated directly behind the temple. Justin’s tiny ancestor Willard Richards Bullock aged 2 was buried in the common grave over the harsh winter. It was time to cross Nebraska. We headed toward Sidney after lunch. Alison kindly agreed to let us stay with her overnight. The kids wanted to try Mi Ranchito for dinner, another favorite Sidney haunt. Ironically, the same waitresses and decor are intact after 7 years. Walking into Alison’s home felt like a time warp, hello…it’s only been 7 years, how are ya doing?! So fun. Everett reported that Phillip had a strange night of sleep, flipping from his face in feet pose to off the sleeping pad, to snoring, to rigid in just a few minutes. 

30 June

Attended our old Sidney ward for church. We were late so missed visiting with folks beforehand, just had a few minutes after sacrament to hug and catch up. Our drive was estimated at 8 hours which meant we left as soon as possible after first hour. We stopped at Walmart to refresh the cooler with snacks, lunch, and dinner food. Amelia drove for a while so I could take a nap, she woke me up saying the gas tank was nearly dry. We were in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, ahead I noticed a busy fireworks stand. We stopped there with no luck, Justin advised us we had enough gas to make it 15 miles to the next gas station. I drove carefully and gas conscious as possible, when the mileage to gas counter hit zero we all held our breath. Phew, the van made it before coasting into the station. Drove the back roads of Wyoming and Eastern Idaho to reach Paris. The route took us around 3/4 of the way around Bear Lake! The view was so lovely as the sunset while we wound our way around the lake. Lots of hugs once we arrived to the Palmer’s home.   

01 July

We needed a break. Justin was not happy we stayed an extra day, he was bored out of his mind! Amelia was thrilled to spend a day with Clare. They went off on several adventures in Clare’s car to thrift shop, buy fancy drinks, and eat fancy French fries. I had a chance to rest my bones. Esther led us for an hour of fun out at their property. Phillip performed a fancy flip while turning donuts. He got a couple scrapes. I was glad he got back on the 4-wheeler with a bit more caution. The little girls played Wild Girls (and Boy) with Eli in the creek. The kids made a fun ramp and bridges as part of their game. I ate many fish and even a stew that is still cooking in a bucket by the stream. I wonder if it’s done yet? Josie goosed the throttle on the 4-wheeler and nearly jacked Esther off more than once, the best part was her giggle. We spent a lovely late afternoon at Bear Lake’s Eastern day use area. It was windy which made the water very choppy, causing 2-3 foot waves! We had so much fun playing in the waves. 

02 July 

Amelia really wanted to tour BYU-I before we headed home. Guest Services said they only had tours at 10 am and then after 1 pm due to Tuesday Devotional. We did not want to wait 3 hours after driving up to Rexburg for 3 hours, instead we headed home! I told Justin about the BYU-I tour but omitted that we skipped the excursion. We wanted to surprise him. Our journey was over at 3 pm, those last few miles felt short. I parked the van down the street. We snuck into the backyard hoping Fergus would not go too crazy. Justin said he heard Fergus barking but figured he was off on a borking expedition in the backyard. We sat on the couch while Fergus was noodling with joy. Finally, Josie went in the office and poked Justin’s shoulder! Hooray! We made it home.