This Week (um...last week) In The News

Last week was a busy one for us. For starters, it was Xavier's 28th birthday. Happy Birthday honey!

For a church activity, we had a fashion show, "It's the Girl who makes the Clothes"!! We have a bonafide, full-fledged runway model as one of our leaders and she helped the girls put on a fabulous Fall fashion show. I loved how her point was to teach the girls that it's confidence in yourself that makes somebody look cute and attractive!

The laurels and leaders were the models and we had a blast! We modeled casual, church, and formal dress. I had to climb into the back of the closet to retrieve my formals from high school and, boy, did it take me back! The pictures aren't so great (dang those digital cameras that don't take the picture when the button is actually pushed). I'm glad we were supposed to be smiling and not serious because I couldn't quit laughing! I know my feet look very awkward, but I was in the middle of doing my model turn! I was proud of the girls for having so many fashionable, modest clothes.

On the weekend we made the long, 11-hour drive up to Nauvoo, IL to visit our church's historic sites while X's parents were there. For those who don't know, X's parents are on a 3-month tour of the U.S. We thought we'd never have the chance to be there again with his parents, so we drove and drove...and drove, so that we could spend a day there. But it was worth it.

Here are Gary and Gabe. Yes, you read correctly. These oxen are named Gary and Gabe. Interesting...whatever happened to the classics like Bessie and Spot?

Anyway, it was cool to see the oxen in action and to feel what it would have been like to ride in a covered wagon across the plains like the pioneers did.

We visited Carthage Jail, where the Prophet Joseph Smith was killed. It's a rather sad reason to visit a place, but it makes our history more real when you see it in reality. He was a great man and I'm glad that his legacy has lived on. I love how our church has bought back properties and buildings that mean something to our past so that we can visit and learn from each one.

Nauvoo was a city that was established by Mormons back in 1840. They lived there and thrived for some years before angry neighbors drove them away again (this time to Salt Lake City). Once again, our church has bought back most of the land and buildings and it feels like you walk back in time when you visit.

One of our highlights was attending "Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo," a musical performed solely by senior missionary couples (think grandparents!). It was hilarious!! We were dying laughing because these cute old people were signing, dancing, and playing it up. When four old men started doing high kicks, I thought we'd lose it!

The temple that has been rebuilt is breathtaking (the original one finished in 1846 and then destroyed). Anyway one looks at it, you can't deny its beauty. And to think that these pioneers built this more than a 150 years ago is amazing. The outside has been rebuilt exactly to what it once was. I loved it!

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Overall we had a great and busy week (despite the 23 hours of driving in 55 hours - in which we were able to get through half of the 7 unabridged Chronicles of Narnia on CD)!