July: Rabner Family Reunion Day 4

I went for a run and as I walked out the door there was a family of deer right across the street. 

 It was one mile to the temple. 

 Sunrise over the fields. 

We took the boys to do baptisms for the dead this morning with most of the other adults and it was such a beautiful experience. 

 Nauvoo Brass Band before the play Just Plain Anna Amanda

 Making rope in the Pioneer Living Center

 We all had a great time on our wagon ride. They have the most beautiful teams of horses. 

 There is the gang minus a few who got cut off by the kind senior missionary taking the picture. 

 Pioneer Pastimes was a huge hit with all of the kids the whole week! 

 Baby Neeve was just 6 weeks old on this trip and so tiny- not even 7 lbs yet. She was adored by all and passed from person to person. Jon and Joseph were constantly taking her from whomever was holding her. It made my mother's heart so happy to see this and I pray that one day I will see them holding, loving, and cuddling babies of their own. 

 We stopped at an custard place in town and the kids all had some yummy custard but Peter and I shared this amazing bread pudding. It was photo worthy- I was proud I had enough self restraint to stop eating and take a picture. 

We went to the count fair that night before attending the pageant. We had so much fun! 

Thoughts from this day (the last day I took the time to record my thoughts, which makes me sad):

*Performing baptisms with my boys and Peter and his family was a beautiful experience.  The temple is so beautiful and full of heritage. The front was massive and the temple workers moved us along like a well oiled machine. 

*We all enjoyed the play Just Plain Anna Amanda.  The message that we are each important and valued just the way we are. And yet, I know the Lord is pleased with us as we strive to improve ourselves and follow Him. 

*We enjoyed hours of fun at the Family Living Center and Pioneer Pastimes. Early pioneers (and people of the 1800's) were incredibly industrious.  They had so many responsibilities each day just to sustain life but they found the time to have fun.

*The Nauvoo Pageant was so uplifting! Music, dancing, costumes, stories of hope and faith. All of this is done for the purpose of testifying; to testify of The Book of Mormon, the prophet Joseph Smith, and the great plan of happiness.  

July: Rabner Family Reunion Day 3

We took a few family pictures before we took the tour of Carthage Jail on Monday morning but I never ended up with those pictures. I will have to hunt a few of them down from someone. 

 We were able to keep the photo bombers at bay long enough to get a family picture. 

 The gang is all here- not all looking or maybe happy about it but we were all there to see where the Prophet Joseph Smith sealed his testimony with his blood. 

 After lunch at a park, we headed to the sites in Nauvoo that are owned by the Church of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).The above picture is a re-enactment of a picture 9 years ago. I later discovered the original had the boys siting on the other side but it is crazy how much they have grown. 

 I pray my girls gain a firm testimony of the gospel and their role as a woman in it and therefore a testimony of the Relief Society. I love this organization and I will cherish this photo of me with my girls in front of the Red Brick Store where it was organized. 

 I knew my niece Calee was in Nauvoo on Monday but did not think we would end up seeing her. But, she had the impression to hang out in the visitor's center and I had the impression to go to the visitor's center and that is how we found each other. We then attended the performance of Sunset on the Mississippi together. She is talented girl who spent the summer before as a performing missionary in Nauvoo. I hope all of her dreams come true! 

These last 3 pictures were sent to me by Ari Mateu who is Ben's (Peter's older brother) fiancee. We all love her and can not wait for them to get married. She is from Spain and so there are a few hurdles due to the long distance to overcome but we hope we will all be able to attend. 

A few thoughts from this day:

*As a family we read the first chapter in the account of Samuel the Lamanite as part of our family Book of Mormon reading on the way to Carthage Jail. It fit the day so well, that I took the time once we finished to liken it to Joseph Smith and then shared my testimony with my kids. I pray that my words touched their hearts and they have a testimony of their own one day. 

*Would I be willing to bear witness to the end (with my life being threatened)?

*Emma Smith had a heavy burden to bear: loss of children, loss of homes, angry mobs, ill treatment of her husband, RS President, hostess to countless people, prophet's wife, mother, daughter-in-law, trials of faith, loss of spouse, etc. Am I as faithful, supporting, and loving of Peter as a spouse and companion as she was to Joseph?

July: Rabner Family Reunion Day 2

 Sunday morning we attended a local ward sacrament meeting. They had three young men who were heading out on missions that week and so each spoke and it was a great experience. 

We then headed out so we could meet up with our Pope cousins at Liberty Jail. 

They had flown in from Washington State and spent a few days with some old friends. We actually ran into them at the museum the day before but it was a brief reunion. 

It was fun to spend a little more time with them. Too bad, I did not take a picture! 

 After Liberty Jail we headed towards Nauvoo, to meet up with the rest of the family. 

The first night we stayed at a hotel that was not going to workout for the rest of the week and we were blessed to be able to rent the Hyrum Smith Farmhouse due to a last minute cancellation. But that first night, we gathered, counciled, ate, laughed, talked, slept, and celebrated all of the grandkids birthdays- all 18!

 I feel the Sam's club employee who carefully and skillfully wrote all of these names should get a bonus- it looks awesome! 

A few thoughts from Liberty Jail:

*This was a very humbling experience and time for not just Joseph but several others. But it was a time that allowed for some very clear direction and revelation. 

*In our darkest hour/s, the Lord does not leave us especially when we plead to Him. 

*He can not always take the trial from us but if we remain faithful, He will stay by us and help us become better as we make it through. 

*We all have Liberty Jail experience in our lives, it is how we choose to approach and endure them that makes all the difference. 

July: Rabner Family Reunion Day 1

We left really early Saturday (July 7th) morning with a goal of making it to Kansas City, Missouri.

The drive was a bit long due to a multitude of potty breaks but we made it and we were in good spirits and ready to play.

 We headed straight to the Science Museum in Kansas City and had the best time! The above picture was about 5 feet into the museum and we were obviously all captivated. 

 The 3 older kids rode a bike on a high wire. 

 We all took a turn running in the "hamster wheel" to try and create energy. Jon and Dad were super fast and had the highest wattage. 

 A little more fun with electricity.

 This outdoor play area was so cool. I had fun climbing up the giant Pringle chip-like jungle gym. 

 Dad joined us too but found some of the spaces a bit more challenging to traverse than the rest of us. 

 All my kids digging for dinosaur bones. I know my days are so limited that they will still all want to be together and to go to museums and be entertained. I hope to soak up every minute. 

 We then stopped at Fritz's Railroad restaurant for a snack. We stopped at this restaurant 9 years ago when we came. Your food is delivered to your table by a train that runs on a track hanging from the ceiling. It was cool then and cool now. Joseph was a good sport to wear the hat again long enough for me to take a quick picture,

 We ended our day at the Independence Visitor's Center. 

We really enjoyed the tour the sister missionaries gave us as well as a little more time playing. 

 Get in Dad! Samantha is driving this wagon west! 

These people with Jesus behind them sums up what is important to me. 

Some impressions I had and actually wrote down about Independence:

*Joseph Smith was inspired to gather the saints in Missouri and in the end they were driven from the state. This does not mean the revelation was wrong. We can not control the actions of others. When we move forward following righteous promptings, we can not foresee the obstacles that will arise that may thwart our goal. But, we can still grow and gain wisdom and faith from the experience. 

*They (the Saints) worked hard and grew in number and prospered while in Missouri. This helped them see what they were capable of when they were engaged in the work of the Lord. It also prepared them for things to come, humbled them, and taught them to keep close as a family to the Lord. 

*Heavenly Father knows each one of us and the talents and abilities we have. He will guide us to fulfill the rold He needs us to if we will be humble, pray, and follow the spirit and then ACT! I must be ready, available, worth, and reliable to answer the call. But then I must not just accept the call, I must do it!