Nauvoo - Down by the Riverside

I love to see the temple... I am going there someday. This Nauvoo Temple was absolutely exquisite. :) This inside was a lot bigger than I had anticipated and the feeling of knowing this was the first temple that set a beacon out to the world of our faith was amazing. I love the feeling of peace and comfort every time I go to the temple. When we went inside we were able to have a member of the temple presidency come and talk to us and tell us about its historic roots. We did 18 baptisms! It's a good thing I love the water. I just couldn't help but come up with the biggest smile on my face because my dad was just murdering those Spanish names. It was a blast! (Can you say that about the temple? Well, I guess I just did)

The reason we traveled to Nauvoo was to see my brother perform with the Folk Dancers. It was so much fun to watch Cam and I can't wait until I get to be up there dancing with him!! :)

Emma Smith is one the most influential women in my life. She went through so much with Joseph and we all know man is nothing without the woman. She had such great faith and perseverance when I think of my small trials compared to hers, I know I can get through anything. You can't really tell in this picture but this is her grave site. This was really emotional for me because you can watch all the documentaries in the world and read about her, but when I saw the grave of where she was buried the realization of the sacrifice she went through, meant so much more to me.

Thanks Emma :)So basically this was the funniest thing of my life. I find the weirdest things when I am on vacation so of course I have to take pictures of it. :) This is ranked in my top ten for sure. Yes. It is a poop bag. Hahaha. I want one and personally think we should all start wearing them.

I have oodels of pictures from Nauvoo but many look the same. Most are of different historic buildings here or there. So I added this one which is of well some historic building in Old Nauvoo.

MISISSIPPI QUEEN! Leave it to McKenna to find where the water is located. :) The Mississippi is massive and I can not imagine crossing that with a wagon, oxen, all my belongings, and family.

We went on lost of carriage rides and saw lots of historic things old school style.

Extraneous Gate Agents and extra...

There are some great lessons to be learned in airports. More than most people realize. When you stop texting you can observe some great things. When we fly stand by we have to wait at the Gate until the agent books us to get our tickets. Most of the time they are not very kind. Either they have had one too many redbulls/coffees, or their underwear is too tight, or both. When we were trying to travel to California from Nauvoo, we had an interesting Gate Agent that taught me so much. I realized that some people just thrive off of power. Most of the time when they don't actually have it. She was extremely stressed, for no apparent reason, but they know they can kick you off the plane if they very well feel like it. At first she said we could not get on the plane and if it wasn't for my dad, who is a pilot, to say something we would not have left the quad cities. Despite swearing, and some very needed new hair products and toothpaste, they are mostly all the same. People who know they can change something and get a high from doing it.

Another comparison I made to this is the people in Disneyland who take your fastpasses. Most everyone in the entire park takes Fast Passes after they are due. Even days later. Being Disney Alumni junkies we would know. Except for the select few. This lady was one of them. Instead of having a smiling happy face, I mean you work in Disneyland for crying out loud, she decided to take our passes away to make herself feel above the rest. She thrived on this power that she didn't really have.

Men are a lot like Gate Agents. Not all of them... but I sure know a few. I have learned more than I ever thought I would about the male gender this past week. They thrive on being above the rest, power that they don't really have. Taking advantage of things that they think will make them feel better. All to have that feeling of Yes I can, and you can't.

But, the fact of the matter is, it doesn't matter who you are. Whether you are a stressful sleepless gate agent, or a horny teenage boy, things like this catch up to you. People remember more bad than good. I will always remember a mean lady who didn't take my fast passes, a gate agent who didn't let my mom on the plane, and boys who have ego's bigger than Alaska. But, I will always be impacted for long periods of time by those people who do kind things. I might not remember what they did but that they did them. A reputation that I hope to have. Someone that was nice to others.

What will you be remembered for?

The Summer Saga between the Soccer Boys begins...

In this picture you will see a bunch of feisty soccer girls in the astro van. :) How did we get here do you ask? I will tell you. So last Saturday Ben and I were walking out to his truck. The obvious climax that everyone was expecting was a kiss of course, which did not happen, but the boys were ready with water balloons just in case. But, I was not aware of that at the time. So, I was walking back up to my porch when I hear some devious rustling in the bushes. I was already paranoid because the night before there was someone totally creepin' but that's not the point. After I hear the rustling in the bushes suddenly a bunch of infamous head pop out and attack me like savage Indians. I ran in the house screaming and started to run and run around my kitchen table. My mom following me . Both of us screaming! Then my dad comes out to see what all the ruckus was about. He opened the front door to see the soccer boys pelting Ben's truck with water balloons hard core!! It was crazy. My heart was beating so fast and let's just say my pants were not all that dry afterwards! haha. During this my brothers should have been helping me right? No. They were just ROLLING on the couch thinking me getting attacked was the funniest thing EVER. Ya NOOOOOOTTTTTTT!

So. The obvious solution to this is.....REVENGE!! :)

So I started an army....the angry women in this photograph if you couldn't figure that out. Last night we decided to get the soccer boys back with a glorious (sick) waterfight. We filled up a billion water balloons and had some terrorizing water guns. So, we traveled to the freakishly far away lands of Nate Probst's house because Ben misled us to the far away land. But, it turned out that Ben, Jake, and Austin, were on the other side of the State and Jake's house! Long story short, we draw all over Austin's truck, pelt them with water balloons, yet WE still end up getting soaked, I get scared AGAIN at my house and I end up grounded...FAIL.

You know what this means.....EVEN BIGGER REVENGE!!

THIS IS WAR! :) Another reason why I sincerely enjoy Summer :) Watch out Boys! :)