Mackay Madness: April 11: DAY 4

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

April 11: DAY 4

Today we got up very early. We all felt so much better. It's amazing how fast the body can heal itself and how much you can get done when you feel good. We packed up the car and checked out of our hotel.
But before we could hit the highway, Brandon decided that we all needed to try a "WAFFLE HOUSE!" He had been to them many of times while on the road, and he felt that everyone needed that experience. It was actually pretty good. A little suspect maybe...but good. I had cheese grits on the side...can't go wrong with that:)
Then, we hit the road and started heading towards Nauvoo. On our way, we stopped in Independence at the visitors center. We wanted to just run in and out but one of the Senior Missionary guys talked us into going through a presentation with one of the younger Sister Missionaries. We couldn't really say "no," so off we went to this movie/testimony thingy. Let me just tell you...that day may have strengthened my entire families testimonies forever!!!
As we went through all of the videos about family and the presentations about Independence, after each one, Sister Cleveland would give us bits and pieces of her testimony. By the end of the tour, we had been there for a couple of hours. And in that time, discovered that this most adorable Sister had lymphoma cancer and it was terminal! She had been a cheerleader in H.S and discovered the first lump in her armpit. There were many others to follow. She has been in and out of remission many times, and now they are just trying to help her maintain a somewhat normal lifestyle.
I couldn't help but think how hard it must have been for her parents to let her go serve a mission for 18 months, when they don't even know how much time they have left with their sweet daughter. My girls were so motivated by her. Not to mention they were able to connect with her and she let them see her great sense of humor and her tremendous amount of faith and love for the gospel. (Last night, we wrote letters to her for family night. We all want to keep track of her.)
Anyhow, this turned out to be one of our very favorite spots on the trip because of Sister Cleveland. It's weird to think if that Senior Missionary hadn't basically thrown us together, we would have missed out on that awesome experience!
As we were leaving, the missionaries asked us our favorite hymn and they would sing it for us as we left. Easton yells out "JUSTIN BEIBER!" Ha ha ha...we all laughed. Sister Cleveland said "We aren't allowed to sing "baby, baby." The kids thought that was cool that she knew his songs.
We took pictures together. And then headed down the road for 4 1/2 hours to Nauvoo! Let me just tell you, Easton and Chance asked "WHEN WILL WE BE THERE" about three thousand times. Finally, we had to start threatening to make them walk!
We had to drive along the Mississippi for quite awhile on our way into Nauvoo. And after quite awhile, we came around a bend, and there was the beautiful Nauvoo Temple! It looked glorious! We were all so excited to finally be there! We drove through town and found our cute log cabin. It looked about 500 years old on the outside, but was very up to date inside!
We settled in. And then drove down to Main Street and ate at a diner. We all had grilled cheese and tomato soup! It was a comforting way to end the day. Tomorrow we would be touring Nauvoo!

Sister Cleveland and the Mackay's!

Don't let that little innocent face fool ya... we cherished the moments that he slept and quit asking questions for five seconds:)

Our first view of the Nauvoo Temple.

Our little log cabin. Perfect fit for our family. Brandon and I had a bed in the kitchen part of the cabin, the girls had bunk beds, and the boys had a loft! So, so fun. I even had chicken curtains over my kitchen sink...heaven I tell ya!

Notice: Easton is actually "licking" the sign! Gross! This is where we ate the first night. It took only about an hour to get a grilled cheese and tomato soup:) But it was delicious after a long drive.

BEST PART OF THE TRIP...LOTS AND LOTS OF FAMILY TIME! PRICELESS.

3 comments:

Lisa Erskine said...: Sounds like such a fun, spiritual trip...one that I want to do with my family, too! I'll have to get your itinerary!! :); April 27, 2011 at 4:00 PM
THE WILLIAMS FAMILY said...: CHICKEN CURTAINS... they were expecting you!!!; April 28, 2011 at 6:17 PM
margo said...: No way -- I love the little log cabin you stayed in -- and how cute is Sis Cleveland. What an amazing experience!; April 30, 2011 at 9:23 PM

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From the mouths of "our babes":

*Our doorbell rang. Chance ran to get it. No one was there. He said, "oh darn,it must have been a knocker-ditcher." (Otherwise known as a doorbell ditcher.)

*Chance climbed in the back of the car this afternoon, and said "ewww mom, the back of your car smells gross...it smells like fries and poo all mixed together."

There was a little boy acting very naughty in Chances primary class...he turned and told the boy that he was an "ANGRY ELF." The teacher told me that it made her whole day and she nearly peed her pants laughing. (We were visiting at a different ward, which makes it even funnier because he didn't even know the boy.)

*Chance's kindergarten teacher's name is Mrs. Rasband, he came home and told Brandon that her name is Mrs. Wristband! Close enough

*As we were driving through the farmlands, Addie blurts out from the backseat, "it's cool how HAY grows, it just randomly pops up in perfect little blocks!" (She was DEAD serious)

*We came home from camping and Addie turns to me and says, "Mom, it feels so good to be home and walk on the grass and have a cup of milk!"

*We ate at a "Thai" restaurant tonight. Addie was so sick of peanuts on all of the food. She finally looked at me and said, "what the heck, do they have a peanut tree in that kitchen or what?"

*Chance asked me, "Mom, why Jesus make me so fast?" (Basically asking why he is such a fast runner)

*Chance was looking through the neighbors fence at their dog and he came running back across the street and said " oh sick, that dog just bless you'd all over my face!" Apparently, that means the dog sneezed on him!

*Chance calls "Walkie Talkies"... "Hickey Tickies"

*Hannah told me that we are going to give her "arthritis" because we are making her camp in a tent this year. (We sold our big fifth wheel last year.) Poor kids!

*We went thru the drive-up at Wendy's and they were out of Frosty's. As we pulled away, Chance murmurs to himself: "damn, damn, damn!" (I will take full responsibility for that one!) Needless to say, we had a little chat!

*Chance says that "chocolate milk" is his favorite taste!

*Chance was picking the seat of his pants today, and I said "what's wrong son, do you have a snuggy?" And he said, "no mom, I don't have a snuggly, my bums are just stuck together.

*Tonight at dinner, Addie told us that her favorite solid food is BUTTER and her favorite liquid food is SPRAY BUTTER!

*Chance told me today that his brain was making him scared to go to school. (He just kept holding his head in his hands)

*We had a "chick" die this weekend. Of course the kids made us do a burial. Apparently it freaked Chance out, and he wouldn't sleep in his bed because he just knew there were dead chicks in the sheets, and his feet could feel the feathers!

Easton "Such a Big Miracle, in such a Little Boy"

For those that don't know, our little boy nearly drowned in a bathtub accident when he was just 7 months old. I had run a bath for myself and left Easton (who could barely crawl) in his room on the floor. I ran out to the kitchen to clean up a glass my daughter had broken. When I returned to the bath... Easton had pulled himself into the bathroom and was floating face down in the water. He had his feet pajama's on which helped him slip over the side. He was under for about two - four minutes and it took four minutes of CPR from his daddy before he took his first breath. He was taken by ambulance to "Primary's" where he stayed in the ICU overnight. He had a full recovery. We are so, so lucky! He is ONE YEAR OLD now and we're so happy that our heavenly father decided that we could keep him!!! He brings so much SUNSHINE into our lives. "We love you Eastie". I put this on my blog for my own journal, but also for people to always be aware of your kids around water...they are capable of sooo much more than you may think!