THE NAUVOO CHRONICLES

days 4 & 5- it's all one big blur

dudes, so much is happening in such a short amount of time that i don't quite have it all straight in my brain... so this entry is just going to have to be the shortened version of the past two days.

yesterday i got to see my dad in the brick yard and he let us make our very own bricks! my aunt pam and her boyfriend vince also came down yesterday and they went with us to see my cute parents in the show-- RENDEZVOUS. they did such a great job and the show is surprisingly funny. it's fun to see my parents up there and it makes me misty watching them talk about these amazing stories of the saints.

today was really full. it being my parents p-day (day off), we all drove the hour and a half to visit with my uncle ted and his wife sonni. they are two of the greatest people and sonni has the kind of faith that i aspire for every day. it was good to catch up with them and share stories and see pictures.

then on the way back we stopped in carthage. how humbling to be in the same room where the prophet JOSEPH SMITH and his brother HYRUM were murdered for having and sharing a belief different from others. i can't imagine anyone hating someone so much for being different that they would want to kill them... and yet, it happened. it was a powerful experience.

when we got back we met up with pam and vince and took elder bendall (a church service missionary here) out to dinner and had us some real midwestern steak.. yee haw baby!

now i am dead to the world. and yet i need to stay up just a little longer... i'm speaking at my church this sunday on the topic of repentance and i am totally overwhelmed by the task. i feel so inadequate to be speaking on such a large and reverent topic. wish me luck and say a pray for me!

funny how when i got here, i didn't want to go back to boston ever. things have been so overwhelming and hard for me there lately. i kind of just wanted to run away and forget everything and everyone out there. i know it sounds a little melodramatic and maybe it is... but it's true. however, having this peace and quiet and time with my family and time to readjust my thinking and perspective has really helped me to put a few things in order and hopefully go back home with a better outlook on my future and life.

tomorrow is another busy one. i'm off to visit with friends in iowa city!