Family Vacation 2008 - Day 1

Move over Chevy Chase, the Crows are passing the "Griswalds." Jase finally had enough leave for us to go for more than one week at a time. So this year we had a real vacation which consisted of traveling across the country visiting family, monuments and historical sites. We'll tell you about our trip day by day (hope you don't get bored).

We started the official vacation in St Louis, MO touring the arch that is considered "the Gateway to the West." This is us 630 feet up in the center of the arch. We really enjoyed the museum under the arch and the tram they use to get to the top. It's part roller-coaster, part train & part ferris wheel. It's one of those places everyone should see at least once in their life.

Our next stop was Independence/Liberty, MO which is just east of Kansas City. There are some wonderful LDS Church historical sites which really makes us appreciate our religious heritage. Here's the kids at the LDS visitors center in Independence.

The highlight of day 1 was visiting Liberty Jail. It's a reproduction of the actual jail where LDS Church leaders; Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, and Caleb Baldwin were illegally incarcerated for the winter of 1837. During the winter months in which they were held in the basement jail, they suffered from intense cold and exposure to the elements because of the small slits in the walls that served as windows. The men slept on dirty straw and suffered poisoning attempts and insults. Yet during this arduous trial Joseph received some of the most wonderful revelations from Heavenly Father. We were very moved by their plight.
Here's the kids in front of the replica of the jail (with Joseph Smith in the background).


Stay tuned for day 2 (I can only type so much in one sitting, Denise.)