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| Horace, at home on my parents' hearth |
We visited my mom at the Visitor's Center then went to the Family Living Center where they demonstrate some of the arts used in old Nauvoo. My dad was there and taught us the fine art of rope making:
The highlight of the day for me was going to Rendezvous, a show my parents are part of and my mom has been raving about. I can see why. It was terrific. I cried. No surprise. Sometimes things hit me all at once and tonight, it hit me all at once. The people who built this city, and loved this place, left it all behind. They'd been driven out before but after being here, in this serene and lovely spot on the edge of the Mississippi, it seems like leaving here was a lot to ask.
But they did it. They left.
I started thinking about my life and the things I'm asked to do. I thought about what I'm committed to and why. I feel inspired to be stronger, more faithful, more committed.
My parents were fabulous in their roles. It is waaaaay out of their comfort zones to be in a play but they were shining stars. I loved watching them.
And it made me cry some more.
(Sorry about the abundance of pictures following, they're for my siblings mostly. Take a look at these two! They did us proud!)
After the show, we walked down Parley Street, towards the river. It is the street the Mormon pioneers took when they left Nauvoo for the last time. Along the way are words posted, journal entries of some of those people.
I cried some more.
We turned around and saw this view, the same view they saw. The last view of Nauvoo.
They understood what the temple meant. They had worked and sacrificed to build such a beautiful and vital place.
And they left it behind.
Sacrifice is giving up something good for something better. I learned tonight a little bit more about what that means. I rushed back to my parents' little house on the river so I could try to record what I'm feeling. I don't think I have. But I've tried.
3 comments:
Quite the adventures, you wandering web footers. Horace seems to be having the time of his life.
I was getting confused about you being the one to want to stay at the water park. You were really funny, when I figured it out. You had me going, there.
We actually had the sun poke out today, and felt warm on my layers of clothing. We miss you, but know that you are all having so much fun.
hugs,
stephanie
Ah, this makes me cried. I think you captured it. I love the pictures of Cor and Big Guy in the show. They look great. Naturals, those two. Big Guy's expression is reminiscent of "Oh, My Papa."
Oh, I just love this post. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and insights--not surprisingly, I got a little teary-eyed.
Also, I don't buy that your parents were out of their comfort zone . . . they look very comfortable to me! Regular Thespians--it must run in the blood.
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