How Much Can You Pack into a Day in Springfield, Illinois?

Our last "Prep-Day", we spent in Springfield, Illinois seeing many Lincoln sites. It was a day full of touring interesting places, eating great food, and touring an amazing home built by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1903!  So here comes our full day! The church with the red door was built on the site of the church that Mary Todd Lincoln attended when in Springfield. We were lucky enough to be able to get a "tour" even though they usually don't start until June. We really wanted to see the Tiffany windows that are original to this red-door-church and the actual Lincoln family pew that is on display. 

The Tiffany windows had been commissioned by various members of the church for their loved departed loved ones. Tiffany art was just becoming known and so these windows would not have cost the fortune they would today. 

The window above the beautiful organ was stunning but the sun was "in the way" of a good picture. 

The Lincoln family pew - still in pretty good shape. 

After the church tour, we went to Lincoln's home. The name on the door says it all! 

It was a lovely home and much larger inside than it looks. 

The home is decorated with period pieces and using a working knowledge of the Lincoln family. For example, they knew Mary liked the color green so they made the curtains green.  Wallpaper was the style then and the "carpet" on the floor is more like a large blanket-type fabric.  

This is their dining room. The tea set on the table looks alot like the Chelsea Lusterware of the 1790's that we have on display in Lucy Mack Smith's home in Nauvoo.

That is the original door and hand-rail that Mr. Lincoln would have walked through every day for about 17 years. The hand rail is the only thing you are allowed to touch in order to preserve the artifacts. 

This bright wallpaper is the exact design the Lincolns had in their home. The one in the home today was made in Paris. 

This was Abraham Lincoln's desk. 

Mary slept in this room and the 2 younger children would have slept on a trundle stored under her bed. 

Mary had come from a home where she did not do any of the cooking or cleaning. When she had a home of her own, she found that she enjoyed doing both! 

When Lincoln was at home, he loved to be with his children. He and Mary believed in letting their children do anything they wanted. When the boys visited Lincoln's law office in Springfield, his partner said they would ransack the office and Lincoln was oblivious to it all. I guess at one time, the boys let a goat into the White House and Lincoln simply said, "Boys will be boys." 

 After the Lincoln home, we started walking to the State Capitol Building. On the way, we snapped a picture of this nice looking building.

We finally reached our main objective and went inside. We were impressed with the architecture and, once inside, the intricate design of the dome.

We were on a self-guided tour, so this is Bryce "presenting his case" infront of the Supreme Court. This room looks ordinary from this angle, but the next picture shows that the ceiling and woodwork really looks like. It was jaw-dropping because we hadn't expected to see such grandeur. 

Then we were completely shocked when we walked into the Senate. Wow!!! Illinois tax dollars at work!

I wonder how many times a day someone looks up at "honest Abe" when things are in session?

After the State Capitol we started walking to the Old State Capitol and happened upon Cafe Moxo - and are we glad we did. Homemade everything - and the best chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles we've ever tasted. The sandwich on the left which Bryce ordered was a little too unique for him. He thought it was pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich but instead it was pulled pork and macaroni and cheese grilled cheese. Yup, macaroni and cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich with pulled pork. He was very disappointed.

But, the red velvet cake made the "mac and cheese mistake" all better. Yum!

This is the Old State Capitol. It is quite a grand building. 

I'm not sure if the pillars looked like this origianlly but when the renovation of the building took place within the last 20 years, the whole thing was dismantled and reassembled. Quite an undertaking. 

The various rooms were staged to looked like people (of the 1850's) had just left for lunch. 

This is the law library where Lincoln would have signed out books and practiced his speeches to his collegues.  The picture below shows those who signed out books. The top right signature says S.T. Logan but is acutally Lincoln's handwriting. He was unable to check books out but his law partner Logan had authority to do so.  That's a bit curious, don't you think?

This is a small three-sided drawer that fits into the wall of drawers shown below. These draws held stacks of legal papers and policies. They were tied together with a red ribbon or tape - which led to the saying about all the "red tape" of government and the like. 

This is the Supreme Court of the 1840's. Joseph Smith actually was in this court room and the judge hearing his case was Steven Doulgas. 

This beautiflly costumed woman is "Mrs. Jenkins" whose was a neighbor to the Lincoln's and whose husband, if I remember correctly, was the driver of Linclon's hearse to the cemetery following the return of his body to Springfield. 

This is the waiting room to the Govenor's office and they have used an old drawing to recreate the exact furnishings. Quite facinating. The drawing is below. 

This furiture was in the funeral train car that brought Lincoln's body back to Springfield for burial.  His body lay in state for many to come and pay their last respects in the room shown below. 

Everything in this room, except this very Washington picture, was removed for the viewing.

It was a very nice room, but not as large in person as this picture shows. 

This is just to show that we were both there!

Various Lincoln statues are all around the city. Quite well done. 

One of the highlights was the tour of the Susan Chase Home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. You were not allowed to take pictures inside, so you'll just have to imagine what 400-plus windows and door panes in this home look like from the inside with the light shining throught them. Take my word for it, it was beyond breathtaking. 

You can see the design in the windows here, but the colors don't show up. Every window and interior door had this kind of glass. 

The home was 13,000 square feet complete with a bowling alley in the basement!  After this tour, we had 20 minutes to get over to the Lincoln Memorial before it closed. 

It might not look like much here, but it really is an impressive monument. We went inside that door in the front to his tomb.

Tradition says you rub Lincoln's nose for good luck. 

And who are we to argue with tradition!

At the end of the day, we were very weary of walking. On our drive back to Nauvoo, we stopped for a bite to eat and also happened upon the Pease/Dunn chocolate shop which had been there since 1840's. Obviously, it's had some renovations over the years. But it sure was fun too see all the goodies! We broke down and bougth some carmel corn for the drive home. 

They even had free samples!

Well, that's the end of this lengthy narration of our day in Springfield, Illinois. Almost took as long to type it up as it did to experience it!!! Hope you enjoyed it!

Walton's 14 Year Wedding Anniversary

The day started out with homemade dried cherry and almond scones. The box holds Mint M and M's. These are sooooo good. 

We went out to eat in Burlington at the end of the day. It's only 20 min. away and we wanted to try a new restaurant that came higly recommended - The Drake. We couldn't resist this photo op while we waited for our table. 

Here we are from left to right - George, Agatha, Abigail and Peter. (Those are the parts we play in the Nauvoo production of Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo). In other words, Elder and Sister McKnight, Sister and Elder Walton. We even had an opportunity to talk to the owner and invite him to come to Nauvoo. He was even going to check out the historicnauvoo.net website. 

We'd found a 10 cent candle at the thrift store in Nauvoo which was about 4 inches tall. Awesome!!!

Of course we had to have "special drinks" for the special occasion. 

It was such a great way to celebrate 14 years of fun and adventure! 

Valentine's Celebrations Nauvoo Style

Our Valentine's Celeberations started early and lasted 3 days! (well almost) On Friday, Bryce made us lunch and look what he made! I've never had a face sandwich before, nor have I ever made one. He hadn't either. Cool! 

Then he surprised me with some beautiful roses. Hopefully, these last until Feb. 22nd for our wedding anniversary! 

Then we went out to dinner in Burlington, about 30 min away. We went with Sis. Joines and Sis. Webb so we could introduce them to our friend who works at a restaurant there. She has newly moved to the area and wants to come back to church. Sis. Webb and Joines serve in the Burlington ward on Sundays and we wanted them to meet. So after a delicious meal, we headed back to Nauvoo for the 8pm Valentine's fun. It started with a chocolate, caramel and vanilla fruit dipping frenzy and the munching included heart shaped sandwiches and cookies. Doesn't get much better than iced homemade sugar cookies with sprinkles!  

Then we had a concert by the Ukelele Buddies who have been practicing the ukelele for several months. This was their performance debut! Quite impressive! 

Then we danced the Viginia Reel. That was fun once we figured out our right do-se-do from our left do-si-do! Not as easy as you might think! 

Then some played 1840's games and some headed over to the original Nauvoo Cultural Hall for a dance. We even had live music. It was a thrill (really) to walk into that historic place thinking of all those who had walked on the same planks. 

This is us learning the Spanish Waltz. Thanks to the Winns who got a video of it but you'll have to go onto Sandy Walton's facebook page to see it. Bryce and I actually got the Spanish Waltz down by the very end. We're even in the video. 

This is a picuture of... yup... feet. But it's the historic planks that the feet are resting on that is the important part of this picture. We took a similar picture 8 years or so ago when we came with our family. It was a thrill then and it was a thrill last night. We love being in Nauvoo. Our goal is to let Nauvoo and the amazing stories of those early Saints change us forever. Those who come to visit may or may not know this might happen to them too. But if they let it,  it does. Being here and remembering the courage and faith the early Saints had, helps strengthen mine. Love it!

Today is actually Valentine's Day and Bryce and I are serving in Riser Boot Shop. We've had no visitor's today - probably deterred by the 4 inches of snow. But we have enjoyed emailing some of the visitor's we've met here in Nauvoo.  We may have also emailed a few family too. One thing we liked to shared was the link to the Provo City Center Temple open house. It's an amazing link to watch and share with our friends. It's like being there. Maybe you have someone you'd like to email it to as well. They might even ask you some questions about it. That's OK to!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/lXLEODwYTGk?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0

Exodus Re-enactment 2016

Each year the Illinois Nauvoo Mission re-enacts the exodus of the early Saints from Nauvoo. Many in the community and surrounding areas participate. Each participant was able to "walk" for an honored pioneer. This means that they wore a badge showing the name of the person who left Nauvoo from Feb through October 1846. The badge also told three bits of information about them plus their birth date and place and how old they were at the time of the exodus. This was such an honor. The missionaries had submitted their own ancestor's names and could represent 3 on the walk. Others, like shown in this picture, came and selected an honored pioneer when they arrived. There were 677 tags in all. I know because it was my privilege to type them all up. As I did so, I was able to learn more about these faithful people. 

We started out in the Family Living Center with a muffins, hot chocolate, hard boiled eggs and fruit. Last year 500 people came but I'm not sure of this year's tally. What I do know is that's alot of muffins!

This is Sis. Sullivan, Sis. Reimann and I. We helped people find their tags. 

Some visitors had small children with them and so they pulled their kids in 

the handcarts. These are the handcarts.

Can anyone tell which flag Bryce is holding up? Go, Canada!

 Bryce was in the group that represented the Nauvoo Legion. 

He loved the experience and felt it an honor. 

This is the start of "the walk". The Nauvoo Legion was at the beginning followed by people 

carrying the flags representing the native countries of those early Saints. A few years 

ago it was 16 below but this year it was in the 40's. (farenheit not celcius)

Doesn't this look fun? Our new mission President and his wife, President and 

Sister Hall, are the passengers in this carriage. 

There were horse drawn wagons that followed the walkers. The route was down Main Street...

...and then turn right down Parley Street. This street is often refered to as the "Trail of Hope". Those who walked down it that cold February day in 1846 were full of faith and hope in finding a place where they could worship God in peace.

There is a plaque on the "Trail of Hope" of an personal experience of how they saw the Temple one last time before they left Nauvoo in 1846. The original Nauvoo Temple was burned by arsons in 1848. The Nauvoo Temple of today, built in 2002,  stands as a testament of the sacrifices of the Saints. As Bryce and I walked for our ancestors of Nauvoo, it wasn't hard to think of their courage. We are so grateful for the legacy of faith they have left for us to follow. 

The oxen also made the walk. They would have been very handy to have on the trek west. 

On Feb. 4th 1846, the first group left Nauvoo. Many groups followed thru February until October. It was cold that particular February and although the first wagons had to be ferried across the Mississippi, by Feb. 24th, the river froze and the wagons drove across on the ice. 

At the river's edge, there is a statue of Joseph Smith showing Brigham Young the 

way - west to the Rocky Mountains. 

We all gathered by the Mississippi where the flag was raised, 

and where we heard some touching remarks made by President Hall. 

Even our friend Stuart Deathrage came for the Exodus Re-enactment.

This is a picture of Bryce and I and the Hansons and H

elen Campbell - a fellow Canadian and my distant cousin. 

You can see our ancestor's we represented by the tags we are wearing. I walked for my 

only ancestor that was here in Nauvoo, Enoch and Elizabeth Burns. Bryce walked for 

a Legion member, Truman O. Angell, and two Walton ancestors and a 

Lyons (another ancestor). Bryce has several ancestors who were here. 

I like this picture of President and Sister Hall getting out of the carriage by the Mississippi. 

After "the walk" was over, Bryce and I took our time and walked back up Parley Street. We read the plaques and loved looking at the Temple. We love being here in Nauvoo!

Naida (Mom) Walton's Funeral Program - Remembered With Love

Remembering Naida Ruby Harding Walton - age 92

Not unexpectedly, Bryce's mom passed away on 9 Jan 2016. It was her 92nd birthday. She would have been happily reunied with her loving husband Ken Walton and her parents. She had not seen her mother for eighty years since her mother passed away when Mom was 12 years old. What a birthday present!!! Happy Day! Bryce and I were able to fly home from Nauvoo to attend the funeral. We were very happy to be able to celebrate her life. She will be missed and remembered.

Mom was a loving wife, a painter,  a friend,  a family album-keeper, a great grandmother...

... a game-player, a loving mother, an avid quilter, a fun grandmother, a singer and choir director, a talented poetess and valiant daughter of our Heavenly Father. We honor and love her.  

The Walton siblings: Bryce, Dianne, Jim, Janet, Jim

The Sandy and Bryce Walton Clan who attended the funeral: (back row from left) Kim and Finlay, Bryce,  David, Austin (hiding), Andrew, Joanne, Brad, Jenna, Annelisa, Kyle, Mark and Daniele. (front row from left) Sandy, Zoie, Nixen, Laila, and Rylin.

Christmas in Nauvoo!

Christmas in Nauvoo was wonderful! We've never received so many Christmas cards and goodies ever before - and all from the Senoir missionaires we love and serve with!

After the many wonderful Nauvoo Christmas activites that we enjoyed participating in - Christmas Walk, Handel's Messiah, and The Miracle of Christmas program -  it was nice just sitting at home cozy and warm on the 24th (our Prep-day) and Christmas Day. Then, because of technology -  our kids and grandkids were "face to face" with us!  We watched the kiddos practise walking, open their gifts, do tricks and be goofy! Almost like being there but without the mess and the dishes! (Blatant plug for you senoir couples out there to go on a mission!)

The mission hosted a wonderful ham dinner on Christmas Day followed by a short program. Bryce was the MC of the program and he wrote a poem for the occasion. Hope you all enjoy it! 

All in all, this was a Christmas to be fondly remembered! 

The Rescue                 December 2015                                   by Elder Bryce Walton

Santa’s sleigh ‘s on outside of town, Completely broken down.

And Rudolf’s crashed the whole team so they’re tangled on the ground.

If Rudolf had just seen the lighted Temple on the hill,

He wouldn’t have hit that silo where all the gifts would spill.

Oh glory goodness, what a mess, now what would Santa do?

He’d have to get them out of there before the night was through.

And what of all the children who lived in Nauvoo town.

He could not bear to see a single face that had a frown.

Now not to far away President Gibbons watched the sky

He thought for just a minute he’d seen Santa’s sleigh go by.

Yes, there was a trail of stardust but it suddenly took a dip.

Oh what if Santa Clause had crashed and couldn’t complete the trip.

He tried to use the Internet but that thing never worked.

I guess I’ll use the telephone he nodded with a jerk.

President Venkeer and President Hyte got quickly out of bed.

It sounded like the President thought Santa Clause was dead.

His counselors soon got to work to notify the troops.

Have the District Leaders gather them in groups. 

We had better wake the teamsters and get them out of bed,

And we’ll need the sleigh and horses especially Mic and Ned.

By now all lights in houses were on in town and flats

And all were grabbing tools as they donned coats and hats.

Zone leaders called the Districts and they called every one

The Senior Missionaries were all moving on the run.

But oh when they arrived upon the crash site what a start.

Packages were everywhere, all harnesses torn apart.

The reindeer were exhausted; they lay as in a daze

And all the reigns and traces were tangled in a maze

When all the sewing room sisters arrived upon the scene

They saw that Santa’s great big bag was torn from seam to seam.

Quick, grab your threads and needles; we’ll fix up that old pack

Then everyone pick up the gifts and help us put them back.

There’s no time now to fix this mess the Teamster boss cried out

Now Santa’s sleigh is broken so he’ll have to use our sleigh

We’ll hook it to the horses then he’ll be on his way.

Now the Belgians did not know that it would be a busy night

It would be somewhat difficult without the gift of flight.

To speed them on their way we will need to say a prayer

But Santa sprinkled stardust and they rose into the air.

Whoever had seen 8 Belgians adrift upon the sky.

Mythical beasts I hear you say but I see them flying by

Now off they went into the air to finish Santa’s run.

But without the missionaries he’d never have gotten it done.