Day 5 - Las Vegas

My kids have been waiting for this day since in-person school was cancelled back in March. They have been begging to head west. I often feel guilty that we don't live closer to family, but there are many reasons we stay in South Carolina. I love watching my kids with their cousins. These girls always end up baking something.

My sister is my best friend. We never argue even though we don't always see eye to eye and are different in many ways (besides our height). She has been a loyal friend and a constant support to me in my life. I am so grateful for her example as a woman of faith and a mother.

We had to take our traditional pouty-face photo. We are not the Kardashians.

Two weeks is a long time to ask someone to host you, but I know that the time will pass way too fast.

Day 4 - Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Nevada

After what seemed like forever driving across the flat lands of Kansas, we arrived in Colorado. 

Colorado is beautiful.

Driving through the Eisenhower tunnel was really cool. I learned that my great uncle Francis Bayles helped build the tunnel.

The tunnel is 1.6 miles long. We have a family tradition to hold our breath through tunnels or over bridges. I didn't even try this one.

David held his breath the entire time! I was afraid he would pass out.

I have missed the mountains and it was so thrilling to be in so much beauty. Even the kids put down their devices and enjoyed the view.

The kids couldn't believe there was snow on the mountains in late June.

Pictures just don't do it justice.

Crossing into Utah let us know we were close! Utah will always be home to me.

Okay!

We decided to check out the Cisco ghost town.

We didn't realize that it had actually been purchased by an artist who is using the place as a creative outlet for an artists' retreat. Watch the video here for more.

I get so excited when I start to see the red rock. That always signals home to me. It makes me emotional, which makes my kids laugh. Jalen says it's where I get my super powers. All I know is that the red rocks of southern Utah are part of me in a deep way that I can't explain.

If this scenery doesn't tell you that you're in the middle of nowhere...

...the inability of the GPS map to locate where you are confirms it.

Between Utah and Las Vegas, you cross a corner of Arizona. We missed the sign so David drove backwards for a mile on the busy highway so we could get our picture.

To get our Nevada sign, we had to walk past some huge trucks that were used for road construction.

We were so excited to finally get to Tiffani's house. They were all waiting up for us. I love how much my kids love their cousins and their cousins love them. 

We loved our road trip - 12 states in 4 days, but we are excited to stay put for a couple of weeks.

Road Trip Day 3 - Missouri

Today was a day for Church history. Missouri is beautiful. It was also a little emotional. I didn't cry, but my heart was touched as I thought of everything my ancestors went through in this place. Missouri was not kind to the Mormons. In fact, until 1976, it was still technically legal to kill a Mormon in Missouri. It was called the Extermination Order. People were driven from their homes, killed, raped, and robbed. Definitely not a high point in the "land of the free." I am proud of my ancestry. I am proud to come from people who stood by their religious beliefs in the face of extreme persecution. They were strong. They crossed the plains in handcarts. They never gave up. As I looked at the beauty all around today, I was struck by how hard it must have been to end up in the dessert of Utah. But they made it beautiful too.

I was also struck today as I thought about the fact that my children are descended from people who were also strong. Who also survived through incredible adversity. Through biology and adoption, my children have an amazing heritage. Lots of thoughts today.

Normally I would doctor these pictures. Make sure the lighting is right and they're all straight, but I'm exhausted so they are what they are.

Pretty country road

I love old houses

And dead trees

And old buildings (I'm sensing a pattern.)

Traffic jam

Cooling off - my kids thought seeing cows in the ponds was awesome.

Country road

Road kill (Last night the bugs were so bad it sounded like rain.)

Far West was a place where the saints settled and had planned to build a temple. As always happened, they were driven away. All that remains are four cornerstones that had been laid for the temple. (Notice our awesome Graceland shirts.)

The Community of Christ - a splinter group from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a church across the street.

Loved the basketball hoop on the barn.

Fields for miles.

Wild flowers (We have these in our backyard and I had no idea they would grow like this.)

The Hawn's Mill Massacre is a tragic story of the murder of innocents. This plot of land is not easy to get too and the roads are often impassible. I was really grateful we were able to see it.

Next we went to Adam Ondi Ahman, which is a sacred spot for people of my faith. It was a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. 

View from Tower Hill

I am officially the worst selfie taker ever. I never know where to look.

Check out Baylie's face! The sun was in her eyes.

We decided we needed a redo (or 8!).

View from the other side.

Our final stop was the Kansas City temple. It is so wonderful to know that despite being driven out and forced to leave everything behind, a beautiful temple has now been built and stands for everyone to see. It makes me proud.

Then we hit the road and headed for Kansas. Kansas rest stops are not as cool as the other ones we used. I think Eastern and Southern rest stops are definitely the best.

Kansas is also VERY flat. It was nothing but farms and cows. Pretty, but much the same scenery for about eight hours. I would have liked to make a quick side trip to Dodge, but we just didn't have time for that.

Lots of wind turbines

It had never really hit me that Colorado and Kansas share a border. My dad spent his childhood in Colorado and we always go back there, but that's western Colorado, which is very different from the eastern part of the state. There was no welcome sign for Colorado so it kind of ruined our streak, but maybe there will be one when we cross over into Utah and we can get a picture then. 

Tomorrow we will drive across Colorado. I'm sad that we won't stop because it's a beautiful state, but we are ready to get to Vegas and be with my sister's family. We have an 11-hour drive ahead of us (after a 10-hour drive today), but then we'll get to stay put for a couple of weeks.