Get to Higher Ground to Save Your Life

7-12-15
We had a pretty crazy time getting to Nauvoo last night!  It was late when we left Kansas City, and drove most of the night.  Just as we were getting close to crossing into Illinois, our phones started buzzing and the radio sounded with the national weather alert warning.  An automated voice came on the line and said "warning, flash flooding will be occurring between 11 pm and 4 am in [right where we were] counties. Please find higher ground.  Repeat: get to higher ground to save your life"  The recording repeated a few times. we looked at the clock, it was nearly 11 pm, and it was lightly raining.  Within seconds it was as if we were driving through Niagara Falls.  We could not see to the end the hood of our car!  And that last part of the warning didn't scare me one bit.  Psssshh, get to higher ground to save your life. Doesn't even get my heart beating.

Here we were, driving ALONGSIDE the Missouri River.  Super limited vision, looking for higher ground.  Were they kidding? Higher Ground? We hadn't seen a hill in over 1000 miles it seemed!  The lightening was more like electric clouds. We saw no bolts ever.  The clouds would turn on as if they were florescent light bulbs every now and then.  During one patch of light, we saw in the horizon something that seemed to resemble higher grounds, so we headed that way.  Upon arrival we found it to be just a big clump of trees.  There really was no turning around at this point, so we said a prayer, and continued on.

The rain never let up in over an hour.  My heart was beating throughout my entire body THE entire time.  The most nerve racking part was when the time came to cross the river!  It was a 2 lane bridge, and very narrow.  This river is super wide!  I just kept imagining the trailer slipping off and pulling us into the  depths of dispare.  Honestly, I almost considered unbuckling the kids from their seat belts for quick removal from the car.  If we stopped, it just put us in a bad spot, just sitting there, but if we kept moving at least we were moving towards safer ground.  I didn't unbuckel the kids, but it was a huge debate in my mind.  Once we crossed the river it was as if the storm had never happened.  The rain stopped almost immediately.

We know that our entire trip out here has been blessed.  We have felt guided, protected and comforted.  This was just another one of those times we were watched out for!  Makes me think of "getting to higher ground" in life and more importantly, spiritually.  We listened to the warnings, we did our best to follow their guidance, but in reality, we were in a situation that all we could do was move forward.  Trudge through the storm, and trust that our prayers had been heard.  Iknow they had been.

We had about an hour and a half left on our drive, and Martin was feeling a bit worn out, when we decided to pull off and try to sleep a little.  Remember my camping story from a few nights ago?  Well I would trade this night for that a thousand times over!  It was so HOT and HUMID with us all cramped up in the tahoe.  The kids all woke up, cranky and disoriented sometime around 2:30.  We decided that we had better just start driving again and soon got to Nauvoo.  Hoping that our hotel would have an available room... well, they didn't, and neither did any other hotel in town.  So, back to trying to sleep in the car, we did!  We may have fallen asleep for only a few hours when we woke up to a bustling parking lot of people getting ready to go to church.

If we have learned anything on this trip it is that we should be thankful for everything we have!  It is to be kind, and to show kindness and gratitude, especially to be thankful for the blessings and protection we had recieved.  Even though the kids were all in their swimsuits still and Martin and I looked like hobos, I'm sure, we chose to go and participate in the sacrament meeting.  Knowing that if it was the Savior himself standing there, he would not turn us away because of our appearance.  We got there and felt ridiculously out of place and felt disrespectful, it was embarassing.  We stood in the lobby and tried to think of our promises and covenants through our fuzzy sleepless night of mindless rest.  It felt good to be there.  I was a bit surprised that not one greeter came up to us to shake our hand, or ask us how we were, as we clearly watched them do to all other visitors who came through the door.  We just got awkward side glances and avoidance of eye contact from nearly every person who was in that building.  I have been there, I have been the one judging someone without knowing their back story. I am guilty.  My only hope now is to try to eliminate that from my mind and teach my children to do the same.  It was eye opening in a different way.  All week we had been impressed with the genuine kindness of everyone we came in contact with. And when you think we would feel the safest, we didn't.  I understand how difficult it is to sometimes think outside the box, we are taught certain things, and it is easy for us to understand something and see someone doing something contrary, where we find it natural to judge in some way.

I have certainly had the lessons in church saying how important it is for us to dress appropriately for an ordinance as sacred as the sacrament and 99.9999% of the time we do.  We certainly don't want to be in that situation ever again!  However, we also would want to be the one on the other side showing kindness and Christlike love.  The sacrament is such a unique and special thing to participate in.  We need it so very badly.  We couldn't shy away from it because of an unexpected horrible night!  We were prepared mentally and spiritually and we hope that was enough.

After church we went back to the hotel and still had no room available to us.  So, we drove around Old Nauvoo.  Stopping at Joseph, Hyrum and Emma's Grave.  We had a family devotional and little history lesson.  I'd say 1/4th of my kids were really listening, but we hope the others caught glimpses of the meanings and feelings we were discussing!  We come from such a rich heritage!  A legacy of faith,  family devotion and determination!  Their lives were amazing, in service and in sacrifice.

We also drove to Old Nauvoo burial grounds.  High up on a hillside.  We parked and walked up a muddy hill.  There was a sign with many stories.  One of which was a letter from Wilford Woodrufs wife to him while serving his mission.  Their first born daughter was just 2 when she passed away and the letter was informing Wilford of their loss.  She went on to explain how she climbed that hill alone because she had no family to go with her.  I just can't imagine the loss and heartache they went through all for the sake of the truth of the gospel!  They knew it and We know it!  It is undeniable.  My heart broke as most buried there were siblings and young mothers.  Their lives haven't gone unnoticed or unappreciated.

We finally were able to check in, shower and rest on a bed for a little while.  Oh. My. Goodness. It felt like a little bit of heaven.  We then decided to drive to Carthage where we went on a tour of the jail to get a feeling of the sacredness of that place.  We are so thankful for these experiences we have been able to have with our family, so far this trip.

WE are excited for a warm, soft bed tonight!!