Graduation and Road Trip

  Now that we have celebrated Sean’s graduation it was time to actually graduate!

Because we were living in Columbus and graduation was in Des Moines and we were moving to Reno, graduation also meant a road trip!!

 My wonderful family flew out to Ohio to help us wrap up the loose ends of packing, clean the apartment and pack up the truck.

 Before we could leave though we did some fun touring of Columbus.

We visited a park that houses Christopher Columbus’s ship.

and spend time with the animals that also live there. 

 We went to the book loft, spent toured German Village and ate at Schmidt’s. Best German restaurant ever. We also went to Hawking Hills, a beautiful state park were we took a hike through a small canyon with waterfalls, ponds, and lots of greenery. 

 Once Wednesday morning came we woke up early, loaded up the truck, my Kia and Sean’s Prism and we were off! Lucky enough, the rain held out. The gloomy Columbus skies were threatening all morning but it didn’t start coming down until we after we in the car. Such a blessing! 

Our first stop was Kirtland Ohio. There we took the tour our church offers and we got to see the Newell K Whitney Store, where the Whitney’s lived, we saw the School of the Prophets and also where the Joseph Smith and his family lived.  We got to see the sawmill and the ashery. It is so amazing to me the buildings they could construct and the things they could accomplish without the luxury of all the advances we have today. 

 We also took a tour of the Kirtland Temple. The Community of Christ Church currently owns it so it was interesting to get there rendition of Joseph Smith while we took their tour. 

On our way out of Ohio we took a small detour to Marble Head Light House. We wanted to show my family where were engaged and it was nice chance to see Lake Erie and stretch our legs before heading to Nauvoo. 

(These pictures are from the actual engagement but I wanted to show it off again!)

 Once in Nauvoo, we stayed in a wonderful bed and breakfast suite that my Dad found us. 

 There was instant feeling of peace and serenity in this small town. The spirit was so strong and we were very grateful to have to opportunity to spend some here learning more about the early saints. 

 While in Nauvoo we spent some time on the grounds of them temple we were unable to go inside this time but just being there was amzing.  

 We visited the jail where Joseph Smith was killed and we saw the graves of the Smith Family. It is such an overwhelming feeling to be in the place where all this actually happened. We also took a tour of the old Nauvoo town experiencing a blacksmith shop, rope making, bread baking in a brick oven and making candles out of lard.

We also got to stop at the Mississippi River and put our feet in! 

We wanted to bring this little guy home with us but decided it was best to leave him. He was trying to cross the street and we almost ran over him!

 The last stop in our Church History Tour portion of our road trip was Missouri. It was definitely a highlight being able to see where Sean served his mission. He got show us where he used to live and some of the houses of members he was close to. He also took us on a tour of the Liberty Jail Visitors Center. 

 While we were there we also got to see the temple that is being constructed in Independence Missouri. That was a wonderful stop for Sean. He is so excited that members where he served are getting a temple so close by! 

While in Missouri we also went to Adam-ondi-ahman.  This is where the Saints will gather in the Second Coming. It was beautiful and so peaceful.

Up to this point in our trip we have experienced torrential rain,

 (rain boots required!)

 tornado threats, swaying moving vans, illegal left hand turns in construction zones and lots of laughing!  

Next Stop…. Des Moines!

(This is where you sing the graduation pomp and circumstance!)

We had a fun luncheon at Des Moines University. Sean was able to show us all around his school, it was fun for us to see where all his great learning took place.  We bought some DMU merchandise and then girls went to do some much needed shopping while Mom, Dad, Sean and I got ready for the banquet that was going to be held that night.

Sean’s parents and brother met up with us just in time for dinner and graduation.

The banquet was beautiful it was fun to be in the presents of all those graduating as Doctors of Osteopathy. It was nice for Sean to see all of his schoolmates that he had missed for the last 2 years and it was so nice to honor of such wonderful group people.

My parents, Sean’s Parents, Brad, Sean and I were went together and we met up with Mike, his wife Nancy and both of their parents. 

 The next morning we woke up to rain, for those who are unaware, rain in a good omen. It was the perfect day to have a graduation ceremony!

My family is wonderful and went early to save us seats.  We had perfect seats!

It was fun for me to help Sean get ready, take pictures and be with up to the last minute when it was time for him to line up. I am so proud of all that he has accomplished. He is an amazing man! 

 (This is what the hood looks like from the back)

After the hooding of each graduate was complete and every name had been read we returned Sean’s gown and received his official diploma. It’s so beautiful!

 Shortly after graduation was over we were going to have continue our trek to Reno but first we were due for lunch. Of course the graduate got to pick the place!

He picked the Manhattan Deli. It was his most favorite deli shop to eat as a student so My parents, Hillary, Madison, Emma, Sean and I went for a final graduation celebration. It was such a delight to be able to share with Sean some of his life as a medical student in Des Moines.

From Des Moines it was a mad race to Reno. We had made all of our tourist stops between Ohio and Iowa so the last stretch of our trip seemed the longest but we made it safely to Reno late Friday night.

The gate to our apartment complex wouldn’t open with the code we were given. Luckily there was a nice guy leaving that opened it for us. Then the furnace had gone out so we didn’t have any heat or hot water. The poor maintenance guy had to come fix it.  We had a campout on the ground in the front room. 9 people all snug as a bug in a rug in our one bedroom apartment!

The next morning, bright and early we unloaded the truck and I was having a hard time comprehending how we were ever going to find a place for everything.

 With Emma’s expert help we did it though!

 My Mom, Dad, Hill and Madi flew home that afternoon and Mark and Gina headed out the next morning. Emma was a trooper and stayed with us for a week while we explored Reno and got everything situated. She is a great organizer and it was so much fun to have her all to ourselves!

xoxo