July 30-Aug 1

July 30
We spent the day at the Omaha Zoo/Aquarium. We fed giraffes and koi fish, walked among numerous butterflies, touched small sea creatures, elephant skin, and giraffe tail hairs, and learned interesting facts from the zoo's many middle school volunteers.

July31
On our way to the Strategic Air Command center we nearly his a flock of wild turkeys crossing the road. They are gorgeous, especially alive.

The highlight at SAC was the B-36J Peacemaker that was too large to photograph in its entirety.

Passing through rural Nebraska, we were able to stop in Brownsville and locate the gravestones of two separate sets of my third great-grandparents, the Christys and Daughertys, with the bonus of my fourth-great grandmother Daugherty. We found them quite quickly as we split up to explore the cemetery.

That afternoon we spent visiting a couple more Church historical sites. Adam-ondi-Ahman and the Far West Temple site. We made sure to sit at Spring Hill and "be in the moment" at Adam-ondi-Ahman.  I felt the Spirit and testified what I believed to my children there. It was quite beautiful to see the wind moving across the crops in waves, as this site is a large area of farm land.

At Far West we looked at the cornerstones that had been laid as a testament of the faith of the early Latter-day Saints, though a temple was not able to be finished here as they traveled westward.

Aug 1

Look at my sleeping babies! I love when my babies are quiet. This is just about the only time that happens so we let them sleep in today.

We spent the morning at two more Church history sites. First, we went to Liberty Jail where the prophet Joseph Smith and several others were imprisoned on false charges for approximately 5 months awaiting trial. Three revelations were received there. The foundation of the jail remains and a replica of the jail has been reconstructed.

Next we were off to Independence Visitor's Center. I think the thing I enjoyed best about this place was the importance it places on families and acknowledges that it's not all unicorns and rainbows, but that families are part of God's plan. Also, I loved hearing the stories of the early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and feeling gratitude for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That afternoon we toured the World War I Museum and Monument. It truly was a complicated war that I never understood the many details of growing up. This museum did a great job walking us through the time line and it was a lot of reading so I know we got way more out of it than the kids. We finished the day eating Kansas City BBQ and swimming at the hotel pool.