JUST WHEN WE THOUGHT THINGS WOULD SLOW DOWN....(BLOG #1)

We truly thought that once our big Exodus project was over, things would settle down to a quiet, slow, typical Feb. and March.  It's amazing how 24 hours can disappear...on a continual basis!  Since it's been over five weeks since we sat down to blog,  I'm hoping to do several shorter blogs over the next few days.  Here's BLOG #1

We started out Feb. celebrating the arrival of little Paige Clara McBride on Feb. 2.  Of course, another beautiful little grandchild for us to love...and we can't wait to get our hands on her!!  Daddy Jake and Mommy Maren, Tessa and Cole are passing on all the kisses we send her way.

 What a wonderful experience the Exodus Reenactment was.  On Feb. 4, with the name tags of our ancestors around our necks (and lots of layers with a rain coat on top), we enjoyed cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate and a wonderful welcome program, then headed out into a milder morning than it had started out to be!  It was an honor to have Steve march with the Nauvoo Legion, walking in the place of Abigail, James and Betsy Mead McBride, and for me to get to carry the flag of Scotland (my 3rd great grandfather James Leithead came from there).  We walked down main street with the Legion leading the way, then the flag bearers, then the rest of the missionaries and all the people who came from all over the country to participate...after them, four wagons with their teams of horses and our missionary teamsters came down the road, and followed us as we turned onto Parley Street, known as the Trail of Hope.  We walked down to the Mississippi where we had a flag ceremony, read the names of missionary ancestors who left from Nauvoo, but didn't make it to the Salt Lake Valley.  It was just such a great experience, and I know our ancestors were walking along side us...so happy for us to know of them and their sacrifices, and their great faith.