Crossing the Plains

Eldon, Iowa - This is what happens
when you spend too much time around corn

Women's Garden - Nauvoo

Dear Family and Friends,
The last couple of days have been long ones on the road, crossing Iowa and South Dakota.  We were grateful for the fields of sunflowers and sorghum that broke up the monotony of corn and soybean.  We also enjoyed some of the billboards along the way. "Eat meat, wear fur and carry a gun."  "Mexican Food ahead - so good that even Donald Trump would like it!"

Our last day in Nauvoo was spent visiting historical sites and in the evening attending a musical production put on by the Senior Missionaries.  Our first stop after we headed home was at Eldon, Iowa at the American Gothic house.  There is a visitor center there complete with dress-ups if you wanted a picture.

In Sioux Falls we stopped and toured the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center which was very well done.  Who knew that they were accompanied by a dog about the size of a  

Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
Sioux Falls, Iowa

bear?  There were also exhibits on some of the floods that Sioux Falls has suffered through and some information about the Native Americans of the region.  A lot of attention has been given lately to the injustice of slavery, which was horrible!  However, how often do you hear about the broken treaties, forced marches, loss of homeland and the horrors that Native Americans have had to endure. 

Today we took a detour through Badlands National Park, and were amazed at the spires and weird rock formations in the park. This park is a gold mine of fossils from eons ago.  Every time it rains they find more fossils. We sat and watched a couple of paleontologists work on a sea turtle.  They had a saber tooth tiger and a small horse.  I learned that the horse was indigenous to North America and migrated to Asia and Europe. There were also camels here.   This summer alone over 200 new fossils were discovered - mostly by tourists hiking the trails.

Badlands National Park

Paleontologist at Badlands

 My favorite part of the park was the colonies of prairie dogs that are running around by the thousands!  We watched a coyote amble right through the middle of them.  They were all sitting up watching him, but I have a feeling he already had his fill.  

Tonight we are picking up Shane and Channa at the Rapid City airport and they will share the last part of this adventure with us.  Tomorrow is Mt Rushmore and then on to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.  We already had this trip planned when we were asked to teach early morning seminary.  We got the first two weeks in before we left, but I am feeling anxious to get back to the students.  We have also missed our family - it nice to go but always nice to go home.

Sept 30th - Oct 1st is General Conference from SLC.  Our grandson, Joseph, tells us that a lot of people on social media think the world is ending.  I'm so glad we have a prophet and apostles that guide us in these latter days.  It makes no sense that God would only provide prophets for people of the Old Testament.  If you want to know what you should be doing for the next 6 months tune in - it is always inspiring and it is on TV!

Thousands of Prairie Dogs

Because internet is so hard to come by
this will probably be my last post.  We send our
 love to our family, Primary kids and Seminary
Students.  It will be good to be back with all
of you!  Happy Trails - Patty