1st Stop, Omaha, Nebraska

Monday morning, with the car all packed up, I headed out to see my friend Kristine Pratt and her family in Omaha. I had been to her place just this past April for Lantern Fest. Kristine was here in Indiana in 2011 for only four months while her husband underwent some training for a job position. Though our time was short, we did so much together and have remained friends ever since. I visited her family in Atlanta only two years ago, and now I get to see her again.

It took me 12 hours to get to Omaha. I told Kristine that I was going nowhere Tuesday to take a break from driving. Besides, I don't get to see her that often.

I started the day by going to get my hair cut really short. I needed a low maintenance haircut the next few months and had the time to do it in Omaha. Later that day we took the kids to see the visitor center across the street from the temple.

I find it interesting that it's not called the Omaha, Nebraska temple, but the Winter Quarters temple. The temple was unique in that there is a cemetery right in front of it. I wondered if it was the graves of the actual pioneers that died there on their way out west. Later someone in the visitors center said no. It was the cemetery of the town that got established after all the pioneers had moved on. There are no actual pioneers in the cemetery. There are however, some beautiful statues dedicated to them, and a visitors center across the street that tells you a lot on the history of the pioneers.

In front of the visitors center with all three of the kids

In front of the statue in the cemetery with Hayden who is seven. 

Hayden and I in front of a handcart. There's an area in the visitors center you can dress up in pioneer clothes. 

It was a good break for the long drive still ahead.