A mom payoff moment

Our first year.

Yesterday Eli was at This Is the Place for the Christmas market with some friends and asked me for a picture of when his picture was on one of the signs. Later when he was back home, he called and said that volunteering there was a highlight of his childhood (we always shared a volunteer spot with another family for five summers, meaning we went every other week). Eli wasn't sure what I though of taking the kids there, but it was a positive experienced for him. I told him that often people would say something like: "I can't believe you're volunteering with all your kids! That must be so hard!" But, I always felt that I had to entertain them all day anyway, it was a good way to spend our time, and I had fun with it. I loved the simplicity of the Pioneer life, and I loved that we were basically outside, and I loved that we could bring the kids' friends with us and they just played. Plus, I loved connecting with MY ancestors.

Sarah has also mentioned enjoying those years and that opportunity, and now she loves Church history because of her mission in Nauvoo. Who knew what a lasting impression volunteering as a Pioneer at This Is the Place would leave on my kids?! I've thought of doing it again with my younger kids so that they will have the memories, too, but the volunteer guidelines are much more rigid now, and sadly, we live further away with more traffic from this direction.