Winter Quarters, Nebraska

After one month, it was time to head home.  I mean if we hadn't already, we didn't want to wear out our welcome.  So after a tearful goodbye, we hopped in the van and headed for home.  Our first day goal was Grand Island, Nebraska.  Grandma sent us home with a plate of homemade cinnamon rolls to eat for breakfast on the road.  The cinnamon rolls and our Beatles mix tape was more than enough to help us make it through the first day. 

In Nebraska, the girls swam in the pool and we ate a funky restaurant called Carlos O'Kelley's.  The place was basically a Mexican cafe, but you could get mashed potatoes with your taco...whatever.  After a good night's rest we hit the road, making one more stop before home:

Winter Quarters, Nebraska.  Another Mormon Trail historical site.  There is a nice visitor center on site in addition to the memorial at the cemetery that was erected many years ago.  Again, it was amazing to think that the pioneers cleared the land and built a functioning city only to leave it behind.  Of course, how much more difficult to leave buried loved ones behind knowing that you would never return--what a humbling example of faith.

Winter Quarters Visitor Center



"Loading" the wagons



Winter Quarters Memorial.  All around are quotes about death not
being the end, this is one of my favorites.



Winter Quarters Memorial.  A sculpture of grieving parents
standing over the grave of their child.