A Refreshing Return

We could not stay away! Being in the red cast, we performed first but that meant we did not have the opportunity of watching the other casts perform the pageant. We decided we would drive up on Friday for one last Nauvoo experience. Karalee had to work early the next day and we have sent Sterling off with Grandpa to Lake Powell for the week, so Devin, Rachael, Gina and I headed up after work. We drove through torrential rain most of the way. No matter, a little rain was not going to stop the pageant, nor our enthusiasm for seeing it. When we reached the Iowa border, the road was shut down due to flooding. No matter, we'll drive up to Fort Madison and cross the river there. As we got closer and closer to the river, we became more and more antsy and anxious to be there. Nearing the bridge, Gina commented, "let's hope the drawbridge is down." We payed our fee and within seconds of getting on the bridge, alarms sounded, the barrier came down right behind us preparing to lift the bridge for a coming barge. It was quite a bit up river and we would have been sitting, waiting for a long time. Whew! That was a close one.

By the time we drove past the school, by the condos and through town we could hardly sit still. There was standing puddles of water everywhere, the skies were dark but there were just a few drops falling. The weather held, even clearing by the end of the pageant. It turned out to be one of the least humid and most pleasant evenings we have seen in weeks. Perfect.

As we neared the parking lot, we spotted Devin. Oh wait! That would be another cast member in Devin's costume. Later, looking for Rachael in the crowd I realized that the reason I couldn't find her was that I was looking for a pretty young pioneer girl in a red dress. After the pageant was over, Devin said he found himself coming up to a complete stranger and asking them how they enjoyed it. It felt so natural being there. We could have easily stepped back into our old roles.

Best of all was seeing some of our friends. Rachael and Devin were so excited to see the Wadleys, the Shirtliffs and others. Gina and I found Charly right off and loved visiting with her. While talking with her, I turned to find Brad (who plays John Taylor and was my partner for the healing scene) staring at me with his jaw dropped in amazement. He could not believe what a shave and haircut would do to my appearance! We all got a good laugh out of that.

The pageant was wonderful. There indeed were many scenes that we never saw and even more that we could appreciate even better, being farther back watching the whole performance. We were touched by the message portrayed on stage, reminded of the warmth and joy that comes with knowing God, his son Jesus Christ and following His plan for our happiness.