Volle's on the Move Pt. 1

The U-Box arrives! Time to start packing! The final tally in pounds was just short of 2000, somewhere around 1996 lbs. Most of which was Lindsea's stuff ;)

Yay! We're done packing! (Check out them sexy legs!)

Lindsea comes face to face with "King Cotton" This pic was taken at the Ga Agrirama in Tifton. It is a living history museum, depicting life as it was lived in the 18 and early 1900's in South Ga. Poor Lindsea had to listen to a lot of southern accents on this day :)

We got a late start leaving Florida because packing never goes as quickly as you want it to. Plus, we had to say goodby to friends and family. With misty eyes we turned our car North and headed to Tifton Ga. We spent a couple days there, visiting the extended family. I'm glad we got the chance to spend some time with my Grandparents and hear my Grandfather reminiscence about his life. I hope to be half as successful as him! We left Tifton and headed to Athens, Alabama to spend the night with my cousin Dave and his family. As always we had a great time and talked until way past our bedtimes. Lindsea and I also realized we needed to be taking more pictures and decided to be better at this in the future.

The first, last, and only time we stopped at White Castle on the trip. If you've never eaten here. You're missing out. This was just inside the Tennessee border and there was a Krystal's just down the road from here. That's a bit of a rarity as both chains are usually not seen near each other. Kinda like Checkers/Rally's or Carl's Jr/Hardees

As we came up through the southern tip of Illinois, we stopped at the home of the Man of Steel himself. It was also the first time we had to pull out the winter coats. Finally we were in COLD WEATHER!!!!

We visited with my sister Katharine in Carbondale IL for a bit, where she is in her last year of college at SIU-C. We took her to a Thai food place that was pretty good and drove around the madness that is Carbondale roads. I'm so proud of the confident and stylish young woman she's become. We dropped her off at her apartment and headed up to Staunton, IL where the rest of the Volle Clan reside. We had an enjoyable couple days there with them, just hanging out. My brother Cedric is a quietly confident young man with a poet interior; he just needs to cut his hair more ;). I was a bit surprised to see how much my sister Rachel has grown! Still wild as ever, but really beginning to show the beauty she shares with her older sisters. I expect there to be a few broken hearts by the time she graduates high school. We also got to spend some time with my friend David, his wife Grace, and their cute little girl Hannah. Being married has definitely agreed with both of them, and having a baby is good for them. We also got the chance to spend some time with my cousin Jason, his wife Jennifer and their newborn Jacob. They are doing well for themselves. I do feel sorry for the girls and Cedric as they had to listen to a lot of Marine stories. Oh well, that's what happens when you get a few Marines around each other. :)

On the way across Missouri, we stopped to get some Girl Scout Cookies. Love me some Thin Mints! 

Stay tuned as we head across the State of Misery, visit some Church History sites, and enter the dreaded South Dakota leg of our trip!

Volle's on the Move Pt 2

We stopped in Independence Mo, and visited the temple grounds and visitor center there. Nearby is the headquarters of what was formerly known as the Reorganized LDS church, but are now called the Community in Christ if I remember correctly.

Outside of the RLDS building is a big entryway with a world map. So of course I made Lindsea stand where her mission is. Come to think of it, I don't think I've got a pic of me doing this....I'll have to make sure to get one, next time.

Liberty Jail is just a short drive north of Independence and I knew it was a place I had to take Lindsea. I've visited there once before and it's a bit humbling to stand in that place and contemplate the teachings that were delivered to the Prophet there, at the cost of much suffering of him, his companions, and the Saints who followed him. I don't believe I would've born that burden as well as the Prophet Joseph did. 

Leaving the Independence area we headed due North, where we were able to drive by the site of the Kanesville Tabernacle and visit the Winter Quarters Visitor Center. Lindsea was pleased to see some quotes from a Pioneer ancestor included in some of the exhibits.

This is a picture of Lindsea in South Dakota. ALL of SD looks like this. The roads are ruler straight and some of the most boring roads I've ever driven. I understand why they have the Sturgis biker rally here. It's the only place big enough. And now I also understand why so many of the bikers just trailer their bikes in. It's safer than falling asleep on your motorcycle because of the boring roads.

The only reason we drove through SD was to see these guys. It was cold, and we had 15 mins to spend there in order to make it to my Aunt's house in Casper Wyoming later on that night. Glad I saw the place though.

We also stopped and saw this guy. People tell me it's supposed to be Chief Crazy Horse, and maybe one day it will be. Right now though, it reminds me of the mountains in the movie Cars.