Hill Cumorah Pageant- Day 1

Gee Whiz!  Packing for 3 weeks in an RV is tough, especially if you have 8 children. 

My mother and father in-law saved me by showing up at my house yesterday and magically Mary Poppinsing.  I'm shocked we made it out and although I'm shocked at how much stuff we brought, I'm certain we forgot many things.

The RV wouldn't start when we got in it to go, probably someone had left a light on.  So while Todd and his father jumped it, my mom and I went to return some of Ellie's glasses and head up to Palmyra.  I was supposed to pick up lunch for everyone at McD's.  I wrote down the order and called ahead to have $64 in junk all ready and waiting.  When we got there, we realized I had called the wrong store!!!  So, I needed to reorder AND apologize to the other store.

While I was reordering, I got a text from my neighbor saying our dog was running around in the street!!! We live on a main highway.  They kindly brought him to their house until a storm subsided and then brought him home and realized he had pushed open a gate.  Thank goodness for kind neighbors.  God bless our animals while we're gone!

I didn't take ANY pictures yesterday.  

To be honest, this whole experience is completely overwhelming to me right now. There are many families here who have done this for years.  I feel like I don't know what's going on and it's hard for me to have my children spread all around.  We're outside all day, with a lot of walking and a lot of sitting.  Ben has done pretty well, but he's hard at the same time.

Eve was sitting on some stairs yesterday and started screaming like I've never heard her scream before.  I was in a knee-length maxi skirt and carrying Ben in slow-motion trying to climb the stairs to get to her.  It was HORRIBLE. She got stung by 5 or 6 yellow jackets.  On her hand, in her hair, on her face and nose.  We spent some quality time in the nurses office.  Eve's fine (although she is now jumpy and terrified of bees). She didn't have an allergic reaction.  But I'm honestly teary-eyed just writing this.

Everyone is divided into cast teams by age. Ben stays with Todd and I.  Last night the whole camp of over 750 men, women, and children got cast into parts.  

I can't really remember what parts everyone got.  The whole process tugged my heartstrings.  My Anna is not in dance lessons, but she wants to be.  I knew she really wanted a dancing part but was given a non-believer in a destruction scene part.  She was disappointed.  I really hope this is a positive experience for her.  

Todd is an old world disciple at the time of Christ (I think).  Jakob is a backline Lamanite.  I am a speaking believer.  I'm not sure what everyone else is yet.

Our little RV is perfect and quite humble compared to many other mansion RVs that people have brought.

The 4 teens are sleeping outside in tents.  Todd and I have a bed, the little girls sleep above the car cab, and Ben is on the couch.

We'll see what today holds.

I was SO excited about this experience.  Actually being here, I just feel overwhelmed and hopeful.

Come see us if you live nearby!

I can tell you that we LOVE watching this Pageant, I'm not sure yet if we love being IN it.  😶