Week #8, 29 January - 4 February 2017

Sunday was a banner day in Primary.  The children were awake, attentive, and really participated and we adults had smiles on our faces and found it hard at times to keep the laughter quiet.  Sister Amos spotlights a child each Sunday and invites the children to stand up and as things are read that do not apply to them, they are to sit down.  It doesn't take long to have one child left standing.  During Junior Primary two little boys kept standing the whole time and one would say after each thing was read:  "I like that color," or "I like to play baseball," or, "It has to be me!"  Finally when Sister Amos said what the child's birthday was, this little boy, with disappointment in his voice said:  "That's not my birthday!"  Sister Amos said it wasn't and that the other boy was being spotlighted.

Sharing Time in Senior Primary was rather interesting.  Sister Amos had gospel questions she would ask the children, letting one side of the room answer and then the other.  She asked:  "What Prophet first taught about tithing?"  The children thought and thought and gave answers that included Joseph Smith, Lehi, Nephew, etc.  She finally said his name started with an "M."  Then came answers like, Mormon, Moroni, and one boy was excited when he thought of Moses.  She kept responding with a "no" reply and then started saying it slowly:  "Mmmm - al- i," when Tyler jumped up and blurted out, "Melatonin!"  We could not keep the laughter quiet on that one.    She kept asking questions and it came back to this side of the room when she asked:  "What three things does the Word of Wisdom say we should not put in our bodies?"  Hayden says:  "Alcohol if you are going to get drunk."  Are you thinking what I thought?  So you can use alcohol if you don't get drunk?  I guess you can say we learned a lot in Primary today.

On the way home from church we saw a herd of Elk along the road.  We were so surprised and excited they merited a picture!

We called Riley for his 16th birthday on Sunday.  He said the day was great and his dad ordained him a priest and he blessed the sacrament for the first time.  He has settled in to his new school, ward, and neighborhood and is looking forward to getting his driver's license in a couple of months.

The week was busy along with the regular temple schedule, shopping, cleaning, laundry, etc.  The Adams' went to Quincy with us Monday afternoon.  Our main purpose was to have dinner at Texas Roadhouse and shopping just happened to fill the afternoon while we waited for it to open at 4 p.m.  We found the mall and several stores that suited Sister Adams and me as we shopped for clothes.  They told us in the car it was their 43rd wedding anniversary and that made for an extra special outing.

We ran in to a group of other Temple Missionaries while at the mall and enjoyed fun moments.  Dad caught us at our best.  Me, Sister Marshall, and Sister Smith.

We enjoyed a great meal at Texas Roadhouse and then stopped at Sam's Club to see what we could not live without.  We were surprised to find these, straight from Yuma!

We were in Burlington Friday afternoon and decided to take a different route home.  We crossed the Great River Bridge.

 It is an asymmetrical, single tower cable-stayed bridge and has been in operation since 1993.

Looking south on the bridge you see the train bridge.

The bridge from the Illinois side.  It took longer to get home as we were driving through the country but we did not have to pay a toll at Fort Madison.

On Saturday, the 4th, was the anniversary of the Mormon pioneers leaving their city beautiful, Nauvoo, in 1846.  Events began on Sunday, the 29th in remembrance of this day.  A fireside titled, "Untold Stories," presented twelve stories about such pioneers, the challenges they faced living here as well as when they had to leave.    We participated in the re-enactment of this event.

I had gone to the Land and Records Office earlier in the week and collected history and stories about our ancestors who left with the saints from Nauvoo.  Ann Alice Gheen was the 4th wife of Heber C Kimball and was 19 years old when she crossed the Mississippi.  She was sealed to Heber just two days prior to their departure in the Nauvoo Temple.

  Sister Checketts taking pictures in the Family Living Center where the event began.

 Elder Mabey dressed as a member of the Nauvoo Legion.

 Sister and Elder Marshall

Other missionaries:  Elder Vinton, Sister Marshall, Sister Bartschi, Sister Mabey, Elder Maybe, Sister Vinton.

 Walking down Main Street.  The Nauvoo Legion led the way.

 Next came Brigham and Mary Young.

 Flag bearers were next carrying flags of the country their ancestor's were from.

 The temperature was 31º F and a brisk wind blowing to keep the flags furled out.

 Dad went ahead to take photos and I walked with President Hunger's family.

 As we turned down Parley street, we came upon the oxen.  They came behind the procession and joined us at the river's edge.

 As we walked down Parley street, getting closer and closer to the river, I wondered what we were leaving behind and turned to see the temple.  The saints left their beloved temple they had worked so hard and sacrificed so much to build.  It had to have been hard for them.

Where they began the crossing, and yes, the white stuff is ice.  I stood there looking at that wide river and thought of them crossing to the other side and thinking they were probably not much warmer, maybe even colder, than when they left this side.  Me, I walked back to the car and got warm.

 They were a people of great courage and conviction to give up all they had and start out on an unknown journey.  We today enjoy the blessings of the gospel because of them.  It is fitting for us to remember them and honor them.

 The flag was raised and words of respect and honor were given.  Taps was played at the end of the program.