Week #23, 15 - 21 May 2017

 We had a week of clouds, rain, warm sunshine, and lots and lots of wind.  Wednesday was the banner day with winds that just about blew you over.  We finished our shift at the temple and then headed to Keokuk to do shopping.  Clouds skittered across the sky and white caps were all over the river.

GEESE

We drove on along and up ahead we did see, two wondering geese in the shade of a tree.

 In deep conversation they were chatting about, how the water was rough and the wind blowing stout.

It was evident they were struggling to agree, just where they should go and where they should be.

Goose #2:  "The water is rough, unfit to get in, we must go it by land if we want to win."

Goose #1:  "Then come this way and brace for the force, we will walk to the south and stay on the course.

Our friends are awaiting and we can't let them down, so follow me on as we head for the town."

Goose #2:  "Really,  we're walking into the wind?  You take on off and I'll bring up the end."
They trudged on off leaning into the gail and where they ended up we cannot tell.

We were in Wal-Mart all of an hour and when we came out it was raining and the wind was blowing it across us.  This was certainly a different view on the same road an hour before.  When we got to the apartment it wasn't coming down very much but just as we stepped out of the car here it came.  We each grabbed a couple of bags out of the back and headed for the door getting soaked before we got in.  Dad used the clicker to close the back hatch of the car and we just left it there until the rained stopped.

It was a quiet week with the regular routine of cleaning, laundry, working our shifts in the temple, and did the scanning project on Thursday.  We invited the Hurst's and one of the Anderson couples over for supper Friday night.  We had a great time getting to know each other better and ended with games.  The Anderson's humored us with one round and then bowed out.  They are not gamers but the Hurst's are and we had fun with another round of Qwixx.  They play hand and foot as well and we look forward to doing that with them since they have the cards.

Dad had a neat experience with going to the mail room one day and seeing someone he knows from St. David,  Lu Ann (Carnes Mortensen) Judd.  It was a surprise to both of them but they enjoyed the meeting. Her husband, Orson was working the Jonathan Browning home so Dad stopped by there and gave him a surprise.  They are site missionaries and have been here a couple of months.

Tyler's family sent us this box this week and we really were excited to get all the "sunshine."  We especially needed it today!

Temple Fact:   The first endowment sessions in the Nauvoo temple were very lengthy, sometimes lasting up to nine hours.  The length depended on the size of the company and the number of available workers.  The giving of the endowment continued through the first week of February 1846.  During this time approximately 5,000 received the endowment.  Entire families received the ordinances together and even the sick were carried to the temple to participate.

This reminded me of a time  Dad and I were working in the Mesa Temple when a brother was brought in on a gurney with an oxygen tank to receive his endowment.  Six temple brothers carried him up the stairs on the gurney to the endowment room.  It was a touching scene with a spirit of reverence for the faith of this brother.  We learned that he passed away six weeks later.

Week #22, 8 - 14 May 2017

Monday began with our shift in the baptistry.  We had a few patrons and then did more training with our team.  We have three couples a sister assigned to our team.  They say the summer will be very busy.  We were off to Burlington for a check up with the dermatologist and Dad had the moles behind his ears frozen and one shaved off a shoulder.

Tuesday we headed to Peoria, IL to the Lexus dealer as the brake malfunction warning has continued to come on in the car with Bob trouble shooting it with various methods.  The problem was assessed and the part needed determined.  It was very pricy and they said we could get the part ourselves and they would install it.  We called Jared and he got it at a considerable reduction in price.  Yea Jared!   We did get a car wash and mints out of the deal.

While waiting for the testing to be done we were taken to LePeep, where we heard they were great for breakfast.  As you can see, Dad was very happy with his Lumberjack!

On the way home we liked this sign. . . . . .

and this sign.  We were surprised to see Hanna's name spelled like she spells it.

Wednesday morning we headed to Fort Madison where Dr Reynolds removed a chilazion and a palpilloma from my left lower eyelid.  It was amazing how quickly and efficiently he performed the task and we were back home in no time.  I wore the patch for four hours and slept the rest of the morning.

We worked on the scanning project on Thursday and then were back in the temple in the afternoon.  We had two days off and it was nice to have the break.  Friday was another day in the temple as well as Saturday evening.  I had my class with Sister Swing and learned more in using family search.

We took a stroll one evening and got a couple of pictures of the temple and one of the sun setting.

So here we are to Mother's Day.  We both reflected on our mothers and their love for us.

After reviewing tons of photos, it was hard to pick one.  Mom was always therr to hlep and support us.  Here she is holding Jared as we bring him home from the hospital.  She would have driven to Yuma by herself in her VW beetle probably at 80 miles per hour.  The Lord always looked after her.  She helped so many we know she has a special place with God.  Love you, Mom!  Bob

To my mother: She was always there for me and taught me life skills which included the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many are the memories of her loving and serving me. Happy Mother's Day!  Barbara

Temple Fact:
The main hall in its finished state in 1846, resembled in many respects the assembly room in the Kirtland Temple.  It exhibited an extraordinary degree of craftsmanship and originality and seats were provided for the accommodation of thirty-five hundred people.  The assembly room in the current temple is not this large.

Week #21, 1 - 7 May 2017

The month of May has begun and we have begun back at the temple with a new schedule.  Tuesday is our P-day, although we did not get one this week.  Needed extra help in the temple and we volunteered and were there.

So, the week will look like this until July:
Monday:  Baptistry coordinators, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tuesday:  P-day
Wednesday:  Regular shift, 7 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Thursday:  Night, 3 - 9 p.m.
Friday:  Morning, 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday:  Noon - 7 p.m.

The temple was busy during the week with all the new missionaries and the rest of them still helping in training and orienting them to the temple.  We were guides for a wedding couple and enjoyed the opportunity of working with them and their family.  She is from Illinois, he is from Texas, and they met at BYU-Ricks.  The families were very nice.

We did laundry, cleaning, and shopping.  There were doctor visits, haircuts, and scanning project.  It was a good weather week with more sun than clouds.  We did have a lot of wind but it slowed down as the week progressed.  Today was beautiful and we have really enjoyed the sunshine and walking outside without sweaters.

 Brother Shurts' house.  It was a restaurant and they remodeled it.  The rooms inside are large.

A temple view from the hairdresser's shop on Page Street.

As we were leaving shift on Friday, one of the incoming missionaries said they had eaten at a Mexican restaurant in Keokuk that was offering a Cinco de Mayo special of some dishes half off.  I didn't realize our shift was extended two hours with the new schedule and had not brought a lunch so her words sounded really good.  Off we went and enjoyed our meal of chimichangas and tacos.

We were back in Washington Branch today for church and happy to see the members and be in Primary.  Some of the members said they missed us and wondered where we had been.  We ended the day with Break The Fast at the Brown's.  We had a great meal and good company and conversation.

Elder & Sister Brown, Denver, CO Temple.  Elder & Sister Boehm, Sacramento, CA Temple.  Elder & Sister Borrowman, Jordan River, UT Temple.  Dad.

Temple Fact:  The Prophet Joseph Smith and others who were involved in the building of the first Nauvoo temple took great care to make it a holy house for God.  They wanted it to show their devotion and respect to the most high God, both inside and out.  Even today in the building of temples great care is taken in the construction and furnishings to reflect  devotion and respect to God.  Heber C Kimball's journal entry of 16 May 1845 says:  "We have one thing lacking in the House of the Lord, that is a stone in the west end for the superscription Holiness to the Lord."  This idea was apparently discussed among the Twelve and the committee for that same day, Brigham Young wrote a letter to the temple architect directing him to place a stone in the west end of the Temple with the inscription 'Holiness to the Lord.'  The instructions underwent further refinement for the full inscription ultimately read:

THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

built by

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

Commenced April 6th, 1841

Holiness to the Lord

From Home:

Eliza and their new dog, Otis.

Collins with a new haircut.

Happy Dakotah hanging out at Legoland.

I am a little late on this one:  a month ago of Isabel ready for the prom.