Week #28, 19 - 25 June 2017

It wa a great weather week with plenty of sunshine and the last two days with cool temps.  We still have lots of wind and sometimes it feels like we are being blown into the next county.  We are glad we are here and not in Yuma where the temps got into the 120's.  Yikes!

After shift on Monday, we headed to Burlington to pick up the picture Bob gave me for Mother's Day.  It was at Hobby Lobby getting framed.  When Heber C Kimball's family first came to Nauvoo, they lived in various cabins and other make do dwellings until they built this beautiful home.  It was completed in 1844 and they lived in it a mere four months when they left it behind bound for the west with the pioneers.  It is a reminder of their sacrifice in relying  on their faith and testimony to follow Brigham Young to the west for the gospel's sake.  It stands today in beautiful Nauvoo and is open for tours.

We drove downtown to the post office and saw this interesting church.

We had neat experiences in the temple this weekend.  Bob was guide on Friday for Brother Christopher David Baird from Shawn's ward.  He and his wife and children were sealed Saturday morning.  Bob joined them and I got there in time to meet them before they left.   It was a wonderful time for their family and for us to have someone in common.

Then, Saturday afternoon we were guides for a bride and groom.  Sam and Sophie are both temple workers and we all know them.  They were dating when we came in December and the dating turned into an engagement and now a marriage.  Their event was the buzz of the shift and all the sisters had to see her dress.  They are both from this area so there were lots of family and friends in for the sealing and reception later that evening.  It was a joyful time for all.

We took an excursion to Hannibal, MO, on p-day and had a great time exploring the sites and displays of everything Mark Twain.  We toured the cave, his house, Becky Thatcher's house, others, and the museum.  We ended the day with a dinner cruise on the Mark Twain Riverboat.  We danced to the music of a live pianist and enjoyed the beautiful sunset created by the rain storm that blew in on us.  We were tired when we headed home but had enjoyed the outing.

It was a cool 52º in the cave so our jackets felt good.  We were in there for an hour and enjoyed learning about all the crooks and cranies in it.

This is where we entered.  Up and to the left is the original entrance Samuel Clemens used as a boy.  Luckily we didn't have to squeeze through there.

 Jeremiah was our tour guide.

Boyhood home and the white picket fence Tom Sawyer conned his buddies into painting.

Becky Thatcher House.

Looking down mainstream to the lighthouse on the hill.  It is not a real lighthouse, just built in recognition of Mark Twain's writing.

Tom and Huck statue below the lighthouse.

 The museum was fascinating with all the different displays.  Bob was tempted to hop aboard the penny-farthing and take a spin.

In the museum with the Mark Twain.

We saw a sign to Lover's Leap and drove up the bluff overlooking the river to see what it was about.  It was where an Indian boy and girl jumped to their death because their warring tribes would not let them marry.  Sounds so romantic.  The view was amazing over the Mississippi River and Hannibal to the left.  In the distance is the bridge we crossed coming into Hannibal.

Looking east across the river into Illinois.

 We had time between our sightseeing adventures and when we could board for the dinner cruise.  Bob enjoyed taking pictures of barges and working tugs.

 When we were at Lover's Leap we got a photo of the Mark Twain Riverboat coming into port.

The time arrived and we boarded the boat.  We had a good time with good food and company.  We could wander up and down and in and out of the boat.  The rain and blowing wind added to the experience.

 Draw bridge for barges to go through.  It is different in that the whole bridge lifts up instead of dividing.

Enjoying the cool breeze and viewing the beautiful sunset.

 The piano guy.  He sure could play and beat out rag, jazz, blues, and old time tunes.  He found a tune we could swing to so we got out on the dance floor and shook a leg.  It was fun.

Lover's Leap from the boat.

Rain coming in.

This really is "sunset on the Mississippi!"

Our trip was complete with rainbows when we docked.  We were tired at the end of the day but happy to have a good time.

 

We have enjoyed watching fireflies in the evenings.  They are all over and blink in and out as they dart off and come in.  It has been a first time experience for the both of us.

They are the bright dots in the grass.  They were hard to capture but at least these three pictures turned out.

Temple Fact:  After the Prophet was martyred, it became increasingly harder to get the temple finished.  Brigham Young declared:  "We want to build the Temple in this place, if we have to build it, as the Jews built the walls of the Temple in Jerusaleum, with a sword in one hand and the trowel in the other."  the workers had to labor in the day and guard it at night.  There were many attempts made to burn it down.

Week #27, 12-18 June 2017

Another week has come and gone and we have been busy.  Our shifts in the temple were active with patrons and Bob & Becky's visit started it off with them coming to the baptistry Monday morning.  They completed family cards and then we met up with them after shift.  There were 13 families who came in to do baptisms.  Fun time.  We officiated three sessions this week and worked in other areas as assigned.

While waiting for Dad one evening, I was visiting with Sister Dean and we discovered we both know Mark and Kim Smith.  She was the Relief Society President in their little branch in Ohio in the early 80's, and he was Dad's counselor in the bishopric in Yuma 7th Ward in the early 90's.  We were both excited about what we discovered as we both have great memories of them.

Monday afternoon and Tuesday were spent with Bob and Becky and we had a great time touring the sites in Nauvoo, going to Carthage, eating at the Hotel Nauvoo buffet, watching Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo, and just being together with plenty of conversation and discussion.  One of the highlights was our tour by the Community of Christ Church of the Joseph Smith properties.  Jimmi was our tour guide and he did an outstanding job and we learned so much.  

Becky, Bob, Barbara, & Bob at Carthage Jail by the well where the Prophet fell after falling from the upper window.

Bob and I were here in 1969, with Bobby.  It looks like he has grown some.  Note that the well was covered by a roof, etc.

 The Nauvoo Brass Band played a concert while we were at the jail.  They played a stirring march rendition of "The Spirit of God."  It was a pleasant afternoon in the shade to sit and listen to them.

 From the Sarah Granger Kimball house we got a farm-like view of the temple.

We are at the temple stone quarry.  Bob is in the background.

Saturday morning I got a call from the temple that my cousin was in the temple and wanted to meet up with me.  They had given her my phone number but Sister Dewey could not remember her name.  So, we started speculating as to who it was.  I didn't get a call but when we entered the temple for our shift at noon there was Carla Underhill (Aunt Millie's daughter).  What a surprise it was to see her as she lives in San Antonio, TX.  We greeted each other and then planned to meet when we got off shift.

Carla was here with her friend Wendy and her granddaughter Ainsleigh.  They came over after seeing Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo and we had a great time visiting and catching up.  They had seen Aunt Naomi in Clinton, MO the day before and now were enjoying the sites in Nauvoo.  We went to church together today and they came for dinner and we engaged in much more visiting.   They left out headed  to Arizona to see more family.  What a great time it was.  

Wendy, Ainsleigh, Carla, Barbara, and Bob. 

The week finished off with the regular routines of cleaning, laundry, hair cuts, shopping, and whatever else we came up with.  We enjoyed the scanning project with getting to read more things about church history in the Nauvoo area and my class with Sister Swing was great.

Dad has a surprise on Saturday as well.  He  noticed the name tag of one of the district workers in the temple and realized she, Sister Fronk, had served with him in the North British Mission.  He started the conversation and the memories came forth.  He introduced her to me and we both had seen each other in the temple, but had no idea of the connection.  

Dad enjoyed Father's Day with gifts, meals, texts, and phone calls.  It was great having Carla here to enjoy a Father's Day meal with us.

Week #26, 5 - 11 June 2017

Monday began with us working in the Baptistry.  Bridger and Sam came and did family baptisms.  It was neat to have them there and participate in the ordinance.  Of course we were excited to show them off as well.  We had a steady stream of eleven families come in and then one large extended family came at 12 p.m.  There was plenty of work to do.

When the boys were finished Kendal picked them up and took the children to some of the sites and attractions in the flats.  We all met up for lunch at the apartment afterward and then did more sight seeing.

Here we are in the Heber C. Kimball home.  He is the children's "Grandpa's Grandma's Grandpa!"

McKenna, Bridger, Kendal, Grandpa, Grandma.  Eme, Nick (mouth open), Sam.

They had a great time at Pioneer Past Times in learning all the games and things to do there.  We met up with Sister Queensberry whom the children had met on Sunday.  They had a great time with her showing them how to play some of the games.  She and Eme and McKenna are busy playing Fox and Geese.

Monday night we went to the Cultural Hall and saw Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo.  We enjoyed the singing, dancing, and acting.  Wow, those senior missionaries sure can do it! There was plenty of laughter, clapping, and cheering on our part.

Tuesday was busy with more time together.  Kendal and I were to the temple and Bob had a doctor appointment.  Kendal took the children to a few more sites and then it was time for them to head home. We traveled together to Carthage and Quincy.  As we were coming to Hamilton Bob could see a barge coming to enter the lock.  We took a detour and drove over to the bridge at Keokuk to watch the process.

It was a pretty windy day!  Grandma, McKenna, & Kendal.

The barge is loaded in the lock and the water is rising for it to go out.  When the tug entered the lock the orange life ring you can see was at the window of the tug cab.  It was amazing to watch the tug rise up.  The whole process took about an hour and was interesting to watch.

In the same area is the George M Varity Steamboat Museum.  We stopped in and took a tour to see the runnings of a steamboat.  We were able to go clear up to the wheel house and ring the bell.

We headed on to Carthage and watch the video and then tour the jail.  Bridger, Nick, Eme, Sam, & McKenna.

 Our next stop was Quincy and the monument at the river where the Saints crossed in the winter of 1838.  We stopped at the town square and then found Culver's for supper.  One last photo together.

We attended church in Nauvoo Third Ward on Sunday.  During Sunday School they hold a class for visitors and the topic is history of Nauvoo.  We went to it and learned a lot about early Nauvoo as well as present Nauvoo.  Sister Martin was the teacher.  She is the only person who owns and lives on the land her pioneer ancestors lived on in Nauvoo.  She offered a tour of ancient burial mounds in the area at 5 p.m.  We met her and others and took off to see the mounds.

Here we are with the group as Sister Martin (to the right of Dad) tell about the area and the mounds while pointing to the one behind the group.

The plaque at the site:  "This is an area of many ancient burial mounds.  There are ten large visible ones registered by the State of Illinois and dozens of smaller ones throughout these 20 acres.  They date from the Mound Building Culture circa 300 B.C. - 500 A.D.  This is sacred ground.  It is up to us to protect these and other sites for future generations.  Our own history is a continuation of those who lived, loved, and died on this river bluff and we will fail ourselves if we do not preserve these memorials of those who came before us.  Please respect this area as you would any Cemetery or Native American Burial Grounds."

You can see how tall this one is with Dad standing to the side of it. 

Some think these can be burial mounds from the Book of Mormon times.  Some reasons stated:  The Mississippi is the only river of its size in the Americas that can be walked across.  Sidon means river of many fish and that is what the Mississippi is.  If it is the River Sidon, then the Nauvoo area is the Valley of Gideon and Zarahemla is west across the river.  The difference between a Lamanite Mound and a Nephite Mound is trinkets are found in a Lamanite mound as they were superstitious, and they are not found in a Nephite mound because they believed in God and Jesus Christ.  

Another mound.

This little jail was built out of stone from the original temple.  The big white thing between it and the temple is the city water tower.

Temple Fact:  Plans to rebuild the Nauvoo Temple were announced on 4 April 1999, by President Gordon B Hinckley, and ground was broken that same October on the 24th.  The 54,000-square-foot temple sits on the original 3.3-acre temple block.  Just like the original temple, there are five floors and a basement level.  The temple was financed by contributions from Church members throughout the world and was completely paid for when dedicated on June 27, 2002.

From Home:
Trevor was off to Washington D.C. to represent the National Children's Alliance.  Here he is receiving the National Philanthropy Award from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Sister Joy D Jones, Primary General President.  Wow, we have a famous person in our family!

Peanut is biting the bullet!