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.