Week #50, 20 -26 November 2017

The week started with a celebration of Bob's 73rd birthday!  We had a pleasant day and ended it with friends over for his favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting and ice cream.  We all joined him in singing the Birthday Dirge.  Left to right:  Bob, Richard and Kathryn Hanse, Bill and Merle Adams, John and Linda Hardy, and Gary and Judy Beck.

Our week in the temple went well with assignments to fill and patrons to assist.  We began a new schedule this week that will last until we head home in three weeks.  Tues - 5 - 9 p.m.  Wed - 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and then 5 - 9 p.m.  Thu - 5 - 9 p.m.  Fri - 8 - 1 p.m. and 4 - 9 p.m.  Saturday - 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.  It is a full schedule but we did have a reprieve with Wed being only half day and then off on Thursday for Thanksgiving.

The week was filled with the usual of cleaning, errands, doctors, shopping, and sorting through tasks in regard to coming home.  The weather was not too bad and even Thursday and Friday were fantastic with being pleasant enough to be outside without coats soaking up plenty of sunshine.

Bob has been fighting with a stiff neck for a week or so and talked with Brother Campbell from the branch when he was in the temple on Tuesday about it.  He told him he needed an adjustment.  So, Wednesday, on our way to Burlington for light therapy, he called Brother Campbell and he said to come on over.  Over was near two hours away from Nauvoo, but closer from Burlington.  We took off across the flatlands of Iowa to Wellman.  His office is attached to his house and is in the style of a barn.  It was fun to be there with the shelves in the office lined with Campbell soup mugs!  Sister Campbell said they were all given to them by patients.  It was quite the collection of Campbell memorabilia.

We enjoyed Thanksgiving with having a dinner with the 160 temple, site, and prosletying missionaries at the Pageant Headquarters.  The 'other' Sister Brown, looking at the camera, and Sister Callister were in charge and did a super job organizing the event and handing out assignments.

Everyone brought in food, a blessing was given, a few words spoken by President Hall of the mission and President Irion of the temple, . . . . . . . .

and it was time to eat.

Bob's friends, site missionaries Orson and Lu Ann Judd from St David, Arizona.

Tom and Sandy Fox were back in town with married kids and their families for Thanksgiving.  We met up after lunch on Friday and had a great time with them at some of the sites, meeting their family, and visiting.  It is a relationship renewed after 40 years. 

Sunday, we were out taking pictures at the temple when a missionary couple drove by and we asked if they would take our picture.  They agreed, parked, and walked over.  We then took their picture.  They are temple missionaries we have met briefly in the temple as they just arrived on Tuesday from Gilbert, Arizona.  We followed them to their apartment and went in for a visit.  We had a great time learning a little about each of us and answering lots of questions about  being here as temple missionaries.

Tom and Beverly Welch

I think we are getting better with the selfie pose.

Temple Fact:  We finished reading the book  The Man behind the Discourse:  A Biography of King Follett, by Joann Follett Mortensen, well done!  With the other two books we have read on the history of Nauvoo and the temple, we gained greater insight into the lives of the early saints and the joys and struggles of living through the Nauvoo period.  None of these books would have meant as much to us as they do now if we had read them at another time in another place.  Being here has enhanced the opportunity.  From Joann's writings we learn that lumber was another important building material used in the temple, the Nauvoo House, and other buildings in Nauvoo.  Wood was scarce in Nauvoo as it had been chopped down to build homes, was used for heating, or was used for cooking.  Church leaders established "the pineries," in Wisconsin on or near the Black River and members were called on missions to work in them.   The trees would be cut, the lumber milled and then floated on rafts down the Mississippi River to Nauvoo.  The pineries were in operation for four winters in which over one-and-a-half-million board feet of lumber was milled.  Shingles, loose logs, hewed timbers, and barn boards were also milled and sent to Nauvoo.

Week #49, 13 -19 November 2017

It has been quite the week with getting back to working in the temple each day.  With the six month missionaries and some of the year missionaries gone, it has reduced our staff, but then our shifts have been reduced as well as the patron attendance has been less.  So, this is how the week went:

The weather has turned cold, in the 30's and 40's, and lots of wind.  Of course we can leave our apartment with no wind and get to the temple and we are just about blown over as we go up the steps to the door.  We always look at the flag to get a feel for how hard the blast will be. Clouds has been the mainstay of the sky to add to the fall/winter like weather.

Collins sent us a Thank You text for his birthday card.

We went to Burlington on Monday for my final check up with Dr John.  The psoriasis is present and I started another four week round of light therapy.  We picked up a few things at the store and got the car washed.  At the apartment we cleaned and did laundry.  We had brought all of our temple clothes home for the break so they were ready to launder and press.  I got a movie in while at this task.  For family night, we joined in with the other temple missionaries at Pageant Headquarters for another round of square dancing, called by our own Elder Adams.  We had such a great time and with the new missionary couples, it was a hoot.

We didn't take pictures other than this one of Elder and Sister Duncan.  They really were much happier than this picture shows.  They were in our second square and we had a great time dancing.

Tuesday, our weekly temple schedule began.  We worked 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.  It was the first time we have worked a Tuesday morning shift and got to meet a lot of district workers we have not worked with before.  We almost felt like the new kid on the block.  In the afternoon, Bob went to Cantrill to return some things.  He has a safe trip and I stayed home with tasks and phone calls to make.

Wednesday, we worked a double shift.  We were in the temple from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., and then back at 5 - 9 p.m.  We were able to go on a session as patrons and that is always nice.  In the middle we went to Burlington for light therapy, lunch, and going to a second hand store called, "Hopefully Yours."  Bob found a suitcase to help with us going home.  We have begun packing some things, making decisions on other things, and thinking about how it will fit in the car.  I bought clothes vacuum bags and filled three of them.  It is amazing how much they reduce down when the air is out.

Thursday morning started off with haircuts and then our scanning project at Brother Shurts'.  We are coming to a close of our time with him and we have enjoyed this opportunity.  We have seen so many rare photos, documents, and other such stuff.  Today my stack included an 1890 Silver Certificate, a first for me to see.    We were in the temple, 5 - 9 p.m., as baptistry coordinators.  We did not have any patrons so I had time to play the piano in the chapel.  I began with Christmas carols and enjoyed the feeling they bring of our Savior and His life for us.  It may sound silly but with the shifts starting an hour later it almost seems like we get out early at the end.

While driving around town in between all we did, we saw two deer along the road going up the hill to the temple.  They just stood there watching us.  I wanted a picture so Bob turned around and they waited for us to come back.

Jared and Kim moved to Hamilton, Montana this week and he and the kids all started a text stream of their trip, etc.  Kendal caught up with them in Brigham City, UT for a brief hello.  This is an exciting time for them and we all wish them the best.

Our shift in the temple on Friday was 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.  I had an hour of organ assigned and when I went in to play I thought of Christmas carols from the day before, and since they are in the approved binder to play in the chapel, well I just turned to them and played.  They are about the Savior and this is His house.  I was into the third one when the shift coordinator came to say I was a little ahead of the game and that they usually wait until the first of December to play carols.  Oh well, I finished the one I was on and did enjoy playing them.  Later in the shift two different workers told me they loved hearing the carols being played.  I was happy to know others enjoyed them as I did.

Once again we were off to Burlington for light therapy and a meal.  Enjoying a Reuben overlooking the Mississippi.

I had my last class with Sister Swing Saturday morning.  She has really taught me a lot about using the family search website and preparing names for the temple.  Since I started learning from her we have completed 207 ordinances, with 4 endowments left and 15 sealings to complete.  We plan to have them finished before we come home.  It is amazing and I continue to find more families and information almost every time I take time to research.  These people are anxious and waiting.

We were in the temple from 12 - 7 p.m.  It was a great shift for a couple of reasons.  Brother Paul Hickman, from our branch came for his own endowment and other members of the branch were there, not to mention three serving on the shift as ordinance workers.  We had asked ahead if we could officiate the session and had a wonderful time being with the branch members.  It was a special time for Paul as well as for the rest of us.

President Hunger, Brother Brigance, Brother Antzak, and Paul Hickman.

Sister & Brother Brigance, Sister Brigance's friend, Paul Hickman.

The other reason was in finding a relative for sure in Sister Jeanie Hart, a district worker.  She and I hit off the first time we worked together after we arrived last year.  She and her husband, Vic, were the shift coordinators and she took me under her wing and got me trained in various areas and didn't hesitate to use me where needed.  We always enjoyed talking and visiting.  She and Vic were in Scottsdale on business in the spring and Adriana hooked them up with someone to take them to church the Sunday they were there.

We were both at posts were there was not much going on so we started visiting, asking about Thanksgiving plans, etc.  I asked her what she was going to do and she said they were going to Tennessee.

I replied:  "Oh, we were just there on break."

Jeanie:  "Where did you go?"

Me:  "To Grainger and Jefferson Counties doing family history research."

Jeanie:  "No way!  I'm from Jefferson County and we are going to move to Dandridge when we retire!"

Now, Bob says there are no coincidences and that is true here.  We had been to all the places she knows very well.  She asked about the family names but did not recognize any of them.  She did say, though:  "You know we are cousins because everyone is from one or another of those hills out there.!"  She said when they move there we have to come back and do more research.  I was blown away with all she knew as I talked about the places we had been, etc.  This experience was way too fun.

We were off to church with the McBride's on Sunday and enjoyed our time in the branch.  Bob helped the deacons pass the sacrament and Primary still holds a special place for me.  The children are a delight and the leaders are so good with their teaching and interaction with them.

Week #48, 10 - 12 November 2017

Friday, we made our way to Indianapolis, IN, and stopped at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a tour.  The temps were very cool in the high 30's and low 40's.  Brrrrrrrrrr.

We began in the museum and enjoyed checking out the cars.  Bob and the 1957 and 1958 winner, an experimental car built by George Salih.  He built the car each night after work in the garage next door to his house in Whittier, CA.  Driver Sam Hanks won with a record speed of 135.601 mph.

 Bob's the winner!

And then his honey joins him in celebration!

This is my speed.

This gold brick was in the original racing surface laid down in 1909.  It was retired at the speedway's golden anniversary with the original brick that surrounded it.

We went on a van tour with a lap around the 2 1/2 mile track.

We stopped at the pagoda, which is at the finish line and got out for pictures and learned more facts about the race track.

In the beginning it was traditional for winning drivers to 'kiss the brick' after winning back when the whole track was brick.  Now only this strip shows for tradition purposes.  The rest of the bricks have been covered with asphalt.  We were told in the van that we could kiss the brick when we got there and the tour guide even showed us how to do that.  Bob said he wouldn't kiss the brick unless he could kiss a gold brick.

Well guess what, there is a gold brick in the strip and he had to live up to his word.  1, 2, 3, . . . .

"Kiss the brick!"

Winner's Donuts!

We had a fun time and then took off to find food.  We stopped at Grindstone Charley's for good food. We tried green fried tomatoes for the first time.  As you can see, they were tasty.

We checked into the hotel and then went to the Indianapolis temple for a session.  We enjoyed our time there and a quiet evening in the hotel.

Saturday, it was still very cold, 26º!  We loaded up and headed back to Nauvoo, our two week vacation coming to a close.  Along the way we stopped for gas and it was funny to see the windshield cleaner bucket had been frozen over and big chucks of the cleaner was on the driveway.  We stopped in Peoria for lunch and then on to Nauvoo, happy to be back.

Sunday brought no sun but we made our way to Washington Branch anyway.  We had good meetings and it was great to be back in Primary.  The children are always a joy to be with.  Before we knew it, it was pitch dark at 4 p.m.  The clouds just kept getting darker and darker.

Temple Fact:  After Brigham Young had initially left Nauvoo in February 1846, and was camped on the other side of the river, he and Heber Kimball made a trip back to Nauvoo to conduct additional church business.  While there, they called a meeting in the temple to counsel anxious members.  The new truss floor had just been completed in the first-floor room.  The weight of the crowd caused a cracking sound as the floor settled on the truss girders underneath.  The noise so frightened the people that men overreacted and broke window sashes and glass in several windows in an attempt to get out.  Men plunged out and fell on the frozen ground and stones below, causing injuries.  President Young could not get the crowd to calm down so he dismissed the meeting and reassembled it in a foot of snow at the grove.

From Home:  Well, this looks like the crew to be with.  They are having way too much fun sailing down the road.  Collins is a big 3 now and having the time of his life.

Week #48, 9 November 2017

Thursday came bright and sunny.  It was warm enough we didn't even need our jackets when we arrived at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY for a tour.  Churchill Downs is home to the Kentucky Derby and began races in 1875 and has continuously held that race the first Saturday in May since.

That last time we were in Louisville, was in 1969, when we visited Tom here on his mission.  We don't remember too much about the area then, so it is all new to us now.  The twin spires at the downs are original from when it was first built in 1875.

 We started our tour in the museum where we looked at various racing memorabilia and took a turn at riding in a race!  My horse just would not go and the screen kept flashing the message:  "Stand up in the stirrups!"  Wow, was that ever hard!  It took a lot to get that all up.

Bob decided his up wouldn't git!

We watched a movie about the race track in a large room with swivel stools to sit on since it was shown around the room.  It was quite the show that made you think you were right there in the middle of the race.

We then went on a walking tour and out to the ring where the horses are brought just prior to a race.  The horses are walked around the ring to warm up while the owners come out to greet them.

They are put in the stalls to be saddled and then out come the jockeys to mount up. 

We went over to the track itself where jockey and horse went on a little stroll for more warm up.

Heading off to the gate.  We didn't see this race as we had to get back in time for our next tour.

We loaded into a van for the 'Barn and Backside' tour.  We drove through the tunnel under the track that took us to the backside.  There we saw the barns, horses, trainers, jockeys, and others involved with the track life.  They have their own church (Meets on Monday since Sunday is race day.), education center, recreation room, family services, and such help as needed.  It is a community all of its own.

Here we were able to watch the next race from the backside of the track.  They are taking a warm up jog with their lead horse.

Man and animal were ready and then out came the tractor to grade the track.  

In the gate and ready.

"And they're off!"

 By the second stride the horses are going 35 mph.

We moved to the infield for the next race of fillies.  None of these horses have won a race, so whichever one wins here, it will be their maiden race.

It looks tight.

These two have definitely moved ahead with the brown in the lead.

But then, oh my, the black has taken over and won the race.

Well, the races and the tour were over so it was time to go.  We walked a long block back to where the car was parked and stopped in at Wagner's Pharmacy and Diner for a sandwich.  They have been in operation since 1922 and is quite the spot for horse and race fans.

We checked into a hotel and then headed to the temple for a session.

It sits in the parking lot of the stake center, which makes it difficult to get pictures.  A kind brother took our picture.  We enjoyed our time here and the saints were very friendly and made us feel welcome.