Friends from Home

Rhea and Ted Gregory from our ward in Plain City have been here in Nauvoo the last two days.  It was great to have people here from home.  They came to Rendezvous last night and visited us at our sites today.  They came to our Sunset Practice tonight and then we went to dinner.  They are serving an inner city mission in Ogden in the Daily Dose program, teaching Spanish Speaking people English.  They serve four days a week, about 10 hours a day going to people's homes and teaching them a series of 48 conversational English lessons.  They love the people they work with and are so committed to them.  They are awesome people.  We love them.  Still raining here.  The Mississippi is over its banks, but no flooding in Nauvoo, yet.  Areas to the south of us are dealing with flooding though.  The forecast looks better after today.  Friday I get to work the garden schedule, planting flowers from the greenhouse into pots that will line the streets of Old Nauvoo.  The sun is supposed to shine and the temps should be in the 60's.  Awesome!  Well, got to sign off and go to bed.  Have to be at a practice for a sociable that we're singing at in May at 7:45 a.m. in the morning.  These are long days, but the time is going so fast.  It seems like it was just the first of April a few days ago.  We love you all.  Mom

Busy Times

We have a a really busy two weeks.  Played Peter and Abigail again Tuesday night.  Have had rehearsals all week for Sunset.  things are getting really busy as the crowds increase and they push to get ready for the shows.  the single sister missionaries came last week and are involved with us in giving tours.  there are twenty of them and they are full of energy!  We have 20 more senior couples coming in today.  Lots of folks but lots to do.  raining really hard today so have to drive.  Will miss walking to our sites., that is how we get or exercise.  No toime ohterwise.  Mom is at the John taylor home today and I'm off to the blacksmith shop.  Served in Carthage last Sunday.  That is always a spiritual experience!  got to run.
Love Ya'll.

The Brigham Cast

Here's a picture of the Brigham Cast at our cast party on Saturday night.  We spend a lot of time with these folks and it is like one big family.  Mom and I are in the middle at the back in front of the tree.

Our cast performs again tomorrow night

What A Beautiful Day

It is spring in the Midwest.  I'm not sure I've ever seen a lovelier day!  Temperature was 82 degrees.  The magnolia trees are absolutely remarkable.  The blooms are as big as dinner plates and the fragrance is heavenly.  We had a cast party this evening in the Pioneer Pastimes Park here in Old Nauvoo.  Afterwards Dad and I took a drive along the Mississippi with the windows down and took pictures of the sunset.  The robins are singing outside the back door now that the sun has gone down. Beautiful, beautiful day.  I wish you all could be here right now.  Here are some pictures of the trees and the sunsets.  Love ya.  Mom

Peter and Abigail Make Their Debute

Well, we played our lead parts of Peter and Abigail in rendevous for the first time last night.  It was actually fun.  we had a full house and the audience was really into the show which made it easier.  the other missionaries in our cast were so supportive and helpful.  this is a special show with a special message about the book of Mormon and it is a privilege to a part of it.  We had a really good time.  Spring is coming and the magnolia trees in our yard are in full bloom.  lots of birds around including cardinals!  Everything iis turning green and it is really getting beautiful.  We serve at the visitors center to day.  we are going to sing a duet in sacrament meeting tomorrow and begin learning some new music for a sociable on Monday.  it is really busy, but a delighful experience with delightful people.  Seem like everyday is full of music which I really like adn we get to bear testimony with every tour we lead.  what a great experience!  Gotta run, more later.
Love ya'all

Carthage Jail

Poppa and I served at the Carthage Jail yesterday.  This is the jail where Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred.  There is a visitors center where a short video is shown about Joseph's life up until the time he left Nauvoo to go to Carthage to answer an unfounded charge of treason against the United States.  After that we take visitors into the jail itself, where the jailer, George Stigal, lived with his wife and seven children.  They are able to tour the summer kitchen, dining room, main kitchen, dungeon cell where Jospeh and the others were originally held until it became too hot, the debtors cell on the ground floor where Mr. Stigall put them next, and finally the Stigall's own bedroom on the second floor where he put them when he became alarmed for their safety below.  Mr. Stigall was out on an errand when the mob storned the jail.  We play a tape in the martyrdom room that describes what happened when the mob came up the stairs and fired through the door, killing Hyrum, wounding John Taylor and finally killing Joseph.  Ironically it is one of the most peaceful places I can think of.  A place where a prophet of God finished the work that was given him to do and then stepped through the portal with his brother and into the presence of the Savior.  What a privilege to take visitors there, bear our testimonies and feel the Spirit that is there. 

Tonight we had a midwest thunderstorm.  Amazing!  The enitre sky lights up.  Its like daylight and its almost continuous.  The thunder is continuous.  A rumble that just goes on and on, rolling across the landscape until its finally out of hearing.  Temperature in the 80's today.  Tomorrow the high is supposed to be in the 40's.  Our Prep day, of course.  Oh well.  Better luck next week maybe.