Our Days in Nauvoo June 29 - July 5, 20

Dear Family and Friends,  I am hoping this blog thing will work better than sending a letter.  I have 4 things I'm hoping to accomplish by changing to a blog.  
     1. Continue to write about our mission week.
     2.  Be able to add pictures.
     3.  I'm hoping it will eliminate several steps when I'm sending my weekly letter - once I figure
             out how to do it - if I do. 
     4.  Those interested can go to this blog when they want, instead of me sending it out to those who
             may groan when they see another letter. 

So here goes!
   
Sunday, June 29 – We went to Ottumwa today and had a really nice day there.  We are getting better acquainted every week. I had choir practice at 7:00 and then we went to the pageant production “Our Journey Goes On” that was held on the pageant stage.  It is a beautiful story of our journey through life and how our own family stories continue through the eternities with our families being together.  We had the backdrop of the temple throughout and as it got dark it was beautiful to see the temple all lit up.  Our evening was marred as we were walking back to our car.  We had parked by and sat with Jan Vasas, a temple missionary from Blackfoot.  Her husband had stayed at their apt.  She stepped in a hole in the road as we walked in the dark and fell, dislocating (we think) her knee.  It looked pretty awful.  Jerry and another Elder administered to her as we waited for an ambulance to come.  She was embarrassed.  We waited while they got her moved into the ambulance.  They are such good friends.  They serve on Saturdays in IF but we would never have got to know them this well if we hadn’t come here.

             

Monday, June 30 – We found out this morning at the temple that Jan’s kneecap was broken in half and she will need surgery.  I talked to her after the temple this afternoon and she said that she is in Burlington and will have surgery tomorrow afternoon.  She is discouraged but thankful they have told her they will not send them home.  When we walked outside to leave the temple the humidity was so high that our glasses fogged up just like when you open an oven.  We have had a wild rainstorm again tonight.  We had major waves in the street again but it was too dark to video.  I sure hope I can get a picture of that before we go home.

Tuesday July, 1 – We went for a walk 1^st thing this morning.  I expected to see lots of downed trees from last night’s storm but not any.  We walked by the pageant stage and they are starting to practice. Our shift was good – we were endowment patrons for the 5:00 session and we took the first of our own family names through.  After we got home Jerry mentioned that the Wilson’s had invited us to go to dinner with them but he told them we had something already planned for dinner.  I quickly decided that we could eat that another day so we hurried out to Peter’s Restaurant and ate with them.  They are from WA but served in the Portland OR temple.  We had such a nice time. 

             

Wednesday, July 2 – Dad had his translation practice this morning.  I worked on letters today and then Suzanne helped me with trying to get this blog set up.  We had a fawn run across the street and through our yard.  I tried to get a picture but was too slow.  Initiatory was a bit better today.  I think we may get it figured out.  We hurried over to the Durrant lecture after the temple.  We were a bit late but it was so good.  She is starting over with Joseph Smith.  

             

Thursday, July 3 – We got to the temple this morning and had to trade lines with the Dalling’s because Dad had scheduled an oil change in Carthage at 2:30 and we were scheduled to do the 1:00 session.  The trade worked out great – I was able to see Bruce and Marie Weekes in the chapel before their session and then again in the lobby before they left.  It was so fun to see them.  We have had a lot of rain lately but the forecast is good for the rest of the week.  Jeremy had to change his plans for when they are coming.  It will be during the pageant and I was sure we wouldn’t be able to get tickets for the performances but we had a Nauvoo and Temple miracle and we were able to get 6 tickets to all 3 performances on the days we needed them.  I was so thankful!  I got a long walk in to the Visitor’s Center to change the tickets since Dad had the car in Carthage. We went over to visit Jan and Bill Vasas.  She is home and doing very well but it will be a 6 weeks recovery.  We didn’t have anywhere to go tonight and actually ate dinner early and watched “Monuments Men” and then walked at dusk.  It was so nice out tonight.  We even saw fireflies as we walked.  It was fun. 

Friday, July 4 – Today is the 4^th of July and I forgot!  There was a flag raising this morning at 7:00 at the Visitor’s Center and I totally would have gone but it just didn’t register that it was the 4^th.  I felt so bad.  I haven’t missed a flag ceremony in forever.  There aren’t any scheduled parades or fireworks today or tonight.  We did laundry and housework and drove to Keokuk to buy groceries.  We did have a great evening.  We went to dinner at the Hotel Nauvoo with Bill and Janice Kukuk.  As we were leaving they said that we could have a free carriage ride.  It was a fun treat.  Their daughter Cynthia serves in the YW’s with Suzanne in CA.  Small world.  But I couldn’t help but be a little homesick today as I thought about everyone celebrating the 4th.

          

Saturday, July 5 - Had our early shift at the temple today and it was a good one.  I did a couple of things I hadn’t done before and it made it interesting.  There aren't very many lockers in the dressing rooms so if they anticipate a larger group they send some patrons upstairs to use lockers there. This was my assignment and they have kind of a confusing way to keep track of who is up and who is down and thankfully it wasn't too large of a group as I was off with my count.  All ended up OK, but no thanks to me.  After some lunch we went to the family history center.  We were able to find 3 males names for Kade to do baptisms for when he comes and 4 female names that we will send home for Mckenna.  Marie and Bruce stopped by to say good-bye.  They are leaving in the morning to head back to Kansas. We have had lots of rain the last few days and there is major flooding here and in the areas around here.  Most of us won’t be visiting our wards tomorrow because bridges are out and the water level is too high.  We drove down to the end of Parley street after the temple and the covered wagon that is on the ferry, showing how they were ferried across the Mississippi, is in water.  Part of the road Dad and I walked on Thursday night is under water.  I took pictures.  Hopefully I can get them to print on this letter.  I wish I had a before picture.  I thinking Heather or Grandma Terri probably has one. There were supposed to be fireworks here tonight in Nauvoo but they were postponed until tomorrow night due to the weather. 

We sure do love and miss everyone at home!  The holidays are the hardest - I guess because we know you are getting together and having parties without us.  We do know we are where we are supposed to be and we are happy.  Just know we miss you. I'm so thankful for Heavenly Father's plan and that we can be together forever.  And I know the church is true! 

Love, Mom and Dad / Grandma and Grandpa / Elder and Sister Hall

Here are a few pictures.  I won't do too many until I can figure how to do them.  Then I may go back through my pictures and catch you up on some things.

The trees in the pictures below are usually on dry ground.  The covered wagon and ferry that is on the right, is also usually on dry ground.  I think Heather or Grandma Terri got a picture of the girls in this wagon. 

           

A sunset on the Mississippi

Heather, Quinton and Mckenna after our morning in the temple.  It was a wonderful time!