Our Days in Nauvoo Sept 14 - 20 2014

           

 Sunday, Sept. 14  – Loved church again today.  Elder Epperson was transferred- we felt bad about that – but Elder Wilcken is the new Elder with Elder Hensley.  I took pictures of them after church and sent them to their Mom’s and have heard back from each of them. Elder Wilcken has a cleft lip and palate.  It made me so homesick for Kade.  I just wanted to give him a hug.  Sister Howell went home this week and now they have a threesome – Sister Egget, Sister Zomora and Sister Felix.  It will be fun to get to know them better.  We stopped at the Gothic House on the way home and got some fun pictures.  Dad and Elder Davis were good sports and put on the costumes.  We had our choir picture taken on the temple steps, then choir practice at the stake center and then a Carthage Crime Scene fireside by Dr. Dunn at the Visitor’s Center.  It was full, interesting evening.  

             

Monday, Sept 15 – We had a good day at the temple.  We led the 9:00 session – only 7 people though.  We came home and then went back to do 2 family baptisms.  I ended up doing 4 names for Sister Wilson and Sister Hanson. Dad was baptized for 1 but he baptized Brother Thaxton for about 7. These 2 are names that we will take through for our “white Christmas.”  We have been encouraged by President McArthur to take a name through from baptism to sealing.  We have found a family, Fred (father) whose work is done, but not his sealing to his wife Lilian.  Lilian (mother) whose work has not been done and Ernest (their son) whose work has not been done.  We will do the work for Lilian and Ernest and then seal Lilian and Fred to each other and then Ernest to them.  Getting involved in family history has been a really rewarding part of our mission for me.  I forgot to take a brush to the temple with me so I looked a bit scary when we left after the baptisms.  It was our big temple group FHE cowboy wiener roast at the end of Parley Street. It was so much fun, but a little cold.  We had rain this morning and we were thankful we didn’t get wet.  Our temple president, President McArthur is in the BYU sweatshirt in the second picture.  He is wonderful!

Tueday, Sept 16 – Believe it or not, but I am still trying to figure out a schedule for living life here in Nauvoo.  I decided last week to do housework all on the same day so this morning was spent cleaning.  I went to Sister Robison’s art class from 3:30 – 5:00 and Dad picked me up a bit before 5:00 for our temple shift at 5:30.  We had 2 sisters that came for the 8:00 session so most of us were there until 10:00.  There are only 7 on our evening shift and one of those is our coordinator.  One sister went home sick and they sent another couple home a bit early because they have to be back early in the morning.  We were working with a pretty slim crew.   

Wednesday, Sept 17 – Kathy Crockett woke me up with a phone call to walk at 8:30.  I got to bed pretty late last night and didn’t set an alarm.  We still got a walk in.  The only thing I accomplished was to lift weights before we had to leave for the temple at noon.  We had a quiet afternoon.  I missed a prayer circle because I didn’t get released from initiatory in time.  This Tuesday went much smoother than last week.  We came home, ate and then went back for our 2nd cleaning assignment at the temple.  I did lots of vacuuming and cleaned 9 big silk flowers arrangements with a blow dryer on low.  There were still patrons in the temple so I had to carry them to a room where I could close the door before turning anything on.  We have to be back early in the morning. 

             

Thursday, Sept 18 – The temple was good.  Dad and I were able to do Lilian and Ernest's initiatory.  I had the Celestial Room at 9:00.  I love going in there early in the morning.  It is so beautiful with the sun coming in.  There was a beautiful young sister that came in to sit for a little bit.  We visited for a minute as she was leaving and she shared with me that she is overwhelmed with being a mother.  I tried to encouraged her to enjoy the journey, that her children will only be little once and then grown and gone.  She gave me a hug as she left and told me that she had needed our conversation.  There are so many sweet experiences that have come as we've been in our different assignments.  I'm so thankful for each of them.  We also led the 11:00 session.  That always makes the shift seem faster. We also went to the Community of Christ Visitor's Center and watched the video there.  We missed that when we did their tour - their machine wasn't working.

Friday, Sept 19 – Day off.  We went on the carriage and wagon rides this morning.  We had such a gorgeous day.  We also went to see the Old Arched Bridge.  It is so pretty.  We decided to go to Rendezvous again tonight.  And it must be about time to come home.  I think I’m getting on Dad’s nerves.  Well, I've probably been on his nerves long before now  . . . . .

Carriage Ride - King Follett well

  

Wagon Ride - Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store 

Dad at theStone Arched Bridge by the Nauvoo State Park 

         

Saturday, Sept 20 – We had a really busy day at the temple.  The session we were supposed to follow was small but the next few sessions were so big they couldn’t fit everyone in.  They have asked me to be the initiatory coordinator every other Saturday morning.  I’m nervous about that.  There has to be a happy medium between nothing happening on Tuesday nights and crazy busy on Saturday mornings.  We also had a sister go through initiatory this morning for her mother-in-law who passed away 1 ½ years ago.  It was a really tender time for all of us involved.  We invited our neighbors (the Johnson's and Andelin's) over tonight to watch the movie "God Is Not Dead." McKechnie's didn't come - they had company from CA.  Good movie and even better company!!

Love each of you!  We are so thankful for the gospel and for our testimonies.  Thank you for being so wonderful!  Please "make good choices!"

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

 

Our Days in Nauvoo Sept 7 - 13 2014

Dear Family,

We can't believe that September is almost half over.  The weather has been much colder the last few days.  Tourists here aren't prepared for the cold.  Usually it is still very warm through September.  The weather isn't their normal for sure.

Sunday, Sept 7  – Church in Ottumwa.  They had to open the overflow again this week.  It is awesome!  They have so many new people coming.  I'm getting behind in my goal to try to meet at least one new person each week. We had our Break the Fast dinner tonight with 3 other couples.  This has been a great way to get to know people better.  Dad came out from the shower this morning and said “these garments don’t fit at all.”  No wonder - he folded the clothes last night and had put my long temple slip in his drawer with his things.   I'm putting that on the list with when he thought he was putting biofreeze on his stiff neck (in the middle of the night) and found out after that it was shoe polish.  

 Monday, Sept 8 – I worked in the laundry today for 30 minutes.  I love it down there.  It was a good day with a variety of assignments.  We went to El Camino Real Restaurant with the Crockett’s for lunch after we finished at the temple.  It was a fun afternoon.  Dad sort of did the ice bucket challenge.  Kathy reached across the table to hand Dad a napkin and knocked her big glass of ice water over right into Dad’s lap.  It was pretty funny – and pretty cold and wet.  We went to Land and Records for a few minutes and found out where some of Dad’s relatives lived while in Nauvoo, and got a CD.  We had a fireside / FHE – Lane Wright talking about his book “Symbols of the Temple.”  It was interesting but so warm. 

Tuesday, Sept 9 - We tried to walk with Paul and Linda Ricks this morning but we got rained out.  They ended up coming here for breakfast and visiting and it was fun.  Our last session each day has been 6:00 PM since the pageant ended but they have decided to offer a 7:00 and an 8:00 Tuesday - Saturday hoping the attendance will come up.  They are having 2 afternoon shifts instead of one and dividing the workers between the two, so now the afternoons are working with half the staff midday and evenings.  The coordinators are trying to figure out how to do the 2 afternoon shifts using less workers.  It has been a struggle for some of them.  We did a double shift today because of the shuffling.  We had the Arrival Center at 12:30 and then the temple at 5:00.  We weren’t very busy at the AC but it is fun to visit with those who come through. Dad and I will be the initiatory coordinators on Tuesday nights now.  I found out when we got there that we are over the whole 2^nd floor – dressing room, name issue and initiatory.  It made me a bit nervous but it was so slow that I ended up being a bit lonely as I was the only one on the whole floor for part of the time. They canceled the 6:00 and 8:00 sessions but they had a 5:00 and we had a 7:00.   Hopefully the word will get out that we are open later and people will come.

           

Wednesday, Sept 10 – We were the officiator and follower for the 1:00 AM session.  We only had one couple on the session so it ended up being Dad and I and them.  It was different.  We went out to dinner with Johnson’s.  We went to Keokuk and ate at the Ribeye Restaurant.  It was delicious and the company the best.

            

Thursday, Sept 11 – Busier day at the temple.  We led the 7:00 AM session with 4 brothers and 3 sisters.  I had other assignments that kept me busy and it was good.  I came home and worked on family history until about 4:00 then Sister Bonnie Fairchild met with me and Linda Ricks and gave us some great family history tips.  It was great.  I think I’ve found a few more sealings.  We went to do one of our two turns at cleaning the temple tonight from 8-10.  Among other things, we sanitized the stair rails and dusted the Presidency and Matron’s offices. They are beautiful! 

Friday, Sept 12 – OUR DAY IN NAUVOO – It was our P-Day today and I spent a really lazy day.  I stayed up until after 1:00 AM working on family history.  I don’t know what I’m doing but it’s fun.  I woke up and started working on it again before breakfast.  Dad went to an auction with Jim McKechnie.  It was cold and rainy all day – wish I had a nice jacket.  

Saturday, Sept 13 – We were guides at the temple this morning for a wedding and it was a fun morning.  Dad saw Kent and Elaine Ward in the temple this morning.  They are from Rigby and worked with us in Idaho Falls and are in Grandma Chandler's FHE group.  They stopped here for a visit this afternoon after we got home.  I went to the Family Search Center this afternoon and had a few questions answered and printed a few more names for Dad and I to do.  We will have time to do our own work with the temple being more slow.  It has been fun looking for ancestors.  I went to the Women's Garden on the way home to take a few pictures of the flowers that are still blooming.  It felt like Idaho fall weather here this afternoon.  We walked this evening and it was beautiful.  We went for pizza and drove to David’s Chamber.  David Smith is the prophet’s youngest son, born after the prophet was killed.  He was a poet and painter and went here to this beautiful little Falls to meditate, paint and write.  It is such a beautiful place.  Usually there isn’t much water going over the falls but we had a lot of rain yesterday so it was so pretty this evening. 

Flowers at the Women's Garden

 

Here are some pictures from our walks tonight.

Parley's street

David's Chamber

Sunday night Sister Nelson shared with us the closing line in the movie “God is Not Dead.”   A man says “God says no a lot doesn’t he?”  The priest’s answer is “God gives us what we would ask for, if we knew what he knows.”  I love this thought.       

Know that we love and miss all of you.  We pray for you every day.  Please be happy and do good!  We have a testimony of the restored gospel and temple work.  We are so thankful for the blessing of being here in this beautiful place.  

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

Our Days in Nauvoo Aug 31 - Sept 6 2014

Dear Family,

Our lives are getting a bit routine now that things are slower.  We don't have a lot of new to share.

Sunday, August 31 – Church was good today.  They had a great attendance and had to open the overflow which they haven’t done in a really long time.  They had a combined RS / Priesthood Mtg and it was on missionary work.  They also had a Linger Longer after, with a great turnout with wonderful food.  This evening we had a Temple Missionary Fireside.  Sister Debbie Allen talked about her husband, Charles Allen, who made the windows and doors for the temple.  Jerry has read his book, "The Window Maker" and loved it. 

 Monday, September 1 – Happy Labor Day!!  We had the temple early this morning and it was a little busier today - I think because of the holiday.  We led a session at 9:00 and that sure makes the shift go by fast.  It was a really enjoyable morning.  We spent the afternoon in Burlington with 5 other couples helping to celebrate their anniversaries.  We went to Gator’s for a late lunch and then to the movie “When the Game Stands Tall.”  We went for frozen custard afterward.  We had a great afternoon.  (Notice the decorations at Gator's.  They were interesting.)

Top picture -  from left, Grover's, Robison's, Greene's  

Bottom - from left, us, Crockett's, Murdock's

 

             

 Tuesday, September 2 – We walked with Paul and Linda Ricks this morning and then went to their apartment for breakfast. We had such a great time.  The temple was fairly quiet.  We were supposed to be 2^nd followers but we were patrons.  That is always a treat.  They have added the 6:00 session now and it's dark when we leave.  

Paul and Linda Ricks

Wednesday, September 3 – Jerry’s birthday!  We both walked this morning.  We had the Arrival Center this afternoon.  We were fairly busy at the end which was nice.  We had 3 sisters that came in for the 5:00 session and I offered for them to leave their clothes in the lockers instead of taking them out to their car, so then we had to wait for them to come back.  We ended up staying for an extra hour.  The Rick’s came by and brought Dad a watermelon. 

             

Thursday, September 4 – We had a good day at the temple even though it was slow.  We were 2^nd followers again and were patrons.  Mckechnie's invited our apartment out to dinner.  We went to Fort Madison to Chandler’s Grill.  It was delicious.  

             

Friday, September 5 - It’s our day off today.  I went at 6:50 AM to sing with the temple missionaries our farewell song "Go Now in Peace" to the site missionaries that are leaving within the next few weeks.  They were having their farewell breakfast. We had almost all the temple missionaries there and it was a neat and tender time.  Leaving here is a tough thing to do.  Lynda Mckechnie came down and asked if I had anything planned.  She wanted to wander around town here in Nauvoo.  Then Dad and I left to buy groceries and on our way we stopped at the Family Search and I ran in to get some family group sheets.   Dustin’s Grandpa and Grandma Killian were in there working on family history with Elder Alec Miller – their grandson and Dustin’s cousin.  They are here from WA.  It was so fun to see them.  We have a few bunnies that run around our apartment lawn.  They are pretty brave.  This is Bunnicula on our front sidewalk.

Saturday, September 6 – The temple was busy this morning!  Our assignment was to be there for prayer meeting at 6:10.  They changed our schedules a bit and Dad was a guide and I wasn’t.  He said it was kind of weird that he did it with a different sister - usually they have you do it with your spouse. I was a patron and going through about the same time as Lloyd's daughter, Ila.  She leaves October 1st for the Iowa, Des Moine mission.  The Nauvoo Temple will be her temple and I'm hoping they will bring the new missionaries here as soon as they arrive and maybe we can see her.  This is a beautiful area to serve.  I saw Grandma Killian at the temple this morning.  I got done about an hour before Dad was through.  Got some conference talks read in the sister’s study.  I spent the afternoon trying to fix a meal to take tomorrow to the Elders in Ottumwa and a treat to the Sisters there.  One Elder is lactose intolerant, one sister is diabetic and the other sister is gluten intolerant.  It was tricky.  

We are happy and enjoying everything that goes on here.  I'm sure it sounds more like a vacation than a mission.  We are having a great time!  The church is true and the temple is a place we need to be. Heavenly Father loves us - a lot!!  Be good!!

We love you too!  

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