I've been really bad at blogging lately. There always seems to be so much more to do than I have time to do. John and I have been working really hard on a new part for Rendezvous the last few weeks. We had our debut performance on Thurs. We had 4 daughters and 3 grandchildren with us that night. Our mission President and his wife and a visitor from the mission department in Salt Lake were also in the audience. That made my heart beat a lot faster that I would have liked. It went better than I expected. (still lots of room for improvment though) We have really enjoyed the many visits from family and friends. It has been wonderful to see you. We love you all!!

Preparation day was very fun this week. 4 couples and 1 single sister went to Hannibal and took a ride on a river boat. It was a great change from routine, very pleasant and relaxing.















Anna Jean & Lamon Perkes have been here this week. We have seen them and their family several times, but on Sunday we spent much of the day with them. They are such a wonderful family and we feel such a connection with all the children as well that it was almost like being with family. It was a great day. we are so grateful for good friends. We are really looking forward to having friends and family here during the summer. We have talked to many that are friends with our family and friends and that is really fun also. What a blessing and a privilege it is to be here.

Well summer hours are here and so are the crowds. I'm sure it will get more crowded as summer progresses, but it is all ready really something. The wagon rides were going 3 times daily, now it is up to 15. I did one wagon tour with only 2 people but most of the time we were quite full. Delray Hobbs and his wife were on a tour and she recognized me. She said "You were at that youth conference when we met. He was recently returned from his mission and she was a graduating Senior. By the end of youth conference we all knew they would be getting married. It was really fun to watch. They have 7 children and several grandchildren. How time does fly.

Today John and I served in the Jonathan Browning home and gun shop. Neither of us had ever worked there before so it was a learning experience. I even learned how to do the rifle making demo. Just picture pounding a thick piece of metal into a barrel. Do you know what these words mean? Skelp, mandrill, forge-weld....Just like I knew what I was talking about; but it was fun. Well, exhaustion has hit and I'm going to bed. Love to all MOM

What a great Sabbath this has been. Two couples that are leaving soon spoke in Sacrament meeting, We had a fun dinner with our two closest couple friends and then walked across the Mississippi. We even visited the old rock bridge (you know where Joseph and Emma first kiss in the movie). Then we went to a sociable with Susan Eastman Black. She really loves Nauvoo and knows the history better than almost anybody. We knew that Lucy Mack Smith had been designated a mother in Israel, but didn't know the story. It was common to call older women mother. Lucy wondered if she was still entitled to that title when so many of her children had died. Brigham said he didn't know and in general conference they took a vote on it, and they voted that she should still be called mother. A very precious title indeed. Emma Smith is the only patriarchal blessing given here in Nauvoo that did not include the word if. No "if you are faithful" just "you will be exalted. The rest of her talk was about Mary Fielding Smith from the perspective of Joseph F.

The sisters were donating pennies to pay for windows for the temple. The drawer that held the pennies was left open and Joseph F. saw them and thought it would be fun to have them jingling in his pockets. He scooped a handful into each pants pocket and went out to play, and soon forgot about them. A man heard them and told his to empty his pockets, when he did, the said you are a thief, the son of Hyrum Smith is a thief. When he took him home and said that to his mother, she asked Joseph if he had taken them with the idea of stealing them, of course that had never even crossed his mind. Mary told the man to get out of her home that he was no longer welcome there and that her son was Not a thief.

When Mary was told of the martyrdom, Joseph F. heard her sobbing all night; but the next morning when they went to see the bodies, she put on her finest clothing and dressed him in his and they went. She did not shed a tear in front of others. She lifted Joseph F. up and said "Look at your father, He died for the truth, now you must live for the truth". He said that throughout his life he would see has father in his coffin and hear his mother saying "now you must live for the truth." She told several other stories about Joseph F. Smith, but the last one was when he was in his late 20's he was walking and met Brigham Young. Brigham asked him who he was and who his parents were. After he answered, Brigham said I have a blessing for you from your father do you want it? Of course he said yes and they found a private place and Brigham placed his hands on his head and gave him a blessing of love, and comfort and council from his father; but before he closed, he also ordained his an apostle and made him a member of the first presidency. Joseph F. was very surprised, but not as surprised as Brigham was. Brigham said "You will notice I made you an apostle and a member of the First Presidency; but we have no vacancies at this time, so don't say anything about this for a while. It was a really interesting fireside.

It has been a great mother's day. I've heard from all of our children and even a grandchild and got to talk to a great-grandchild. It was wonderful to hear from you and I enjoyed it very much, but I hope you all know that the thing that brings me the greatest joy is the good lives you all lead. May you all find joy in living the gospel and drawing close to our Savior. Love MOM (Grandma - Great Grandma)

I tend not to blog unless I've got some meaningful pictures, but I don't want to forget this experience, so I will post with not pictures. On Thurs. I was assigned to the wagon. It was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed the 3 tours we did, but when we were done I was grateful to be able to go home and relax. I had been home about 5 min. and was practicing my penny whistle when the phone rang. They were calling from the visitors center and wondered if I could come back and give a tour to a handicapped sister and her husband in their motor home. They really wanted to go on the tour, but their was no way to get her wheelchair on the wagon. Well I wasn't exactly thrilled, but of course I couldn't very well say no to that. I hurried back and met them. what a great couple. She said it was hard to be confined to a wheel chair, but If the Savior could to what he did for her, she could definitely live her life for him. The husband told us (a young sister missionary came with us) that they had planned out their life and income so that he could retire at 55 and they would be able to serve many missions together. When he was about 50, his wives health started to decline (I wondered if it was M.S., but didn't ask). They did serve a temple mission in the temple office, and were now traveling in their motor home seeing church historical sites. It turned out to be one of the sweetest hours since we came on our mission, and that's saying something. They were full of questions and stories of their own. They were so positive and interested and grateful. When they thanked me for giving up my free time to come with them, I could only hug her and thank them both for the privelidge. I'm so grateful to be here in Nauvoo and for the Many varied experiences we are having Love to all. MOM

Well, our computer is back working thanks to our wonderful son-in-law, Dan. I hope I can remember some of the things I have wanted to mention here. The trees and wild life have been phenomenal between the magnolia's, the cardinal's, the eagles, and the pelicans, we have been in awe. The eagles have gone now, but they were quite the sight as we would drive down along the Mississippi. We have come to love the river and the river birds that are so fascinating. The time is becoming more hectic as we approach the summer. We have so many new missionaries that our meetings are overflowing. Our preparation meeting s are held in the seventies hall and it is full! I can only imagine how busy it will be by the end of May. Wow, how can we be so blessed. We love our mission more each day and our love and admiration for those who built this little town, name of Nauvoo, knows no bounds. Sister Davis who is over all the shows here is back and we are working really hard to make the changes and improvements she wants. She is a little scary, but a really talented lady. Hope all is well with all of you. Love, MOM

The days and weeks are flying by. We are so busy that Sunday comes around and I can't believe another whole week has flown by and I haven't done anything with my blog. I must repent, and do better. Our Easter program is tonight. We have been working ever since we got here (well really most had been working a while before we came) Anyway we have a wonderful director, Elder Moffett, who has picked out such great music it has really been fun practicing with such a talented man. There are so many talented people out here. It's rather intimidating. I feel so lacking in talents, but I just keep plugging along and hope my meagre talents can make a worthwhile contribution.

I mentioned earlier that we would have our Relief Society birthday in the Red Brick Store. What an experience that was!!! The spirit was so strong that most of us were fighting tears most of the evening. We did the program twice so all of the sister missionaries (mission and temple) could attend. By the second performance we were all feeling overwhelmed by what we were experiencing. It was definitely a never to be forgotten event.

What a joy it is to serve in the various sites. The spirit we feel as we talk about those faithful saints and the sacrifices they made fills me with gratitude to my heavenly father and to them. I sometimes feel that the prophet Joseph Smith must just be in the next block or in the next house. His presence is so strong here.

I recently served in the Brigham Young Home with a very dear friend Sister Patricia Jones. She and her husband are on their 3rd mission and they are really spiritual giants I am so grateful to have their friendship.