Nauvoo 2025

After leaving Branson, we traveled north to Nauvoo for our two weeks working security at the pageant.  

We again attended church with Jared and Cheryl Willyerd in Fort Madison.  We ran into the Allens there.  We served with them for a year on our mission.  Not my favorite people but kind.

We had some of our meals at the pageant building.  This was one of our desserts.

Sammi and the kids came for a few days.  Evelyn was able to go to the temple.  Then we found Darth Vader in the fudge shop.  Henry is a huge Star Wars fan!

I was able to walk around the Country Fair with Henry and we played a lot of games but mostly stick ball as he LOVES baseball.  

This year I worked many of my shifts with Linda McKinney.  We got to know one another and I really love her.  She is a HUGE John Bytheway fan and I was able to snap this photo for her. 

Our overnight shifts were quite boring as one of them was on a Sunday and nothing happens at the pageant stage on a Sunday.  Still, I love the stillness of the night.

We worked with Jared one Monday morning.  Pat glazed windows while I peeled glazing off of another. 

Those overnight shifts give a great opportunity to see just what the crowd would look like from the stage and what great shots of the temple in the evening and at dawn.

Our weather this year was crazy.  We had one night rained out.  They wouldn't cancel until 8:30 when the lightning was within 10 miles.  One just had to look at the radar to know that the thunderstorm was not going to pass or go around us. 

There was one day where I thought I might die.  The heat was incredibly horrible.  There was no breeze and I thought I might literally melt.  

One of the wonderful things that happened was meeting up with Jeff Belnap (and his family) who served a mission in Gresham in the late 90's.  He actually taught Chad Thorne!

Biking home in the rain after the cancellation, I hit a spot in the road on the corner of Wells and Knight streets and my bike slid out from under me.  I hit my leg in two places and it left these wounds.  

Another successful two weeks in Nauvoo.

And with that, another photo that we will use for our mission application.