Birthday Surprises

Happy Birthday to me!  Yesterday I was sitting at my desk when my sweetheart walked in with these beautiful roses.  He knows that yellow roses are my favorite rose.  This bouquet is just amazing.  I'll take it home with me today so I can enjoy it over the weekend.

Along with the roses was his card to "Sister Pleshek."

What a great sentiment!  With this being my first birthday on our mission, I appreciate it so much more.  Then he signs it with "E.P." meaning Elder Pleshek.  I made cookies as a treat for office staff and any missionaries that come in today to share with them.  I really wasn't sure why he followed me into my office as he was headed to Carthage with a work order this morning.

  

When I got to my desk I saw this piece of driftwood with a nameplate attached.  He had Lon, the cabinet maker help him stain the wood with a period correct stain.  Then Lee, the sign maker made my sign and with Kyle's help he mounted the thing.  It is quite an impressive name sign.  Last night he was making a beaded temple and putting spires on it.  He doesn't usually do the spires unless I'm busy with other things.  

This morning he told me how he wasn't able to buy me things for my birthday anymore since I don't need any more clothes or jewelry.  Then this.  What a thoughtful, sweet man I married! 

Pearls for Work

One Monday morning Sister Grigsby came to work with her pearl necklace still on from the day before.  My husband couldn't help but give her a little grief.  He asked if that was the new dress code.  He went home and ordered her a pearl collar.

Last Monday we had a meal with the FM missionaries to say goodbye to the Grigbys.  My husband gave her the necklace.  Laughter by all who understood why.

On Tuesday morning when they came to the morning meeting, Sister Grigsby was wearing her "pearls."  She sauntered up to the podium to receive their flag.  It was so cute.  She's such a good sport.

We Made the Walls!

I got a picture text from Chad Thorne last week telling me that we made the wall.  Bishop had asked Sammi and Clare for a picture of us some time ago and he finally texted us and asked for one.  Sammi uploaded this one and sent it off to be printed as we were on the phone.  She gave it to him and now we're on the wall.  

I picked this particular photo of us as I really love it.  It was taken at our first Nauvoo on the Road in the 90+ degree heat.  I liked it so well that I made a copy to display in our apartment.  We have more professional looking photos of the two of us, but this shows us in our costumes and at work.  I figured it was the best way for people to see us. 

Yesterday Retta texted me with a picture of our names on the map in the stake center.  I guess we made the wall twice!  For some time it was my job to put the names on the map, or at least I took the job.  I also removed them.  Since my husband was released as stake president, I no longer had access to the label maker and was no longer in Wausau very often to even look at the map. 

It is good for people to know where we are and what we're doing.  When at home, I looked around the chapel at the couples that I feel could at some time serve as missionaries or even temple workers.  I wish they could know of the blessings that we've had in serving in both capacities.  It is worth all the sacrifice.

More Departures

We had more departures over the past few weeks.  Starting with the Craners.  They began their mission as site missionaries but have been FM over the grounds in Carthage since May.

We did Nauvoo on the Road with them and fell in love with them.  They're such genuine, kind, fun people.  We will miss his laugh!

Elder Bundy was a church service missionary.  He was a hard worker.  He worked mostly with the Pinettes at the Nauvoo Visitor's Center.  He's a quiet guy but has plenty to say when the mood strikes him.

Elder Dallon from Washington state greeted us at the door each morning.  What a upbeat happy guy.  Not much of a worker, but such a positive influence.

His parents came to get him.  They were so appreciative of the time he was able to spend out on a mission.  The Church Service Missionary system is now changed so that only local people can serve in this capacity.  No more will individuals come from outside areas.

Ted & Mary Grigsby were the hardest ones for me so far.  She and I connected in a way that I get now and then.  She is someone who will forever be a part of me.  I'm not sure why we connected is such a way.  I'm just thankful that we did.  They are back home in Oklahoma where it is very hot!  He was an electrician and she worked grounds.

President Howard C. Sharp

Howard Cannon Sharp is a man I first met in 2000.  However, my husband met him in 1982 as he was the very first mission president called to preside over the newly formed California San Bernardino Mission.  Patrick loved him as President Sharp became his spiritual father.  When a 20 year mission reunion was organized in 2000, we made sure we went to Salt Lake City to attend.  

That's where I first met he and his wife Marjorie.  Since then we have kept in contact during the October General Conferences.  We would go visit and watch a session of conference with them.  Sister Sharp always fed us, which she didn't have to do, but we appreciated her for her service to us.  He recently celebrated his 94th birthday.  He was a warm, genuine, good humored man who I came to love in a very short time.  All of our children who met the two of them, came to love them as well.

We saw them in June just prior to our going into the MTC.  We visited on Saturday and each of us was edified for the time we spent.  He was quite frail.  It was difficult to see him in such a condition as he has been so active through most of his life.  Prior to us leaving, Patrick knelt down next to him to tell him of his love.  President told him this would be the last time they would meet in this life.  That left the rest of us in tears.  We surprised him the next day by coming back and assisting the local young men president in giving him the sacrament.  It was such a tender service for Pat to perform.

We will miss him deeply but we're thankful for the chance we had to have our paths cross here on earth.  As you can see by the obituary, he had a very FULL life.  I am thankful to have know this sweet, gentle man!
Howard Cannon Sharp
1925 ~ 2019
Howard Cannon Sharp was released from this world on September 8, 2019, encircled by his loving family. He will long be remembered for his love of family, adventurous spirit, kind service to others, and his sense of humor. Howard was born in Salt Lake City, Utah July 17, 1925, the son of Ira Bennion Sharp and Lois Cannon Sharp. In 1946, he married his sweetheart, Marjorie Taylor, in the Salt Lake Temple. He graduated from the University of Utah Medical School at the age of 22, and served his country in the Air Force. As an Obstetrician / Gynecologist, he delivered over 12,000 babies. He founded the first chronic pelvic pain clinic for women at the University of Utah in 1987, and worked tirelessly to help increase the quality of life for his patients.
When he had free time, he could be be found fly fishing or horseback riding up the Weber, playing tennis, skiing, boating in the "Gravid Goose", playing jazz piano by ear, reading, or traveling the world. If asked about how his day was going, he would likely reply: "Super deluxe, master-built, and fur-lined."
He had a great love of the gospel of Jesus Christ and had the opportunity to serve a humanitarian mission to Ekaterinburg, Russia with his wife Marjorie, and as mission president in San Bernardino, California for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was humbled to be called as a Stake Patriarch. He enjoyed serving as a counselor in the Salt Lake Temple Presidency and as Temple President in Palmyra, New York, where he learned a greater love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is survived by Marjorie, his long-time loving, eternal companion of 73 years, his sister, Dorotha Smart, his brother, Robert Sharp, and his seven children: Margie Rogers (Gary), Becky Hamilton (Dean), Elizabeth McCune (Mark, deceased), Kathy Parker (Jon), Rosemary Davis (Terry), Howard T. Sharp (Kristie), and Suzanne Moffitt (Ron), as well as 27 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his sister, Mary Lois Wheatley and a grandson, Jonathon Sharp Parker. When asked, "How do you like having so many daughters?" He responded, "I like it so much, I specialized in them."
A viewing will be held Thursday, September 12th at Larkin Sunset Lawn, located at 2350 East, 1300 South from 6-8 pm. His funeral will be held Friday, September 13th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Monument Park Stake Center, located at 1320 South Wasatch Drive, at Noon, with a viewing at 10:30 am. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery immediately following the funeral services. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to send a donation to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation or the International Pelvic Pain Society.

Labor Day

As FM (facility management) missionaries we don't have the luxury of taking off on holidays.  Since the site missionaries have to work, so do we.  The full-time employees didn't have to work though so our morning meeting had to be conducted by someone.  Sister Grigsby was chosen as she and her husband are the most tenured missionaries.  Here she is giving us the assignments for devotional for the next two days.

Since the full timers were on vacation, I had the opportunity to go out and work on the grounds with Sister Grigsby and Bailie.  It was hot and humid and I loved it!  I was able to go pick up piles of sticks, trim some bushes and weed some flowerbeds.  How I've missed working with those beautiful ladies!  I figure that on holidays I can find something to do with the grounds people rather than sit in a closed office.

After work, we headed to Hannibal, MO to attend a branch picnic.  It's called a Grip and Grin.  I have no idea what that means.  The food was good and it was good to talk to some of the people that we see every week but don't get to know very personally.  It was held at Riverview Park along the Mississippi.  With a view like this, no wonder it is called Riverview!

And of course we needed a selfie.  Life is good.  We shopped a little and then came back for the YSM concert which was excellent.  (See previous post.)

YSM Concert

On Sunday and Monday nights the young sister missionaries put on a concert for anyone who wanted to attend.  It was so worth the minuscule amount of effort is required to go.  We planned on attending on Sunday night but the Fillmores came down to Muscatine for a very short visit so we went north to spend a couple of hours with our babies.  So Monday night we attended with many others.

One of the hymns they sang was The Lord is My Light.  I have loved that hymn since I was about 14 when I first learned it.  We've sung it a few times during mission training and it always touches my heart.  Jesus Christ is the light of the world so why wouldn't I accept Him as my light?    There were a few original pieces sung that were so beautiful.  I hope they get published one day so I can sing them too.

At the end of the concert they sang the As Sisters in Zion/We'll Bring the World His Truth medley.  I've loved that piece since I first heard it.  They tweaked it a bit as there was no one to sing the men's part.  At some point Sister Bankston who was conducting turned around and asked us to sing the Army of Helaman part with them.

As I began to sing I internalized the words.  I was born of goodly parents who love the Lord.  I was taught and I understand that I must do as the Lord commands.  That was tender but then we began to sing the chorus and I recognized that this was the first time I have sung this piece as a missionary.  I am part of that army!  I am NOW the Lord's missionary!  Tears flowed and I found it difficult to sing.  Words cannot express how I felt knowing that I am part of the Lord's army of missionaries.  I am so blessed to be able to give my whole life to Him at this point in my life.

Mount Pleasant Threshers Reunion

On Friday afternoon we went to Mount Pleasant to the Threshers Reunion.  It is a huge deal.  It's filled with all kinds of tractors and machinery from steam engines to electric motors.  

This machine was a used as a road roller.  Big wide flat wheels.

There were a lot of vendors as well.  One of the first was this guy who makes all these creations out of metal.  This little worm and cow trike planter were so cute. 

I liked this big colorful turkey.  He was also available without color.

My favorite were these corn stalks.  One was good but they really need to be purchased in groupings.  I don't know how they're made but they are so cool.

Pat loved these roses.  I did too.  Everything was so interesting and tempting.

We rode the trolley around the entire place.  So many campers.  I believe they were all the people who were showing their machinery.

Rolls of veneer.  I sent this picture to Andrew to remind him that there were other ways that veneer was created other than in Mattoon.  These rolls were warm and damp as expected.

There were so many people that they needed to create additional parking.  We parked at the high school and there were buses that transported people to and from at no cost.  That was better than paying to park.

This is Lon.  He is an NFM full-time employee in the carpentry shop.  He was showing how to sharpen his hand planes.  The man is a wealth of knowledge.  He's the reason we knew about this event.  I know nothing about his trade and yet I found it very interesting.  It was a good time and we didn't have the time to really explore it.