Christmas Trees

Because of the stay at home order in Illinois or rather the limiting of groups, we had the opportunity to do something that usually the young men in Nauvoo do.  We were able to put the Christmas trees into their stands and pots and fill them with sand.

                               

                   

 We had a fine group of people working on this project.   It was the last time that Sister Bailie and I were able to work together on a "grounds" project.  Christmas is coming to Nauvoo!

Thanksgiving Pie

Because we were not allowed to meet as a mission or as an FM group for Thanksgiving, we were given the choice of a homemade pie.  We chose the key lime.

As we came home, I heard the pie slide off of whatever it was sitting on.  When my sweetheart opened the door, this pie slid out the door and tipped upside down on the driveway.  Fortunately it had a lid.  Still, it didn't look so good.  It was a good pie but not exceptional.  

We did enjoy our Thanksgiving day as we had a delicious meal at noon.  We were able to take a pumpkin pie to a meal for the young sisters.  We topped it off with a private tour of the temple city district with many, many friends from back home in our stake as well as friends in Utah.  

We are truly grateful for all the blessings in our lives.  President Nelson invited us to give gratitude on social media for seven days.  I enjoyed doing it so much that I simply could not stop after day seven.
 

Upstairs Visitor’s Center

For many years the vinyl wall covering on the walls of the hallway in the upstairs of the Nauvoo Visitor's Center has needed re-gluing.  I did it myself in early summer.

One day we had several YSMs working with us and it was rainy outside so we took them to the VC and they peeled all the wall covering off in a matter of about half an hour.  It peeled quite easily.

It left really ugly walls.  

I got the job to sand the walls.  Fortunately I could use the Festool sander.

Jared and Sister Chestnut then skim coated the walls with a lightweight mud.  After it was dry I sanded it yet again.  I have learned that Jared makes a mess.  Every single day we worked there, I scrubbed mud off of the carpet.

At first I felt bad that Sister Chestnut was doing all that skimming while I sanded.  But then she tried the sanding and said it was too hard for her as the tool is heavy.  Then I didn't feel bad anymore.

We went back and painted the walls.  Jared wanted them rolled and then brushed so we could practice that technique.  Actually, it probably hid a lot of our flaws.

When all the painting was finished, I went back and washed the door frames and base boards.  Then finished with painting the sides of the door frames to hide the white paint that I couldn't remove.  

It looks wonderful!!!

Giving Tours

 About two months ago we began giving virtual tours.  We began with the Riser Boot shop.  I really enjoyed giving that tour.  In fact, we were able to give it to the new young sisters who arrived and needed to see one of the tours where something is demonstrated.  We had a good time doing it.

Two weeks later we began giving tours of the Browning Gun home and gun shop. I liked the story of the Brownings too.  It gets tricky giving tours as it gets dark very early but we manage.

For the last three weeks we have been giving the temple district experience.

This is a powerful example of the sacrifice that so many went through to help build the temple.

It's a walking tour that takes about 45 minutes and visits three homes.  We begin and end in the William and Esther Gheen home.

We talk about how the term "ward" came into being with the church language.  We talk briefly about Stephen and Hannah Markam and Eliza R. Snow before entering the William and Caroline Weeks home.

The Weeks home is my favorite because I was able to do so much work inside of it.  Upon finishing at the Weeks home we go across the street to the Jones Pavilion which is built on the William and Elizabeth Jones property.  Here is an interactive space to learn all about the cutting and preparing of the stones to be part of the temple.

The 3pm tour is the best for light and the 4:30 isn't too bad but the 6pm is totally in the dark.  So the earlier the tour, the better for seeing things.

As we leave the Jones property we come upon the West Grove which is situated behind the Hunter home.  The grove has been regenerating since 2015 so it doesn't have very tall trees yet.

Then we go inside the Edward and Ann Hunter home.  This home is very interesting and Edward Hunter was a very generous man.  He gave substantially of his funds to build the temple.

Then it is back to the Gheen home where we end the tour and take any questions that people may have.  It has been a wonderful experience!  

Next we are on to Carthage!  

Beautiful Vistas

The autumn season has always been my favorite because of the crisp smell in the air and the beautiful colors on the trees.

I miss going to the temple.  I've said that for nine months now.  I am still grateful to live so close and drive by and feel of it's importance.

I thought about the opportunity I have to live in this country where I have the freedoms that I have.  I feel our country is in crisis with all the corruption in our government and with the latest election.  I know that these things have to happen prior to the Savior's second coming.  

Driving to the compound I noticed the Sarah Granger Kimball home with the tree off to the side which was a vibrant red.  I needed to have that documented.  I am blessed to live in this place for a time.  I find so much beauty all around me.
 

Rails

As I said in the previous post, the hand rails at the Seventies Hall looked rough and needed paint.

These rails were from the Riser Boot and Shoe Shop.  When I spoke to Jared about which paint to use, I noticed the ones at the Tin Shop needed paint too.  While doing a tour at Riser I knew what they looked like.

A little sandpaper, some lacquer thinner and paint make such a difference!

 

Painting the Seventies Hall

Earlier this summer, Sisters Odum and Chestnut and I scraped and painted all the windows on the Seventies Hall.  It was a lot of work but turned out great.

About a month ago, while the weather was still warm and wonderful, I went back and painted the doors and door frames.

Both the back and front doors needed some tender loving care.  

Both of the frames had some rotted wood and need wood epoxy.  I had never used that stuff before.  It's like using play-doh to fill in where the rotten wood was pulled out.

Sister Stapley stopped by on this Thursday and took some photos of me and shared a beautiful piece of Christmas music with me.  We have such wonderful missionaries here!

Once I had the doors painted, I needed to go back the next day and paint the rounded windows above as the paint no longer matched.  Then I looked at the black railings and decided they needed new paint as well.

The finished product looked so good.  At least to me.  Jared did have me go back last week and touch up a few spots.  Either way, I feel blessed to be able to work on this historic building!

 

Nauvoo on the Road Training

Because of Covid-19 we have no been able to do any Nauvoo on the Road this year.  Only us and the Bailies have ever done it.  Therefore, we decided to have one as a training for the missionaries who will be here next year and will possibly have the opportunity to do it.

The Elias have been asked to take over the program.  They will be great!  They have the perfect personalities to do what this outreach is all about.

We had a few couples come and learn how to set up.

We really missed not being able to go travel over the summer to different fairs and other events.

All the senior missionaries really seemed to like it a lot.  

The young sisters really had a blast playing with the ring toss and walking on the stilts.  

I think we need to set things up again just so they get it into their minds how to do it.  I think the most important part to set up again is the rope machine.  When we got going, we found out that the Bailies had only served inside so we were the only ones who actually set up the canopies and the banner.  I continue to pray for a cure or immunization for this virus.

Last of the Lusvardi Era

A week ago we got together at Alfano's with the Stapleys, Odums, Allens, Carlsons and Bailies.  We are the last of the senior missionaries who served under President and Sister Lusvardi.

By the end of March all of us will be home.  In fact, the Odums left us on Thursday.  The Allens and Stapleys leave mid December while we are scheduled to leave with the Bailies on December 3rd.

Actually the Allens served under the Lusvardis for less than a month.  Still, we are all that remain.

We had an enjoyable time together.  These truly are some of the best people I will ever know.  

How I love them and appreciate their friendship and kindness towards us.  They and so many others who have gone home and those we will leave behind are friends we never knew we needed.  This mission has been the best decision we ever made in regards to service! I can't think about leaving as it hurts my heart.

Temple Views

Yesterday was such a beautiful, warmish, sunny day I decided to walk to the mailroom to see if we had any.  On my way I was able to see the temple and feel gratitude that it stands there for those who are prepared to make sacred covenants with the Lord.

I do miss being able to attend.

Still, it is so nice to have it here standing as a reminder that we go to the house of the Lord to make covenant and then go home to keep them.

What a nice thought.

The best place to take pictures of the temple is in front of the FM office.

The sunrises behind the temple are awe inspiring.  I love walking over there just to take a peek.  Last year when I worked in the office, I saw those beautiful views each morning.

When we moved to Village Inn #9 in March, I was amazed to see the temple through the trees of the state park.  I don't see it visible during the day, but with the lights in the dark, I can appreciate it once more.  I don't expect I will ever live where there is a temple so near so even though it isn't open for me right now, I can appreciate seeing it on a daily basis.