Monday, January 31st
A Few Sights of Nauvoo
This week was a typical temple missionary work week. No sickness, storms, or temple closures. Very nice! It wasn't extremely cold either. So, what is there to report....I am pleasantly surprised by how well my body is handling this schedule. I'm not a great sleeper and when I'm not responsible to get anywhere or do anything, I let my body wake up as it will and at home that could be as late as 9 am. Now, we are out the door usually by 8 am and I'm feeling good! This is a blessing and tender mercy from my Heavenly Father. They are full days and I'm quite tired when we are done but I am feeling good!
It is my privilege to record the names of all the people that receive their ordinances during the day. When I scan them, the other temples they have been to pop up on the screen, some as far as Brazil, England, Mexico and many other temples in Utah and other states. It's very interesting and tender to see how loved these people are and the great time and care that is being shown to them to help them on their continued journey to return to our Father.
We started attending a dance class on Thursday nights which I think will be a very fun addition to our week. It's a Victorian era line dance instruction, so I pretend I'm one of Jane Austin's characters...it really was very fun and Dave enjoyed it too!
Along the Mississippi during the months of January and February, the bald eagles come to feed so we have been watching as large groups of them fly down for fish and roost in the trees above the river.
February 4th, 1846 is the day that the mass exodus of the Saints living in Nauvoo occurred so they have a re-enactment of this event with a parade of people, oxen, wagons, and militia marching down Parley Street to cross the Mississippi on ferry boats. Last night we went to a fireside where relatives of people who experienced this told their stories along with some beautiful musical numbers. It was very touching to hear all of what happened to them and how they responded. Truly, very amazing people! It inspired me to do some digging into my family history and find my Nauvoo stories, which when I find them, I'll record them here.
As we drive back and forth to Keokuk I look out the window and see what I can see. I noticed some really unique round greenish, brown things the size of softballs under a tree. We stopped to investigate and brought one home. We took a picture and with an app it will tell you what it is. We discovered it was an Osage orange. It's inedible to humans and animals, although some squirrels will eat the seeds when it busts open. The wood of the tree is what is valuable. It is very flexible and doesn't rot so it's used for bows and wagon wheels. It's named after the Osage tribe who was famous for the finest bows.
That's about it for this week, although I broke a tooth and it needs a crown but I stuck it back in and I'm praying for a mission miracle for it to stay in until the temple is closed in April and May and I can go to my favorite dentist (Mark- son in law) in Denver to get it fixed. It's been good for a week so far....
Living in the Chicago area we went to Nauvoo quite often with our kids. Our Marriage started there with Earl asking me to marry him at inspiration point. Two of our children were sealed in Nauvoo. Just a few years ago I was surprised to find that I have pioneer ancestors, who lived in Nauvoo, and crossed the plains. I thought we were the first to join the church. What a shock, it shouldn’t matter, but it has giving me a new sense of belonging
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