July 20th 2022

Fun Times, Road Trip, Good Hugs!

Another two week gone just like that! We had just gotten settled into our new schedule when we got word that Doug Davis, our son in "love's" father had passed away. He had been having mini strokes for 10 months and his body was dying in bits and pieces. We were so heartbroken with this news. We got permission to go to the funeral so we took off last Wednesday and drove to Bountiful Utah. It's a 20 hour drive with fuel stops and we made it there by late Thursday night. We tried to see our kids when they were available and the funeral was so sad but so powerful, tender and full of love. It was an honor to be there.  This man was truly the heart of his family and he will be sorely missed. I felt sadder at the loss of this man than I remember feeling for either of my parents and as I pondered on it, I think it's because I was not mourning for myself but I was mourning for Alex for the loss of his dad, Meghan for her loss but also feeling her mourning for Alex and her children for the loss of an amazing Grandpa, I was mourning for Susan his wife and Jeff his other son. I know he is in a wonderful, lovely place but he will be missed something awful! 

Right after the funeral we drove the 20 hours back to Nauvoo. Dave did a beautiful job of getting us there and back safely. It was so good to get out of the car and get back to our mission. Two of our grandchildren, McKinney and Brenner Lawson are here with their stake from Parker Colorado. It's such a treat to see people we love while we are here in Nauvoo. 

Now we get to get back to work! We only have a few more opportunities to be in the pageant finale which has been such a fun, uplifting thing to do. 

Two weeks worth of pictures....The first grouping is of the Country Fair that is in Nauvoo every night before the pageants. It is so fun! 

Dave is pulling Emmie and me in a handcart. Emmie is a darling 20 year old service missionary that works with me in the temple office on Mondays and Saturdays. We are the best of friends! 

Me and Emmie doing the ring toss game. 

Dave joining a tug of war

You can help with quilts at the fair

Dave and I trying the stick pull.....

Me winning!      

This was staged by some other missionaries that lifted 

Dave up and then took the picture...

Emmie and I learning the Highland Swing dance

This is Mike Shurtleff who is the temple engineer 

that Dave works with

Dave doing pretty well on the walking sticks

Me not doing pretty well....look at how high off the ground I'm not!

The Nauvoo Pageant

The Nauvoo Pageant as they raise the temple

Back home for the funeral. This is Nicki and Karl, 

Dave's brother and wife who are living in our home.

Beautiful sunset out our back door in Bountiful

Got a surprise chance meeting with grandkids, 

Brightynn and Beckham

Got to go to a soccer game of granddaughter Jordyn and 

son Nate is the assistant coach

Dave and Aurora enjoying a snow cone at the 

Handcart festivities in Bountiful

Aurora and Me at the park. 

We had her two brothers with us but didn't get a picture.

Dave with some distant Weeks relatives that he saw at the temple.

Huge moth Dave saw on the temple grounds.