FAMILIES ARE WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT!

I have had a lot of time this week pondering about families and how important they are in our lives.  I have witnessed quite a contrast between the love and support we have in our family and extended family and between a family I have met here in Nauvoo.  As she was telling about her family that included non-supportive parents with no siblings, a daughter with a strained relationship, two deceased daughters, and a son who has gone off the deep end, I felt very blessed to have our family. That doesn’t mean our family doesn’t have their struggles but there is so much love and support to help us all through our trials.  I have been very touched this last week as the J. Andrew Penman family have rallied around Lori and her decisions concerning her cancer treatment. We are so blessed to be part of a loving family.

It couldn’t be any better than to have another family visiting us last weekend.  Maylee Spencer, our great granddaughter, arrived about the same time as we finished our shift at the temple last Friday.  Of course, she also brought her parents, Jonathan and Heidee Spencer, her aunt, Allison Talbot, and her grandparents, Kevan and Jamee Talbot.  The weekend was full of lots of activities, shows, and visiting more sites (and some of them again and we could go again!).  But best of all was being with family and holding Maylee. 

The first place visited was the temple for baptisms and this time Allison could go with the family instead of spending the time at the Arrival Center across the street.  It was heart warming to see three generations of Talbots in the temple two Friday nights in a row (Jeff and his girls went last week)!

 As you listen to the site presentations they always connect it with a gospel principle.  One not only learns about the history of the Nauvoo Era but also receives tender messages of hope and strength.  Two of my favorites are the Brick Yard and the Print Shop.

We attended church in Nauvoo 1^st on Sunday which was another different experience.  They have so many visitors during the summer that the cultural hall had chairs setup clear back to the stage.  Another Sacrament table was set up in the cultural hall so a total of 16 deacons passed the Sacrament.  Heidee met a gal who was a high school classmate.

We have now completed the barge experience (almost).  We have been barged, watched several barges, saw the Ft. Madison Bridge swing out, and two barges go through, but now we have also watched the locks being filled at the Keokuk Bridge with a barge going through the lock.  We were told that we could drive down close to the locks and watch the barges go through.  We will have to put that on our bucket list before we leave.  We both have been fascinated (mostly me) every since our first Wagon Ride where the teamster told us how the barges need to stay in the middle of the river between the safety buoys or they could get grounded in the shallows.  He compared that to our own lives and staying in the middle of the safety of the gospel and not choosing to float to the sides where there are more temptations.

We have decided that Nauvoo is one of the crossroads of the church.  Not only did Heidee meet a classmate visiting Nauvoo, but Kevan met a hunting guide (Elder Thatcher), Dad met a Stake President (President Taylor) that Jeff served under when he was in Omaha, and today I connected with our neighbor across the street (Elder and Sister Burton) who live in the Glenmore 3^rd Ward and knows Kevan.

Our first week of the summer schedule has been a little taxing, serving 5 days a week and 7-8 hours a day but it is well worth it.  Just before closing on Saturday night, a sister dressed very casually, came with a worried and troubled look on her face.  As we helped her, the other two sisters and I felt a special spirit come over all of us.  The sister left with a change in her countenance which now showed comfort and peace.  This is why we are serving this mission. We love our mission.

Thank you for all your love and support!

Maylee Spencer, our first great grandchild.

Crazy selfie after Baptism appointment Friday Night.

Allison took this picture of the Joseph and Hyrum Statue across from the temple with the beautiful sunset in the background.  I couldn't resist another sunset picture.

Sunday we made another trip to the Carthage Jail.

Another visit down the Trail of Hope presentation Sunday night which we all came away feeling thankful for all the sacrifice our ancestors made for us.

Oxen ride for the family.  The wagon is not very big to carry all the supplies needed for the trip West.

Outside the Brick Yard.  I love the bricks they give everyone but most of all the private tour they give the missionaries of the actual room they make the bricks.

They compare fixing the cracks in the bricks to the touch of the master's hand and Christ heals all our cracks and mistakes.

Jamee's beautiful picture of the Temple.  She caught the reflection of the base of the Joseph and Hyrum Statue.