NEVADA WEEK IN NAUVOO

Each week we have served in Nauvoo has brought different experiences that have blessed and enriched our lives.  We are so thankful for all our family and friends and so appreciate all the love and support shown to us.  It was an awesome week.

On Tuesday, Sister Wahlquist gave us note that the Mitchell’s had asked about us.  They didn’t know us but Bob and Marlies Talbot (Elder Talbot’s brother) had asked them to say hello from them.

On Wednesday morning we got a text and then a visit from Brett, Martha, and Rebecca Corbett from Carson City.  They work in the temple with us in Reno and were celebrating their 25^th wedding anniversary with their trip to Nauvoo.  It was so good to see our friends.  We also saw them in the Temple later that day and after the British Pageant that night.  I also saw another familiar face in the temple that morning that we knew from quite a few years ago, Chris Foote.  Elder Talbot also met Dave Foote.  They had just been released from serving as Mission President in Georgia and were on their way home.  Sister Foote was our daughter Caralee’s Laurel Advisor and had quite an impact on her when we first moved to Reno.  They had later moved to Las Vegas.

Brett Corbett and family with Elder and Sister Talbot after the British Pageant

On Thursday, we were to serve on the 9am session when another temple missionary came to the 3^rd floor to say that someone was asking about us and said they were good friends of ours.  It was Kathy and Pete Doughtery.  It was such a special surprise for us and they also work with us in the Reno Temple and Sister Doughtery also works in the office.  Again, we were able to see them before the Nauvoo Pageant and get a selfie that night.

Also, on Thursday, we decided to check out the Country Fair before the Nauvoo Pageant.  With a few thousand people milling around, a guy walked up to Elder Talbot and asked if he was a Talbot from Reno.  It was Brent Weed (President Weed’s son from Wisconsin).  Brent and Mary Ann lived in Reno while he was going to med school and went to the same ward years ago as Scott and Megan.  It is such a small world.  Scott, Megan, and Christine arrived Saturday night in time to visit with them Sunday morning at church.

Selfie with Kathy Doughtery before the Nauvoo Pageant

Brent and Mary Ann Weed at the Country Fair

Elder Talbot at the Country Fair.

We have so enjoyed having the Sparks Talbots here and showing them the sites and sounds, yes, lots of music sounds much to Scott’s dismay and Christine’s delight!!!!!  After church on Sunday, we headed to Carthage to visit the jail where Joseph and Hyrum were killed.  There were long lines to take the tour but were entertained by the Young Performing Missionaries (YPMs) while we waited.  Then we headed back to Nauvoo to watch the Sunday Concert with the YPMs.   Just as we were leaving the theater at the Visitors Center, a guy in back on us asked to see our name tags.  It was Curtis Hill who was our son, Jeff's Teacher Advisor in Reno.  He had moved to Minnesota several years ago.  Again, it was amazing with 200+ in the theater and we sit one row in front of them.  We saw them again Monday night at Sunset By the Mississippi River Program.

Who is really enjoying the musical "The Promise"?

Curtis and Irene Hill.

Another interesting connection is that one of the YPMs is Sister Isaacson from Alpine, Utah.  We wondered if she is related to the Isaacson’s in my family.  Next time I see her I’ll ask the name of her Grandfather or Great Grandfather.

Sister Isaacson a YPM from Alpine, Utah - is she a relative? 

Visiting some of the sites with the Sparks Talbots Sunday and Monday has been awesome. It has been great having family here to share some of our experiences and the special spirit we feel here in Nauvoo.  Monday we saw Just Plain Anna Amanda, The Promise, Sunset by the Mississippi, and then the British Pageant in between the Gunsmith Shop and Tin Shop.  I think Scott and Elder Talbot was about “musicaled out” but Christine and Megan and I were in “music heaven”!!!!!  However, the spiritual messages from our days activities again strengthened our testimonies of the gospel and our appreciation for the faith and courage our ancestors had in order to handle the challenges and trials that they faced as they accepted the gospel. This experience encourages us to do hard things.

Christine, Sister Kyra Moss, and Megan at the Wilford Woodruff Home.

Megan, Scott, Sister Talbot, and Christine eating gingersnap cookies at the Scovil Bakery

Wilford Woodruff home tour with Sister Moss and Sister Jeffords

Scott at the soybean field.  Notice how tall the beans are. There is a lot of farming in the area and it is either corn or beans.

Soybean pod.

With seeing all these friends and having family stay with us in Nauvoo has made us realize what an impact all these friendships and family members have made on our lives throughout the years.  It is like all the pieces of a puzzle that help complete our lives.  Each piece may seem small and unimportant when looking just at one piece, but, when all the small pieces are put together an amazing picture emerges.  Thank you, family and friends, including all those not in Nauvoo at this time, for all your love and support and the impact you have made on our lives.

Love,

Elder and Sister Talbot