Sweet Celebrations!

 March 21, 2021

This was a very wet, raining and cold week. We did a few more transplants this week but spent several days at home because we were caught up in the greenhouse and couldn't do much outside because of the rain and cold. This coming week is supposed to be much better weather-wise so we are hoping to get outside and start planting flowers! The tulips and daffodils are coming up and it's going to be so pretty!

This week, we were able to meet together as Sisters and participate in different projects for the Relief Society Birthday celebration. They usually do a big reenactment of the formation of Relief Society but that was another casualty of Covid and didn't happen this year. Some sisters worked on quilt blocks for a quilt they are making for Phebe Woodruff (I'm guessing it will go in the Wilford Woodruff home) and other sisters worked on knit and crocheted squares for another service project. We enjoyed the sisterhood and visiting! Sis. Rizley called us the "Senior Sisters Sewing Society"! I love it! It's the first time we have all met in person like this for a long time.

Friday, the Senior Sisters met again, this time outside - the sun had finally made an appearance and it was beautiful out - to gather leaves and clean up around the Women's Garden. We were "Emma"saries that day and gave Emma a helping hand in her garden. It was great to be out and mingling with the sisters again. I love getting to know them and serve with them. I drove the van and trailer - a miracle, right? I'm getting better at backing the trailer up - it only takes me about 5 minutes instead of ten to back it up to the dumping area! Haha! I'm not that great but I'm getting better! I'll be a pro by the time I leave! We gathered two trailer loads of leaves and it saved us garden peeps a lot of time. Many hands do make light work! I'm hoping to work with the YSMs soon on continuing the clean-up around the garden. 

Saturday the gardening group - the Elia's, Koop's and us, met in Carthage and went to dinner together at an Italian Restaurant called Alfano's. They had a good gluten-free pizza so I was happy! After dinner, we went to the Elia's Carthage home for ice cream and visiting, then walked over to the Visitor Center to check it out. They've been repainting it and it's looking great. Still some work to be done on it, but it's coming along nicely. 

Nauvoo is still closed to in-person tours but you can still see us online at 

https://www.nauvoohistoricsites.org/live/   I've seen more people in Nauvoo the last little bit then I have since we came here.  We visited with a family that was here over their spring break and even though they couldn't go into the homes, they said they felt the spirit just walking the streets. They were going to go home and watch some tours. 

One of the YSM  gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting and she ended talking about miracles. She said, "I see a miracle when my companion sits in the garage while I run each morning (they have a treadmill in the garage), I see a miracle when..."  she went on to name several things. What miracles do you see in your life? Miracles don't always have to be large things. Marjorie Hinckley said, "It is a quiet multitude of little miracles that make life sweet." 

I love serving in Nauvoo! I love the prophet Joseph Smith and his desire to follow Christ and to restore His church to the Earth. I love the sisters who lived in Nauvoo in the 1930-40's and for their desire to serve one another, that led to the organization of the Relief Society. I love their faith and endurance! They are great examples to me and I hope I can live worthy of their sacrifices.

I love you! I'm grateful for my friends and family who love and support us on our mission here in Beautiful Nauvoo!

The sisters of the "Senior Sisters Sewing Society". 

We quickly removed our masks for the picture. 

Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, with the jail in the background.

Carthage Jail. Joseph Smith fell out of the top window after he was 

martyred and landed on the ground by the well. To see a tour of 

Carthage Jail, visit the website in my email at book a tour. 

It will be the best 40 minutes of your day.

A cute Easter card we received from one of the Missionary couples serving with us.

These women of faith cleaning the Women's Garden, 

that features many women of Faith. The statue of 

Joseph and Emma behind us. This was just some 

of the women who came and helped. Many others 

arrived after the picture was taken.

This is my view of the temple as I'm backing the trailer up to unload it. It's a view I love!

We gathered a lot of leaves! Two trailers full!