A week of firsts and more!

Our first day at Pioneer Pastimes

June 27, 2021

This was a week of fun and excitement, along with a lot of great spiritual times.

To start it off, Sunday night we had a tornado warning and of course, with that, a pretty severe but awesome thunderstorm! The lightning was spectacular and really lit up the sky. With the tornado warning, we headed to the lower level of the Temple Parking Garage. That is our gathering area since we don't have a basement in our home here in Nauvoo. There were many missionaries there and, for spending a hour-ish in a parking garage, we had a pretty great time. Since Doug and I are District Leaders, our first thoughts were of our district and making sure they were all safe. After that (and mistakenly texting my son-in-law, thinking I was texting one of our District members haha! That's what I get for not wearing my reading glasses) I was able to enjoy the "musical concert" that the YPMs,  YSMs and others that were there put on. We gathered in a circle and sang hymns and Primary songs. It was a sweet time feeling the Spirit so strong as the storm raged on about us. It made me think of how much life is like this. We, at times, have personal storms - depression, hard times, feeling inadequate, health problems, financial woes, etc. - but if we call on the Lord and ask for His comforting Spirit to be with us, we can feel peace amongst the storms of life. I know this to be true!

Monday morning, it appeared that the storm also brought the Mayflies into town. It reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock's movie from eons ago, "The Birds". I was being attacked on all sides by the flies - yuck! They were all over cars, buildings, and there were thousands of them. I'll post some photos of them. I also had to clean up a bunch of dead ones and let's just say, I would rather have been changing a poopy diaper! They stunk so bad!!! The next day they were pretty much gone and I was excited for that but then, they reappeared on Friday after another storm.

Monday we were also able to give some of the YPMs a tour of the FM facilities. They enjoyed it and we loved sharing with them.

Tuesday was a very special day for Elder Burns and I! We were able to enter the Nauvoo Temple for the first time since we've been here. We were able to participate in the baptisms and confirmations for four of my ancestors. It was very special to me.  Elder Burns participated in many more as he was one of the officiators and helped with the baptisms and confirmations of many of the sweet YSMs that joined us that day. I was able to act as witness for several of the baptisms and that was also a first and a spiritual experience for me. Just entering through the temple front doors was so special after not being able to go in a temple because of Covid. They've been closed for 14 months. I love to see the temple, which I do almost daily here, but I love going inside even more!

Wednesday night we had our weekly training and it was on some of my favorite sections - D&C 121, 122, 123. These were given to Joseph Smith as they were held prisoner in the Liberty Jail. These scriptures  have brought me so much peace throughout my life. My favorites: D&C 121:7-8 "My son (I like to personalize it, so I read it, "My daughter, Jill") peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;  (8)And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." Then in Section 122, Joseph is told a lot of  things that could happen to him that are awful things (I recommend you read it!) and then the Savior says, (7)"...know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. (8)The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? (9) Therefore, hold on thy way..."  These scriptures give me a lot of peace, knowing that my Savior knows how I feel, that he's felt my pains and sorrows. I still can't comprehend all that He suffered for me and you, but I know that because of Him, I can live with Him again and be with my family forever and that is huge to me! I know I can repent and be forgiven of my sins and shortcomings, that He paid the price for me to do that. 

This week we started weeding and cleaning up the Land and Records Building. It hasn't been touched for a long while and it needs it! The ivy has wrapped around the trees so much that it has pulled the tall branches down and wrapped them up in the shorter ones. As I'd cut the ivy and remove it, the trees would bounce back to life, swaying in the breeze. I have a whole parable that I could give on that - sin being like the ivy, starting small and looking non-threatening, then slowly becoming stronger and binding us, preventing us from the freedoms we once held dear. Cutting the vines represents repentance and being free from the sins. I hope you get the point.

This letter is long, but a lot happened this week! We were going to do some service projects in Carthage today (Saturday) to commemorate the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, but they were all postponed because of the weather. Hopefully we can do them soon. 

Friday, Elder Burns and I served at Pioneer Pastimes for the first time and we loved it! Watching the children play and enjoy themselves brought a lot of joy. We were also able to visit with their parents. 

This has also been a week for dear friends to visit. Lem and Laura Leavitt were in town and we had dinner together, went to a show (The Promise - it was supposed to be "Sunset by the Mississippi'' but several of the Brass Band members were sick so they couldn't do it ) and enjoyed visiting. They will be leaving in July for their mission so it was great to see them before they go! We also saw our friend, Julie Fonseca (her daughter, Rachel, is a YPM!) and Tiffany and Cara (my cousins) and their families were here and we were able to visit for a few minutes. Gleydy, a friend from our 2005 year of Pageant was also in the garage during the tornado warning and we ran into each other there. We joked that it took a tornado warning to get us to meet up.

We are so thankful to be serving here. I could add more that happened this week but I'll stop now. We love serving here, we love our Savior and are grateful to be members of His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

All is well! We'd just been given the all clear to return

home after the tornado warning. Sister Fonseca and friends, some

of our amazing YPMs.

During the tornado warning in the Temple Parking garage.

This was so much fun taking these YPMs on a tour of FM.

Lyon Drug

Some of the gorgeous flowers I saw this week.

We are so blessed with amazing friends and family

Our first time back to the temple since they closed for Covid

Just another stormy, cloudy day in Nauvoo

Mayflies - go away! Doug used a snow shovel to  

gather them from the weld shop door

Just looking at the Mississippi

The trees with the ivy and after. 

 

Kids, Concerts, Plays and a Luau

June 20, 2021

This week was amazing! I had Austin and Sydney here all week and Bryson here for a good share of it and I didn't get a picture of us all together! I love my kids and there is nothing better than spending time with them! I love the sacrifices that they made to come and spend time with us! The fact that we are serving in Nauvoo is also a big bonus for when they come! This was Sydney's first time in Nauvoo and I'm happy to report that she loved it!

We joined with our children and attended, I think, every production that the YPMs are doing at this time. We attended "Sunset by the Mississippi" - twice, "Love of the Savior Concert" (I've attended this one 3 times - it's that good!), "Trail of Hope" - twice, "Go Ye Into All the World", "The Promise", the Brass Band Concert, and "Women of Nauvoo".  All of the shows and concerts are wonderful and I highly recommend all of them! I will definitely be seeing them all again! We went on a few tours with them and the wagon ride. It is so much fun seeing Nauvoo alive again! What a joy it is to see people walking the streets and enjoying the sweet spirit of beautiful Nauvoo! Sydney and Austin have a good friend who is a YPM so it was/is fun seeing her in all the plays/concerts. We also made it to Annie's several times. Don't be too jealous! 

Along with having our kids here, we also completed all of our Missionary duties. Because of the heat, I went in most mornings at 6:00 a.m. I'm not a morning person so that was hard but it was sure nice beating some of the heat! I'm still loving working at Lyon Drug in the gardens. It is so beautiful and serene. 

Doug has been keeping busy with his welding projects. There will be several pictures on the blog. He also took his first swim in the Mississippi. He was working on a project, digging with the backhoe, clearing the silt, etc., from the irrigation pump and was putting the strainer back in the hole he had dug. He needed to move the chain, but as he did, he slipped and fell into the hole. He says he only fell into his waist, but he was soaked when he got home. 

Saturday is our prep day and this one was busy! Sydney and Austin left early this morning - that was hard to say goodbye! Goodbyes are the hardest and are done so often on missions! After cleaning the house, doing laundry, etc., Doug took a long nap. He is still having daily headaches, ever since he received the Covid shot. Saturday he had a bad one so I did the shopping myself. We had a Senior Missionary Luau that night and President Ballard could tell that Doug wasn't feeling well so he and Elder Koop gave him a blessing. He felt better and was able to enjoy the luau! Food, music, friends and fun made for an enjoyable evening! I had to cut a huge watermelon and then help set the food on the tables. I went Friday and helped set up. Doug played his banjolele in the ukulele group and some Senior Sisters danced for us. It was a great evening!

Sunday after church, we had our Zone Linger Longer - a chance to get together after church, eat and visit for a while. After that, I fixed lunch for us (yay for left-overs! haha), fixed muffins for the YSMs - once a month our District provides Sunday dinner for a YSM District. This Sunday was our day so we decided to make breakfast for dinner and from what I hear, they loved it! Sunday afternoon, we get to hang out at the Visitors Center for a few hours and help out while Doug is the IC. While he locked up, I attended the "Love of the Savior" Concert - again - and I love it just as much!

A quick tender mercy story - after I delivered the muffins Sunday, I decided to drive by Lyon Drug and check things out since we had a storm Saturday night. As I was visiting with one of the YSMs, I heard a tour group pass by on Hyde Street. I looked over and thought it looked like Ginger Rich. I hollered her name and she turned. I ran through the field to her as she's asking, "Who are you?". As soon as I was closer, she knew me. We embraced and spent a few minutes reminiscing. Her grandson is in the Brass Band so they came with Robin and her family to watch him. It was so fun to see her again! She introduced me as one of the village that helped raise her children. I have so many memories with that family. 

As you can tell, this past week was busy, busy, busy and I wouldn't change a thing about it! With all of the ups and downs, I am thankful to be here serving in beautiful Nauvoo! 

I'm so thankful this son of mine came to visit!

Love him!!!

So thankful these two came to visit also! 

Love them both! At the temple quarry.

On the wagon ride with the temple in the distance.

Pics from the Luau

Our dear friends, E/S Ballard, E/S Koop

All set up and ready to go. The Luau was held at

Pageant Headquarters.

Elder Burns playing his banjolele in the Ukulele Band

The Brass Band

I love these lilies!

A beautiful sunset

Lyon Drug gardens

Bugs! This is the door to the potting shed. Gross!

The Brass Band Concert in the VC. It was a beautiful concert.

Sister Koop feeding the sheep. They are in a field 

right next to Lyon Drug so I see them often.

This was a sweet surprise finding Dave & Ginger and Robin & her husband

Such a pretty bird

Elder Burns welded the base back together.

Still working on this fence post for the temple

Framework for where the leaf blower will be 

attached and permanently mounted. It will 

 raise with the trailer when the trailer is unloaded.

The leaf blower that will be mounted on the trailer.

A blessed week! There was much rejoicing!

This week has been a blessed, but hard week!  My granddaughter, Alex, was married and another granddaughter, Tessa, was blessed. It was hard not being there in person for these special occasions and I may or may not have cried a few tears for not being able to be there. As I was texting with my family before the wedding, I was told, "We are proud of you! And we are very grateful for your sacrifices and example to us and especially our children!"  That meant a lot to me. Even though it was hard not being there, I do know beyond any doubt that we are where we are supposed to be! 

Another big blessing this week - we no longer have to wear masks!!! Nauvoo is mask free and it was so wonderful to see everyone's faces! There are some of the YSMs that I didn't know what their faces looked like. It was so nice to see their bright, beautiful, smiling faces! Maybe now I can put names to faces!

Another big thing happened - we were given the go-ahead to open Pioneer Pastimes and the Family Living Center! I have volunteered to work at these sites. I think it will be a lot of fun! We've also been able to increase the number of people on the tours from 8 to 12. Just a reminder, if you are coming to Nauvoo this summer, make your reservations now!

Wednesday we had training. My takeaway from the meeting is that service is a good thing and makes you happy and to record those events, however large or small, into your journal. These letters and my blog have been my "journal", but I really want to do better at keeping a daily journal. I've struggled with that my whole life. What tips do you have for doing daily journal entries?

A funny thing happened this week. I was working at the VC and a gentleman came up to me and started talking. He's a regular to Nauvoo, along with his neighbor. A little background first - in the past, the Sr. Missionaries have performed in "Sunset by the Mississippi", along with the YPMs. For those who don't know, "Sunset" is an hour-long show with dancing, singing and melodrama! It's a fun show to watch! This year the Seniors have not been allowed to be in it. So, this man came up and asked me - "Why aren't you old geezers doing the plays this year? You old geezers really need to be doing it to give the young performers a chance to have a break!" I about laughed out loud but I contained myself! I told him that I know of several old geezers that would love to be on that stage performing also. Haha! It made my day!

As usual, I spent many hours at Lyon Drug weeding, cutting chives and laying wood chips down this week. I can say that I am so thankful for the garden crew and for their help with the wood chips or barking, as we call it! What would have taken me several days only took a few hours with their help. 

Another great blessing - my two boys, Bryson and Austin and Austin's wife Sydney are here for a visit! This mom's a happy mom! They arrived last night and we've already been to Annie's for her famous frozen custard. We then went to show them the Lyon Drug gardens and I couldn't believe how much things had grown since Friday morning, including the weeds! I know what I'll be doing Monday. Haha We walked around the flats for a while and saw a lot of fireflies. That was fun! I love my family and I love Nauvoo! 

I love my Savior and I'm so blessed to be able to serve Him here in beautiful Nauvoo! 

The garden van and trailer, with lots of mulch! 

I keep thinking that I'm done mulching - I keep finding that I'm wrong! 

I was pulling weeds at the Hyde Home. I was walking through the

tall grass and about stepped on this little guy. Such a cute little fawn!

I was in my truck cooling down the other day when 

Elder and Sister Mills started a live video tour at Lyon Drug.

 

Family - What it's all about!

We had a fun week this week! Rochelle, Isaac and their children came for a visit and we loved every minute of it! It was so good to give "Grandma hugs" and get them in return! I loved seeing their smiles, hearing their laughter and being able to cuddle with them! We were able to do several tours with them and it was wonderful to be inside the historic homes again! We also did wagon and carriage rides and saw "Sunset by the Mississippi". On one of the tours, we went inside the Seventies Hall and the grandkids were able to act out calling others on missions. As they were leaving to head home, I was "called", by the grandkids, to serve in the Eagle Mountain, UT mission. Haha! For those who don't know, there is no Eagle Mountain mission but the grandkids want me to serve closer to their home. I told them that I would love to be closer but that Heavenly Father needs us here in Nauvoo right now. We are glad to be serving here! It was also so nice to see my 8-month-old granddaughter and love on her. The last time we saw her, she was 10-days-old.  It also goes without saying that we loved the time spent with Rochelle and Isaac! I love my family so much and have missed them a lot!  I'm so thankful that families are FOREVER! This coming Saturday, Bryson, Austin & Sydney will be arriving to spend some time with us and I can't wait!

While Rochelle's family was here, we took a tour together of Carthage Jail. In the room where Joseph and Hyrum were martyred, Elder Burns sang the 1st and last verses of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief". This was a song that Joseph requested John Taylor sing to him while they were in the room. It was a very special experience to hear him sing it. 

After Carthage, we went to Webster, formerly Ramus when the early Saints lived there, and put flowers on Annie Pixley Johnson's grave.  She is my 4th Great-grandma. She was the first one on that side of the family to join the church so I owe her a world of thanks! Here is a short history of her conversion to the church:

One hundred ninety years ago, this June 1st (2021), Joel Hills Johnson was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with his wife Annie being baptized in May 1831.

The conversion of Annie Pixley Johnson and Joel Hills Johnson.

Joel and Annie had moved to Amherst, Ohio; they first heard the Restored Gospel in the Spring of 1831.

Joel wrote: "When they (the Elders) spoke of the Book of Mormon, they made it equal to the Bible. But my prejudice was so great against the book that I would not receive their testimony...I concluded to stay home...my wife (Annie), who had always been a strong Methodist, had desire at this time to attend their meetings which were held every day, and I gave her my consent for I never would abridge anyone's liberty in religious matters. She attended several meetings and begun to think that the work may be possibly true."

After talking with Annie and hearing her testimony, Joel began to look into the Restored Gospel message. He writes: "I concluded that work was of God and embraced it with all my heart and soul and was baptized the first day of June 1831 by Elder Sylvester Smith. My wife (Annie) had been baptized a few days before." His brother David who was living with them at the time was also baptized that day.

While the kids were here, we continued our regular missionary duties. I pulled weeds and mulched and Elder Burns continued hauling gravel and worked on several other projects. This week we also cleaned the oxen ride area, an area that I'd never been to before. There are signs along the path telling the stories of the oxen and their part in the saints leaving Nauvoo. We also saw the completed wagon that we had worked on earlier this year.

Yesterday, Saturday, I was able to view the funeral of a sweet friend who died way to young. Shawntell, you will be missed. Thank you for always greeting me with a smile, being so kind to me and being the wonderful person that you are. Heaven definitely gained an angel. 

Nauvoo is beautiful and we love serving here. Things are changing often - this week we were able to quit doing temperature checks and stamping hands (to let us know they'd had the temp check). Now, we are hopeful that masks will be history here soon. (One can hope, right!?!) We also hope to be able to add more tours soon. Just a reminder - if you are coming to Nauvoo, make sure you book your tour reservations soon or you might be out of luck. 

I'm thankful for my Savior. I know that He lives. I'm thankful for Joseph Smith and the sacrifices that he made so that the gospel could be restored to this earth again. I'm thankful for my ancestors and their love of our Savior and their  courage that they had to stay strong in the gospel, even through all the mobs and being driven from place to place. I thank them often and pray for their help and guidance as I serve here in the city that they helped build.

I love each of you and pray for you to feel peace and joy and have the blessings that you desire. 

Standing outside Carthage Jail on a rainy Memorial Day.

Sitting in one of the rooms in Carthage Jail.

Visiting the grave of Annie Pixley Johnson.

This is the view that I woke up to each morning. It made me happy!

Just another beautiful tree in Nauvoo!

A close-up of the flowers. So pretty!

The oxen ride trail.

The wagon that Elder Burns has been working 

on. It's finished and looks wonderful!

Lunch at The Red Front 

The beautiful temple from the backyard 

of Browning Gun.

The before 👆

The after 👇

This was made by Elder Burns and 

holds a Pageant costume like the one worn 

by the actor portraying Joseph Smith.