And So Nauvoo...

The first Friday morning of every month we hold a farewell Breakfast for all the missionaries that are going home that month.

This past month some of our most wonderful missionaries went home--both our Doctor (Doctor Gabler and his wife) and Rus' 1st Counselor (Elder Barlow and his wife) were among them. Maybe it was because we were in denial, but we totally forgot about the breakfast. Elder Barlow called us about 10 minutes after it had started to see if something was wrong! Luckily, we were just accross the street, so we hurried over. This is what it looked like when we got there!

They had a table all reserved for us--which made it even more obvious that we weren't there. But we chose to sit with some of our missionaries instead. Some of you may recognize the Lofgreens from the Mesa Temple (she is in the purple sweater and he has suspenders).

We switched tables in order to visit with more of our missionaries toward the end of the breakfast. You might notice another of the Mesa Temple missionaries at this table: The Bartons are right about in the middle--she is wearing a red jacket and he is in site clothes.

They had those leaving sitting at the head table. The ones on the right are the Barlows and sitting next to them are the Gablers. The Gablers were the mission Doctor for our mission in Ohio, so it was especially nice that they were here when we came. Elder Barlow basically ran the mission for us until we got our feet on the ground. He left last week and we have already found several things he did that we haven't quite picked up yet! Oh how we miss them both!

There were so many good people leaving-it really left a whole in our missionary force.

Sister Register just takes it upon herself to go around gathering up the trash. That's one of the things that is so nice and different from our other mission--these Senior Missionaries always look for things they can do and just do them, without having to be assigned.

After the meal all the going home missionaries do a little skit or song. It's pretty corney, but sad to see them all up there and know it's the last time they will all be together.

When their skit is over, they all come down and join us in singing "Farewell Nauvoo" Which is a song that is sung in rendezvous when the saints are having to leave--but is pretty applicable to our missionaries going home--see if you don't think so: (notice, I don't have a picture of that--I was too busy bawling! Not very dignified for a mission President's wife--but then--what do they expect!)

"And so Nauvoo, I say farewell to you.

With numb and aching heart...one last adieu

As through our tears, we look to homes beyond,

Could ever we be fond of one, as you?

One cardinal's song, One sunset's glow

One Nauvoo dawn. One silhouette of woods on snow.

From templed hill--Faint echoes ring

Where prophets walked and talked with God,

Their memories linger.

And so we go, and hide our aching heart,

No one will see our tears, when we depart,

This home we leave will shelter memories clear

Of all that we hold dear--in old Nauvoo.

Farewell, Nauvvo...Farewell, Nauvvo."

I have to admit, I thought it was touching the first month we sang it--but then we had only been here two weeks. This last time, I couldn't get all the way through it. Nauvoo has a way of growing on us!

The Exodus

Isn't this a neat picture? No, I didn't take it! This is actually a "pre-exodus" picture. We chose a couple to represent Brigham Young and his wife and this is the carriage they rode in. This picture is of the teamsters driving the carriage to the Family Living Center to pick up 'Brigham'. Traditionally, the teamsters would come to the mission home and pick up the Mission President and his wife to take them to the Family Living Center, but it would have required the teamsters to start their day an hour earlier and would have set us apart--so we just told them to do what was easiest and we could get ourselves to the Family Living Center.

And here we are! We made it, all by ourselves! Doesn't he look good as a pioneer?

Everyone gathered at the Family Living center for all sorts of pastries and rolls and milk and juice. Those who didn't already have a name tag (an ancestor they were representing on the walk) picked one up here, so that everyone who walked represented someone who had lived in Nauvoo.

You can see the name tag, here. I walked for my Great Great Grandmother, Eliza Collins Hunsaker. She was in her early 30s when they crossed the river on the ice--in late February. They had 6 children, the oldest, Mary, was 10. She had the responsibility of all their livestock! The youngest was a baby. Our ancestor, Allen Collins Hunsaker, was about 6.

This Sister with me is Sister Daybell. She is in charge of the sewing room and everything that goes with it. She made my pioneer dress that I'm wearing.

After the eating and greeting, the program began with all of us singing "I'll go where you want me to go". That was followed by a reading. Then we got on our coats and rain gear and headed out!

THE Exodus--February 4th 2012

Isn't this a neat picture? No, I didn't take it! This is actually a "pre-exodus" picture. We chose a couple to represent Brigham Young and his wife and this is the carriage they rode in. This picture is of the teamsters driving the carriage to the Family Living Center to pick up 'Brigham'. Traditionally, the teamsters would come to the mission home and pick up the Mission President and his wife to take them to the Family Living Center, but it would have required the teamsters to start their day an hour earlier and would have set us apart--so we just told them to do what was easiest and we could get ourselves to the Family Living Center.

Here we are, at the Family Living Center--we didn't even get lost! Doesn't he look good as a pioneer? Everyone gathered at the Family Living center for all sorts of pastries and rolls and milk and juice. Those who didn't already have a name tag (an ancestor they were representing on the walk) picked one up here, so that everyone who walked represented someone who had lived in Nauvoo.

You can see the name tag, here. I walked for my Great Great Grandmother, Eliza Collins Hunsaker. She was in her early 30s when they crossed the river on the ice--in late February. They had 6 children, the oldest, Mary, was 10. She had the responsibility of all their livestock! The youngest was a baby. Our ancestor, Allen Collins Hunsaker, was about 6.

This Sister with me is Sister Daybell. She is in charge of the sewing room and everything that goes with it. She made my pioneer dress that I'm wearing.

After Breakfast we sang "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go", had a short program and then went outside to line up. The "Nauvoo Legion was first. I think Rus is the third one you can see from the right. As you can see it was a wet day--luckily it wasn't too cold and the rain was just a mist until the very end.

After the Legion came the flags. There was a flag being held from each of the nations that the saints, who left Nauvoo, were originally from. I'm on the far left, carrying the Swiss flag. The rest of the "walking" company came after the flags--there were about 300 participants this year. Each of them with a name around their necks, representing one of the Nauvoo Pioneers.

Following the "walkers" were the carriages and wagons. This front one carried the couple representing Brigham Young and his wife. The wagons just had teamsters in them and at the end was a big wagon/carriage with all the people in it who couldn't walk that far.

When we got to the end of Parley Street the Legion turned to face the Kiosk that has listed on it those who died on the trail to SLC. There is a flag poll there as well. There was then a closing program and we all pledged allegiance to the Flag.

And here we are--at the end of the trail. Wet, but happy!

I think I'm starting to figure this out...

This is the picture I wanted at the front of the "house tour"--You have seen these pictures in an email--but I needed to get them all together! This is our front door. People in Nauvoo seldom lock their doors. If you do, you make it impossible for people to bring you goodies and leave them on your kitchen counter!!!

You will notice that we are still celebrating Christmas at the mission home. That is because the Facilities Maintenance group takes care of everything outside the house. Some day they will come and get the wreath and put it away until next year. In about March they will replace the pine trees and bushes with spring ones. Sister Ludwig told me that she just leaves the lights on the trees and plugged in until they burn out! So, who am I to mess with a system already in place!
This cabinet is the first thing you see as you enter. They have a timer on the light so that it lights itself at about 6pm and turns off at 10pm. These statues were not in the case when we got here, but I decided they need to be kept in a safer place so I don't have to worry when the grandchildren are here. The little bowel 4 shelves down was found in the well on Brigham Young's Property--yet another reason to have it in an inclosed area!!! I may move it up a few shelves when they come, just in case! You can see the entrance to the kitchen on the right and the entrance to the living room on the left.
As you turn to your left at the front door, you see a built in book shelf on the right and a grand piano on the left. Further in is the living room and the magnificent window that makes the whole room feel like I'm outside. I love this room.


(Don't know why I'm suddenly underlining--but just LIVE WITH IT, OK?
This is the view from the couch in front of the window. You can see the corner of the piano just above that chair, the stairs leading down to the GA apartment and then the front door. On the left is the door leading to the kitchen and the dining area. That table pulls out easily (I can do it all by myself) and will seat 12 at its fullest. The table and chair set are Aumish--so they are made of very heavy wood--which makes it hard to move the chairs--especially if your are sitting in them!

















From the window couch there is a couch on the left .....
















And two chairs on the right--with a set of chairs behind those, next to the piano. There used to be much more furniture in this room, but it made me crazy so I got rid of it!

















This is the kitchen--the doorway to the dining area is on your far right. The door to the entry is on the far left. There is a nice little nook right between the doors that I have taken over for my "study". I can look out the front room window from my desk area--and almost see the front door at the same time! (NOW it's BLUE and underlined! This blog certainly has a mind of it's own!)
Looking from my desk area toward the back wall. The sink is on the left and the fridge on the right. That picture of the Nauvoo temple was already right there on the wall. Fitting the pictures of all our children and their families on either side of it was so easy and appropriate!
Just to the left of the table is a sliding glass door. This is the view out it. Rus puts bird feed in that bird feeder every morning--we have lots of different kinds of birds visit us daily. We also have racoons visit us at night and deer at about dusk, sometimes come to finish up what the birds have left!
Our guest bathroom is across the hall from the two extra bedrooms (which I already posted) and at the back of the house. It's not very convenient for guests--but nice for the bedrooms.

This is the "General Authority Suite". At our front door, the stairs go down on the left into this apartment. At the bottom of the stairs the room opens up into this living area. (The part you don't see--the left wall--has a treadmill, then a door to the outside, with steps leading up to ground level. There is a fold down table on the other side of the door).

You'll notice there is a pretty nice TV down here--we haven't hooked it up, so don't know how good it is--I imagine one of our sons or son in laws will figure it out when they come!



The kitchen is directly on the right. That back door leads into a large bathroom with laundry facilities--all very nice. The bathroom is so big it could easily fit a crib or bed, if you didn't mind sleeping next to the toilet!!!






King size bed and lovely accommodations in the GA bedroom.


WEll, that's the tour. As you can see, they treat us pretty nice here.

Home sweet home!

I thought some of you may like to see our house--but I'm so blog illiterate that I'd better send this much so I don't loose it. This is the back of the house--
The master bedroom has plenty of
space. It's way in the back of the house, so it is probably the coldest room--well actually, the master bath is!
The master bathroom also has a walk in closet--with lots of room for clothes.

Rus's "office" is in our room! You probably can't see it, but he has THREE computers in front of him! He also has another desk top in his office at the visitors' center. Who needs 4 computers!?
It's not really his choice--but REALLY!

There is a bedroom next to ours which has two twin beds.












We have two extra bedrooms upstairs. This one also serves as a "private" place where Rus can talk with missionaries who need talk time.


On the way out the back door! This is the washroom. The Washer and dryer are on the left as you look at the picture--next to the back door. There is a small pantry across from the coats.

Walk about town...

So, Alex tells me I can post all my pictures and comments at once--let's see!

I decided to give you a "day in the life of" since "they" said it couldn't be done!

I started my morning at 5:30 with my personal scripture study. At 6:15 I went for a walk. Yes! 6:15 AM--it was still dark, but, actually warmer than it has been the rest of this morning--only 29 degrees that early. The temple is about a half mile from the mission home. I LOVE this statue of Joseph and Hyrum--it always reminds me of Jospeh Smith saying "“This is the loveliest place and the best people under the heavens; little do they know the trials that await them.” I think it is still true today.


From the temple I walked down the center of town--Mulholland Street. This theatre has been turned into a diner! We ate here for lunch one day. There is always a whole table of men, sitting and eating and talking--reminds me of Mayberry!









The name of it is Grandpa John's Cafe!









And no town would be complete without a fudge factory! This one is owned by church members.









Zion's Mercantile is also owned by members. It is a combination of a store, an inn, and a restaurant.














This is the bakery where we buy the bread to have at each of the missionaries' apartments along with some soup for their first day of arrival. GOOD BREAD!












In the middle of all the shops and stores there will be random houses--this one was deserted, but some of them are kept up nicely.


Now I'm on my way home, again--I think Brother Allyn did the windows in the temple???
















Next to the Allyn House is the most popular place in town--when it's open (many of these places are closed until summer)---Annie's fresh frozen custard! The lady's name isn't even
Annie--I think it's Brenda.














When my parents brought their whole family (in a BUS) to Nauvoo--we ate here. It's closed until the spring.















Last night, our "boss", Mark Lusvardi, came to check on us. Rus told people he was coming to check to see if we still had a pulse. I said he was coming to see if we had totally ruined what they were trying to do in Nauvoo! He really just came to answer any questions--That's pretty amazing, when you realize that it is at least a 3 hour car ride away from any airport! He wanted to take us out somewhere nice to eat--but all the really nice places in Nauvoo aren't open yet--so we went to Weber's Kitchen! Talk about a home town feel...they had a taco bar--all sorts of mexican food--but it looked more like a potluck ward social! Rus and Brother Lusvardi weren't at all impressed--but I thought the food was pretty good--Maybe because I didn't have to cook it!


I'm told that Mr. Kraus owns a good deal of the land and stores up in the town part of Nauvoo. Down on what we call "the flats" (where all the sites are) the church owns most of it.















The latest need in Nauvoo--other than the ever present one of not having enough business in the off season is their library. It's just a little place and needs to be updated--too bad--it's kind of cute, don't you think?













Can you tell it's getting lighter? Back by this magnificent temple, again.
















The first session we went to after we arrived in Nauvoo, was amazing. There was a time when I felt the power and presence of all my ancestors who had been here. I was overwhelmed with their love for me and the sacrifices they gladly made for their families--present and future. I know these aren't the original walls--but it was as if the very walls were speaking to me. I got a glimpse of how "all things are present" with the Lord.














And just a 5 to 10 minute walk, and here we are, back home again!

Now I understand, in part, why no one ever gave us a "day in the life of": I'm only up to 7:00am and I'm out of time! Maybe I'll finish later--but I've got to go now. Life is anything but boring here--even in the "down" season!