Swine Flu

Rendezvous at Old Nauvoo featuring Elder and Sister Dickson

It's pretty bad that Uncle Lynn and Aunt Sharon have been here since December and I still had not seen them in Rendezvous until last night. Wow! They did a great job. It's been a while since I have seen Rendezvous and it has changed quite a bit. I really enjoyed it. Geniel and Netta seemed to enjoy it too. I think it was cool that both Geniel and Netta ran into people here that they knew from the past.
The show was awesome and I can't wait for you all to come see them perform this summer. By then they will be in "Sunset by the Mississippi" too. Fun Fun Fun

Site Seeing with Geniel McDonald

My friend Geniel McDonald came from Mt Pleasant, Utah, where I use to live, for a visit. She brought her Mother-in-law Netta McDonald as a Christmas Present to visit Nauvoo. While she was here they had the Battlet of Pea Ridge reenactment. Netta didn't want to go so Geniel, Lacey and I went. It was a lot of fun.



While we were there we ran into a few celebredies. First Mike and Mary Day of Hamilton, Illinois. They were in our ward before it was divided. Now they are in the Nauvoo 3rd ward. They are the recient winnwers of the Hamilton Biggest Loser contest. You will have to check out their blog and see how amazing they did.

We met Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd Lincoln


Then we ran into Sarah Huston and her kids Savannah and Spencer. They participate in the reenactment every year along with their extended family. It was really a lot of fun to see them.


Ha ha ha just like the good old days!

Battle of Pea Ridge reenactment in Keokuk, Iowa

Yesterday we went to Keokuk to see the reenactment of the battle of Pea Ridge. Even though Keokuk is so close, about 20 minutes from Nauvoo, and where I do most of my grocery shopping. I had never gone to this event before. They do it every year and it is a pretty big event. I had to come home after it was over and read more about it so I could post this blog. They have about 1,000 re-enactors. The battle actually took place in Arkansas but the winning general, General Curtis, was a native of Keokuk. The battle basicly made it so the Union could control Missouri. It was one of the few battles where the Confederates outnumbered the Union army. The reenactment happens at this time every year and I plan to go next year and learn more. They have a Civil War encampment where spectators can talk with the re-enactors who will respond in character. There is a military ball for all of the re-enactors with period food, costumes and music. I've seen some of those ball gowns and they are really neat. Today, there's a Civil War church service and memorial in the Keokuk National Cemetery, one of the original 12 national cemeteries, the first one west of the Mississippi River and the only one in Iowa. See I did my homework. It was a really fun even. It sprinkled rain on us a little but not enough to ruin anything. The cannons were loud and spread all over the park. It was cool. It really felt like you were in a battle zone. (check out Mary Day's Blog to see some of the amazing ball gowns)












I got a few video's but I missed most of the fun cannon shots. My camera does no justice for the event. I thought you might still enjoy a little peek. :)

Trip to St Louis

On Wednesday I had to drive Sage to Lambert Airport in St Louis. Our good friend Kathy Nelson paid for her airfare to fly out to Salt Lake City, Utah and help her daughter Jessie drive home from school. It will be a quick trip but Sage is excited because the trip makes it possible for her to see her fiancee one more time before the wedding in July.
Well, I didn't want to have to drive home alone so I invited some of my friends to go with me. It was really funny because we didn't do anything there we just drove there and back. We stopped at Sam's Club and then went out to eat at Subway. We really had a lot of fun visiting and laughing.

No Melissa didn't drive the whole way! It's just that nobody took pictures when I was driving. lol

Lori was the one who came up with the idea to all go together and I am so glad she did. I was so tired from the temple shut down I know I would have really suffered trying to stay awake and then going to work right when I got home.


Kim and I got really silly in the back seat. We have been working together at night at the temple and were both feeling pretty exhausted. This is when delirium set in and we just acted like idiots


Well, I acted like an idiot. Now when I look at these pictures I realize how unflattering idiocy can be. lol

Quincy Art Center 35th Annual Student Art Competition

A while back I posted a picture Amber did of herself in her digital photography class. She really has fun doing it and a month or so ago her teacher had her submit it to a local art competition. Well she won first place. A couple days ago she received a letter that her photograph was accepted into the "Quincy Art Center 35th Annual Student Art Competition". It will be on display April 18 - May 16 for anyone who might want to attend. I guess it is really amazing to get accepted. She didn't win but I think she is really feeling great about her talent. I posted a few other works that are on display there. http://www.quincyartcenter.org/



"Fading Away" by Amber Steen

Mo-Prom Columbia Stake 2009

The Laurels and Priests from the Nauvoo Illinois Stake were invited to Columbia, Missouri for their Mormon Prom. The leaders drove them up and the girls stayed overnight with some members in Columbia and came home the next day. As you can see they had a great time. It is really wonderful to see our Modest beautiful girls. It really makes me proud to see our girls listening to the council of the prophet and dressing in a way that is different than what is popular and look how beautiful they are. :)

Ande Glass, Natasha Stout, Alexa Stout, Sarah M., Amber Steen, Bryce Capener, Amanda Mathews

Joshua Adams, Rick Jensen, Joseph Menke

Today's Vote in Nauvoo

Today was a busy crazy day. We spent the whole week, weekend and Monday finishing our back hall, Laundry room and any touch-ups and painting that needed to be done. It felt so good to get it finished. I just love my house. Because of the long hours I have put into the finish up I was SO TIRED today and at 6:45pm I realized I had forgotten to vote. So I ran to city hall and I walked in and got my ballot. While I was voting I heard one of the Judges walk out the door and call out "Hear ye, Hear ye, the Polls are now closed" so I thought I should blog that I was the LAST person to vote this year in Nauvoo, Illinois. lol that was fun. :)

Conference Weekend

I have to tell you that Conference weekends are two of my favorite times of the year. They always have been. I don't know if I thought about it much I just get really happy when I know it is coming up and really sad if I have to miss any of it.
I just started thinking about it last Sunday. Our home teachers came over and started reading to us an article called "Preparing our children for General Conference" from March's Ensign. They tend to be long winded and at first I was getting frustrated. Then I started to really listen. He was reading about preparing for conference, remembering fun things we did as families at conference time. Making conference fun for our families and preparing them to listen. I started remembering what I loved about conference time and why I love conference so much.
When I was young it was a time when the family got together. Anyone who was in town from our family and our extended family would come to our house, because we lived near Salt Lake City Utah, to watch it on tv or go to the tabernacle and then we would hang out visit and have dinner together. I got to see my cousins and grandparents who lived out of state. It was always a special time. We took the time to have a Family Home evening where we prayed together and listened to council from Grandpa or Uncle Jack or whoever had some important insight to share. That tradition still goes on only now it's at my Uncle Roy's house in Orem, Utah. It was always fun and I loved it. I know my family is closer because of Conference time and how we spent it.
This past week I have been thinking more about conference. I realized that I know that the talks we hear are from the prophet and apostles of God and the words they speak are inspired of God. I have decided that I want to prepare myself to listen to conference. I want to do more than just listen to the talks. I am going to be very prayerful so I can understand more of what the Lord expects from me and my life and I want to see for myself if this will make a difference in how I experience conference.
I know that the Lord speaks to us through prophets and apostles just like he always has. I am grateful for that knowledge and the comfort it brings to me. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that he loved us enough to suffer for us so that we can be happy and return to live with him someday. I love this Easter season because it is a time to start fresh and reflect on the things that are most important to us in our lives. I am so thankful that I know that there is a purpose for this life and it is one of joy and happiness.
I am so grateful for a family who taught me the importance of conference time first by making it a fun tradition and second for sharing their feelings about the importance of the messages we receive. I love the gospel and I am grateful for dedicated home teachers who took the time to prepare a message for us and that I listened.