April 14, 2015 - Tuesday

We got an early start to our morning since we had a few things to get done before we reported to the Visitors Center today.  Mom has been usually getting up early at 5:00am, but today she got started at 4:30am to get the house cleaned.  I was up about 5:30am to get going on my day.  We had the jail to clean this morning as well.  We were helping out the Shepherds who are still a little under the weather and he had an 8:30am appointment at the Health Clinic.  It's all good.  We got everything done and we were at the Visitors Center by 9:00am to get some things done before we opened...... 

The custodians we have at the Visitors Center are not doing a very good job and our facilities management group will not address the issues because they are afraid the workers will quit.  Go figure!  All we can do is come in early and clean up what they don't do.  It does drive me crazy when I see the waste of tithing money like this, but what we see here in Carthage is a small part of what we have seen so far in Nauvoo.  Being a Church employee is a pretty sweet job here!  You are not held accountable and your job is basically guaranteed no matter what a performance review indicates. (Robert!)

On the wonderfully positive side we have some great facilities missionaries that have just been assigned to Carthage this past week.  In just a couple of days they have made the grounds look so much better!  They will be planting 1,000's of flowers and dressing up the lawns and the flower beds for this summers crowd.  I had to include them in the blog today and got their permission to post their pictures;

Here are Elder and Sister Skidmore.  They work hard on the grounds here.  She is from Scotland and they are on their second mission to Nauvoo.  They sold their house to come this last mission, and they are "homeless" when they leave here in September!  Elder Skidmore reminds me of my cousin Jack.  He has a great sense of humor and loves to tease!

Below are some pictures of the Visitor Center grounds.  We have some beautiful grass and tree areas on this property and right after Mothers Day they will put about 75 large flower pots lining the walkways.  In the middle of the grassy area they will install a temporary stage for the Young Performing Missionaries this summer and will have daily shows throughout the summer.  We can accommodate 300 to 500 people for these outdoor performances and then feed them into the tours that will max out at about 50 every 20 minutes or so.  We will be busy!  Bring it on!

  

The tulips are already starting to bloom in the walkway area.  When they are through their blooming season they will be pulled up and new flowers planted in their place.  I can't wait to see the transformation since it is already so beautiful here!

Since the water table is so high here, the trees grow rapidly and mature rather quickly.  This tree in the center of the picture is only about 80 years old.  All the trees that grow here are good for firewood and shade only.  The trees are all hollow inside because of the level of water they can access.  That is why all the lumber for building in this area has to be imported from surrounding states.

This will be a beautiful garden setting in just a few weeks!  The Skidmores work Monday through Friday and maintain all the outdoor areas of the Visitors Center.  They will weed, and mow and sweep the walks and make sure we have a showcase center all summer long.  What a great time for us to be serving in Carthage!!

The visitor count was up by 6 today.  We had several families from nearby states and were bringing their home schooled children on a quiet time field trip to Carthage and Nauvoo.  With the slower time here, I can give some very intimate tours with the families with children.  Those are the ones I love to reach out to and try to give them a very unique experience here.  I always ask if there is one in their family who plays the piano and then let them play a piece of music on the baby grand piano in the History Room.  It brings such a sweet Spirit to the beginning of the tour!  I had one such young girl who played who was 11 years old and it was a touching introduction to our next 45 minutes of the Carthage tour!  

After our shift this evening we went into Nauvoo for our Sunset practice.  Our cast has grown from about 26 members to over 50 members.  And most of the new additions want to be singing and dancing and acting, and I say - GOOD FOR THEM!  I would just as soon take a back seat with mom and enjoy the opportunities to teach and testify to our wonderful guests!

Speaking of our Sunset practices take a look at what we saw tonight on our way home:  I just had to snap these pictures as I stopped right in the middle of the nearly empty roadway;

These pictures were taken at about 7:45pm this evening and we are looking forward to the beautiful mid west sunrises and sunsets to come!

We have enjoyed our busy day together and cherish the sweet people we get to meet here that are currently serving with us and whom we get to meet each day on visits here to the Carthage Visitors Center. 

Thank you for your love and support of Elder and Sister Lasher.  We feel that love and support each morning when we wake up and throughout each day!  It keeps us pressing forward in this marvelous work, especially when we pause to think about each of you back home!