5/10/15 - Sunday - Mother's Day! AND Josie's Birthday!!

Today we celebrated Mother's Day and our daughter Josie's birthday!  Happy Mother's Day to all our family and friends!  And Happy Birthday to our precious Josie!

Mom and I had a wonderful day together.  We drove to Nauvoo for our 8:00am Sunday Meetings.  We drove down alone since we needed to be back at the Visitor's center to open up by 12:30pm.  It was a good Sacrament Meeting, Sunday School class and Priesthood meeting this morning.  But it is always hard to have to leave so quickly and be back in Carthage for our site service, and not mingle with the missionaries.   

We had 8 tours today with groups up to 22 in size.  One group had been waiting for us to open up since around 11:45am this morning!  I have such a deep respect and appreciation for being able to serve here in Carthage and be able to testify of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  When the groups are smaller and when they come spaced out during the day, it is wonderful to be able to take extra time to teach about the Carthage insights we are getting from the study of Joseph and Hyrum.  We won't be able to take this kind of time when the groups expand to over 40 and come every 30 minutes.  For now, what a blessing it is to teach in this setting!

Mom has had a wonderful Mother's Day!  She was able to talk to each of her precious children and her sister, Julie.  Families mean everything to us!  We love getting notes and phone calls and text messages that help us stay rooted in their lives!  We had some really nice surprises come to us for Mother's Day and we are grateful for each thought, prayer and note of encouragement received.  Here are some pictures I took;

Mom added to her wardrobe with some new skirts and blouses.  Don't these outfits look stunning??

And these beautiful roses came yesterday and we placed them right in the middle of our little kitchen table!

Mom was so very happy when she went to bed tonight.  Each phone call and conversation tonight made her smile brighten, and her gratitude for her precious family was magnified.  I was grateful to spend the day with mom and to work with her at the Visitors Center today.  

Tomorrow, we have the rendezvous Play and we have been placed in another new role...... This is quite a test for me to be a part of the stage show.  I can't quite get this summer part word perfect yet, so, even with the new minor role to play, I still  wonder how I'm going to pull these things off.  I have always said it will be worth the price of admission, but let's be honest here.  Admission if free!