May 8, 2015 - Friday

It has been a good day, and a long day.  We had a mission breakfast meeting this morning to wish two senior couples well as they prepare to depart from the mission field.  The Wrights will leave this coming Monday and the Thurston's will leave next Monday.  Both couples have finished their missions and are returning back to their home state of Idaho.  We have so enjoyed getting to know them!  Look at that lovely lady in the background!

Here are the Thurston's.  They live in Blackfoot, Idaho.  He was one of our steady hot dog customers at the Home Depot!  She took the responsibility of senior housing assignments and preparations.

 Here are the Wrights.  They were so fun to get to know!  He always has that smile on his face!  They are so very kind and they live in Inkom, Idaho.

Here are some pictures of their farewell performance here at the breakfast this morning;

 Elder Thurston is at the microphone and Elder Wright is the "Idaho Potato-man".  Hilarious!
 

The Potato-man working out with his rubber band.  The "best fit" man in Idaho!

 Some "select" Idahoans helped out in their skit.  You can see mom in this picture and I am right next to her and right behind Elder Wright aka Potato-man!

 Here is a better picture of mom, and one of the best pictures, ever, of my left arm!
 

And.... the final curtain call!  Lot's of tears.... go figure?  They get to go home to their families and rough up their grand-kids!

Here is just a small glimpse of the senior missionaries here in Nauvoo.  Over 200 missionaries for breakfast today!

Mom and I had a marvelous day at the Visitors center today.  We focused on training one of the new couples who will be with us this summer.  They are the Hansen's and their home is in Alberta, Canada.  They are a lot of fun to be with.  They will be joining us on our morning walks around Carthage beginning tomorrow.

We had some wonderful tours today.  Mom gave a tour to President Poston's daughter and her family.  That was fun!  And in one of my tours this afternoon, I got to give the presentation to a wedding party.  The young couple getting married had met on a Church History tour in 2014, and became better acquainted when they got to Nauvoo and Carthage.  They decided to be sealed in the Nauvoo Temple because of that connection.  They had about 28 in their group this afternoon including their Bishop and his wife.  They were from Utah, Arizona, California and some other areas so it was quite an effort to get everyone together here in Nauvoo. 

In the Martyrdom room I felt impressed to have this couple bear their testimonies about Joseph Smith.  The room was crowded, very warm, and filled with the Spirit.  They bore a marvelous testimony!  It was a very special tour for me to see this young couple starting off with wonderful testimonies of the Prophet of the Restoration!

Mom and I then went to our home here in Carthage and  prepared our meal and relaxed for a wonderful evening.  We had a couple of phone calls and I got to practice my summer part.  It was so nice to be able to just relax tonight and not have to go anywhere!

What a great day!