June 6, 2015 - Saturday

Needless to say, we have been busy since Tom and Josie arrived Wednesday at midnight.  I had just dozed off about 11:00pm on the couch when I heard the phone ringing.  I had been in touch with them on this last 12 hour leg of their journey and now they were approaching Carthage!  What a joyful reunion for a homesick missionary couple!  We got lots of hugs in, and then helped them unload the van and get everyone settled. 

Mom and I got up at our usual time Thursday Morning and went to the Visitors Center by 8:30am to get the day started while  everyone slept in except Zac and Mia.  They came over and helped us open up the jail and we got ready for a busy day.  

We had almost 400 guests today and most were from the morning tours.  That gave us the opportunity to spend the afternoon with the Sathre's.  I gave a tour for the BYU Ambassadors this afternoon.  There were 40 in their group and the Sathre Family came along with them.  What an inspiring group of young single adults!  After a very emotional presentation in the martyrdom room, one young man, with unbelievably controlled emotion, sang the last 2 verses of "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief".  He hit every note with perfect pitch.  And then they all sang "God Be With You 'till We Meet Again".  The spirit in that building was so overwhelming!

After we were able to leave the shift, we had our dinner, and then we were all off to the "Sunset" play and the late performance of the BYU Ambassadors.  They put on such a powerful performance, and the family got a kick out of Granny and grandpa doing "our thing" on the Sunset stage...We got back to Carthage around 10:30pm.  

Then on Friday we spent the morning in the Visitors Center and Hayley and Jack took turns helping us meet and greet the guests as they came in.  It was another busy day on Friday and by 2:00pm we had over 350 guests come in.  However, they were very easy to handle and mom and I were able to leave earlier so that Tom and Josie could attend the 4:00pm temple session in Nauvoo. They were asked to be the witness couple, and mom and I got to be with the grandchildren.  It is so amazing to us that we can have this time with our family.....

At just a little past 6:00pm we meet back up with Josie and Tom at the Historic Nauvoo Cultural Hall where the Rendezvous Play was set to begin at 7:00pm.  They got to see mom and I at the 7:00pm play and again at the 8:15pm play where I got to do my "Pa Robbins" part for them.  As only my precious grandson, Jack, could express about my performance, he said;  "Grandpa, you did good... you only messed up really bad one time!

So goes the day in the life of two senior missionaries!  

Now, on this Saturday, mom and I are off from the missionary duties and we will get to spend the entire day with the Sathre's.  Oh happy day!