August 26, 2015 - Wednesday in Carthage

The countdown to returning to Nauvoo is now at two days to go.  We have been so richly blessed to have had this wonderful experience!  But, it is time for us to reconnect with the missionaries in Nauvoo and we are excited to take this next step.

Our morning devotional and prayers were a big part of our preparation for today.  We then left for Nauvoo at about 6:50am to stop by our new residence and unlock the door for the carpet cleaners and then it was off to our weekly training meeting.  After the training meeting we met with our Rendezvous director and rehearsed the Editor for about an hour.  The lines are coming and Sister Curtis is helping me with the blocking and positioning as I deliver my lines.  I can't believe I am doing this "stage production", but I am actually looking forward to getting the start date.  It is inevitable so why not sooner than later?

Mom and I then stopped back by the new residence and discovered that the carpets were done.  So, in order to expedite the drying process, we turned on two fans to circulate the air.  We will make our first delivery of our possessions tomorrow afternoon, and we will do a deep cleaning of the rest of the home.

Moving from Carthage - packed our first load August 26th

Meanwhile, back in Carthage, we did a deep cleaning on this residence after we were done with our shift.  Since this was such a big home, it took longer than we had anticipated, but we were able to get most of the work completed by 6:00pm.  We are confident that the next occupants will be pleased with our efforts!

Now, here is an interesting insight I gained today on "leaving".  When we were talking to Sister Curtis before my rehearsals began this morning, we were discussing the move into Nauvoo.  Obviously, the move to Nauvoo requires "leaving" Carthage.  With the marvelous experiences that mom and I have gained here in Carthage, it will be hard to leave.  But Sister Curtis pointed out this insightful thought about leaving.  She said that throughout the Scriptures, the writers have noted that so many people throughout the ages have had to leave their homes.  

Think about all the examples of "leaving", including Lehi, Noah, the Jaradites, the Mormons, going to school, going on a mission, and getting married, and even leaving from our pre-mortal home, and so many others, to arrive at a new destination.  We have all had to leave comforts and family and friends and ways of life to seek newer and better ways to live.  The key part is that each of us will have to determine how the experience in our previous environment will affect the way we live and learn in our new environments.  

And the bottom line is that we all will gladly leave this life, at the appointed time and with the proper preparation, to return to our Heavenly Home!  That is what our preparation time is wisely used for, and will greatly benefit us as we press forward!  That alone is worth looking forward to by the way we live our lives now, and in the future.

Then, one final thought from Sister Curtis that she credited to Sister Lisa Brown's late husband; "You can get 'mad' in the same pants that you can get 'glad' in!"

It has been a great day and a very productive day.  Thank you for joining me tonight and for your encouragement to two senior missionaries!!