December 27, 2015 - Sunday in Nauvoo

There is something special about every Sabbath Day.  The opportunity to renew sacred covenants and be edified by speakers who have prepared for their assignments are just some of the benefits!  Today, we had a large outpouring of that blessing as we attended our meetings and later served in the Visitors Center for the closing shift from 2:00pm to 5:00pm.  

We had some of our favorite missionaries speak today.  Sister Smith and Elder and Sister Skinner were on the program along with the mission choir.  The talks were excellent and the music was exceptional and we were grateful for the efforts made by so many today.

I think that one story that I wanted to share with my grandchildren today came from Elder Skinner.  He loves being outdoors just like Grandpa does.  He was visiting a neighbor's farm who had an older horse who had lost his sight.  That is not good for a horse... But instead of putting this horse to sleep, the neighboring farmer had put a little bell on a young horse so that the older horse could hear where to go.  You see, the blind horse could follow the sound of the bell and know where his new friend was so that he could eat and drink and not be left alone.

How is that for an analogy for what missionaries do?  We are all missionaries and there are so many of our friends, family members, and people we come in contact with every day that have either lost their way, or they don't know they are lost.....just "blinded by the craftiness of men".....  And the Gospel is the little bell that we, as missionaries and members, wear to alert people to the "straight and narrow" path!  All we need to do is make sure the noise we make from our little bell is worthy of people wanting to "hear us", and then  find and except what we have.

After we broke our fast later this morning after our meetings, we took the opportunity to relax for about an hour.  Then, at 1:30pm we drove over to the Visitors Center for our shift.  The wind was blowing and the humidity was close to 100% so walking would have been an undesirable option!  

We had over 75 visitors come in this afternoon and one family, from Houston, Texas, in particular, was fun to get to know.  They have 5 daughters and one is on a mission in Peru, and one is married in Ohio.  The other 3 daughters came with them to Nauvoo after a Christmas visit with the married daughter.  They are here for three days.  The daughters have all been taking piano lessons and I had the oldest of the three play the Steinway Grand piano and the other two, ages 9 and 7, played for me as well.  They gave me the idea to put their picture on the blog and encourage my grandchildren to keep practicing!!  The daughter in Peru is helping out so many ward and branch members to have music in their meetings!

This piano runs about $100,000 and is in our East Theater

This family has also spent time in Latin America countries over the last few years.  While the dad works his job, the mom takes the girls to different countries for four or five months to immerse them into the Latin America culture.  They just got back from Guatemala in August!

Josie, does this sweater look familiar?

Mom and I were taking about this outfit as we got back home.  This sweater has been to Finland, and has possibly sported the name tag of two "Sister Lasher's"?  By the way, mom looks great in this outfit and had we done a selfie photo, the picture would have been somewhat compromised!

Can you believe this is the last Sunday of 2015?  We will all be starting the new year 2016 on Friday.  And what a new year it will be!  We are so very thankful for each family member that makes us so strong!  The Gospel has strengthened us, and challenged us to be better, and has been our light in an ever darkening world.  

My prayer for each of us is to stay strong together,  stay focused on our eternal goals, and "come what may, and love it".  Once we travel through these experiences that separate us, there will be no other place I would rather be than with my family..... and my eternal companion echos that sentiment!