January 21, 2016 - Thursday in Nauvoo

We had a little warming trend this morning.  The temperatures were in the mid twenties....  That made our walk a little more comfortable!  We left the house about 6:00am after our morning prayers and devotional.  We were excited to get back outside for our 3.5 mile walk, and the air was so fresh with a mild breeze this morning.

It was just past 7:00am when we returned home and got ready for the day.  We left for our assignment at the Visitors Center at 8:25am so that we could be there by 8:45am.  The roads were a little slippery, as I found out on our morning walk.  I slipped and went down by the Blacksmith's Shop but there was no damage done.  I think the road will be OK...  Mom tried to catch me but that wasn't a good thing to do!  I just rolled over to my back and there was this bundled up senior trying to regain his composure!  Thank goodness most seniors stay inside on brisk winter mornings!  (Boy are they missing out!)

The Visitors Center had no visitors today.  In fact the Rendezvous Play was cancelled for the second night in a row.  We got off about 1:10pm and walked back home.  The temperatures were closer to the low 30's so our walk was very nice.  When we got back home we got into our comfortable clothes and enjoyed a quiet afternoon.  We then attended the 6:00pm temple session and were the witness couple again.

I have been sharing some things that I have learned about being a father during the early years, with my children the last few days.  Since there is really no text book on parenting, it has been fun following mom's example of sharing some sweet inspired things we have learned as we have gone through the parenting cycle.  

Here is what I plan on sharing with the kids tomorrow morning.  I have often thought about this effort over the years, that now spans two generations, and I wanted to pay more attention to this wonderful part of my fatherhood with a few more details that I will list here;

It begins; "Once upon a time, a long, long, time ago, there was a boy named Bobby".....  For historical notes, this probably started around 1983, in Fremont, California.  The lightening rod of this almost daily event was made famous by one of my childhood, teenage friends, John Hinckle....  For the most part, the John Hinckle stories started off by telling some of my childhood experiences that involved him.  I must have been 12 or 13 when we first met, and his dad, Vern Hinckle, worked with my step father in building houses in the mountains.  As the years progressed, those stories got better and better.,,, and not always filled with facts!

But, I think the best part of starting up this time and tradition, was that I wanted to spend a few quiet minutes with the children right before bedtime.  They would get ready for bed, and the one that was ready first, and was the quietest, got to be first.  I would bundle them up in their blankets, and we would go to the rocking chair in the living-room, and get comfortable.  The other children would wait quietly in their rooms...

I would always start the stories off the same way;  "Once upon a time, a long, long, time ago, there was a boy named Bobby, and Bobby lived in the mountains.... and Bobby had a friend by the name of John Hinckle.... and John Hinckle was a city boy...."  Oh, I had fun with those stories!  (Still do!)

My goal was to spend those precious few minutes with those precious children.  I would cuddle with them and hold them tight and look at them and tell them these wonderful stories.  My only regrets were that some nights I would not get to one of the children who had fallen asleep in their beds waiting for their turn!  They would be first the next night for sure!

That wonderful tradition continues to the next generation.  However, those evenings, and those memories, I had with our precious children, and being able to look upon them and love them and cuddle with them, are priceless.  My fatherhood advice is love those precious children and make them the center of your lives!

Hopefully my children won't read this bog post tonight!  They will get this in a text in the morning!  Mom and I sure love our family!  Thank you for checking in with us tonight!

January 20, 2016 - Wednesday in Nauvoo

Our day began with our early morning prayers and devotional, as well as a change of plans.  We were given the Wednesday morning training meeting off today, by the former mission president, but our new president reversed that decision and wanted to meet with all of us together.  We met at our usual time of 8:00am.  Then we had our world-wide missionary training at 11:00am, and then off to our site assignments at 1:30pm until 5:00pm.

The meeting with President and Sister Hall was very upbeat and informative.  He was a football coach for several colleges, including BYU, and was most recently an administrator at BYU Rexburg.  The meeting was very good and mom and I had the privilege of saying the opening and closing prayers.  Here is what we saw this morning as we looked out the door;

About 3 inches of new snow!

I went out and did some shoveling this morning in lieu of exercise!

At 11:00am we gathered together at the Stake Center for the world-wide missionary broadcast.  It was under the leadership of the missionary department with several General Authorities leading discussions or giving instruction.  My impression was that it was an outstanding training session for young missionaries, and perhaps their local leaders.  The local leaders would have benefited from knowing what to help their upcoming missionaries prepare for as they near the missionary age.  Other than that, it was not geared for senior missionaries.

Mom had the assignment to work at the Cultural Hall and I went to the Seventies Hall.  I got to work with Elder Horlacher and we talked the entire four and a half hours while I finished another grandchild's knitted hat.  This one is going to be sent to Bobby for his upcoming birthday.  I now have Maddie's, Anna's and Bobby's hats done, along with a little hat for Faith.  I am hoping the grandchildren will want to wear them!

The Rendezvous Play was cancelled tonight and mom and I enjoyed a quiet evening here at home.

January 19, 2016 - Tuesday in Nauvoo

Yea!  The temperature "warmed" up to 11 degrees, so we took our morning walk!  We were grateful that there was no wind to bring in that wind chill factor, so our walk was cold but very welcomed.  Call us crazy, but boy are we getting in good shape.... for senior missionaries!

We were up early this morning and had our devotional and prayers.  I was tired last night and actually got to bed before 9:00pm.  That was unusual for me, but I was grateful for the extra sleep.  Mom was up before 4:00am and I got up a little past 5:00am.  What a great way to begin the day!

Our site assignment today was the Visitors Center and we had the morning shift.  Our only visitors were two senior sister missionaries from their mission in Missouri, who came to Nauvoo on their P-day.  They leave for home in March so the Nauvoo trip was a must see.  

One of these sisters was telling mom about the challenges in obtaining the permits for the Susquehanna Visitors Center  near her home town.    There was a city official who did not like the Mormons and kept sitting on all the permits to build the site.  Well, his brother had a home that was worth over one million dollars that was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.  Within days, there was a group of Mormon "Helping Hands" who came to help rebuild, after that hurricane, that worked on this brothers home.  Now keep in mind, the Mormon volunteers knew nothing about the permitting problems.... but the Lord knew!  The brother who received the help called his brother to let him know what was happening, and guess what?  Those permits were approved shortly thereafter!  Coincidence?  I don't think so....

After our service at the Visitors center, we came home and got comfortable and cozy.  We read and knitted and blogged this afternoon and tonight and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon and evening.  We have our first meeting with the new mission president and his wife tomorrow as a mission.  Mom and I have been asked to give the opening and closing prayers.  Fun!

In the play Rendezvous, there is a line that I deliver that says;  "You need to understand that nearly all the many accomplishments of the Saints who lived here during the Nauvoo years depended on two things: faith in the Almighty and the willingness of the people to pull together.... because of these two things, Nauvoo offered a life that was, for most of the people, harmonious and orderly".  

I have been thinking about that statement a lot.  Some things in this life we can accomplish singularly, and maybe just good enough to get by.  But the Saints accomplished some great and marvelous things here and they really did need to pull together.  Just one of these many accomplishments was building 2,000 wagons for the trek west.  Think about this - 2,000 wagons, 8,000 wheels, 104,000 wheel spokes,  2,000 teams of oxen, and all the supplies to last for four to six months.  And, be able to get this all together in less than four months with mobs threatening and attacking outlying settlements near Nauvoo.  This effort was monumental and it took every available resident of Nauvoo to help while in the process of completing the temple....

Now, let's roll ahead to today.  Since the Prophets and apostles have told us many times that those pioneers would marvel at what we will be able to accomplish in our time, it poses a very sobering scenario!  However, as Nephi said, "I will go and do"!  How refreshing it is to be surrounded by family and friends who love and support one another!  And the attitude is that we can do anything as long as we are on the Lord's errand!  

When the whirlwinds and disasters and heavy rains and earthquakes and many other challenges come our way, we thank Heavenly Father everyday, that we are privileged to be a part of this wonderful family and precious friends both here in Nauvoo and especially back home in Idaho and Utah and California.  I hope and pray that we can all be on board and clinging to that Iron Rod together....

January 18, 2016 - Monday in Nauvoo

We had a marvelous P-day today.  It was very cold this morning, so our walk had to take place late this afternoon.  We were up and enjoying our morning devotional and prayers by 5:30am.  I was able to workout for 30 minutes while mom was getting ready in the bathroom.  We had our breakfast and then we were off to Keokuk for our grocery shopping for the week.

Mom and I left the house at just a little past 8:00am, and the temperature was about 2 degrees.  The skies were somewhat clear as we were leaving, so the hope of the sun coming out was optimistic.  It did come out, and it warmed up to 17 degrees, and that gave us the opportunity for the afternoon walk.

Our shopping trip took less than two hours, so we were able to make the 10:00am temple session today.  The temple had a special Monday opening because of the holiday, so we were excited to go on our P-day.  We were the witness couple today and the session was mostly attended by missionaries from the Iowa, Des Moines Mission.  We were back home by 12:15pm.  And this afternoon was relaxing and we kept warm in the house.

I can't help but get a little excited about these hats I am knitting for the grandchildren.  My first hat left the Nauvoo Post Office last Thursday for Maddie.  She has the first birthday of the year.  Anna is next and Bobby comes right after her.  I have Anna's done and will probably start Bobby's tonight.  

It is amazing to me that this "new found talent" is blossoming.  When we are faced with stretching ourselves here in Nauvoo, we are getting better at giving it a Nephi answer - yes!  I can!  Mom will have some additional training this Wednesday in her quilting interest.  Sister Skinner has taken her under her wing to help her learn some new skills.  

So when the opportunity presents itself to learn something new, take it!  It may be one of the best decisions you will make.  Knitting hats and making quilts not only benefits mom and I in learning new skills, but it will make some precious family heads and bodies a little more cozy!

January 17, 2016 - Sunday in Nauvoo

Today marked the official transition day to our new mission president.  President and Sister Hall have replaced President and Sister Gibbons as the Illinois, Nauvoo Mission President.  The Gibbons were called into service after he was released from the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy and arrived here in Nauvoo in January 2014.  The called mission president became ill in November 2013, and could not fulfill his assignment.  President Gibbons was 74 at the time of this call, and came to Nauvoo with his wife after the brethren determined they needed the replacement.  We have enjoyed President and Sister Gibbons and will always remember their kindness and positive attitudes.

Taking a look at the thermometer this morning, we had a barely positive reading!  It was 2 degrees and very cold.  After our morning devotional and prayers, we left for our Sacrament Meeting at 7:10am.  The meeting began at 7:50am and you all know we love to get there early!  The mission choir was practicing their musical number, and what a great way to prepare to take the Sacrament.  It was almost a Paul Kenny thirty minutes of prelude music experience!  I loved coming into the Chapel and hearing Brother Kenny playing his heart out for all who would come early to hear!

In the Sacrament talks this morning, I had this thought;  We were being taught about the Tree of Life, and the Iron Rod leading up to the tree.  So many times we are taught to never let go of that "Rod of Iron", to avoid being lost and losing our way.  But the speaker brought up two scenarios that I had not thought of.  What do you do when the person in front of you stops.  Do you let go of the iron Rod to pass him?  And another scenario, what if one of you "wayward" children are calling to you from the 'big and spacious building'.  Do you let go of the Iron Rod to go and help them?

Thinking about this today has generated some thoughts.  As for the person stopping right in front of you;  wouldn't it be in our best interest to stay behind them and give them encouragement instead of using the passing lane, (if there is a passing lane.....).  And for the "wayward" child, wouldn't it be in our best interest to stay on the path, clinging to the rod and shouting out encouragement and inviting them to come and join you?

I think that is the way Lehi may have suggested when he saw his family confused and wondering how to get on the path.  He beckoned to them and some found their way!... However, Laman and Lemuel made the decision to not try to get on the path.  Tough choices for a parent and eternal consequences for the child.  Both scenarios are thought provoking.... what would we do?

Mom and I had a quiet and restful afternoon.  We attended our District Meeting tonight and were back in our warm and cozy cottage by 8:00pm.  We have had a refreshing and edifying Sabbath Day.  I got to talk to some family members tonight and even spoke to my Aunt Toni who is 95 years old.  She represents the last connection on my side of the family with that generation.  PopPop, at 92 years, represents the last connection to that generation on mom's side.  There is so much I want to pass on to my grandchildren!

January 16, 2016 - Saturday in Nauvoo

This has been a non-stop day for us.  We began early with our morning devotional and prayers.  I was able to fit in a somewhat revised workout.  And then the day got pretty hectic.  It went by rather swiftly and we did not have time to even think about our next assignment!

Our first item on the agenda was to help clean the Stake Center.  We got over there at a little past 7:00am.  The wind was blowing and the temperature, with the wind chill, was in the teens.  We gathered as a Zone and blitzed the cleaning assignments, and were done within an hour.  That worked out very well for us since we were very interested in making the 9:00am temple session.

We got to the temple at 8:15am and had a wonderful time sitting in the waiting room for the session to begin.  It was just mom and me until about 8:40am and the session ended up with about 30 patrons.  It is always a lift to be in the temple, but for the month of January, we have been able to be in the temple on the night we have Rendezvous.  That seems to always help me do a better job on my part...

Then we came home for lunch and to prepare for our fasting tomorrow.  The temperatures were warming up a little and the wind was not quite as strong.  But it was still pretty chilly outdoors.  Our little home was nice and warm, and we enjoyed our lunch together.  However, our time was short because we had to be at the Visitors Center for our late shift at 12:45pm.  We made it on time, and there were a few dozen guests that came in during our shift.  We were able to talk to several visitors and almost half on them were not members of the Church.

Right at 6:00pm we closed the Visitors Center and raced home to change for Rendezvous.  We got there at the Cultural Hall, where the play is held, about 6:20pm and were still a few minutes early.  The play was attended by around 40 people and the audience was great!  It makes such a big difference when the audience becomes completely engaged in the story-line.  I think that is what I enjoy the most.  It is being able to see them connect to the story-line and enjoy the marvelous efforts of the cast members.

Tonight I will close with a simple line from 1 Nephi 3:7;  7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

I am deeply impressed by Nephi's attitude.  Under some pretty challenging conditions he was willing to "go and do".  There is no mention that he would go and try, or that he would take some time to think about it, or that he would ask some clarifying questions before he made his decision..... He said; "I will go and I will do".

That is the kind of person I want to become, and leave the rest up to the Lord.  He needs anxious and willing and enthusiastic workers right now, and mom and I want to stand and be counted with our precious family and friends as ones whom the Lord can count on!

January 15, 2016 - Friday in Nauvoo

We had the cold temperatures return today.  After our morning devotional and prayers, we started off our walk in 32 degree temperatures.  By the end of the day, the temperatures dropped to 26 degrees and the wind chill took that down another 9 degrees!  Our morning walk was the warmest walk I had today!  Mom served at the Wilford Woodruff Home that is half a block away, and I was down at the Blacksmith Shop that is about 6 blocks away.  We both walked to our site assignments!

Interestingly, mom worked for the first time with Sister Lowe.  Sister Lowe and her family performed in multiple family shows, for the public, and toured around the world.  Some of you may have already googled "Lowe Family" and have seen some of the previews.  Well, Sister Lowe's daughter is David Archuleta's pianist and every other family member is equally talented! 

With this, it is probably no surprise that the Lowe's are well connected.  Elder and Sister Lowe have been asked to head up the Easter Community Program and Sister Lowe was on the phone, today, talking with Janice Knapp Perry about some music ideas.  They go way back, so what do you think about this story;  When Sister Lowe was serving as the Stake Primary President in the 1980's, she need a song to bring together a Stake Primary Musical.  She called Sister Perry and she wrote the words and the music to; "We Will Bring the World His Truth".  Sister Perry handed Sister Lowe the music and told her if it didn't work out to just throw it away and she would try something else....

And, I can't make this kind of stuff up!  It is absolutely amazing the folks we are meeting here.  As for the Lowe's, they are the most down to earth people, and they are so grateful to be serving in Nauvoo.  With Elder Lowe, here is another story;  When Elder Lowe's parents got married in the temple, his father left the temple ceremony and told his new wife that he had had enough religion, and he never returned to Church until the last three months of his life.  His Bishop had told him, at that time,  that they were needed in the mission field, and that motivated his father to start getting his life back in order.  He died three months later.

But here is the rest of the story;  they had seven boys and each one of those boys went hunting with their dad on the weekends..... until they received the Aaronic Priesthood at the age of twelve.  They then each told their dad that they would not miss Sundays because they were now Priesthood holders.  Elder Lowe's mother must have been quite a wonderful sister in Zion to keep her family together and her sons fully engaged in Priesthood service.  And, as for the influence she had on her husband, she finally saw that effort bear fruit when he had begun to make that effort in the last three months of his life.  Such an inspiration!

It is such a blessing to serve with such wonderful people!  It is particularly impressive to meet people who do not flaunt their fame and achievements.  I love serving with Elder Lowe and feeling his strong desire to serve this mission.  Mom was equally impressed with Sister Lowe. 

Elder Lowe found out today that in February he will have a total hip replacement.  The estimates are that he will only be down two or three weeks and will not have to leave the mission.  The Lord really does watch over His missionaries!