Eagles, Flowers, and .........

 
                         ...... Other Random Thoughts
   

     After the disappointment not seeing any eagles during Eagle Days at Keokuk I made it a goal to get a picture.  It wasn't uncommon to see them along the river so I carried the camera around for days hoping for a spectacular shot.  Finally, on day I had left it home I spotted one along the river sitting on a long jam.  He was so far out I really couldn't even see what the I-Phone was taking but I took the shot anyway.  With the aid of Photoshop I  at least got a picture.  They really are an impressive bird even when just sitting around.  I am sure there will be other opportunities to "score" a better shot.

     The "Nauvoo Crud" hit Sister Gibson this week.  It's basically a severe cold that seems to be worse than normal.  By Thursday she felt bad enough to stop in and see the mission doctor.  Unfortunately it was his P day.  She stopped in the next day but he had left early since he wasn't feeling well.  She finally went to the Nauvoo Clinic got steroids, instruction, and advice to rest.  She's on the road to recovery and by Sunday was back on duty in the Lucy Mack Home.....even though she won't admit it...she's a trooper!!  I can only hope I am too ornery to get it!

      Sitting in Sacrament meeting this morning I was struck by the beautiful flower arrangements that adorn  both sides of the speakers podium.  There is a brother in one of the Nauvoo Wards who takes it upon himself, and at his own expense, to see that these are place here every Sunday.   After the services in the building are complete he then takes them to care facilities to brighten the lives of others.  Such selfless acts seem to go un-noticed.  But on this day I noticed their beauty and appreciated them.
     On Wednesday we were involved in the worldwide missionary training conducted by the church.  It was impressive to know that we are a part of a missionary army than now has over 86,000 missionaries.  I can remember  proudly telling people in Germany that we were part of 13,000 missionaries who served world wide (sort of back then) and the church had over 3 million members.
     It is important to note that the Nauvoo Mission does not function as other missions who are spreading the gospel, teaching and testifying of Jesus Christ, and baptizing new converts.  Ours is a mission to reinforce and teach about the early saints and their many, many sacrifices they endured.  We are committed to also testifying of the Christ and the many blessings that can be brought to our lives by following his gospel.  Our message of the gospel is interwoven in the stories we teach and testify to.  It gives us an opportunity to grow ourselves and know that we are making a difference as we testify.    

     In the world of old and deaf people the following incident occurred.... names have been omitted for obvious reasons (no it wasn't me).  I believe I have told the story earlier of the selfless temple missionary who takes it upon himself every Thursday to take drinks to all of the missionaries who are serving on the sites.  Visiting one of the sites where there were several sisters present he appeared to not be his usual cheerful self.  One of the sisters inquired and he explained that he had "married" his son.  "Congratulations" she cheerfully replied as he left.  One of the other sisters turned to her and said "I think he said he "buried" his son.......and with that she chased him down the street to offer a tearful apology.  And that's pretty much how things work here in "Old Nauvoo".

   The Old Nauvoo Cemetery.......

                                  .....Gets a Quick Clean

     Our District leaders, the Waites, needed to return home during the week to attend a funeral and they asked us to fill their assignment in cleaning the Old Nauvoo (Pioneer) Burial grounds  The site is up the street from us (about 1-2 miles) so we willingly accepted.  We hadn't visited the site before and were anxious to see it.  I started out as cold but soon evolved to "very" cold when the wind kicked up.  We cleaned the kiosk, message boards, swept the floor of a few leaves, and Sister Gibson just couldn't help herself as she took a cloth to the statue to make sure it was in first class shape.  I, in the meantime, grabbed the selfie stick and we took a couple of pictures.  Could have been worse....could have been freezing rain.   

Birthday Month.......

                                     .......Gets and Early Start

     For those of you who know Sister Gibson you will be aware that we don't just celebrate her birthday on February 5.  Over the years she has attracted so many friends who want to share the day with her and are not content to do it on her birthday that the celebration can go on for a long time.....like a month.  Well, fortunately for me, it got started earlier than usual this year.  It's a "biggie" this year as she will be turning 30 for the fortieth time.  That puts a lot of pressure on me as it is hard to find something she wants and usually will ask for something like "take me out to dinner....wherever you want."  Now for some men that may be great....but I just always felt I owed her a gift far more special than that.  She always got what she asked for....I just always felt I would have like to have done more.

     So this year I am really trying to come up with something special.....she doesn't like jewelry, trips, or even sexy lingerie :).  As we were heading to the Burlington with the Lindeburg's.    They got talking about "Suzy", their new spinning wheel and the fact that the Labrum's who had sold her to them were soon going to a nursing home and would be selling many of their other possessions.  Now usually when I say something like "we could get you a spinning wheel for your birthday" the answer would be "No...we don't need it, can't afford it, or  what are you thinking".  Not this time.....she was definite.  With "that's a great idea" we hurried over to Ft. Madison and made a deal for one of the other spinning wheels she had.  It was more of an antique than Suzy and did cost a little more ($300) but with it began birthday month. Now we just need to find a good name for her.

Lost in Burlington.......

                                  .....Reveals Mosquito Park
    Burlington is just not that big of a town.  That being said it sure seems easy for us to not get to where we want to go.  It does have some interesting effects as we seem to stumble onto something we would likely never find.  Mosquito Park is tucked away on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.  It's probably not a lot of fun in the summer but in the winter it did provide and interesting view.

The Packard House.......

                                   ......Windows and Walls

      With Elder Sims leading the charge we began putting new walls and cutting out the existing
walls from the inside of the house in order to make way for the new window placement.  We also go the tub in this week and the interior walls are now all but complete.  So now the dilemma is do we work outside in the cold Illinois windy weather and tear off the siding in order to really do the window/door replacement in a more correct and orderly fashion or can we find other projects to hold us over until the winter eases it's frigid grasp.  The answer is........we'll see what next week brings.  It's a pretty daunting project for someone like me who has never torn things apart on this level.  All I can see is the house falling down which has been my approach on it since the beginning.  Now with things starting to come together it looks a little more promising.

EXODUS WEEK BEGINS

Sunday night is the commencement of activities for the commemoration of the exodus from Nauvoo in 1846.  It will start with the telling of the stories of ten families who were here during that time.

The re-enactment will be on Saturday morning and the last event will be on Sunday night with another perspective on the event.  All in all it is a week to look forward to.