It's Harvest Time in Nauvoo....
......Combines Cut and Sift...Trucks Roll....
And .........Wildlife Scrambles!!!
Fast forward to October. It's harvest time. The corn and soybeans have been sitting in the fields awaiting the time they are ready to be harvested. The streets rumble as large trucks full of crops roar down Mulholland Drive through Nauvoo and onto the streets in Old Nauvoo finally arriving at the grain storage facility on the banks of the Mississippi. They are loud and overpowering on the small streets. They are now coming in waves and sometimes are backed up blocks waiting to unload.
What was now tunnels of corn have now become vast fields of stubble and the immensity of the farm land again reveals itself. Soon these will be tilled under and the land will remain dormant until spring and the process will repeat itself. As for the many animals that have come to call these places home must now scramble to find refuge and prepare for winter.
Sometimes... A Mouse in the FM House......
.....Can be a Laughing Matter!
Mice seeking refuge from the corn harvest best not try to find safety in FM's conservation area. The sister's do not use traps but rather "sticky paper" that traps the little critters as they innocently scamper across. So the scenario is set....and so the story begins....
Sister Murch was recently called to be in charge of the mail room and Missionary D. I. So her first order of business is to clean out many contributions that have been cluttering the D.I. In order to do this she needs some boxes and goes down to Conservation to get some from Sister Gibson and Sister Schmitt who have been discussing their terrifying fear of mice for sometime now.....the stage is set....Sister Gibson goes to the back and finds some boxes and also discovers a trapped mouse in one. Not having anything to do with it she takes her boxes and asks Sister Schmitt to grab the one with the mouse in it. It doesn't take long for her to discover it and the screaming begins....Sister Gibson and Sister Murch are now busting a gut over her reaction....ultimately she grabs a dustpan a dispatches the little guy to mouse heaven.....Even though they don't have a mouse problem in the apartment I understand Elder Schmitt has taken away all her dustpans.
Rendezvous at the Cultural Hall....
....Leads to some Falls...and
Another Nauvoo Miracle!!
Let's face it.....older people are a little less agile than they used to be. For example.....it was only the night before that Sister Spradlin, one of our "younger and more agile missionaries" had missed a step coming down from the stage at Rendezvous and taken a tumble that left her shaken, bruised, and sore. Bruised and beaten she left the second show early to recuperate.
The next night it is Sister Shumway who falls victim. The previous Sunday she had me on a bench pulling down "buckeye's" and we were having a great time. She is nearly eighty and even though she is methodical in her steps she is still pretty active. We had just finished our opening "Welcome to Nauvoo" number and she had exited the rear door and was returning to the front of the Cultural Hall. Earlier in the day the grounds crew had been working on "felling" the big tree at the front and had clearly marked the walkway with red caution tape defining the boundaries of the danger. While avoiding the caution tape she failed to see the cone that it was attached to....ran right over it...and did a literal face plant. She lay their flat, face down not moving....and the panic ensued. Soon she responded....she said she was fine...no need to panic....she was just embarrassed. We sat her in a chair....but when she tried to get up...she couldn't support herself. We carried her to the front of the building....covered her in blankets....gave her a Priesthood blessing and did our best to humor her while we convinced her we needed to call an ambulance. She soon relented....Willingly because she had to. Meanwhile, the show is going on....missionaries scrambling to do their parts and then returning to see how she is doing. Soon she was on her way to the Ft. Madison hospital. Even though he had done a full face plant on concrete there was absolutely no damage to her face...it is still as lovely as ever. The diagnosis at Ft. Madison was a cracked patella (kneecap) and a sprained wrist. They sent her home with an immobilized knee to heal. Everyone was grateful.....it could have and should have been worse. And now the rest of the story.....
After our visit to Kolana we stopped by to give her a sweet treat and see how she was doing. She answered the door with a smile....no brace....no hobble....no limp. The hospital had called and told her they could find no sign of the fracture. There was hardly even a bruise on her knees. Even though she fill hard and caught herself with her hands.....there wasn't even a scratch.....She did a face plant on the concrete.....no bruises, scrapes, abrasions, or black eyes. Angels were there....she was blessed and protected!!.....another Nauvoo miracle!!
I often ask why is one granted a miracle and another not? We chose to come here and experience life...it's ups and downs, joys and pains, highs and lows. While I am not sure we fully understood the consequences of that choice....we did choose to follow the Savior and his plan. We always need to remember that and trust that our experiences are there to help us become what God intended. We are his children and he does love us!!
On to Sheetrock....off to Tear Out.....
....Back to Sheetrock
The Economou house is moving along.....slowly....but moving. I puttered along continuing to hang the sheetrock....5/8" (extra heavy) as opposed to 1/2" lightweight. I'm not bragging or complaining but some days it's amazing how much effort I have to put in to accomplish so little. It sure isn't like the "good old days"
Our electrician, Ben, is doing his best to keep up with all the little electrical issues that pop up. Elder Jensen, his newly assigned missionary, is back from his health problems and return trip to Utah to attend his mother-in-law's funeral but has been marshalled into service to help with the foundation on the Engle house.
It's Maxwell Time in Nauvoo......
We are still waiting for the engineer's report on the McConkie house we have decided to open up a new project....The Maxwell house (Yippppppeeeeeeee). This is probably one of the nicest homes the missionaries have used in the past and was usually occupied by one of the President's counselors. Not any more. It has been designated as the assistant FM directors home and it appears it needs some "minor" modifications and upgrading.
The beginning list is: remodel the entire exterior including enlarge some of the existing windows, including the basement, and replace all windows, restructure the interior from a three bedroom to a two bedroom home, totally rearrange and restructure the bathroom, all new flooring and painting, insulate and sheetrock the double garage, add a bedroom and bathroom downstairs, and frame in a mechanical room. Sadly the plan to put an addition to the house to accommodate a grand piano was rejected. The piano will just have to be stuffed in the living room. This is probably just the beginning because as we all have learned in Nauvoo....things change and get bigger and better.
With the help of Elder Schmitt, our missionary handy-man, we began tearing out all of the carpet. Pulling out carpet, padding tack strip out of hardwood floors is not a pleasure....it is hard work. I followed that up the following day by starting the tear out of the exterior siding to see what was under it. Good news as it turns out to be plywood so we could side it with Hardy Board (concrete siding like we used in the Schenck house) and we wouldn't have to place additional substrate on the walls. Hmmmmm, not so fast.... The next command was tear out a 4x8 section of the plywood on the front, side and back of the house to see what is behind that...it may need replacement insulation. I can see where this is going...bring it on....but please hold back the winter.
Odds...at the End
We knew it was going to be a big rain day on Saturday and so with opted out of the Spoon River Drive. The Beecher's came to our rescue and invited us to go with them to Kalona. We have enjoyed Kalona...but even more so the Amish Bakery there....you just can't beat the caramel pecan pull a-parts. The 12" diameter plate must weigh 2 pounds....mostly caramel and pecans...but the best was yet to come.
Working FM presents us few opportunities to really do missionary work but every once in a while we are granted a tender mercy. For example: As we exited from lunch we were startled with "You're a Mormon" from a group we were passing as they entered the restaurant. As we all revealed our badges she added a new comment.."I'm surrounded" as Elder Beecher completed the circle around her and her sister. "I used to be a Mormon", she started out. "You still are!" her sister chimed in. "Well, ever since I got married thirty nine years ago I haven't talked about it to my husband and we go to another church.....and read the bible. Sister Beecher charged in and reminded her of the scripture from Ezekiel...the Stick of Judah and the Stick of Joseph would be as one. The Bible is the stick of Judah...what is the Stick of Joseph? As we testified that it was the Book of Mormon she listened and then wanted to know where that was found and she would take it to her Bible study class and ask about it. Somebody's in for a hard question. For the next twenty minutes we talked and laughed about her involvement and memories. Her sister stepped up and told us she hadn't been active for years since her divorce but was very receptive that it was time for her to come back. We handed out a pass along card and invited them to return to visit Nauvoo...Especially the sites and the Christmas Walk. It was a great experience for us to feel the spirit of the mission.
The rains came in droves on Saturday as we sat around after returning from Kalona. Then the lightning flashed and the thunder roared. Then the phone alerts started blaring and soon thereafter, it was the tornado sirens screaming.
The last time this happened I was on stage at Rendezvous and not wanting to get stuffed into the Green Room at the Cultural Hall I sent everybody there and watched through the windows as the sirens blared and rains fell. Soon all was past.
It worked last time so I employed the same strategy...at least I watched and waited as the threat disappeared . As for the other folks in the apartments...they did what they should do and ran to the Lindeburg's basement shelter. They seemed to be having a good time. Especially the young Sister missionaries who were trying to explain how to long on the teaching center...seems like many, including us, are having a difficulty with it.
It was time for our monthly get together for the MTC group and so we trundled off to Keokuk to V's restaurant. It is a great time for us to get together and talk about our mission experiences and what has been going on. The only downside was the Friday night square dancing group went on without us....or maybe it didn't....we haven't heard back on it.
Anyway we missed them.
We knew it was coming....we just didn't know when. Well, it's here....much earlier than expected.
Elder Larry K. Hughes was announced this week in training meeting as the new counselor to President Hall. I know it was inspiration.....I just hope the President is prepared for it. He and his wife, Janece are some of our closest friends and we have known them since we were all called to serve together. He has character.....and is a character. There are none better!!
I don't know exactly what that says for the Sarah Granger cast as we now have the two counselors to the president with us. Either we need a lot of guidance or we have an exceptionally blessed group....I will go with the latter!!
What was now tunnels of corn have now become vast fields of stubble and the immensity of the farm land again reveals itself. Soon these will be tilled under and the land will remain dormant until spring and the process will repeat itself. As for the many animals that have come to call these places home must now scramble to find refuge and prepare for winter.
Sometimes... A Mouse in the FM House......
.....Can be a Laughing Matter!
Sister Murch was recently called to be in charge of the mail room and Missionary D. I. So her first order of business is to clean out many contributions that have been cluttering the D.I. In order to do this she needs some boxes and goes down to Conservation to get some from Sister Gibson and Sister Schmitt who have been discussing their terrifying fear of mice for sometime now.....the stage is set....Sister Gibson goes to the back and finds some boxes and also discovers a trapped mouse in one. Not having anything to do with it she takes her boxes and asks Sister Schmitt to grab the one with the mouse in it. It doesn't take long for her to discover it and the screaming begins....Sister Gibson and Sister Murch are now busting a gut over her reaction....ultimately she grabs a dustpan a dispatches the little guy to mouse heaven.....Even though they don't have a mouse problem in the apartment I understand Elder Schmitt has taken away all her dustpans.
Rendezvous at the Cultural Hall....
....Leads to some Falls...and
Another Nauvoo Miracle!!
The next night it is Sister Shumway who falls victim. The previous Sunday she had me on a bench pulling down "buckeye's" and we were having a great time. She is nearly eighty and even though she is methodical in her steps she is still pretty active. We had just finished our opening "Welcome to Nauvoo" number and she had exited the rear door and was returning to the front of the Cultural Hall. Earlier in the day the grounds crew had been working on "felling" the big tree at the front and had clearly marked the walkway with red caution tape defining the boundaries of the danger. While avoiding the caution tape she failed to see the cone that it was attached to....ran right over it...and did a literal face plant. She lay their flat, face down not moving....and the panic ensued. Soon she responded....she said she was fine...no need to panic....she was just embarrassed. We sat her in a chair....but when she tried to get up...she couldn't support herself. We carried her to the front of the building....covered her in blankets....gave her a Priesthood blessing and did our best to humor her while we convinced her we needed to call an ambulance. She soon relented....Willingly because she had to. Meanwhile, the show is going on....missionaries scrambling to do their parts and then returning to see how she is doing. Soon she was on her way to the Ft. Madison hospital. Even though he had done a full face plant on concrete there was absolutely no damage to her face...it is still as lovely as ever. The diagnosis at Ft. Madison was a cracked patella (kneecap) and a sprained wrist. They sent her home with an immobilized knee to heal. Everyone was grateful.....it could have and should have been worse. And now the rest of the story.....
After our visit to Kolana we stopped by to give her a sweet treat and see how she was doing. She answered the door with a smile....no brace....no hobble....no limp. The hospital had called and told her they could find no sign of the fracture. There was hardly even a bruise on her knees. Even though she fill hard and caught herself with her hands.....there wasn't even a scratch.....She did a face plant on the concrete.....no bruises, scrapes, abrasions, or black eyes. Angels were there....she was blessed and protected!!.....another Nauvoo miracle!!
I often ask why is one granted a miracle and another not? We chose to come here and experience life...it's ups and downs, joys and pains, highs and lows. While I am not sure we fully understood the consequences of that choice....we did choose to follow the Savior and his plan. We always need to remember that and trust that our experiences are there to help us become what God intended. We are his children and he does love us!!
On to Sheetrock....off to Tear Out.....
....Back to Sheetrock
The Economou house is moving along.....slowly....but moving. I puttered along continuing to hang the sheetrock....5/8" (extra heavy) as opposed to 1/2" lightweight. I'm not bragging or complaining but some days it's amazing how much effort I have to put in to accomplish so little. It sure isn't like the "good old days"
Our electrician, Ben, is doing his best to keep up with all the little electrical issues that pop up. Elder Jensen, his newly assigned missionary, is back from his health problems and return trip to Utah to attend his mother-in-law's funeral but has been marshalled into service to help with the foundation on the Engle house.
It's Maxwell Time in Nauvoo......
The beginning list is: remodel the entire exterior including enlarge some of the existing windows, including the basement, and replace all windows, restructure the interior from a three bedroom to a two bedroom home, totally rearrange and restructure the bathroom, all new flooring and painting, insulate and sheetrock the double garage, add a bedroom and bathroom downstairs, and frame in a mechanical room. Sadly the plan to put an addition to the house to accommodate a grand piano was rejected. The piano will just have to be stuffed in the living room. This is probably just the beginning because as we all have learned in Nauvoo....things change and get bigger and better.
With the help of Elder Schmitt, our missionary handy-man, we began tearing out all of the carpet. Pulling out carpet, padding tack strip out of hardwood floors is not a pleasure....it is hard work. I followed that up the following day by starting the tear out of the exterior siding to see what was under it. Good news as it turns out to be plywood so we could side it with Hardy Board (concrete siding like we used in the Schenck house) and we wouldn't have to place additional substrate on the walls. Hmmmmm, not so fast.... The next command was tear out a 4x8 section of the plywood on the front, side and back of the house to see what is behind that...it may need replacement insulation. I can see where this is going...bring it on....but please hold back the winter.
Odds...at the End
Working FM presents us few opportunities to really do missionary work but every once in a while we are granted a tender mercy. For example: As we exited from lunch we were startled with "You're a Mormon" from a group we were passing as they entered the restaurant. As we all revealed our badges she added a new comment.."I'm surrounded" as Elder Beecher completed the circle around her and her sister. "I used to be a Mormon", she started out. "You still are!" her sister chimed in. "Well, ever since I got married thirty nine years ago I haven't talked about it to my husband and we go to another church.....and read the bible. Sister Beecher charged in and reminded her of the scripture from Ezekiel...the Stick of Judah and the Stick of Joseph would be as one. The Bible is the stick of Judah...what is the Stick of Joseph? As we testified that it was the Book of Mormon she listened and then wanted to know where that was found and she would take it to her Bible study class and ask about it. Somebody's in for a hard question. For the next twenty minutes we talked and laughed about her involvement and memories. Her sister stepped up and told us she hadn't been active for years since her divorce but was very receptive that it was time for her to come back. We handed out a pass along card and invited them to return to visit Nauvoo...Especially the sites and the Christmas Walk. It was a great experience for us to feel the spirit of the mission.
The last time this happened I was on stage at Rendezvous and not wanting to get stuffed into the Green Room at the Cultural Hall I sent everybody there and watched through the windows as the sirens blared and rains fell. Soon all was past.
It worked last time so I employed the same strategy...at least I watched and waited as the threat disappeared . As for the other folks in the apartments...they did what they should do and ran to the Lindeburg's basement shelter. They seemed to be having a good time. Especially the young Sister missionaries who were trying to explain how to long on the teaching center...seems like many, including us, are having a difficulty with it.
It was time for our monthly get together for the MTC group and so we trundled off to Keokuk to V's restaurant. It is a great time for us to get together and talk about our mission experiences and what has been going on. The only downside was the Friday night square dancing group went on without us....or maybe it didn't....we haven't heard back on it.
Anyway we missed them.
Elder Larry K. Hughes was announced this week in training meeting as the new counselor to President Hall. I know it was inspiration.....I just hope the President is prepared for it. He and his wife, Janece are some of our closest friends and we have known them since we were all called to serve together. He has character.....and is a character. There are none better!!
I don't know exactly what that says for the Sarah Granger cast as we now have the two counselors to the president with us. Either we need a lot of guidance or we have an exceptionally blessed group....I will go with the latter!!
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