A White Christmas....A Bitter Cold Week.....
        ....the Warmth of a Family Visit!!

 

     We awoke Christmas morning to what had been sung about (but not dreamed of) for weeks.... a White Christmas......How romantic.  That was the good news.  Since then it has turned into what we had been told for by everyone before we came....."the winters are very cold".  Almost everyday was in the teen's or single digits and the nights often carried a -sign in front of them.  Christmas day was pretty dull by Gibson Christmas standards but our hearts were full that we were able to be here and serve the Lord during our "Mission to Nauvoo".  Our tree reflected our love for the family as we put up ornaments remembering each of our children and grandchildren.  The silver ornaments reflecting the Saviors many rolls in our lives (from Isaiah)  helped us focus on His birth.  Atop the tree was the big "G" that told us that our Gibson family is "The Tops".  We proudly wore our Christmas socks and aprons from the Gibson's.  

     We got together with our MTC group and celebrated with them at the Lundeberg's with a delicious Christmas Ham and all the trimmings.  While "Face Timing" was special it couldn't be overlooked that we all looked forward to being together with our families in person next year.

     T

      The rest of the week we got a taste of the "real deal" as The Texas Gibson's made a visit to Nauvoo.  Originally we had planned on a "sandwich" visit as they were headed to Chicago and were going to catch us coming and going.  They changed plans and decided to spend most of their family trip with Grandma and Grandpa in Nauvoo.  We had a great time for three days and four nights...even though we had to fulfill our duties during the days we had great times doing things together in the late afternoons and evenings.  The highlight was just being together with them....even if it included a shopping trip to Shopko to watch them spend their gift cards we had given them for Christmas.  Eric got a mouthful of suds when he mistakenly bit into a bar of decorative Nauvoo soap disguised as a piece of white chocolate.  Eden's creative use of Post-it notes to create a new family game which we all played.  It had something to do with numbers, frowny and smiley faces and passing them around as Eden directed.  In the end there was an eventual winner....as usual it just wasn't me.

     Kimball was enthralled with Grandma's dancing/singing snowman that he played with on the hearth of our make believe fireplace.  The highlight was when it fell off and he would scream for glee. We took in a movie after dinner at the Pizza Ranch in Burlington.  The Greatest Showman was a musical about the life of Circus king P.T. Barnum.  Kimball never could quite get into it and about thirty minutes into the movie was pretty much done.  At the end of a particularly upbeat number he loudly exclaimed as things quieted....."Hurrah......it's over!!"  Only the promise of a ride on a car in front of the theater kept him somewhat happy.  

     Krishelle and Emeri had a really, really cool idea (actually a very cold idea).  They wanted to go down to the Mississippi and take pictures.  Along the way we passed the temple and we couldn't miss a temple shot for Kreshelle.  Once at the river Emeri jumped for joy recreating a picture we had taken during the summer.  We would take pictures for five minutes.....thaw for ten....and repeat the procedure until we were all too cold to do it any more.

     Time passed quickly and soon it was Friday.  They left for St. Louis after stopping by FM to say goodbye to Grandma.  I had primed Eric so when he was introduced to Marcus he got a wry smile, looked at the family and said "Marcus....hmmm....This is the guy Grandpa talks about allllll the time"

Marcus was quick to respond that "he wasn't as bad as I portrayed him".  I don't think they gave those words a thought.....

It may have been really cold

But they warmed my heart!!

This Kid's a Bundle of Joy..

and so is his mother!!

The Value of a Paid Employee...

                               .....And a New Hall

     Some of you may remember that Mom got an FM Supervisor a while back.  Someone who actually gets paid to work in Nauvoo FM.  Jennifer Franklin is living in Nauvoo and was hired by FM to work with  supervise   the missionaries in Conservation.  She is now riding herd over three Sisters but when it comes to age and experience she doesn't stand a chance.  With Sister Gibson leading the charge they are teaching her the ropes of Conservation. If there is a dirty or difficult job she is there and willing to take it on.  Not a lot of  sympathy from  the Sisters.  

     Conservation was assigned to take a picture of tile samples sent by the Salt Lake decorator to redo the floor in the mission presidents bathroom.  After the Hall's leave and before President Lusvardi moves in, FM is going to do some work in the Presidential Manor.  Sister Gibson took the lead and convinced Jennifer  that the best possible picture was to empty our the vanity cabinet and have Jennifer climb in to take the picture.  So she did...... It's probably best we're gone by April 1st....Jennifer could be in for a real surprise.  (April Fools Day)

     The Conservation group grew by one last week as Sister Hall2 was added to the group.  She is a Canadian and, with her husband, they have worked a ranch there for their entire married lives.  Sister Gibson reports she is a real go-getter and they have lots  of fun together....Isn't that a surprise!  She works hard at cheering us all up....It's -50 in Canada where she is from!!

Sheetrock is so Fun.....
     .....I Can Only Wish we were Done!!

     Meanwhile, back at the Maxwell house we just keep plugging along.  Elder Pollock has been gone all week dealing with the death of his son and so without much help I kept the project rolling along.  Each day last week got colder and colder and those Elders who had outside projects came scurrying in like mice from the snow.  Most didn't stay too long.....sheetrock is not an enjoyable task and most have done more than they every wanted to do so any alternative is always a better option.  Elder's Hall and Hawkins made brief visits and even picked up a sander and mudding tools.  I sent them back to the Economou House to work on it.  Ninety minutes later they were back with dirty tools heading off to somewhere in the hinterlands to do something.  Midweek, however, Elder Corder, our brick mason, dropped in for the long haul and we got the rest of the rock hung and the first floor mostly mudded.  He's a lot better with brick but he is so willing and such a hard worker.   If anyone finds out we're so much alike we might be separated quickly.

 

Out With the Old.....
                    .....Let's Get on With the New!!

         New Years Eve came early to our world and so we celebrated on Saturday the 30th at the Pageant Center.  We did it in style with dancing, games, and plenty of food. The big balloon drop went off flawlessly at midnight as planned.  Yup...right at midnight .....in somewhere like Brazil and only a day early.  Here in Nauvoo it was ten and most of us could hardly keep awake.  We had a little entertainment thrown in....Elder Spencer and his Cowboy Poetry,the highlight was a segment on his first experience neutering male calves.  Elder Nielsen2 played the guitar and sang Gene Autry Songs.  My dear friend Sister Hipple  emceed  Name That Tune  the same way she directed Rendezvous (no surprise there)....she saw what she wanted to see and made up the rules as she went.  Now in all fairness I also want to throw in that she talked Sunday morning in Sacrament meeting and gave a great talk about embracing  change.....something we have all become accustomed to here in Nauvoo. 

     The real Balloon drop for the rest of the world will be Sunday night.  Don't think I will see that one either.  All in all 2018 will soon be upon us.  For the Gibson's it will mark the 3rd year we have been in the mission field.  Now doesn't that sound impressive?    We are happy to be here as it has added to our personal growth and I am sure we will look back with memories that will bring smiles to our faces. So from us to you............