Playing in the Mississippi mud

The grand kids enjoyed finding and trapping frogs and insects. Even the baby girls were intrigued. Fortunately, snakes haven't yet made their debut in our world. I fear I would have retreated to the indoors if they had.

We also included decent activities like going to church and posing for family pictures.

Adam brought a game of croquet. Of course, Elder Johnson won and all were good sports.

Yum! Is that a juicy black cricket?

Pioneer Past Times

One of my favorite sites in Nauvoo is called Pioneer Past Times. While most of our children and spouses attended the Nauvoo Temple last week, Elder Johnson and I supervised while twelve of our grandchildren played as pioneers once did. The children were happy regardless of age, and therefore, so were we.

 Aria, above, resembles my sister Jane. Every time I look at her, I think of my sweet sister. There is something about her eyes.

 There are even toys for adults.

Are these some of the most darling children you've ever seen?

Not that we're prejudice or anything.

What we've been up to!

Meesa and her three children were the first to arrive in Nauvoo. They came Friday, August 15th in time to catch Elder Johnson and me giving tours. Elder Johnson was in the Browning Gun Shop and I was in the Sylvester Stoddard Tin Shop.

As you see, we are now wearing period clothes.

 Saturday morning we went on a carriage ride with Meesa and children through the back roads of Nauvoo including Inspiration Point.

 I am always amazed at the health and beauty of the horses. The teamsters do an amazing job and the narration is fun and informative.

The pictures below were taken in Carthage as you may recognize from other posts.

 In the debtor's cell where Joseph and Hyrum Smith along with eight other friends spent the night on Tuesday, June 25, 1844

Carter with the dungeon cell keys. 

Elder Johnson gave a special tour which included checking out the dungeon cell keys. 

They work! However, the picture came out too dark to post.

In the martyrdom room which is also the jailer's master bedroom

Outside the jail 

The window on the 2nd floor shown below is the window that Joseph Smith fell from as he was shot.

 Stay tuned as there will be more to come in a day or two.

Elder Johnson and I are serving in Nauvoo every day now, and each day we are asked to serve in a new historic site with different history to learn. We are finally starting to remember most of what we need to know and should be on top of our game soon.

We are as organized as we need to be in our new housing in Nauvoo. It is a three bedroom home located about 7 bike minutes from most of the sites we serve at. Elder Johnson and I usually serve at different sites and on different shifts so I take the car leaving a used bike for Elder Johnson.

The weather turned off hot and humid this week. Summer is finally here, but we are relieved that most of the season has been amazingly pleasant and fall is only a month or so away.

Ellie's Nauvoo Baptism

So long Carthage. Below is the beautiful Bushnel mansion where we have lived for the past 4 1/2 months. Of course we shared it with five other couples each with a one bedroom apartment, but still, it was home.

 The picture below was taken the last day of work outside the Carthage Jail. We are now relocated in Nauvoo and Carthage is already a fading memory.

Initially, we were concerned about the timing of our move as it was literally right on top of planning for the baptism of our granddaughter, Ellie Rose here in Nauvoo. It actually worked out terrificly because we moved and organized on our own time at night and then used our moving days to be with our children and grand- children. It was wonderful.

 Ellie

Those who were able to come were: Aaron, Michelle, Blake, Dylan, (from McKinney, Texas) Meesa, Carter, Avry, Keely, (from Ft Lauderdale, Florida) Alma, Chelsea, Porter, Amy, Ellie of course, Gavin, Aria, (from Spring Creek, Nevada) Adam, Becki, Mia, Zoey (from Carrie, Illinois). All families drove. Thank you to all for making a wonderful weekend for Ellie and Elder Johnson and me.

 Adam, Aaron, Porter, Carter

 Ellie's Aunt Sarah and family from Nebraska were also able to attend. We welcome a representative from Alma's family!

 Picture below shows everyone

Stay tuned and I'll catch you up soon with our new Nauvoo life.