Sister Sarah Bailey and Valentines

 As Sarah Bailey watched all six of her older siblings serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she longed for the opportunity to serve her own mission.

 Sarah was called to the Illinois, Nauvoo mission this year for February 2nd through February 9th. Sarah has a strong testimony and loves to serve. 

 Since Sarah served primarily in the Family Living Center where Elder Johnson and I serve as Site Leaders we had the privilege of working with her most of the week. She demonstrated her love for music as she sang the hymn, "Be Still My Soul."

Sarah also helped give tours bearing testimony of her love of Jesus Christ.

 Sarah is a talented bread maker. 

She made bread for us in the evening on her own time. It was delicious.

 Sarah told us that she even has her own business at her home in St Louis, Missouri making and labeling loaves of bread.

 One task that Sarah helped us with was assembling a jig saw puzzle of one of the Nauvoo Sites. 

Sarah used some puzzle glue to make the picture permanent, and on her last day, 

 presented the finished art work to President Gibbons.

Happy Valentines Everyone!

 Elder Johnson and I were in charge of the February 14th missionary activity. 

We titled it "Kick Up Your Heels and Parlor Games."

We started in the Family Living Center with food and line dancing.

 Choloate dipping was a favorite.

 We ended the night with the choice of dancing on the third floor of the Cultural Hall where Joseph and Emma Smith most likely danced or staying in the Family Living Center and playing games with President Gibbons. With 115 missionaries all with different abilities and passions, choice was good.

Reports of the evening's events were favorable and we are now ready for our next project.

Looks like we may be learning parts to a different vignette in Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo.

We had a Relief Society lesson today from a manual called Teachings of the Prophets of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson (1999-1994). (For those of you who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Relief Society is a world wide women's organization.) 

We read quotes from Ezra Taft Benson on the importance of choosing to be happy.

Here are a few notes that I wrote down as women gave their two bits.

1. When it comes to being happy, fake it until you make it.

2. When someone says they don't want to do something that you need them to do, ask them to change their mind.

3. You can go just about anywhere you want to by walking fast and looking happy.

4. Happiness like faith is as much a choice as it is a feeling.

5. Sunshine all the time makes a desert.

6. Growth comes from adversity. However, it helps to think of adversity as merely an inconvenience.

7. An optimistic way to face financial struggles is to respond with the words, "Good thing we're rich." (Since we're all blessed with many wonderful things, we're rich even if our bank account is low.)

8.You are never fully dressed without a smile. (Name that movie.)

I always like to leave you with an invitation. This week I hope you'll strive to be happy and child-like as Christ invited us to do. Remember, child-like is not the same as childish :) .