A Day in Independence with my Siblings

Paul, DeEtte, Charlene and Dean at Truman Library

Here we are at the Truman Home

I was so happy that Dean, Charlene, DeEtte and Paul were able to come to Independence for a couple of nights on their way home. They had been to Palmyra, Nauvoo -- and wherever else, but I was so happy that they fit this stop into their trip. We spent Monday night when they arrived at our apartment for dinner and visiting. Then on Tuesday, I took the day off and we went to the Truman Library, the Truman Home and the Visitor's Center. It was delightful. Thanks again for making the stop here. We missed not having you there, Beverly and Frank.

Still More Nauvoo

The monument of Joseph and Hyrum on their last ride out of Nauvoo

Where the Saints left from across the Mississippi River when they were driven out of Nauvoo

The beautiful Nauvoo Temple

The young man who played King Follett in the Pageant.

The Prophet Joseph giving the King Follett discourse

We attended church Sunday morning before driving home. When we had attended the Pageant, there was a young Catholic priest who was there. I'm sure they are always invited. Last year when I attended, that was the case also. Anyway, while we were waiting for church to start, this young Catholic priest came in and sat on the back row. Shortly after, Jeff (the young man who played Joseph Smith) came in and sat down by the Catholic priest. I thought that was great -- Joseph Smith and the Catholic priest sat together through church.

We then drove home and were happy to have a little time to rest before returning to work. It was a very fun trip.

Our Time with Joseph Smith

This young man (Jeff Dickamore, from Centerville) was truly amazing playing the part of Joseph Smith. He really made Joseph Smith come alive.

Joseph Smith doing what he did so well at -- stick pulling (or whatever it was called). He had several young men (and one young woman challenge him). As you can see he was always the winner, although he tried to help each one understand a little better how they could perhaps be the winner. What was so cute, is that a little 8-eight year old boy wanted to do it, and Joseph let him be a winner (he did a great somersault). It was very cute.

Nauvoo

A sightseeing wagon ride

Dean, Charlene, myself, DeEtte and Paul (We had just watched the King Follett discourse by Joseph Smith)

Sister Reber and Sister Walker sporting their tennis shoes in the seats they had saved for the Pageant

Ann, myself and Sister Reber

Ann and I someplace -- sure can't remember where, but the Nauvoo Temple is in the background

We continued on to Nauvoo after lunch in Hannibal and settled into our little motel room for the next three nights. I can't recall all we did, but I know we managed to get pretty much everything in. We met up with Sister Reber, a missionary that we had become friends with in the MTC. It was fun to see her perform in the Rendezvous and Sunset musicals. We were able to go to lunch with her and to Annie's Frozen Custard (we managed to visit Annie's every day we were there).

What made it extra special for me was that my brother, Dean, his wife Charlene, my sister De Ette and her husband Paul were there. They had been to Palmyra to the Pageant and it worked out that they were in Nauvoo on the same weekend that we had planned to be there. How amazing is that. It made the trip extra special.

Another Trip?

Those who know Ann won't believe this picture. (She really isn't a McDonald's fan (we didn't eat there), but she sure looks cute with Ronald -- don't you think?)

Becky's Home

Mark Twain home

Hannibal on the Mississippi

Tom and Huck

We really do work hard five days a week (with a couple of exceptions), and are enjoying very much what we do and know that we're performing an important work. We have completed lots of books that are ready to go on the internet, but right now the church is looking for more space. We'll just keep on working.

It's been so hot and muggy here. We're really finding out what humidity is all about. There have been enough lightning/thunder storms to keep things watered and green still. It sure wouldn't take long for things to dry up if the rain stopped.

We did have another really fun trip, however -- to Nauvoo. We left on a Thursday morning and returned on Sunday, so we had time to take in all the shows, which we loved. Our first stop was Hannibal, where we finally got to visit with Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. It's a beautiful area right on the Mississippi River.

Independence Day in Independence

The BBQ was great

Our front row seats - Sisters Brown, Lee, Williams and Marshall

How sad is this for a fireworks picture -- it really was big and pretty

Independence Day in Independence was delightful. The City does their fireworks on the LDS property behind the Stake Center on Saturday night (July 3rd), which was nice for all of us missionaries. The senior missionaries had a BBQ before the fireworks which was enjoyable. We were on the back side of property from where the rest of the crowd was and had great front row seats for the fireworks. Try as I might, I just wasn't successful at taking a good picture of the fireworks. (How did you do it, Whitney -- her pictures (on the beach) were spectacular.)

Lake of the Ozarks

Upon arrival

View from living room

Ann going for the Frozen Custard -- me too!During storm

Within minutes after storm

We decided to take a short weekend trip to Lake of the Ozarks, which is only a 3-hour drive. Ann has a timeshare there and so we had a lovely place to stay for a couple of nights. I'm always amazed how beautiful this part of the country is when we take these short trips, and Lake of the Ozarks is really, really beautiful. What's amazing to me is that it's a man-made lake that is huge with miles and miles of fingers (lakes) sprouting off with always a continuous mass of trees. The lake that you see here is just one of the many fingers of the lake. I just can't even begin to describe it. We always find a fun place to eat (as well as a BBQ on the patio) and drive around to do lots of sightseeing and just relax in the beautiful timeshare. I'm grateful that we have the opportunity to see these beautiful places while we're here, as it's doubtful I will ever make it back.

We did have the experience of a couple of Missouri thunder/lightning/high wind/torrents of rain storm while we were there -- one while we were out shopping (we really hustled out of a store to drive quickly back to the timeshare, as it was a little scary to see -- and there is always the possibility of tornadoes) and one while we were driving home. That was a little scary too. In fact I got off the road when I couldn't see in front of me and the wind was about blowing me off the road to wait it out for a while. It's quite amazing to be in one of those storms -- the skies turn black and winds pick up to 60-70 mph in what seems like only minutes. However, they don't seem to last too long, and then the sun comes out and it's beautiful again. At least that was the case that weekend.

We attended a ward there that we really enjoyed. It seems like we always run into someone that knows someone we know or has lived someplace that we've lived. Amazing what a small world it is. I really love that no matter where we go, the gospel is the same.

In addition to our little side trips, we're working hard at the library and enjoying very much what we do -- we even know what we're doing now and so getting lots done. We're grateful for this opportunity and for the blessings that we're receiving.