The Lord is my light.

This week has been an interesting one…it’s more quiet in the historic sites with fewer guests, but just as busy in the office as we prepare for some of our young sister missionaries head home this week, and throughout the next month and a half.  We also have the rest of the sister missionaries who will leave for their outbound assignments by the end of October.  There’s an excitement in the air, along with a bit of anxiety and fear  :0) I will miss them all!  They make me happy when I'm around them because they carry light, our Heavenly Father's light.  I hope I can be like them when I grow up!

The question I have thought about this week is, “How do I know my Heavenly Father loves me?”  I haven’t made an exhaustive list yet, but what would my answer be to that question?  What would your answer be?  What evidence is there in your life that your Heavenly Father loves you and cares about you, that he wants the best for you? For me, my list begins like this…

• I know my Heavenly Father loves me because he was willing to allow his son to come to earth and sacrifice his life for me, for my pains and my frailties.
• I know my Heavenly Father loves me because he has blessed my life with a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
• I know my Heavenly Father loves me because he saw to it that I have the Book of Mormon to inspire and lift me every day.
• I know my Heavenly Father loves me because he created this amazing earth, in all its glory and beauty, for me to enjoy.
• I know my Heavenly Father loves me because he has placed me in a family with a husband who cares for me and three awesome kids.
• I know my Heavenly Father loves me because he has given me the gift of serving in the Illinois Nauvoo Mission, to walk the streets where early apostles and prophets walked, and where modern day prophets still do. 
• I know my Heavenly Father loves me because I feel him every day.

And the list goes on...

Each day I see God's hand in my life and I recognize his tender mercies.  Here are just a few pictures from the wedding day. We love Matthew and Shannon!

WhoHoooo!!!

Just a little friendly competition on the
climbing bears at Pioneer Pastimes :0)

We had some delicious barbecue with friends at Fat Jimmy's in Montrose, IA:
The Holts, Crumps, Whitings and Greens

What a force for good!  These Young Sister Missionaries are more than amazing!
Their Sunday concert was awesome!  I am so grateful they are willing to share their talents.

 Instead of going to Swiss Days in Midway this Labor Day weekend,
I checked out the booths at the Nauvoo Grape Festival :0)

So can you believe this?!  It's Brian Burton who was one of Scott's
students and he served at our wedding!  Brian and his family came to
Nauvoo to visit his parents, Fred and Judy Burton who are temple
 missionaries. It was just so great to see him!  

The whole Burton bunch with Scott at the Brickyard.

We love the Willmore's!  They are the Special Projects Missionaries who are
helping with the restoration projects that are going on here in Nauvoo. 
There are four homes currently being restored.  The homes of
William Weeks, William Gheen, Edward Hunter, and Orson Hyde.

This is William Weeks's home.  He was the architect of the Nauvoo Temple.

One of William Weeks's original architectural
drawings of the Nauvoo Temple.

The home of William Gheen.  He worked on the temple construction nearly
every day from 1842 until his death in 1845.  William and his wife Esther are the
great grandparents of Spencer W. Kimball.

This is the excavated foundation of the Edward Hunter home that will be
totally restored.  The Hunter home was a place of refuge for Joseph Smith
when his life was in danger and where he received the revelations that
later became Doctrine & Covenants 127 & 128

Edward Hunter home location.
Previous restoration pictures taken by Elder Cornwell.

Home of Orson Hyde. He was an original member of the Twelve Apostles
and called as a missionary to dedicate the Holy Land.