Lots of Pics

The last week was a blur, just so much happening.  The best I can do, three days later than I usually post, is to load up on pictures.  So enjoy :0)

Scott had the chance to serve in the Family Living Center
and made his first batch of bread...pretty proud of that :0)

A Nauvoo tradition is “Bootiful Nauvoo”.  It’s an all-out Halloween party.  The city puts together a parade, music, Pumpkin Walk, spook alley, scarecrow festival and more.  This year, as always, the missionaries helped carve 500 pumpkins that were lined up along Mulholland Street.  We popped enough kettle corn to fill 5,000 bags to hand out.  The rain put a bit of a damper on the night, but there were still a lot of people that braved the elements.  All in all it was a fun night.

In middle of the week we helped a bit with the pumpkin cleaning. 
When you have to clean that many pumpkins, it's a process.

Then the carving began.  As you'll see, some of the
pumpkins are very detailed.

My biggest contribution :0)

And here is a Nauvoo fall.

At the Visitors' Center

Along Partridge Street.

Bootiful Nauvoo and the Pumpkin Walk

No two pumpkins have the same design.

The Chinese Dragon in the Halloween Parade.

Looks better with the candle in it!

Carthage

Jaime Burton and Jared Sorensen, two of Scott's former
students that ended up marrying each other.  It was so fun to
have them in Carthage with their family.

Elder & Sister Burton, Jaime's parents, are serving here as temple
missionaries.  We've loved having them here in Nauvoo with us.

Jaime & Jared's family in Seventies Hall with Scott.
They loved dressing up like missionaries!

Carthage Jail

I love this picture.  Those lucky teamsters get to have this view every day!

A beautiful shot of the temple, courtesy of Elder Cornwell.

Family Week

Not that this cow is family...but he sure is cute.  This past week was busy and lots of fun!  The best part was sharing Nauvoo with our family.  Zachary came with Jeremy & Carrie Stevenson, their kids, and Heidi. There’s just something about sharing what you love with family and hoping they end up loving it as much as you do. 

Since they were here for two days they visited most of the sites and took a wagon & carriage ride.  On our pday we gave them a tour of the Carthage Jail and testified of Joseph’s prophetic leadership in that sacred place.  What a tender mercy.  Zachary hung out with the teamsters early Friday morning and they talked shop; horses, cows, hunting and ranching.  We also spent some time in the temple which was a highlight.  It just made me happy to have them all here, learning about the people of Nauvoo and what inspired them to live so faithfully.

Sunday night we had a mission fireside with President & Sister Irion, the Nauvoo Temple president and matron.  They were joined by Elder & Sister Webster who serve in the temple as well.  Sister Irion and Sister Webster are daughters of President Russell M. Nelson.  They told about life with their “daddy”, what an amazing mother they had, and what it was like to grow up in their home.  It was a fun night but what I felt most was a confirmation that Russell M. Nelson was prepared to be the prophet and, in particular, to be the prophet for our day. 

We love serving our Heavenly Father as his missionaries and are grateful for every opportunity that comes our way to testify of him.  We are grateful to be his representatives, grateful to be surrounded by such amazing missionaries, and grateful to be serving in this holy place.

In the upstairs bedroom in the Carthage Jail.

So great to have Zachary with us!

At the Print Shop with Elder Thatcher.

Gotta have a brick from your dad at the Brickyard.

Laughing at one of Scott's "Dad jokes" in the Blacksmith Shop.

Crowded around our little card table playing games.
A bit of family bonding.

Zachary's happy place :0)

On Elder Thatcher's last day to serve in the sites
he got to be with Scott in the home of Jonathan Browning.
Elder & Sister Thatcher complete their mission this week.

On Sunday we served at Brigham Young's home. 
It was a gorgeous fall day.

The leaves haven't really started to change yet, but will soon.

The view from inside Brigham Young's home.