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.