Christmas in Old Nauvoo

Thanks to a wonderful friend, Toni McBean, we have a Christmas decoration of the Nativity. Underneath it is a beautiful crocheted doily given to us by one of our missionaries here. It provides shelter for our little Holy Family. I also brought with me a Christmas poinsettia wall hanging to help it feel like home. We celebrate with all of you the birth of our precious Savior, Jesus Christ. His surroundings were very humble at His birth, and they are humble as well in our little Nauvoo home, but the Spirit of the season is here. We will not be able to share it with any of you, at least physically. But we hope you know of our love for each of you and our wishes for your Merry Christmas time. 

A short time ago, we were given a set of hand-knitted Christmas stockings by a friend who is in our Lucy Mack Rendezvous cast. She had made a set for her and her husband, and I really admired them and I wanted her to show me how to make them. Well, all of a sudden she told me she was making me a pair. What a sweet gift--one we will treasure always. They will be used by us as long as we are . . . . See our neat litte fireplace--sealed up of course--but it is unique. Makes you want to put a log in it though on these cold nights. It may get down to -20 degrees tonight with the wind chill. Brrrrr!!

It has been a busy time for all of us missionaries. Last post I told you of our bow and wreath making in preparation for our annual "Christmas in Old Nauvoo." This took place on December 6th. LeRoy and I had an assignment in the "Printing Office"--one of our historical sites. I told the story of the origin of the Christmas Carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". LeRoy helped control the number of people who attended, because our space was limited. All along Main Street others were telling stories about Christmas Carols and we had a live Nativity performing in the Cultural Hall. Afterwards, we, along with guests who attended, gathered at the Family Living Center for refreshments. As the night progressed, and it was VERY cold, the musical missionaries brought out their instruments and we danced and danced. I finally drug LeRoy out onto the floor and he, to his amazement, began to really enjoy it. They were playing all our favorite oldies--for all us oldies. It was great fun.

A tragedy did occur that night. One of our caroling sister missionaries was standing close to a fire barrel put out to provide warmth for all those strolling the streets. A gust of wind blew her long missionary dress close to the decorative cut-out design in the barrel, and embers caught the back of her dress on fire. She was severely burned before they could get her to the ground. She and her husband were due to go home because their mission was over the following week. She is currently recovering in the burn unit of a hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Hopefully, she will be able to fly home before Christmas. This was a very disturbing incident for all who witnessed it and heard about it. She continues to be in our prayers.

I want to share a quote with you by Howard W. Hunter when he was president of the Church. "Never did the Savior give an expectation of receiving. He gave freely and lovingly, and His gifts were of inestimable value. He gave eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, and legs to the lame, cleanliness to the unclean, wholeness to the infirm, and breath to the lifeless. His gifts were opportunity to the downtrodden, freedom to the oppressed, forgiveness to the repentant, hope to the despairing, and light in the darkness. He gave us His love, His service, and His life.

We should strive to give as He gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift. We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given. This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again."

I hope you will take this to heart, as we have. Our Christmas, as far as gift giving, has been greatly simplified here. When we give, we try to do it anonymously, and from the heart. We challenge all of you to incorporate something from the above quote into your Christmas gift giving this year. It would be wonderful if you would then share what you did, with us. 

Geese in the winter sky

Early morning sky

Parker Lee, Ashley, new home, and winter pal

We will be very busy the next two days. LeRoy is busy snow plowing and picking up the remaining piles of leaves when the snow is not covering them. He and his good friend, Elder Hufstetler, make quite a pair. I am busy watering in the greenhouses and washing pots for next spring's plantings to start after the New Year. It is great to be inside!!

 LeRoy helped put the lights on the bare branches of this entire tree they brought inside the Visitors' Center. It is right above the large Nativity as you enter. He did such a great job--he now knows what I want him to do at our new home in Virgin next Christmas!

Speaking of new homes--ground should be broken for it the first or second week of January. We are so excited!

Visitors' Center

Visitors' Center 

 We want all of you to know of our love for you. It seems that you are with us, because you are in our hearts. Treasure this Christmas with your families. We treasure all of you!!

An Attitude of Gratitude

 "And live in Thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies which He doth bestow upon you. . ."

I know I am writing after Thanksgiving, but I want to devote most of this posting to "gratitude". Our Mission President's wife, Sister Gilliland, presented this theme at our last Wednesday morning training meeting--just before Thanksgiving Day. This is a tender time for us--we miss our family and friends so much, and would give anything to see their faces, hear their voices, and smother them in hugs. Skype and Facetime just don't suffice for the real thing! But we know that is not going to happen, so we just want to share our thoughts with you at this glorious time of year. We have SO much to be thankful for.

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings but also unlocks the door of heaven and helps us feel God's love." (President Monson)

We should all be living in a spirit of "Thanksgiving" every day. We don't have to wait until this time of year to recognize our blessings. Unfortunately, we all have a tendency to notice things less and less because we see them so often. So the challenge for us is to open our eyes and our hearts and notice the people and their faces, nature, night time and daytime sky, stars and moon and sunlight, clouds and rain or snow, the birds and animals, plants and trees, colors, smells, tastes. . . and on and on. How can we make memories if we don't take the time to really relish the happenings of every day?

Thanksgiving was a busy, fulfilling day here. We helped with the planning, setting up, and organization of all the food for the dinner. We fed over 260 people--missionaries from the sites, the temple, and family and friends who were here visiting them. It was a traditional meal of turkey and ham and all the fixings (including green bean casserole and sweet potatoes). Yum! But the program was the highlight. The choir sang, which I am privileged to sing with, "We Give Thee all our Thanks". There was a reading of a wonderful story of "Paying it Forward". The highlight was the family of one of the missionary couples. There were four teenage boys and two younger children along with mom and dad singing a version of "I Am a Child of God" that I have never heard, with the piano and violin. It brought tears it was so beautiful.

Afterward, we played games with several couples. Being alone would not have been easy that night. These are such wonderful people here--all here to serve the Lord and to serve each other. Their stories of sacrifice to be here are amazing. I am truly humbled by all of them.

November was a busy month of pulling up dead or dying plants out of pots and flower beds. Then we quickly planted thousands of tulips and some daffodils. The spring will be outstanding again--can't wait to see it. The last few weeks have also been spent raking and mowing leaves. LeRoy and others spend each day on their mowers catching leaves and piling them high. They are then put into a dump truck and taken down to our compound and piled for composting. They use the composted leaves in the summer to pile deep under each tree. Wish we could transport some of these leaves back to Virgin with us!

Meanwhile, several of us women rake up stacks of leaves to be sucked up by the interesting truck they have created here. (Wish I had a picture for you!). It is a large dump truck with a big hose attached. (It reminds me of Mr. "Snufflupagus" from Sesame Street) The hose sucks up the leaves and they are piled high in the dump truck. Needless to say, it has been good exercise. The days are getting cold though, so our noses and fingers are often pretty painfully cold since we start working by 7:30 each morning.

Time is getting short to get all these leaves up before the snow or ice covers what is left. LeRoy likes to drive me around old Nauvoo and show me the clean lawns after they have worked so hard--because the next day there are new leaves covering up all their daily efforts.

Our new home is so toasty warm--we love it. And all the space is amazing. We don't have to rub behinds as we try to get in or out of bed or into the refrigerator! We do miss our little RV though. We check it every week--hoping little critters don't try to take it over while we are gone.

Ashby House on the left side, white front door

Every month we have the opportunity as a group of missionaries, a district, to clean and beautify a particular historical area of Old Nauvoo. This last weekend we were out on a warm, beautiful Fall day cleaning the statue of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young which is along the edge of the Mississippi River pointing west. The members of the Church were forced out of Nauvoo in 1846 and they headed west to the Salt Lake Valley in order to find peace and a place to worship as they pleased. We love to take care of this place.

 Winter means working in the greenhouse for me three days a week and two days in the historical sites. LeRoy will continue capturing leaves until the snow flys. Then he will be pruning until that can't safely be done. We will be busy, and that is good! Visitors are coming more infrequently now, although this last Thanksgiving week was very busy. Lots of families and people who live close by. We love meeting and greeting them. They come to "Rendezvous" and laugh at all our silliness and make us feel like we really know how to act! A year ago we had no idea we could do such things!!

 The season is quickly moving to preparations for Christmas by making about 500 bows for wreaths and garlands. The wreaths are then decorated with beautiful pinecones from Oregon. It smelled so good in the warehouse as we worked on them today. Smelled like home!! When finished, they will decorate all of Old Nauvoo. I will have lots of pictures next month.

So, as you also prepare for Christmas, have fun! Don't get so caught up in the hurried shopping and stress that brings. We don't have to worry about that here, and I love it. We just want you to celebrate the Season for what it means--Happy Birthday to our Savior of the World.

We want all of you to know that we love you and appreciate your love and support for us. We could not be who we are without you. We thank God for you every day!

Just in case you might need a Christmas tree--try this one! I would!

Parker Lee Thompson

 P.S. Two dear and precious mothers of ours, Enid Thompson, and Geneva Short would have celebrated birthdays this week. Mother T, Enid, would have been 94 years old today. Mom, Geneva Short, would have been 97 on Thursday. How we miss them both!! We are who we are because of them.

"Bootiful" Nauvoo

You may think I have misspelled the title of my post, but I challenge you to continue reading to find out why I have titled it as "Bootiful Nauvoo". There is quite a tradition here in Nauvoo this time of year, and we have had the privilege of being a part of it.

 It is amazing to me to think that this time next year we will be "home" in Virgin, Utah, in our new house. That boggles my mind, and quite frankly I am not ready to even think about it much. Nauvoo is our life right now, and we love it here and we love what we are doing.

Last Monday was the last day for watering in "Big Bertha". She has been retired for the winter--actually she will become a snow plow for the winter, and my husband may be one of the drivers. I can't say we will really miss her--five months of watering five days a week became a bit boring at times. We did become attached to some of our flower beds and beautiful pots though, and we always worried about them when someone else was watering for us, or when Sunday came and no one was taking care of them--although the Lord did help them make it through until Monday. We have had some significant frosts this last week and things began to droop and drop. My favorite elephant ears looked so sad yesterday hanging down low over the edges of the pots. They had been magnificent. So, here are some recent pictures of the gorgeous flower beds and pots adorning Old Nauvoo.

Dragon's Wing Begonias

Flowering Tobacco

Angel Trumpet

Angel Trumpet

 Next summer we will not be the watering crew. Someone else will have that responsibility. For the winter, we have been given new assignments. Starting today, Monday, I am assigned to work at Facilities Management (FM) three days a week and two days in the restored sites here in Old Nauvoo. I am looking forward to the change. During the winter bad weather, I will probably be working in the greenhouse--hopefully doing something other than washing and disinfecting pots. LeRoy will continue with FM full time. He will be mowing and gathering leaves for a LONG time and then pruning as long as the weather holds. Then he will be working with snow, ice removal as needed.

We have a great variety of fruit and nut trees here. The most unusual for us has been the Paw-Paw tree and fruit. The fruit is usually not found on the tree ripening as it should--the raccoons prefer it green, so when you do find some it will be on the ground and ripe. It is oblong, green, and soft. You slice it open to find about 5 fairly large, shiny, brown seeds. The flesh looks like a creamy pudding, and it can be scooped out with a spoon and eaten like a pudding. It is slightly sweet and very smooth--very interesting!

Paw-Paw fruit

The next fruit I had never seen and eaten is the persimmon. I had been told to make sure it was very ripe before eating it, so the first ones we picked up off the ground and they were tasty--not a great deal of flavor. The pioneers used them to make pudding. They contain tiny seeds, so it would take quite a bit of time to seed them. The next time I saw one on the tree, soft and ready to eat, I thought. I took a bite only to pucker up and could hardly talk because of the alum it contains. Lesson learned.

Persimmon

The American Chestnut trees here are prolific. They are beautiful, large trees with spiny, green fruit. Soon, as the nuts mature, the green pods split open and reveal usually two shiny, brown nuts, flat on one side. We have gathered a box full and are letting them mature in the basement so there will be more sugar in the nut meat. Then we will split the shell and roast them--probably then frying them in some butter for a nice, nutty flavor. Since we haven't done it yet, I will report next time how they tasted.

American Chestnut tree

American Chestnut

Down the block from us is a huge pecan tree. The pecans are small, but we have been gathering every time we walk past. The squirrels love them, so we have to be fast! Luckily, we brought our Texas pecan sheller with us.

The most unusual of the fruit we have seen is the Osage Orange. The early pioneers found the wood of the Osage Orange to be great for making fence posts, or anything they wanted to be more permanent and not decay. It is a very hard wood. In fact, it was so hard it would break saw blades.The fruit is about the size of a large orange and very dense and heavy. I would hate to get hit on the head by one when it falls. I do not know of a use for the fruit other than the old wives' tale that it might help deter spiders or bugs in your home. So, many of us are gathering them and putting them in our basements or in our closets. There are LOTS of spiders here!!

Osage Orange

One of the most noticeable trees here is the Black Walnut. What a mess they make, and the nuts are not easily edible. People come and gather them here by the truckloads. They take them across the river to Iowa to a place that will shell them and then they are shipped to Missouri where they are made into extract. They get $200 to $300 per truckload. I can remember my mother making a black walnut cake using English walnuts as the nut, but the black walnut extract for flavor. I am pretty sure it was scrumptious.

This Fall has been spectacular. It is really just now becoming its most vivid. I can't say it is any prettier than our beloved Yakima, though. We have taken many drives through the countryside and walks through the woods. Enjoy the pictures.

So, the tradition I was speaking of--"Bootiful Nauvoo" is of course a play on words. Years ago our horticulturist, Durrell, began the tradition of carving pumpkins every Halloween when he lived in Utah with his parents. Now the whole community of Nauvoo joins in the celebration of carving pumpkins--750 of them to be exact--and placing them all along the main road in downtown Nauvoo (about 3 city blocks both sides of the street). For two full days and into the evening many people signed up to help create the sight. Artists drew the faces and we were given great tools to use to follow the patterns and carve to our heart's content. Thousands of people came to enjoy the parade of our horse drawn carriage loaded with the "Nauvoo Crazy Band", the Ghostbuster vehicle, and a stubborn longhorn steer who finally had to be coaxed out of the parade. Kettle corn and hotdogs filled the town with good smells. Many children paraded in their costumes, and it wasn't even cold and miserable--it was just right. Everyone seemed to be having a great, safe time. Our one police office didn't have to calm any wild crowds--this is one marvelous place.

Kettle Korn Krew

Ghostbusters

 

Nauvoo Crazy Band

 

President and Sister Gilliland

It is really slowing down here in Nauvoo. There are less and less visitors each week, even though the weather is glorious. In the sites we keep busy by working on knitting projects, crochet projects, or humanitarian aid projects. We should pick up again for the holidays--we don't close for Thanksgiving or Christmas. LeRoy and I have been asked to help plan the Thanksgiving dinner. All missionaries,  both temple and site, are invited as well as their guests or families who might be here. We work in the sites until 2 pm, have dinner at 3pm, and then perform in "Rendezvous" that night if our cast is scheduled. There is not much rest here. And when we aren't doing those things, we manage to get together to eat dinner at a moment's notice, go across the river to eat dinner, or just play games. We are really a close knit group of many.

Tonight we had a dinner for a couple who are leaving who perform with us in our cast. All of us are concerned about leaving because the unity here is something we don't want to lose, and yet we know it will be lost. We all have a common bond of dedication to serving our Lord and exemplifying and teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ. The real world is so far removed from those common goals. But, in less than 11 months we too will be saying "farewell Nauvoo".  But today we are going to live each moment to the fullest!!