From Birth day to birthday/ Mother's Day, and a visit from the Beer Angel

Time seems to literally fly around here in Nauvoo. We have been on our mission for two months yesterday--now that is a humbling thought. LeRoy and I have lamented that the 18 months is going entirely too fast! Of course we do take the time to enjoy our minutes of relaxation as we soak up the warm sun streaming in our windows.

So, at the last post I was concerned about Spring and when it would come. I still wonder at times, although this week may be a turning point. We are expecting some temps in the 80's this week, and with the 80 percent humidity, I think we are going to feel it! To prove that things are absolutely gorgeous here, look at these photos.



Redbud



Virginia Bluebells



Women's Garden
 

Our FM gardening crew spends a lot of time weeding and cleaning up--we are always a step behind Mother Nature as the weeds take over. The Women's Garden is one of my favorite places to work, and I always manage to include some pictures of the statues and the flowers. This garden was created 30 years ago, and parts of it are showing wear, but the feelings generated there by the statues and their depiction of the many roles of a woman as she matures are very moving. Most visitors make a point of viewing the gardens and having their pictures made there. As we work there, we often see people stop and sit and just spend the quiet time looking and pondering what it might mean to them. I often wonder what they are thinking.

Yesterday,  LeRoy and I worked in the Riser Boot Shop for a couple of hours. We only had visitors the last half hour, but it was fun to learn the history of this family who lived and worked in Nauvoo around 1840. George Riser had a successful shoe manufactory selling well made but cheap shoes and boots. There were at least 13 other shoe shops in Nauvoo at the time. He and his wife came to Nauvoo to find out about the church and meet Joseph Smith, the prophet. They learned about the Church and decided to be baptized, even though it was the dead of winter. A hole was cut in the frozen Mississippi River so that they could participate in this sacred ordinance. They left Nauvoo when the Saints were driven out and settled in the Salt Lake Valley where he became the first shoe manufacturer there. LeRoy was able to demonstrate to the visitors how Brother Riser made his shoes using cowhide and shoe forms (called Lasts) and wooden shoe pegs to attach the soles.

  I know you are wondering when I will get to some explanation of the crazy title of this post. As some of you might know, our son Brent and his wife Ashley were expecting a baby--due on May 9th, my birthday. Gratefully, he was not born on my birthday, but on May 7th of this week. So it was his Birth Day, and a welcome arrival-- Parker Lee Thompson, all 9 pounds and 8 ounces of him.

 



We are so happy to welcome this precious child into our family. Of course we wish we could be there to hold and cuddle him, but we look forward to a visit from them some time in the future when we can do exactly that. Until then we will enjoy lots of Skype time.

I want you to notice that Brent is giving Parker his first bath with a little assistance from a lovely nurse.

 At last week's missionary training meeting, President Gilliland encouraged us to study the Parables taught by Christ. Christ used Parables during one whole year of His ministry, and we should follow His example by including imagery as we teach Gospel messages in our tours we conduct. The imagery used in a Parable evokes remembrance but allows deep understanding. The Parable of the Gardener reminds us that few lived to see the harvest of their hard work, but they still found joy. All of us here at Nauvoo want to see someone come unto Christ as the result of our efforts, but that will not always be the case, and it is not necessary in order for all of us to feel fulfilled and having accomplished the goal of our mission here.

Yesterday afternoon, LeRoy and I drove out to the Old Nauvoo Cemetery which is out Parley Street, about 2 miles out of town. This is where so many (over 400) Saints were buried while here in Nauvoo. The majority were children, and most of the headstones which remain are unmarked. It is a beautiful place. Enjoy the pictures and maybe it will inspire you to come to Nauvoo! 

 I mentioned Mother's Day. It was a wonderful day. Like I told LeRoy--all I wanted was a healthy grandchild born to two of our favorite children (all our children are Favorites!). With the Lord's help, that was accomplished. Then knowing that our other children and grandchildren are happy and well and are all staying in touch with us here in far away Nauvoo. We love them all for that.

Being a Mother is the Greatest!



Oh, I forgot to tell you about the Beer Angel. We were out in the Visitor's Center parking lot planting beautiful pots of flowers. An older model green van drove up next to us. An older man got out dressed in an ill-fitting suit. He went around to the back of his van and popped up the hatch and said, "Come get your beer." I looked at Sister Moses and she said hello to him and went to the back of the van and reached in to get a small can of 7-Up. She obviously knew the man. I followed her lead and looked in the back. It was loaded with cans of non-caffeine soda. He again invited me to have a beer. So, I grabbed a root beer and said, "Thank You." He immediately said that no thanks was necessary. He quickly got in the van and headed out to hand out more "beers" to people working in the sites and on the grounds. I guess he always appears in the summer time, about once a week. His license plate says he is from Iowa. No one knows who he is and he will not answer any questions as to who he is or why he is doing this. So, we call him the "Beer Angel." Another Nauvoo miracle.