A great day in Nauvoo!

I have just a quick minute to make a post. I will copy my journal entry for yesterday. It was a great day! Just like many others we have had this summer.

Tues., July 28, 2009 - Things are starting to wind down to the close of Pageant. The comments are all about “this is the last time for……” It makes me sad to think about everyone leaving. We have been surrounded by “the best people under the heavens”. What a choice experience this has been to rub shoulders with spiritual giants and sometimes the giants are in little bodies!
Our missionary orientation meeting this morning was so spiritual. The Tues morning missionary meetings have all been a spiritual feast. How often do you get to hear your mission president, temple president, pageant president and wives all speak in one meeting. Then adding to that the singing of the Core Cast, the work crew (14 young men ) singing Sons of Helaman and the closing hymn “I Stand All Amazed”. Brad Thompson, our pageant music director, leads the closing song and through his directing he helps the song become a true bearing of testimony for the people in the congregation. This has been one of the highlights of our experience this summer.
We had a young man come up to us during the preshow, gave us a big hug and was so excited to see us. We didn’t recognize him at all but during the course of the conversation we found out that he was a full time missionary in Pocatello. He had Thanksgiving dinner with us in our home on Moonglow. His name is Nick Conrad. Sure wish I could remember the situation.
A neat experience at the pageant last night…….There was a group of 5-6 retired age people sitting across the aisle from us. We could hear their comments during the pageant. They were really into the show, laughing at the right times, making very positive comments all through the production. We could tell that the cast really had these folks with them. The young sister missionaries were right there with them when the pageant ended. One of the sister missionaries came to me just bubbling over with excitement. She said this family had come to Nauvoo because the older man had been raised here and he just wanted to come back and visit. They had just “stumbled” onto the pageant and decided to stay and watch. Their comment to the sister missionaries was , “You Mormons are not at all like what people say you are like. You are really nice people!” They wanted to know more about the church and filled out a referral card.
We have so enjoyed getting to know the core cast. They are the finest people you could know. They are not only good on the stage but they are wonderful people off the stage. They are so kind and respectful and appreciative. It has been a delightful experience to get to know them. I feel like the young adults are “my kids” and they will really be missed.

Three Days 'Til Opening Night

I have to begin by bragging about our tomatoes plants! These plants look like big bushes and are loaded with green tomatoes. They were planted early in May. Oh how I wish we could grow tomatoes likes these in Idaho!
Sorry for the lack of entries lately. Our days have been long and very busy. I have resorted to short phrases in my daily journal entries. I am hoping they will remind me of things I will elaborate on when pageant is over. We are having so many incredible experiences meeting so many new people and seeing little miracles almost daily. Hopefully these pictures will give you a little idea of what we are experiencing.

This was what our preshow field looked like about two weeks ago! Glenn, John Ricks and a member of the pageant presidency dug trenches and laid pipe to help the water drain off the field. When our work crew (12 young men ages 18 - 22)arrived, the three men were relieved of their back breaking work and the young men took over! Oh, were they glad!!

This is what our preshow field looks like now. Quite an improvement in a little over a week's time. All the trenches that were dug have been filled in. Some sod has been laid. In other places grass has been planted and covered with straw. It isn't perfect but oh so much better. It is even smelling better now! The water sat on top of the ground so long that the grass was breaking down and it smelled horrible! We had perfect weather the last week and a half, no humidity and comfortable temperatures. We did have 3 1/2 " of rain today but it is supposed to dry up and be nice through Friday. The water seems to be draining fairly well.

All 3,000 of the chairs have been set up in preparation for the pageant. Merlin Blad has been here working as a volunteer. He worked with the boys on our work crew and set up the chairs. Merlin now has the nickname of "Mr. Chairman"! Lois has been helping in the office. Sure been good to have some extra help!!

This is picture was taken during a rehearsal on stage with Joseph (Jeff Dickamore) and some of the children in the family cast. Notice Jeff's boot on his right foot. He broke his toe two weeks before he came to Nauvoo! His healing time is supposed to be 4-6 weeks. We are hoping that it will be healed in 4 weeks which will be just in time for opening night!

Things are really coming together well for the pageant to begin on July 7. It is so amazing to me to see how everyone works together so well, learning music, dancing and blocking so quickly. Of course, we are always seeing little miracles that help the work to move forward!

Sister Smith and I went to a Strawberry Festival in Farmington, IA. a few weeks ago. Farmington is a pretty small town about 30 miles west of Nauvoo. There were signs all around advertising Hel Mart. We thought it must be quite a store but this is what we found! There were a few antiques for sale and a lounge and that was about it. We laughed at the name because we were sure it was a take off from Wal Mart! Some of these small towns are pretty "down home"!

We never tire of seeing the beautiful sunsets here. We were driving back to our house one evening when we saw this view of the statues. Glenn is patient with me - I'm always saying "stop, I need to take a picture!" The setting sun peeking through the trees at the stage area was another good photo opportunity.