12 December 2015
December and where is winter? Idaho is covered in snow,
Arizona has cold temperatures and Illinois is warm and green. We were able to
golf this entire month.
There is not a month of the year that has more activities
than December. We have been so busy with work and events around Christmas.
Since the weather has been warm for this month (minus a few days in the 20s),
we have had time away from the temple duties to be out of doors.
Deer Run golf course is but 12 miles down the road in
Hamilton, Ill. For $8 one can golf 9 holes either front or back. It is a great
18 hole course and good exercise while carrying your bag. Dawn has been my
partner and John Massey from Farmington, Utah is my other partner.
Birds are the next interest for this December. The area is
full of birds wintering in this area. Geese, ducks, eagles, hawks and pelicans
frequent this area on the Mississippi river. Our back yard is full of gold
finches, crested titmouse, chickadees, woodpeckers, sapsuckers, wrens, blue
jays and cardinals.
Well, I put out a feeder and they flocked in to eat the
oiled sunflower seeds. I tried the seed bells but the woodpeckers tore them
apart looking for the sunflower seeds.
Dawn and I adopted two sock monkeys for our family this
month since we did not have any little ones to spend Christmas with this year.
I also created a picture of Stephanie post op following her clavicle repair.
Next we put up a Christmas tree we got at the Nauvoo post office left by
someone leaving for the season. It was festooned by popcorn and paper chains
made in our apartment.
Since we are in home at night we often read after work. I
finished a book Steph recommended “ A
View of the Hebrews and followed by “The Mound Builders, Cahokia and Ancient
American Archeology. I finished reading the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and
Covenants and Pearl of Great Price since we have been in Nauvoo. I am now
reading the 1840 edition of the Book of Mormon without chapter and verse. It is
fascinating to read as text. I am also half way through Genesis of the Old
Testament.
Throughout the week we often go to the Family Search Center
next to the temple and do genealogical research. Dawn has collected over 100
family names and completed all the ordinances for each person. I have about 35
completed. We also have sent names to our older grand children to do the
baptisms and confirmations.
Luckily we discovered a local exercise gym here in Nauvoo.
Brandon Motley ( a young man body
builder) has invested a tremendous amount of money in equipment and located in
the abandoned Nauvoo grade school right
in the middle of town. No more driving to Keokuk to work out at the YMCA.
The events of Christmas have been many. We visited the
Nauvoo sites for an evening of celebration following the lighting of the
Visitors Center Christmas tree and traveled by horse drawn wagon. We attended
the rehearsal of the “Messiah” in the
Catholic church next to the temple. We have had a number of meals and Christmas
programs with the combined Site missionaries.
We have also had meals and programs at the Arrival Center
just for the temple missionaries. Also, a group of our missionary friends
visited a live Nativity near Ft. Madison in an old barn as we were transported
by horse and wagon. It seemed like it
never ended as our time was saturated with things to do.
We connected with our family by cards and Face Time. We sent
money to each of our kids and asked they take our grand kids to dinner for
Christmas. We also sent “Brick em Young” Lego set of the Nauvoo temple to Indy
and the Russell kids. (Dawn and I have our own!). I personally sent bird
identification books to the young kids hoping they will get a feeder soon. In
addition, I purchased them a pair of binoculars to get a view of the birds.
December is spent and so are we! So glad Christmas comes but
once a year! Now I can honestly say I am looking forward to a New Year here in
Nauvoo.
