Teamsters picnic

On the North Ridge were we now live, are two big red barns, this is were the horses and wagons are kept. Such a magnificent view, the horses eating in the grassy fields, the view of the Mississippi and the steeples of the Nauvoo Temple and Catholic church, (they sit side by side). The teamsters had an old fashion cook out for the going away Teamster leader, it is always a fast party, some just came from their sites, some are wearing their show clothes for Rendezvous and some are done for the night. We always have a great time, no mater how long we might have. For some reason the Elders that work with the teams are just a special kind of men, E/Williams really enjoys them. Most of their wife's work in the sewing room a few days a week and I dearly love them also. We were just going to Rendezvous our selves, probably went smelling a little like smoke, but oh! well! E/Williams just finished driving a wagon load of visitors, done for the evening and getting ready to put the teams away. There are about 28 horses in all, they work as a team, each with his own name and place in the stalls, they even walk around the fields together while they are eating. A little like E/Williams and I we walk around together while we are eating also.

Oxen Ride

S/Williams was working in 'Tickets and Tours' and stopped by to take E/Williams his lunch. Today he was working with 'Gary and Gabe' the two young oxen. Ready to take families on an oxen ride around the river loop. To get them to turn right or left he says "Gey or Haw", they do commands by the words he says. He also carries a walking stick, he says they are like children they obey quit well, but just encase they don't a stick always works. There are 2 sets of oxen, these young ones and two older ones, 'Duke and Don'. It makes wonderful blogging material with your kids in the wagon, come and take a ride.

Rel. Soc. Commemoration, Mar. 17, 1842 (2009)

What a wonderful place to be on this day in Nauvoo, at the "Red Brick Store" where the Rel.Soc. was organized. The theme for the evening was "Hearts Knit Together", our hearts truly were knit together with Emma, Lucy, Eliza, and Sarah and many more. What a blessing to be here and learn of these dear sisters, to know of the love they had for the gospel, for their prophet and their families. We had two sessions with about 95 sisters in each, with sisters from the mission, temple, the ward and the Community of Christ Church. I had the privilege of saying the closing prayer at one of these sessions. These are a few of the dear sisters in the mission, I love them: S/Hill, S/Nelson, S/Toone, S/Williams, S/Henrickson, S/Stevens.

Relief Society Commemoration, Mar. 17, 1842 (2009) Held in the "Red Brick Store" at Nauvoo. The theme was "Hearts Knit Together", our hearts that night were knit together with, Emma, Lucy, Sarah, Eliza and many more of the dear sisters of the 1st Rel. Soc. What a marvelous place to be on this date, what a spiritual experience with sisters of the mission, temple sisters and sisters from the Community of Christ church. What a blessing to be here in Nauvoo feeling of the love these dear sisters had for the gospel and for their families. There were 2 meetings with about 80 sisters in each meeting. I was privaledged to be able to say the closing prayer at one of these. These are a few of the special sisters, S/Hill, S/Nelson, S/Toone, S/Williams, S/Henrickson,S/Stevens. What a great time it is to spend time in the Lucy Mack Smith home or Brigham Young home with sisters like these.

Some Real Gospel Teaching

A group went to a grade school and provided

Pioneer information. We could not "teach". We

told about Nauvoo, pioneers and give some

demonstrations on baking, candle makeing,

rope makeing & Bricks Grade school was 2 Hr

drive and very rural.

Sis Williams and Sis Johnson give demo on

baking in a pioneer "bustle oven" they had

ginger bread cookies . The kids were real

interested in the cookies.

Eager Missionaries waiting for an assignment.

"The Gospel Truly was Restored.

Elder Williams & Elder Tolman making rope. We twisted 3 lines of 2, then put the 3 together. Using sisal twine. When the rope was made we held it and had the group do the jump rope.

E/S McGhee, Warr, Williams, we were out on our P Day visiting a near by community of people from Switzerland. They came to area in 1850, similar to nauvoo. They all came to seek religion, and freedom.

Joseph & Hyram, "these are the best people under heaven, little do they know of the trials that await them"
Joseph is riding "Charlie" his favorite horse given to him by
Grandpa Peter E. Van Orden.







Linda walked for William & Lydia Draper. They left Nauvoo in first group. Family was baptized by Brigham Young, some died on the west bank of river in first few days. Went on to Ut where they settled Draper Ut. If only they could have seen the new temple which is now built.
They all were such strong people to accomplish all that they did.






Wagons are preparing to go down the "trail of tears" in preparation to leave Nauvoo. Me and my comp. are in the wagon with Mike & Andy (blk & Wht)








Nauvoo Legion is prepared to protect all the saints.
"well, maybe a few of them anyway"










I am with the wagon getting ready to hook up the team. It was a a cold and blustery morning. The wagons were small, hard to hold all the things like furniture and food the family needed to take with them. Wagons were bouncy, many prefer ed to walk, but no room for family to ride.






A beautiful sunset on the River. The Visitor Center in the cold
clear evening.

Sunset on the Mississippi
The wind blows the ice up in piles along the banks of the river.