A trip to Hannibal

A Preparation day for the Savilles, Rebers and the Williams. We were off to see the famous Hannibal, Mo. town. We have been there before visiting Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer areas but this time we toured an old mansion, that was built in the early 1900, "The Rockcliff Mansion". 30 marvelous rooms, just as they were over 100 years ago. He was a lumber king plus many more identities. They are trying to sell the mansion, we thought if we could all chip in we might could buy a couple of rooms. Elder Saville, Reber and Williams worked together in the mission office, Reber was 2nd councilor, with E/Williams and E/Saville is the scheduler, which makes this whole mission keep on our schedule.

We stopped at "Lover's Leap". A famous spot over looking the Mississippi River. The story goes that a young Indian couple plunged to their death at this spot when her father the chief would not allow them to get married. Their love was so strong that instead of living their lives separately they were willing to die together. We finished the day by going to our favorite eating place in Hannibal, "Lula Bell's". An old 'brothel' that has been turned into a restaurant and theme rooms on the second floor. It is decorated as such, and really has great food.

Serving in Carthage

It always makes a Sunday good if we can serve in Carthage. E/Williams does a great job giving the tour and his testimony in the Jail. What a wonderful Prophet, Joseph Smith and a loving brother, Hyrum. What a love they had for the gospel.

It snowed all day, we drove home about 20 miles an hour, with a dozen cars in front and a dozen behind us, with very low visibility, we were glad to get home. We have had a lot of snow this year. Feb. 28

Sleigh Rides in Old Nauvoo / Exodus

So much snow this year, the big red and green sleigh was brought out and "Chuck and Charlie" were hooked up. The visitors and missionaries loved going to 'Inspiration Point' and going past 'King Follets' well. The old song of "A horse knows the way to carry the sleigh" was really true this year. What a beautiful country side. E/S Williams enjoyed the sleigh ride this day. S/Williams loves her warm furry hood.

Feb. 4, 1846. The Saints leaving Nauvoo, heading West ward. Pass the Temple and down Parley Street, "The Trail of Hope", past the Memorial of Joseph and Brigham statue. S/Williams had the Draper family that she walked for. E/Williams and the teamsters hooked up 5 iron wheeled wagons 12 head of horses and 1 black team and buggy for Brigham Young. The teamsters number 13 right now in the winter time. They work hard and in cold weather.

New Years & Birthday at 'Willard Richards Home'

What a grand place to ring in the New Years and to celebrate E/Williams birthday then to be in the Willard Richards Home. His home has been made into a 'bed and breakfast', the rooms are all theme rooms from the Nauvoo Era. The woman that runs it and also the Temple House Gallery let us have our MTC/New Years Eve Party at this beautiful home. She is so kind to the missionaries and wanted us to enjoy it.

The food was catered, I brought two different kinds of desserts E/Williams favorites (oat meal cake & a RiceKrispie-ice cream, strawberry dessert or what ever you call it). She took us on a tour of the home and told us some history, into all the bedrooms and even down into the big wine cellar, with a few bats. We had a delicious meal, played a few games and then Kim Smith and her son, which is Joseph Smiths GGGG Granddaughter gave us history of Joseph and Emma, sang for us and gave us one of her Cd's. It was a marvelous evening. This is the only night of the whole year we don't have Rendezvous, so we have time for a party. We have only one other couple left from our MTC group but we have combined with two others that are smaller also. It was a special night, one that we will always cherish.

Christmas at E/S Williams

Christmas was fast but such a rewarding one this year. We are blessed, our children and grandchildren are doing great and they have had so many blessings, and we are being blessed also. Just knowing that the Lord loves us is wonderful. Our little Christmas tree and a Nativity Scene that we found in the closet is a sign that it is Christmas. E/Williams was so sweet this year, what a marvelous Christmas gift, what a beautiful remembrance of Nauvoo. A Bronze statue of Emma & Joseph, "Dancing". I love this greatly, I love my husband greatly.

During the month of Christmas our little Nauvoo Post Office is piled high with boxes, and little goodies and cards are stuffed into each little slot for each missionary. We acquired 2 boxes of Idaho potatoes and that is what we gave the missionaries this year with a little poem. They loved them, it was different than so many sweets (but they are good to). E/Henrickson, Sugar City, is our post man. This is the week after Christmas, this is our old fashioned mail room.

Christmas Dinner in Old Nauvoo

Christmas in Nauvoo is such a busy time, it's not filled with shopping or driving to Walmart it is filled with love, service, hugs and testimonies. Christmas in Nauvoo is how a Christmas should be. We served the day before Christmas, and Rendezvous Christmas Eve and served in our sites Christmas Day and had Rendezvous Christmas night. We thought of the dear Saints, years ago and their Christmas's.

Christmas Eve we sang Christmas Carrol's on the Temple Steps, in the rain, with 6 inches of snow. Then we hurried to the Stake Center for hot chocolate and goodies, and then some hurried to do their preforming at the Cultural Hall. Always hugging and laughing and serving all the while. Late into the night we sat up 33 tables to accommodate 266 people for dinner Christmas Day. The tables and decorations were splendid and so many willing to help.

Not a time to call your family, that morning we were busy making 500 rolls by 6:30 am, what a marvelous committee I had, S/Hughes, S/Light, S/Boehmer, S/Veteto. I told them it was like being Rel.Soc. Pres. again, these dear sisters have all been there done it. Our meal consisted of Pork loin, served with an orange-cranberry sauce, sugared glazed carrots & corn, a yummy Waldorf salad, home made rolls, pumpkin dessert and apple pudding, and of course Idaho baked Potatoes. You can't imagine how hard it was to get those. They actually came from Idaho Falls, the "Dutchman Store", (Amish) ordered them for me. It was the hit of the dinner.

Christmas time in Nauvoo

Months before Christmas I began making the little Nauvoo dolls for all 10 of our Granddaughters, and of course we had to make the boys a Nauvoo jump rope. It kept us busy late into the night doing all of this, but what fun. To us it made it more like Christmas, since Christmas day is still a working site day for us. Our little granddaughters named their dolls of the Nauvoo women that were here; Emma, Mary, Sara etc. Except for Paige she named hers Linda, she said"Well, Grandma's in Nauvoo. Isn't that cute, I rank right with the saints in the 1840's.

Our "Christmas Walk" began with caroling on the balcony in the Visitor Center, music from a local choir and the lighting of the 30 foot Christmas tree. What a beautiful site. The horses and wagons took the people down into 'Old Nauvoo' and some of the sites were open with the telling of early stories of Christmas and then marvelous refreshments served at the 'Family Living Center'. E/ Williams was able to be on the wagons that night; it was a very cold night. A spiritual nativity scene in the 'Cultural Hall', with narration and song; the true meaning of Christ, and Christmas.

Our 'Rendezvous X-Cast' had our Christmas Social, we went to a little community in an old school that had been turned into a restaurant. We ate in the gym, it was decorated for Christmas and the food was quit good. Except for the no taste coconut cream pie, and the big heater was quit loud for our program. You know the typical old 1940 schools. We had a great time, fun and games and even Santa came. Our 'X-Cast' is like our family here in Nauvoo, we are with them 4 nights a week, preforming. S/Stevens, S/Dayley, S/Hill, S/Sandstrom, S/ Williams, (great Sis.)