Fall is in the Air!

Now that the crowds have gone, some of the missionaries decided to do the pioneer handcart trek--only a mile, but the sun was hot, we drank lots of water and used muscles that haven't had to strain much for ages!!! It was lots of fun. Tom pulled and I pushed up and down hills and across streams--two couples per cart. This is the group that we went with. (We have a "daughter", hence the extra person!)

One week our P-day group went to Springfield, Illinois, to visit the Abraham Lincoln sites. It was very special, sobering, and thought-provoking. We went on Thursday night so we could do the Ghost Walk (visiting sites that people say are haunted by ghosts). We learned that Mrs. Lincoln had seances some times because she hoped to communicate with her sons who had died.
Tom's book is being released November 1. It is such an honor and very exciting to see Tom's name in print on this beautiful book, which is a testimony of the Book of Mormon: his discoveries after all of his years of research, teaching, and study of the book. Cedar Fort is publishing it. Amazon.com is having a pre-sale for it. It's entitled Proof: How to Know the Book of Mormon is True.

The other day I was looking out our window and noticed that the tree across the street at the Heber C. Kimball home is turning beautiful Fall colors. I tried to capture it and hope you can tell how beautiful the scenery is here in Nauvoo. Today Tom took the updated picture so you can see how quickly the leaves are changing! So gorgeous!!

Our mission president is Elder Spencer Condie. His wife was born in Dresden, Germany. The last Sunday in September she gave a fireside (called a Sociable) for all of the missionaries and told about her experiences during World War II. What a blessing it was for her family to be members of the Church because the members watched out for and cared for each other. She was able to escape from East Germany to visit her sister in West Germany and then immigrate to Canada. She is such a lovely person, very soft spoken and beloved by all of us. President Condie is delightful--always quick with a relevant story or joke and always striving to make everyone feel welcome and loved.

We are so delighted to be extending--to be here another year. This place is truly filled with the Spirit of the Lord. How blessed we are to serve in the holy temple. Today we had the opportunity to participate in baptisms for the dead, actually doing the baptisms ourselves. We are very grateful to the Father for all of the opportunities He gives us and all of the blessings that make our lives so enjoyable. General Conference was one of those. What a wonderful weekend, listening to counsel from living prophets and apostles.

Have a wonderful Fall. Enjoy the beautiful creations of our Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. Live each day as though it were your last!! Be happy! Live a Christ-like life!