Saturday, March 12, 2011

Farewell Nauvoo

It has been several months since we left Nauvoo, but I never finished this Blog and closed this chapter of my life.  It is hard to do so, because it was such a unique and wonderful chapter.  What a blessing it was to serve there for 18 months in the House of the Lord, and what a blessing to meet so many wonderful friends.  I hope and pray we will someday all meet again in some "corner of Heaven".

I am going to post some final pictures and then say FAREWELL!  In the production "Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo" that the Site Missionaries perform each night there is a final song that the members of the cast sing as they are depicting those early Saints having to leave their homes and fields and all they are worked so hard to build - especially their beautiful Temple on the bluff.  This song always touched my heart, and I often hear the melody and words in my mind as I think of Nauvoo...beautiful City of Joseph's.

FAREWELL NAUVOO
And so, Nauvoo we say farewell to you, with numb & aching hearts one last adieu.
As through our tears we look to homes beyond, would ever we be fond as one as you.
One cardinal's song, one sunset's glow, one Nauvoo dawn, one silhouette of woods on snow.
From templed hill, faint echoes ring where prophets walked and talked with God, their memo'ries linger.
And so we go, and hide our aching hearts. No one will see our tears when we depart.
This home we leave will shelter memories clear, of all that we hold dear, in Old Nauvoo.
Smith Family Cemetery and the Mississippi


Joseph, Hyrum and Emma's graves

Our Bedroom - all cleaned and ready for the new missionaries! :(

The Kitchen


Standing in our living room for the last time.

Going down the stairs for the last time...wonder how many times we walked up and down these ?!
This is the pile of things we left for other missionaries.

Say goodbye to the Eickbushes...our dear friends and neighbors from across the street.


We are REALLY PACKED!!

One last look at the apartment!  440 Partridge Street!
Time to go!!
Last look at the Temple through the prairie grass.


Last look at Mulholland Street as we drove out of town!

I also wanted to post a couple of videos that I took the last few days before we left.  Here they are:

I miss the geese- such fun birds- always honking! 
But I mostly miss the Temple!!  FAREWELL NAUVOO!!


Saturday, October 30, 2010

Nauvoo Farewells!!

To the Site Missionaries (Elder & Sister Cranney one night after Rendezvous) He is my mother's 2nd cousin.
Farewell to all my house plants...just look how healthy they are. This is Sister Lambert & Sister Hallman who work in the laundry at the Temple. They promised to talk to them and keep them healthy and happy :) I hated to let them go, but there was no way I could get them all home.
Took my last walk in the Groves west of the Temple and read this sign telling of the Saints leaving Nauvoo in 1846...Yes, it is a solemn time for them and for me!
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Outdoor Stage where "Sunset" was held.
Singing at the Last Big Group Dinner.  We sang "May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You"...a real tear jerker!!
Last time to the Pioneer Cemetery
Wrapping gifts for the new "Winter Warriors"
Last Friday night at "Grandpa Johns" with the Friday PM missionaries.


Farewell to President and Sister Ross  (with the Ludwigs)
Farewell openhouse for the Petersons
I was on the committee for this party.  Don't the tables look great!
Farewell to two wonderful local sisters:  Sister Anderson (her husband is one of the Bishops in town, and Sister Hawkes, she is the Relief Society president in one of the wards.


Sister Chipman...a dear friend and fellow missionary. 
Alma De la Reva and her family 

The Tukuafus 

Farewell to Great grandfather Oak!!   He looks sad, doesn't he?
Last time to serve in the Information Center...Oct. 28th

Saying goodbye to my beautiful flower garden...we had to pull them up Friday, Oct 29th
This is how it looked after the "pull" :(
The huge pile of flowers & vegetables!!  There were lots of green tomatoes :(
NRI picking up the flowers and tomato plants
Rick, taking his last bike ride with me.  Friday 29th of Oct.
Saying Farewell to Brigham and Joseph
A last Sunset ...what a great place to ride a bike.
Farewell to the wonderful horses that pull the carriage and wagon rides.  They come by our apt. every day several times.  Going to miss them.


 A really SAD GOODBYE...to my last drink of Postum...it is finally ALL GONE!!
Rick's sad Goodbye to his walking shoes...don't you think it is about time?!





Sunset October 30th

I took a quick last ride down to the river before going to the Pumpkin Walk, and it was incredible!! At first it was such a beautiful rosy glow all over the sky and river and then it turned more and more vivid until it was this bright redish orange. I have never seen such a beautiful sight on the river. It was indeed a "Tender Mercy", because this was the last sunset I would be able to see in Nauvoo!! :(






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