There and Back Again: Week 39 Friends and Garbage Cans

Last Week I had the pleasure of having my friends from Petaluma, CA and my Old College Roomate both come visit me at the same time! What a party!

This gave us the opportunity to get up early and do our chores and take some time to take tours and see shows. Last Week was also my first of two weeks playing my recorder in the County Faire Band! My friend, Lorelei suggested that the Country Faire Band sounded a lot like the country BEAR band...hahahah! The impish me really really wanted to wear a ragged straw hat and bear ears just for fun, but it wasn't 1840s period. THE BEST thing about playing in the band was being with a bunch of great musicians. The SECOND best thing was all the fun people dancing to our music. THAT was very cool

I was also FINALLY able to go on the OX Cart Ride which I have been wanting to do for a long time! I learned something very cool. When a team is being trained, they start them very very young. They put them in a yoke together wide apart so they can't kick and bother each other. This is their "kindergarten photo" so to speak.

Soon they learn to work together and become reliable and steady...and here's a picture of them "Graduated from.....OXFORD" da dunt duh! What if people weren't allowed to get married (put in the same yoke) unless they had spent time working together while they were young...separated in the yoke...but still working together. Hmmmmm.

Elder Cullen took an interest in learning how to weave. I was super surprised by this. On his own initiative he made an appointment to be trained on a loom and is now weaving us a table runner!! He even picked out the cloth and colors and everything. I don't know why I'm so blown away. He's a very creative man.....it's just so CUTE!

LAST but not least, this week we finished a special project that we've been wanting to do for a long time. It's NOT really our job, but we did it because...we could.

This ragged trash can had a broken hinge and was so sketchy looking. It just bothered me EVERY day I looked at it. So we finally took it away to our workshop and fixed it up.

Elder Cullen is awesome. We have plans to do the other can now...then start on the pickets. Isn't it amazing that with all the work we have to do, Heavenly Father is helping us to be so streamlined and efficient that we have time to play with our friends AND do special projects that put that extra professional touch on this beautiful and sacred place. Someone from Arizona took the time to call the FM office and tell them that the historic jail site looked better than they have EVER seen it. We were tickled. Put the Lord first and you will have time to do all that needs to be done AND pretty much most of what you WANT to do too!

There and Back Again Week 38:Accountability

Today During Companionship study, Elder Cullen and I read this quote. "When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates" (quoted by Thomas S. Monson, "Thou Art a Teacher Come from God," Improvement Era, Dec 1970, p. 101)

I started thinking about the importance of goal setting (to keep growing...'cause if you're not growing you're decaying...there's no status quo in life). HOW do I measure my "performance". I sort of balk at that word "performance" since I have been a theatre director for decades it makes me feel like it's a theatatrical performance or something sort of fake. So I will say, "HOW do I measure the positive or negative change in my thoughts, feelings, and deeds"

For example: A goal I have been working on since middle school is to be more patient. Thoughts: How often in middle school would I think "Geez how stupid can you be?", "What's the matter with you?", "Get this moving!", "PEOPLE PLEASE!!" So I check myself: Am I thinking it all the time?, Often?, Sometimes? Never? If I'm working on my thoughts and I want to be more patient I will STOP the negative thought and concientiously replace it with how I WANT to be.

For example instead of the afore mentioned thoughts...."I need to ask this person or myself what their thinking is so I can understand them.", "Why would a rational, smart person choose to do this?" then seek to understand by asking questions in a emotionally safe tone of voice so we really can understand each other. "Heavenly Father, what can I do to help this situation be more effective and efficient?" then listen to His guidance and do it. "What example can I set to make these PEOPLE want better than they have?" Again, listen to the Spirit and do as HE directs. This system works. It keeps God in the process who is EAGER to help me and you. HE has great ideas and is fun and often funny even when a situation is NOT either of those things.

MEASURING: OK so I can measure my "performance" by assessing myself or others I have stewardship over by holding them up to the immovable standard of Jesus Christ and comparing myself or them to HIM only. THIS will keep us humble because...we are all so far below Him, and this will make us less condeming of ourselves and others because NONE of us measure up so who cares? BUT are we better than we were yesterday? IF yes, then good enough! If no, then repent and be better than yesterday tomorrow. REPORTING:

Who do I report to? When I set goals I first and formost keep a journal and can write my progress and struggles in honest and real ways. Then take that journal to the Lord in prayer and go over it with HIM.

I can also share those goals with a trusted friend, like Elder Cullen who can help me. I will never forget the time when we had only been married a few years and had three children under the age of three. I was using a loud voice to make something happen. I don't remember what, but I do remember this. Elder Cullen said in the kindest voice, "OH, My love! We don't want to use that kind of voice in our house do we?" I was startled because I WASN'T angry. But I was bossing people around...lol in a loud voice. I really really appreciated his remark. I WANTED to be a quieter person when I speak. I have become more self aware. I often have wished that I had a volume control, like my electronic keyboard, so that no matter how hard I pound it's always quiet enough to not bug people... LOL I remember my good friend Ms. James at school in the staff lunch room telling me once, Heather your voice is SO LOUD right now! I apologized feeling chagrined...and then thought, "Well, I am getting better." WAH! I do get loud when I'm excited and that's not fun for some people.

So those are my thoughts on that great quote we read. We can be better faster in anything we do if we set goals, measure our progress, and report to someone what our progress is...isn't that how Weight Watchers works? Someone fact check me on that. These pictures have nothing to do with my thoughts...They are just fun photos of activities I did this week after our work was done. Soybeans as far as the eye can see, Mud Truck Obstacle Course at the County Faire (this one jumped the ramp and landed so hard his battery fell out. He had to reconnect then finished the course). Minature horse pull (County Faire) then teaching my friend how to play Beat Saber with my VR. It's a great form of exercise when it's too hot or too cold outside.

ALSO another new adventure. Late last night, Elder Cullen and I were already in bed when we received a call from some young sister missionaries. "Sister Cullen! We need help! I'm in the bathroom with the door shut, my companion is in the bedroom with her door shut and there's a BAT flying around our kitchen! We can't open our doors or he'll get in where we are. We're scared."

I called around to the emergency numbers and was asked by the FM night person to take care of it. So Elder Cullen and I read up on it quickly, said a prayer and asked for help and inspiration, then outfitted ourselves in thick clothing and gloves so the bat couldn't bite us then went to the rescue.

I brought a small trash can and a floppy cutting board mat to use as a lid, but ended up just using both items as a "clapper/flapper" tool to drive the bat from the third floor appartment, down to the second floor, then the first..shutting doors behind us as we went. We remained calm and firm. As it flapped towards our faces and try to swoop back up to where it came from (the third floor apartment kitchen) I would just flap and clap my tools and say,"AH, Ah AH, head on out please, no no, wrong way. Suddenly felt I was back teaching middle school! While vocalizing calmly and doing this I was also praying that the bat would comprehend our intentions to not hurt it and allow us to drive it down down down to the main level and out the open front door. As we herded it down each level we turned off lights and shut doors so it couldn't go back. Finally 20 min later, it was outside. The sisters CHEERED! We felt like heroes. But God was the real hero of course. He gave us the good idea.

There and Back Again: Week 37 Family from California and Oregon!

What a WONDERFUL week it has been. My Uncle and Aunt and several cousins (first cousins once removed) came into town to see all things Nauvoo and Carthage. Isn't is interesting how you can be just bopping along in life doing your thing and you see someone you haven't seen in a great while and suddenly you realize just how much you've been missing them? I have hundreds of family members and hundreds and hundreds of friends. If I was sad to not be around someone, I'd be very sad all the time. But luckily our brains don't work that way. My brain puts things, and people that I'm not immediately in contact with in the back of my brain and when I encounter them it brings the memories forward and it's like no time had passed. When Uncle Cliff and Aunt Linette and Bethany arrived with kids and grandkids my heart just swelled with so much happiness. It was really GREAT!

We were able to arrange our schedule to spend time with them for some of the events in Nauvoo and on one day they came up to Carthage to take the tour and we were able to feed them breakfast! Something we LOVE to do is feed people.

Waffles with homemade maple carmel sauce and homemade strawberry sauce and "As you like it" Omlettes by Elder Cullen (they got to pick what to have in their own personal omlettes). Also apple juice, orange juice, milk, cherries, watermelon, and home fry pototoes.

We were going to spend Friday night together watching the Brittish Pagaent before they left but then...

Double Whammy Tornado and Flood warning! LOL Earlier we got word that Ephraim was coming down with a family from Kansas City, MO (where he's living now) to see the Pagaent. We were going to meet him there, PLUS my brother, Adam, and his wife Holly, and Cheri, another friend, were also coming into town from Oregon on Friday night. Aunt Linette had reserved 17 seats for ALL of us....and then the lightning warning and we had to get to our cars, then the wind and rain started in hard. Elder Cullen and I tried to get back to Carthage but the wind and rain were so heavy we literally could not see one inch in front of us WITH the wipers going full blast. The family Ephraim was with invited us to come over and wait for a break in the storm. They were across the street from the gas station where we had stopped to get pizza. So we slowly made our way over and SURPRISE/ NOT SURPRISED Ephraim and one of their kids, Becci, were out running around in the storm laughing and shouting and completely DRENCHED as if they had been swimming. It was funny and made me so happy that he was still his kooky old self no matter how old he gets. Around 10pm there was a break and we zoomed home. The next morning Adam and Holly and Cheri came over for brunch: Homemade Naan and curried beef and watermelon. Then, we went to an ancient mounds museum. Ephraim and Becci met us there in their own vehicle.

Elder Cullen stopped at an antique shop and found me a STACK of Richie Rich Comic Books which I have been collecting since I was 8! LOL I know, I'm silly, but it's still just as fun to read them as it was back then. After the museum we headed to Hannibal to tour the Mark Twain Museum

and go on the Mark Twain Riverboat Dinner Cruise.

That cruise was magical. The live band was SO GREAT! It sounded like a Bugsy Malone Jr. Musical sound track. So old fashioned in the BEST way. I couldn't help but get up and dance! The food was delicious and the company was FUN!

Ephraim and Becci sat at the Kids table...lol Ephraim was her old uncle Scrooge.

So it's Monday afternoon and Adam, Holly, and Cheri are the only one's left. They leave tomorrow. (This is why my blog is late, too much fun, no time to sit at the computer) When we finish our Carthage chores we'll go back into Nauvoo to go to dinner with them and say goodbye. It's been a whirl wind of joy and adventure. Back to the calm happy routine of "Guardians of Carthage"

I was cleaning larva out of the letters of the monuments.

I had just done it two days before, but these bugs work fast!

I was reminded that just as I GENTLY brushed the sticky webs and juicey green worms from the golden lettering we also must be gentle and firm with ourselves as we repent daily and stay golden.

When our lives are filled with purpose and service, we avoid spiritual apathy; on the other hand, when our lives are deprived of divine purpose, meaningful service to others, and sacred opportunities for pondering and reflection, we gradually become suffocated by our own activity and self-interest, risking losing our savor. The antidote to this is to continue to be involved in service—being anxiously engaged in good works and the betterment of ourselves and the society we live in.” Elder José A. Teixeira “Bonded to Jesus Christ: Becoming the Salt of the Earth,” general conference, Oct. 2024, Gospel Library

There and Back Again: Week 36 Happy Independance Day!!!

WHAT a wonderful week we've had. We got TWO days of Independance Day Celebrations. On July 3rd, Elder Cullen and I helped FM and the construction company for our new visitor's center in Nauvoo put on a HUGE BBQ for the town of Nauvoo. Over 1000 burgers and dogs in the sweaty heat of 94 degrees with 90% humidity. LOL how do people do this? Sunblock, hats, COVER your skin and drink tons of water.

Elder Cullen put a little too much sunblock on and had to share with a friend. On the actual 4th of July we delighted in some hometown Carthage events, like the parade and the fireworks

The people here are generally very kind, welcoming, and open. A family gave us their bench to sit on because we were on the grass! They were younglings and didn't mind. I realized why Windsor has a strict rule with their parades that NO CANDY is to be THROWN from the floats! One of the little boys near us got pegged in the head was really crying hard. ALSO, kids were continuously darting under the caution tape to get candy just a foot or so beyond it, but this placed them in big danger of oncoming entries! It was a little stressful to watch. How often do we bend or break God's rules without obvious or immediate consequences, only to get smashed on the head by a hard sucker!lol By the way, now that I know how to drive a tractor, I saw some cool tractors in the parade I'd like to try.

As I scanned my family chat and saw all the pictures of their Independance Day celebrations all over the USA I was grateful that they appreciated our constitution enough to give it a day. I loved a quote my sister sent me."Today, as we celebrate our glorious freedom and consider the lives lost in battle to have it, my mind is also turned to our Father's plan, the battles we fought [in heaven], and freedom we have to choose because Jesus gave His life so that we can have our agency/freedom/(as well as repentance and healing) , and my heart is so full! I love our country and I love Father and His glorious plan, and I love Jesus for making our return home to our heavenly reality possible. AND I love you!!" Isn't she awesome? I testify her words are true. We are ALL VFW because of the heavenly war we fought in for the right to choose our destiny. THAT is why we came here to earth. It's a proving ground for choice. Think about that. When you act, what is it you are choosing?? Actions and consequences are eternally connected. You can not jump off a cliff and choose for gravity not to work, to not be smashed at the bottom. When you jump, you are choosing to be smashed. When you lie or steal or break any commandments, you are choosing scary consequences even if you are not feeling them now. The great Mercy of Jesus allows us a "parachute" of repentance so to speak. BUT then again you have to choose to OPEN it by accepting Jesus's atonement. We need to retain our freedom of religion, freedom of parenting, freedom of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must choose the hard work of freedom over the shackles of convenience. You will not regret it. Next Topic

My cousin TJ got sealed for time and all eternity to his bride yesterday and Elder Cullen and I were given permission to drive the 2.5 hours to be there! It was so fun to see my extended family there. We also did some temple work before the sealing so it was a productive day!

LASTLY, Elder Cullen and I were surveying our Carthage Jail "kingdom" while doing an evening security check and noticed that the gravel area was really scuffed up and bald in some areas. Hundreds of visitors have taken their toll on it, young kids make piles and "draw" funny cartoons in it, and after awhile it just gets scrubby looking.

Elder Cullen decided to Zen Garden it and we've been doing that ever since.

It's very peaceful and relaxing to rake the gravel back into place and make the lines, it's quiet, it's beautiful, it's a little thing but it makes one feel really great to look at the results even knowing it will be undone in a couple days. Take time to survey your space. The space you trod in day in and day out and make messes in. Then take time to meditate and organize the little things in your life. The impact will be large, comforting, and beautiful. God will help you do this. Just because life is a test doesn't mean it has to be a big stress all the time. Breath, love, talk to Heavenly Father who said, " Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; Doctrine & Covenants 88:119"