Aunt Doris - Oklahoma City

 Angie and Ian Steedman

Jim and Stacy Miller

Aunt Doris is my brother's wife.  My brother, Tom, was killed in a car wreck about 20 years ago.  I don't get to see Doris very often and really enjoyed our visit with her and her wonderful family.  Two of her children live near her in Oklahoma City, Angie and Jim.  Angie has 5 girls and Jim has 3 boys and 2 girls.  We were greeted at the front door by 6 children and we didn't know who was who.  We were able to join the family for Sunday dinner, which they have made a tradition.  Then the little kids put on a talent show.  What we saw were parents doing everything right.  The children loved and supported each other.  They have the doctrine of family down pat.  We were delighted to have been invited to participate.

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon was on Wayne's "bucket list".  He had never seen it so since it was on the way, we stopped.  It is a big hole in the ground.  He saw it.  We marvelled at it's immensity and then we went on to Flagstaff.

Brent - Las Vegas

L to R Elizabeth, Carly,  Brent, Nathan, Rebecca, Wayne, Joan.  We had a great dinner.

This is Nathan and Lido.  The pup is a beautiful chocolate lab, but he's growing faster than Nathan.  We had a wonderful visit.  We were worried when we heard they had a lab, because their yard is small, but he is a great dog.  He has a gentle personality, wants to please and seems to be easy to train.  They really got a good one.

Uncle Jack in Parawon, Utah

This is Uncle Jack.  We had a wonderful time visiting with him.

He made every stick of furniture in two bedrooms.  This is a sample of his work.

Getting going

This is our bishop, Bishop Bohne.  He came over early Tuesday morning to wish us well and to give us a blessing.  We were gratified that he would do that.

Where is Nauvoo

Nauvoo is on the banks of the Mississippi River.  If you fly and rent a car, fly in to Springfield, IL or St. Louis, MO.  The weather is nicest in May, June, September and October.  What is there to see?  A whole city that has been restored to its 1840s look.  Nauvoo was larger than Chicago in 1845 and was the 10th largest city in the United States.  Students studying American History will enjoy seeing wagons and stage coaches, houses fully furnished, a newspaper office, a tinshop, blacksmith shop, school, the Browning Rifle Shop and a craft center where you can learn to make rope, candles, weave, card wool, quilt, bake bread.  Tour guides are all dressed in period costumes and put on a humorous show every evening.  Admission is free and there are no "free will donations".  Come and see.

New Mission!

We've been called to serve six months in the Nauvoo Temple and we are excited to go.  This is a calling that comes through a recommendation from the Oakland Temple President.  We are grateful that we are fully trained and able to step into this assignment with only proceedures to learn.  The ordinances are the same, but the proceedures are different for each temple.  We are to report Saturday, April 23, 2011.