Ellertson's visit - May

We had a real surprise when the Ellertson's turned up at the temple.  We were able to have a good visit after we got home.  They have changed very little.  We both got caught up on what our kids are doing.  We love visits and invite all of you to come.

Spring Flowers - May

The flowers this year, are gorgeous.  Even our little flower garden outside of our front door is spectacular.  We had a mild winter and then it really warmed up the middle of April.  The flowers have bloomed and gone.  The new missionaries will not get to see them.

John Deere Factory in Waterloo

A bunch of us drove to Waterloo to visit the John Deere Tractor Assembly Plant.  The guys loved it.  It was interesting.  We were able to follow the assembly line from start to finish.  Then we had lunch and spent 1/2 an hour in a shopping mall.  (Big treat for me.  I even found a sweater)  Then home. 

Prarie Grass Exhibit

There is an acre set aside for prarie grass.  The deer love it - they hide in it because it is tall.  There are other critters who also live in there.  Once a year, the grass is burned.  We watched and it was amazing.  The fire was an inferno.  I had to back way up because it was so hot.  Within a minute, however, the fire was gone, completely, leaving a blackened acre.  That was three weeks ago.  Now it is growing and you can't tell where the fire was. 

Relief Society 3

 This is Sister Morgan, who played Emma.  She's tiny and has a lot of dark hair. She is holding a box of sachets.  We were each given one without scent so that we could spray it with our own.  Someone brought an embroidery sewing machine.  Each of the sachets has 1842   RS  2012 on it. 

Relief Society

 Here we are in the carriage in the parking lot at the Visitor's Center.  I'm in the third row.
This is Sister Gilliland, the Mission President's wife.  She is very much in charge and we love her.  Some of you may know Aleen Rockwood, in front.
 The matrons in our temple.  In back, Sister Jenson, who arrived with us last April, Sister Rutowski who has been here for two and a half years already.  She and her husband live locally, so they are considered locals.  They are from Wisconsin.  Sister Condie is a joy.

Relief Society Re-enactment

March 19 - We began at the Visitor's Center dressed in 1840s clothing.  The carriage came and took us to Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store.  It is a long ride and we enjoyed it very much.  The weather was warm and breezy.  While on the carriage, a site missionary told us about Joseph's generosity in giving away items in his store to the needy. 


 This is the group picture that was included in our program.  The site missionaries were wonderful to us.  President Condie and Sister Condie are on the right.  The men in the back represented Joseph, John Taylor and Willard Richards.
 These are some of the site missionaries who formed the original group.  We have gotten to know many of them because they come to the temple and we go to the sites.  I've always loved Relief Society, but now I have a greater appreciation for it.