Christmas Week

Our little tree.

Busy Sunday

 President Lusvardi and his wife spoke at Sunday Sacrament on giving as Christ gave.  President Lusvardi pointed out that the wise men brought rather strange gifts for a baby.  Gold, frankincense, and myrrh are not on the baby register.  But then one word in the scripture brought more meaning to the story.  They opened their treasures. We give what we love, and Christ gave what he loved - service, teachings, healing.  Then President Lusvardi asked us to think about who he gave to - everyone, the thief, Pilate, Nicodemus, Zaccheus. He taught under all circumstances, even when he was tired,  even when he wanted time to himself, even from the cross. It is a challenge to give as Christ gave, but it's good to try. 

Later we delivered our candy trains, which were big hits with the children, not sure about the parents. The Lusvardi's invited each zone to an open house.  

Christmas Eve

I worked in the Family Living Center - the funnest place to work in Nauvoo.  I can weave, tie fringe on rugs, or sew scraps together for shuttles.  Or I can tell visitors about candles, bread baking,  fibers they wove, or weaving.  We had lots of visitors.  The Childers' family baked pizzas in the beehive oven. 

Fiber center

 

FM Christmas Eve party - we were getting ready for games.

Christmas Day the sites were closed which gave us time to talk with each of our family. The weather was lovely, so I took a walk around historic Nauvoo.  The peacefulness gave me time to reflect on the Savior and all that He has done for us. 

Patty Session's cabin - pioneer midwife

 We invited the newest missionary couples for dinner. 

Bakers and Spellmans joined us.

Christmas dinner, some of it was on the buffet behind us. 

There was some excitement at the Post Office on Wednesday.  Visitors often point to artifacts, asking what is this, or what is that.  In the post office a visitor asked me what was that on the window behind me.  I turned around and calmly replied, "That is a bat."  I then proceeded with my presentation - but my mind was on that bat.  I prayed he would stay put.  He actually was very sound asleep.  The next visitor was my boss, Richard, and his little family.  I was never so glad to see him.  Richard just happened to have work gloves and a towel in his car, because apparently bats hanging around the sites is not unusual.  

A bat!

What's that?

Thank you Richard

I worked in the homes of John Taylor, Heber C. Kimball, and Wilford Woodruff this week.  Reading about these men and their families, then presenting a few stories about their lives really makes me appreciate the commitment and sacrifices they were willing to go through, because they knew what they were doing was the work of the Lord.  Restoring His church was not for the faint of heart.  They had to really feel that what they were doing was worth all the cost.  John Taylor said,

 When I first entered Mormonism, I did it with my eyes open. I counted the cost.

After reading that quote I asked myself,  When I joined the church did I count the cost?  And what was the cost?  It's a good question to ask before committing to anything.   I don't know that I understood the cost, but I did know that if I joined the church I'd be all in.  My membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has cost me something, but the blessings have infinitely  covered the cost.  

Happy New Year!