The last week in Nauvoo was really quite emotional. It was hard toknow that I was continually doing the last of something. It was the last night of pageant, the last vanilla cookie, the last load of laundry, the last walk to the temple, the last time to see favorite missionaries etc. It broke my heart. There were a few things we did the last week that were pretty fun. We had dinner with the Jones' and they drove us out to a tree in Nauvoo that is 300 years old. It was amazing. It looks like something right out of The Lion King!
This picture doesn't even begin to do it justice, but I love that the Jones' are in the picture with us. Oh how we love them.
We walked to the Ashby's and the Snow's to say our farewells to Melvin. Melvin does not like me, but he likes AJ and Karen. It is cute to watch him, but I really don't like touching him. He is so prickly. AJ things Melvin rocks and
would love to take him home. Can you imagine just what the neighbors would say when they saw him walking a raccoon on a leash through the neighborhood? Good ole Melvin! He loves to eat cookies and will climb right up your leg to get them. He is not climbing up my leg! In fact he is not climbing anywhere near me. I held him once and that was enough for me. I will enjoy him from a distance. We also had to say good-bye to Emma's Willow. Emma is a wonderful example of strength and courage. Many people are too quick to judge her, but I have come to appreciate and love dear, sweet Emma. I am sure that just as Kim said, "Many tears were shed at this willow." Emma had to do hard things and I have learned that each one of us are required to do hard things. Will we face the challenges with courage and faith or will we falter?
One of the sweetest people in Nauvoo is Alma. Alma did our laundry for the Inn. The boys would always tell me, "Nobody makes clothes or sheets smell as good as Alma." Everyday she would write cute sweet notes for 'Superboy' AJ on strips of toilet paper. Each note ended with a scripture for him to look up and read. We came to love Alma. We called her our Sunshine. When we would come home from work there was our sunshine to greet us. She is such an amazing lady. The morning that we left, Alma got dressed up and rode her bike to the house. She played her guitar and sang, "Each Life That Touches Ours." That morning we witnesses a true Christlike gift. It was a pure gift from the heart and each of us wept. Thank you Sunshine for such a touching gift. We will never, ever forget you! She also gave AJ and I a gift she had purchased, but the gift we loved the most was the song she sang and the hugs she left with us.
No comments:
Post a Comment