A Week of Trials!

 

Well an other week has come and gone and I'm hoping this week will be better than last week! Everything was going great until Thursday morning when Rudi and I were leaving to go to the temple. I accidentally missed the end of the sidewalk and landed flat on my face in our gravel driveway. Both my hands were full carrying our lunches and so I took the full force of my weight on my face. It was so dark that Rudi and I didn't know how bad it was until we got in the cottage. On the way into the cottage I kept spitting out gravel from my mouth. When we got in the light and looked in the mirror I was sick. We were both covered in blood. You know how bad the face bleeds, well we were a mess. Rudi's white shirt was really messed up and my outfit looked awful. I was so grateful that all my teeth were still in the right place. The bridge of my nose took the hardest blow. I have a pretty good sized gash across that area. I think the biggest damage was my pride! Rudi just kept saying how did you do it. You know Rudi, until it happens to him it doesn't make sense!
He tried not to laugh but it got the better of him and he about exploded. Rudi took me to the doctor who handles all the senior missionaries her in Nauvoo. He's not sure if I need plastic surgery yet. I see him again on Tuesday. Rudi thought you'd enjoy and maybe get a good laugh out of the progression of pictures of my face.
I feel much better today, wish I looked better! I think I'll have a permanent souvenir on my nose to always remember Nauvoo.
Since I wasn't able to go to the temple to work for the past 3 days I've spent my extra time doing what I like to do best, cook. Friday I made homemade caramels, they turned out perfect [thanks Laura for teaching me how to be a little like you]. Saturday I made pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting. I was going to make Lasagna but I forgot to buy hamburger and my freezer is back in Utah. Spaghetti was second choice with just meatless sauce. Now what to do with 3 dozen pumpkin cookies! Thank goodness I have tons of wonderful neighbors who love goodies like we do. What about all those caramels....Well the SWEET sisters in Relief Society got those. Where are my grandkids and children when I need them.
Last week wasn't all bad. I was just starting to fill good about my progress in the temple when I fell. I only hope when I get back on Tues. I won't have forgotten everything.
I've been reading a book that Pres. Condie loaned me called, The Savior in Kirkland. I've enjoyed it so much and recommend it highly. It tells about all the visions and blessings that occurred during the Kirkland period.
Today is Sunday and our first regular meeting schedule. The sacrament talks were outstanding and so spiritual. Four site missionaries spoke and the temple choir sang. It was so quiet I really soaked in the spirit of the meeting. I'm not use to that quiet of a meeting. It's surprising how much better I can concentrate without any noise or distractions. I miss the children in our home ward but the quiet here is amazing!
Our Sunday School lesson was just a continuance of that special spirit. We left the regular meeting house and went down to the Old Cultural Hall in Old Nauvoo for our other two meetings. What a treat we had today, Sister Durrant {formerly Susan Easton Black] was our Sunday School teacher. What a powerful woman and such a delightful and humorous person. I really started to get nervous thinking I was going to teach the Relief Society lesson right after her. She's a hard act to follow!!!!
I guess my lesson went over o.k. Once again the sisters here are so sweet that I don't know if they know how to tell the truth. The message was on Happiness and how we can get it and keep it in our lives forever, especially when we start our own families. Pres. Eyring is so knowledgeable and has such a special spirit about him that it was easy to talk about his October conference talk about "To My Grandchildren". Reread it for a family home evening lesson, it's very powerful.
Rudi and I were put on the Activities Committee today. It was the strangest thing. They released all the missionaries that are going home next week and replaced them with missionaries that will be staying, the only strange part was that they don't call you before and ask if you'll accept, they just assume we will and guess what we will.
Tomorrow we're going with Elder and Sister Prince on a road trip to Cantrell, I think it's a Dutch community with fun, cute little shops. Should be fun! I'll send pictures next week.
Well I think I've taken up enough of your time reading about the excitement we're having in Nauvoo. I'll keep you posted on whether I need plastic surgery or not. Everyone tells me to make sure I go to the very best, especially for any work on the face.

Hope everything is going great for all our family and friends. We love you tons and appreciate all your phone calls letters, pictures and most importantly your prayers.
Remember two of my favorite thoughts for the week:
"Life is a mission, not a career." As Church members, our mission should be the greatest, noblest mission in the universe--the salvation of souls.
And:
A pioneer member leaving Nauvoo stated: I had to give away all I had, to gain everything I want."

Keep the faith and have a great week.

With love always,

Elder Rudi and Sister Kathy Diederich
[I'm kind of getting use to our new titles]

The Temple Presidency. From left to right, Bro. and sister Marshall temple recorder; Pres. and Sister Rutowski 1st counselor in temple presidency; the Parsons, we moved into their cottage; Pres. and Sister Condie Temple President and matron; Pres. and Sister Jenson 2nd counselor in temple presidency, and our next door neighbors. All wonderful people!




The geese are really flying south for the winter.

We see deer like this all the time in our backyard.



Now this is fall in all its splendor.



Farmyard in rural Nauvoo. Let me see all of Nauvoo is rural!!!!

Sequence of pictures of my famous fall. I wish I was as pretty as the fall foliage!
The doctor took this picture at his office, with Rudi laughing in the background.

Rudi thought we needed more pictures so here I am again in living color and full sun.



Day 2 and still pretty beat up looking!



Day 3 and trying to smile but it hurts!

Day 4 all ready for church and facing public for the first time. I guess I'm going to teach my Relief Society lesson. Poor sisters that have to look at me for 35 minutes.



I don't think this is the Anson Call that is our relative since this man died during his travels from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City.



Notice all the Thomas's. These people were also among the saints that perished while crossing the plains. This plaque is found at the waters edge in Nauvoo in remembrance of those soles who had great hope and faith of reaching Salt Lake.