ADJUSTING WITHOUT FAMILY HERE!!!! (July 20, 2014)

Thought for the week:

"Don't forget that you're human.  It's okay to have a melt down.  Just don't unpack and live there.  Cry it out and then refocus on where you are headed."

"We don't learn from talking; we learn from listening."

"A word of encouragement during a failure is more potent than a word of praise after an achievement."

"Difficulties are just life's delaying tactics.  They just delay accomplishments, but they don't make them impossible."

Hello from beautiful Nauvoo!  I was so worried that the summer months would be unbearably hot and humid, but so far this summer is so delightful.  We've only had two days of humidity and in the 90's.  It's so green here thanks to the weekly rain storms.  Last week we went to both pageants again because we love them and its so nice and cool in the evening.  Maybe next week I'll be complaining about how hot and humid it is but so far no complaints, I love it here!  Now if I could just transplant my family here it would be heaven.

Last week we spent all day Monday washing, and cleaning the cottage.  It really doesn't take that long because it's so small, but I had a few extra loads of wash from the week before.  No problem, I'd love to do extra wash if it meant we had more visitors.  Monday night we went to dinner at Chandlers in Fort Madison with our P-day group.  Nice way to end the day and get ready for a full week in the temple.

As I've stated before, the temple is so busy with all the tourist for the pageant.  The baptistry is constantly full of lots of youth groups and kids wanting to do baptisms in the Nauvoo Temple.  It's so wonderful to see so many youth wanting to serve The Lord.  The endowment sessions are full and sometimes chairs have to be brought into the rooms to accommodate the extra load.  All areas are so busy especially in the morning hours.  You can imagine the number of clothes that are rented for the sessions and sealing sessions.  My job as clothing coordinator is like going crazy with so many rentals.  I love seeing so many people lined up for clothing, that means so many souls are getting their work done.  Heaven must have a lot of happy spirits who have waited so long to finally have their temple ordinances performed.  What a wonderful place to spend my days at.

Yesterday I was asked to guide a young 25 year old sister who was taking out her own endowments.  She wasn't going on a mission or getting married, she just got baptized two years ago and felt like it was time to go to the temple.  It was such a joy to see how mature she was and ready for such a big step. She is the only one in her family who is a member so a couple from her ward acted as her escort.  The young missionary who had baptized her came with his mother from Utah for her baptism.  It was so special to guide her through the whole process.  It was especially wonderful in initiatory, since I was her guide I got to help with certain parts.  I really had a hard time in the first booth when she looked up at me with those big brown eyes and was listening to the words so intently and tears started running down both our cheeks.  The promises are so special and mean so much.  What a choice experience to be a part of.  Hopefully I'll be able to be a part of my granddaughters first time in the temple, it would mean the world to me.  The temple means so much more to me now that I get to be a part of helping others start their eternal progression back to our heavenly home.

We are so hooked on the veggies and fruits at the farmers market in Burlington that we make a weekly trek.  I love summer and the delicious food that comes with it.  Tomorrow I'm making fresh peach pies again for our family home evening get together.

Tonight we have a special meeting with all the missionaries for some kind of a report to the president.  The choir is singing and thats about all we know.  We also have a fun potluck dinner planned for Thursday night to celebrated Pioneer Days.  The fun and parties just keep coming.  Love it all!

I guess Tami and Dan are really moving since Dan left Friday for Gillett Wyoming to start his new job.  I hate to think about it, but know everything will be o.k. and hopefully for the best.  Tami and the kids will follow shortly after he gets settled and finds a place for them to live.  Things won't be the same when we get home.  We leave for 18 months and things just get complicated for us.  I love having all my family close.  I guess we'll be making trips to Wyoming now.  Good luck Tami and Dan, you will be missed but not forgotten.

I have to close now and get to the meeting early to practice with the choir.  Canton was awesome as usual today.  We are growing to love the people and small group of such faithful saints.  I teach R.S. next week so I have some work to do this week in preparation.

We love and appreciate you all.  Hope your summer is full of lots of time spent with your families and friends.

Until next week stay sweet and kind to everyone!

Rudi and Kathy

 Old picture of Abe Lincoln and Joseph Smith, back in the 1840's.

 Modern day Abe and Joseph in Nauvoo just last week.  Lincoln gave the opening prayer at the Nauvoo Pageant. Actors portraying each famous man.  Remarkable their resemblance.

 A turtle in our front yard just hours after all the grandkids left to go home.  Rudi made me pick it up for a picture. Yuck!

 Rudi found out what strong claws they have and how fast they can move.  The grandkids would have loved holding him!

 Sunset on the beautiful Mississippi River.

 Never enough pictures of the stunning Nauvoo Temple!

SO MANY MEMORIES AND FUN!!!! (July 13, 2014)



 

Thoughts for the week:

"If you can't be the light, be the match.  You may not be the candle to illuminate the room, but your spark can be the source of its light."

"If no one is there to push you, DRAG YOURSELF.  You cannot always depend on others to help you out; you also have to help yourself."

"One day someone is going to hug you so tight, that all your broken pieces will fit back together."

"Sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us."

I don't know where to begin.  This week has been full of so many wonderful and fun memories.  I really have mixed emotions today since Tiffini and Traci's families left this morning to fly back to Utah.  I feel like I left on another mission and had to say goodby.  After nine days of non- stop activities it was really hard to hug and kiss them again for another nine months.  They left right after we left for the Canton Branch.  The tears were really flowing and the Glassetts who go with us to Canton thought we must be crazy with our red eyes and make-up smeared all over my face.  Luckily Rudi's make-up didn't run even though I know he had a hard time saying goodby.  It reminded me of the morning we left for our mission nine months ago and everyone was so emotional.  Even little Jensen and Addie were crying.  This is the sacrifice of our mission to be away from our family who are so close to us.  Wouldn't you know Rudi's lesson in Gospel Principles was on Sacrifice today.  We certainly had some personal comments to make.  By the way he did a great job as usual.

We love our branch in Canton and feel of the spirit so much each week.  Today one of the newly baptized brothers was asked to give the closing prayer and said he still had trouble but would do his best.  It was truly a heart felt prayer even though he hesitated and was uncomfortable. I love seeing these people grow in the gospel and get stronger each week.  My testimony grows just being around this missionary process.

This week in the temple Sister Ardith Kapp went on an endowment session.  Since I was endowment coordinator, and recognized her from my homeward in Bountiful where she lived when I was growing up, I said hello and welcomed her to the Nauvoo Temple.  She remembered my parents name and gave me a big hug.  She must be in her late seventies and is as beautiful as she always was and as sharp as a tack.  Love these special experiences that I have working in the temple.

I also saw two of our former neighbors who lived across the street from us in Nauvoo before they left last year to go home.  The Jordon's and the Jensen's, both great couples and so fun to see and catch up on some old times.  Virg and Rocky Jordon are now living in the St. George area so we hope to see a lot more of them when we come home.  The Jensen's are now the Logan Temple President and Matron.

Now to some of the special memories with our kids and grandkids this week.  We started Monday off with seeing the play, Just Plain Anna Amanda, a cute puppet play and dramatization of the early children in Nauvoo.  It was performed by the young performing missionaries.  It was so cute and the kids loved it.  Then we went to some of the sites in Old Nauvoo.  That afternoon Ellie and Ethan did baptisms and confirmations for the dead.  Jeff did all the baptisms and Rudi confirmed them.  They each did around 12 names.  Traci helped with towels and Grandma watched and felt so blessed to see all those ancestors continuing on their eternal progression.  After the baptisms and confirmations Traci and Jeff went upstairs and did all the initiatory work for the them.  Hopefully they all accepted the gift that was given them.  That night we once again saw the presentation of Sunset by the Mississippi River.  The night was beautiful and enjoyed by all.

Tuesday morning after we all had breakfast at our cottage Jeff, Tiffini and Traci met us at the temple for an endowment session.  Rudi and I officiated, so we felt so special to have our kids on our session.  We feel so lucky to be able to have our children in the temple with us and performing the much needed work for our ancestors.  It really brings tears to my eyes just thinking about how wonderful heaven will be with all our children there with us.  I don't want any empty chairs at our table.  That afternoon we went to the play, The Promise.  Another dramatization of the life of the Saints in Old Nauvoo.  This city just bubbles with the spirit of the Saints.  You can't help but catch the spirit of Joseph's City and the strong diligent  Saints who lived here.
After we saw Rendezvous In Old Nauvoo, another fun play at the Cultural Hall.  By then we were all tired and ready to relax.

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday Rudi and I were at the temple on our regular shifts.  We saw the British Pageant Wednesday night and the Nauvoo Pageant Thursday night.  They both were fabulous and very well done.  They had all kinds of pioneer activities going on before the pageants each night.  It was so fun to see the grandkids get involved in dancing, making crafts, trying out stilts, tug a wars, all many other activities before the actual performances.  Our seats were great and we all loved seeing the wonderful pageants with song, dance and dramatization.  What a production!  While Rudi and I were at the temple the kids saw the rest of the sites and vignettes throughout Nauvoo.

Thursday afternoon after we got off at the temple we went to a farmers market in Burlington.  So much fun buying fresh corn on the cob, tomatoes, cucumbers, peaches and other fresh veggies.  Of course buying peaches meant Kathy had to make fresh peach pie.  Loved having the grandkids help out.  Those memories can't be beat.

Friday night we went to Keokuk and ate at Angelini's a great Italian restaurant.  After we played games at the cabin Tiff and Jeff were staying at.  It felt like old times being together and laughing all the time.

Saturday we went and finished up some sights and saw more vignettes throughout Nauvoo.  We came hame and made Hawaiian Haystacks which we all love and ate our pie.  The Diederich's know how to party with great food and fun activities.  Never a dull moment.  Yes, we are tired but I can sleep later when they leave.

As you can see Rudi and I are so blessed to have such wonderful children and grandchildren who support us and bring us so much happiness.  Serving a mission is a great opportunity to serve and hopefully inspire our children and grandchildren to want to serve missions also.  We know because of our willingness to accept this calling our family has been blessed.  They are all healthy and happy and doing their best to teach their children correct principals.  Knowing that they are O.K. makes it a lot easier to be away from them.

I know this email is lengthy but its been an amazing summer with so many memories and wonderful experiences.  We want our kids to know how grateful we are to them for their support and taking the time and money to be with us this summer.  Tami I haven't forgotten you.  I hope to see you this fall but if that doesn't work we plan to stop on our way home in April and spend a wonderful time with your special family.  My thoughts and prayers are always in your behalf as they are for all my children.  We love you all so much and miss you daily.  Keep up the good work!

With love always to family and friends,

Rudi and Kathy
Mom and Dad
GRANDPA AND GRANDMA

P.S.  Ellie learned to drive in Nauvoo for the first time.  So glad she got her learners permit before she came.  Josh has his learners also.  The roads are no longer safe with two of my grandkids driving around.  Just kidding.  They both are great drivers!

 

Rudi and I with the Maughns, site missionaries, Addie's friend at home grandparents.

  Logan and Jensen marching in the parade before the presentation of Sunset By the Mississippi.

 Kathy a site missionary at the post office.  Aunt Marianne, she reminds me of you.  I call her Aunt Marianne and she answers me with a smile.

Traci and Tiffini's family at the sunstone.

Waiting to go on the oxen ride.

 What cute grandkids!

Addie and Jensen observing a broken down butterfly.

 Riding the oxen and covered wagon ride.  Ethan and Logan driving the team.  Scary!

 Jensen finally making sure oxen have ears and horns, something he didn't believe until he saw it with his own eyes.

At the Women's Garden.  Looking like the statue.

Grandma with her grandchildren next to the grandmother statue.  So lucky to have so many wonderful grandchildren.

 Kathy with her daughters and granddaughters next to the statue of a mother and her children following her.

 More cute pictures of my sweet grandkids.  So great to have them here for over a week.

 Ethan helping Jensen walk on stilts at the pre-show activities before pageant.

 Jensen and Addie dressed up like Pioneer children.  They had so much fun learning about how they lived in Nauvoo many years ago.

 Waiting for the pageant to start.  we had great seats thanks to grandpa going early and reserving them for us.

 Triple Trouble!  Ellie can handle them both.  Big job, but they love her so much!

 The grandkids in front of the temple.  How cute are they!

At the farmers market in Burlington.  Loved all the fresh veggies and fruits!  Love the kids more!

Tiffini and Jeff's family.  No they are not drinking what you think.  They all bought bottles of Fitze which is in beer looking bottles.  It was so fun watching the kids enjoy themselves so much.  Love those kids!

Traci's family along the Mississippi River.  What great kids!
 

 

In front of where Jeff and Tiffini and kids stayed the last four nights.  Beautiful cabin!

 Outside the cabin.  Everyone loved the trees around the cabin.  Very rustic!

 Outside of our cottage.  Such great people to spend a week with.

 At the Family Search Center looking up their family fan charts.

 Everyone got involved even Jensen in the background trying to get his games to come up. Got to love him trying!

 Everyone wanted a homemade peach pie while they were there, so grandma took control with her rolling pin in hand and flour all over her and got them making pies.  So much fun, and delicious pies with their help!  Thanks Ellie, number one assistant, for all your help.

LOVING BEING WITH TIFFINI AND TRACI'S FAMILIES!!!! (July 6, 2014)

Thoughts for the week:

"What should not be heard by little ears, should not be said by big mouths."

"A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't."

"Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband."

"We are a TEMPLE-BUILDING and a TEMPLE-ATTENDING people."
Pres. Thomas S. Monson

HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!

We're having so much fun with Tiffini and Traci's family here that I'm running out of time to get this email off.  So it's going to be short.  Look at the pictures and you'll understand that we are doing a lot and having a ball.  The only thing that would make it better is if Tami and her family could be here!  Miss you Tami and the kids. Love you tons but understand.  They are in the process of moving to Gillett Wyoming so they are getting very busy.  Dan got a new job there and it looks like they will break the Diederich mold and move away.  I thought they knew the rule about leaving Utah Valley but I guess my rules were meant to be broken!

We were so lucky to have Ellie come five days early to spend one on one time with grandpa and grandma.  She is such a delight and makes everything more fun.  As usual she loves to bake with grandma, so we've been making all her favorite recipes.  She's a great sue chef.

The rest of them arrived on Friday the 4th of July.  Since then we have been on the go constantly.  Saturday we went to Cantril and the Villages of Van Bueren.  The kids got to see rug weaving, clay pots being made, home made leather shop run by the Amish and go to the famous Dutchman Store full of so many interesting and delicious things.

On Saturday night we ate at the Casino where we get lobster.  Not as good as usual but fun to eat all they wanted.  We then went down Snake Alley and drove around Burlington and saw all the flooding.  I can't believe how fast the Mississippi River has risen.  We were in Burlington just two days earlier and there was hardly any flooding.  They are concerned that the levee is going to break and many farms and property will be flooded.  We tried to go home on the road out of Burlington to Nauvoo and had to turn around and take another route because the road was three feet in water.  I like said, everything that has to do with weather in Illinois is extreme!  Got to love the cold, cold winters and flooding in the summer.  What next???

Today we went to sacrament here in Nauvoo instead of traveling four hours to Canton and back.  We want to spend every moment we can with our kids.  After church we went to Carthage to the jail and a special program presented by the young performers from B.Y.U.  It was wonderful as usual and very touching about the Saints and their reaction to hearing about the prophet and Hyrum being killed.  We also went on a tour of the jail.  The kids really enjoyed the presentations and seemed to grasp the spirit of the Carthage experience.

After our yummy steak dinner with all the trimmings, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, tossed salad, and homemade cinnamon rolls,(thanks to Traci) we're going on the Trial of Hope down Parley Street.  Right after that the City of Nauvoo is finally having their firework display at the city park. It had to be delayed due to the rain.  Go, go, go, something every minute!

I have the rest of the week planned so they can see and experience all the presentations and of course pageant, both the Bristish and the Nauvoo.  I can't wait to see both of them.

Incase you're wondering if we quit the temple, we haven't.  We're just taking a few days off to be with family.  Rudi never gets a break even when they close the temple for maintenance so I think he deserves a day or two here and there.  We will be at the temple Tuesday to officiate a session when our kids do a session.  We will also go tomorrow and Tuesday when Ellie and Ethan do baptisms for the dead.  We plan to wok our regular shift on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  It's getting really busy with pageant starting this week.

Stay tuned next week to hear about more of our adventures with the kids.
Making so many memories and hugging and kissing the grandkids constantly.  So grateful for the visits from our family and friends.

Until next week I need to frost the cinnamon rolls and get to the fireworks.

Love and miss you all,

Rudi and Kathy
Mom and Dad
Grandpa and Grandma


 

 At the farmers market with our granddaughter Ellie.  So fun!

 Rudi loving the fresh radishes.

 Ellie and I at the farmers market.

 Rudi found a soft drink called Fitze, close to Fritz.

 Ellie and I at the end of Parley Street where the Mississippi River is flooding Nauvoo.

 Ellie and I displaying the traditional flag cake that we made for the 4th.

Everyone in front of the temple.  They arrived on Friday night and the first place they wanted to go was the temple.  Good choice!

Before church in front of our cottage.  So good to have them all here!

 At the Carthage Jail.

 More Carthage Jail pictures.

Jeff and Tiffini with Logan, Addie, and Jensen.  Cute family!

 Traci, Ethan and Ellie looking great!

 Jensen and Addie in the same jacket in Cantril.  It turned cold on Saturday, unusual weather!

 Fudge shop in Benetonsport.  We enjoyed going to all the cute towns around Cantril.  Also went to Iron and Lace and watched them make rag rugs and make pottery bowls.

 The night they arrived in Nauvoo.  They were ready to relax and play.

 More pictures of our flag cake and the five grandkids.  Missed them all so much!

 Love my crazy family!  They like crazy pictures better than normal smiles.