OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED....HAPPY VALENTINES! (February 8, 2015)

O.K. I've lost it!!!  I hit the wrong key and my thoughts and pictures were sent without any text.  My Days Really Are Numbered....  I'll try again so it can be all together to make it easier for Tiffini to put it in our blog.


Thought for the week:

"Life is a continuous battle.  It doesn't matter how many battles you've won or lost.  What matters is that you fought, learned, and survived."

"Change of attitude starts with a change of perspective."

"Some wounds mend better alone.  You don't need people who keep pinching the bruises."

This week has found us battling cold weather and then enjoying 52 degrees on Saturday.  Can't decide wether to put away my winter boots and gloves or wearing a sweater instead of a coat.  I'll take the warmer weather to the freezing cold.

Last Monday we went to dinner with the Dallings in Burlington at a wonderful Italian restaurant.  I know we eat out way to much but love getting out of Dodge (Nauvoo) for a change of pace.

Our numbers are still low at the temple, but we always have someone come so we don't cancel sessions.  I've really learned to love working in initiatory since I serve there a lot lately.  When you really listen to the words you realize what special blessings we have in store if we keep our covenants and stay faithful.

Yesterday was the annual Pioneer Exodus from Nauvoo.  It was a beautiful day with warm temperatures and a lot of supporters.  Rudi and I had to work the early shift at the temple because we got to go last year and many missionaries haven't been involved before.  This year was nothing like last year with sub zero temperatures.  Last year was a lot like when the Saints left back in 1846.  We felt grateful that we did get to take part in last years reenactment.
Special weekend in Nauvoo with a lot of visitors here for seminars, dinners and of course the actual exodus.

Today was another special experience in Canton.  Our first couple,the Deppermans, will be coming to the temple on Friday to take out their endowments and be sealed.  Sister Depperman has asked me to be her escort and Rudi will be Bro. Deppermans guide.  He's asked the missionary who taught them the gospel and baptized them to be his escort.  We feel so privileged and so excited for them to mark this big step.  Bro. Depperman is in a jazzy and his health is constantly compromised.  They are so excited to finally take this big step, especially since he's about passed away many times.  This is a crowning experience in our missionary opportunities.  We have some very tender feelings for these special saints in Canton.  Hopefully the other five couples will follow shortly behind them.  We also found out that Kendra Hohvath is getting baptized on February 28th.  This little branch is really starting to catch the vision and the gospel is rolling forth at an increased speed.  It's really going to be hard to leave them and hope and pray they continue with their goals to get to the temple.  So glad the Dallings will continue to watch over this wonderful flock of people.  Pres. McArthur was really inspired when he asked the temple missionaries to lengthen our stride and go to the small branches throughout the temple district.  We have personally been blessed and hope the people we've served have felt our love for them.

Today in our lesson we discussed the reason why we want to go to the temple.  Elder Boyd K. Packer said:

"When we come to the temple and receive your endowment, and kneel at the alter and be sealed, you can live an ordinary life and be an ordinary soul--struggling against temptation, failing and repenting, and failing again and repenting, but always determined to keep your covenants.... Then the day will come when you will receive the benediction: 'Well done , thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter into  the joy of thy lord'. (Matthew 25:21)

This is what it's all about.  These words really touched me and made me love my mission even more.

We hope and pray that our children and grandchildren will follow in our trembling footsteps and enter the mission field.  There are special blessings awaiting you.  Our temple service has been wonderful and the cherry on the top is our service in Canton.

Our days may be numbered but we intend to work our hardest right to the last day and not leave with any regrets.

May The Lord keep you safe and continue to bless each one of you with a desire to be better each day.

Have a wonderful love filled Valentines.  We continue to love and miss you but know all is well.

Rudi and Kathy

This week brought snow and low temperatures.  We're so jealous of the Utah weather.

 Ellie and Ethan in Park City.  Sixteen and fourteen look good on you two kids.

Our kids and grandkids sent us Valentines this week.  They made these cute streamers to bring the Valentine Spirit to grandpa and grandma.  We love it and feel your love.  Thanks bunches!

Our replacements the Dallings, in Canton today.  They're temple missionaries and dear friends of ours.  Canton will be blessed to have them, and they'll love the branch.

SNOWED IN AGAIN... (February 1, 2015)

Thought for the week:

"Children are the Rainbow of Life
Grandchildren are the Pot of Gold."

"In dark times, good friends show you the light, but true friends take your hand and walk by your side."

"Silence is not always a sign of weakness, it's also a sign of strong self control."

"What comes easy won't last.  What lasts won't come easy."

Our email is early this week because of the weather.  Pres. McArthur once again advised us not to travel to Canton.  We went to the site missionary ward this morning at 8:00 a.m. The other wards in Nauvoo and cities around Nauvoo have all been cancelled.  Our Sunday will be very different today without so much travel time.  We will miss our friends in Canton but they realize our travel is restricted on these hazardous roads.
So glad we got to attend sacrament meeting before they called off all the other meetings.

Rudi just got called out to four apartments who alarm systems are going off.  Everyone thinks Rudi has the answer to all mechanical problems.  Maybe they're right!
Our power keeps going off and on but no alarm system is set off yet.

We kept thinking that maybe winter was going to miss us since it's the end of January.  But no!  This is the worst storm so far this year.  Nothing compares to last year.  The snow is slowly letting up now, so maybe it will be O.K. for our Break the Fast dinners this afternoon.  Somehow I think the missionaries will find a way to get to dinner.  We all love food as I'm sure you know from all the food pictures I send.  We will be going to the Smith's for dinner and I have been asked to bring the dessert.  Somehow I've been linked to being a dessert maker.  Yes, I love to cook, but I can make other things other than desserts.  I've made a cherry cream dessert.  Hope they like it and won't be disappointed.

This week has gone by really fast.  Our numbers are still low but the spirit is high.  Last night Rudi and I loaded the last session, and to our surprise it was the largest session since the noon session.  We had six sisters and seven brothers.  I know, really small for most temples, but for Nauvoo in the winter and on a cold snowy night at seven o'clock, it was great!  We get excited about small things here.  "Every soul is precious in the sight of God."

We continue to love serving here in the Nauvoo Temple and rubbing shoulders with so many good people.  This week has been really busy for Rudi since Bro. Prince left to go home, and Bro. Bassett has been gone all week on an emergency back home.  That leaves Rudi as the only missionary engineer.  He's been working longer hours to fill in the gaps with no engineer.  Of course, Rudi loves being busy so no stress for him.

Everyone keeps asking if we're ready to go home?  We both have mixed emotions but overall we look forward to being with our family and friends back home.  Eighteen months is a long time to be away from home.  We'll have a lot to do when we get there, but so grateful to our great kids for all they have done to keep the home fires burning.  I keep kidding Tiffini about letting her continue to be the matriarch (or the glue) of the family.  She says she's not interested in the job.  I guess I still have a job waiting for me when I get home.  All of the kids have to-do-lists for Rudi, so he'll be busy for a while.  Actually saying goodbye will be very hard, and I'll probably cry for many miles after we leave just like when I left Orem.  Just call be a cry baby, because I am.

We hope Kristin has a wonderful birthday in New York with Troy.  She got to accompany Troy on a business trip to do some work for Glen Beck.  Lucky girl, two times to one of my favorite cities in a short two months.
Hope the weather cooperates for you.

By the weather report Utah is still warm and wonderful.  Not fair!  Save some of that beautiful weather for us when we get home.

May you all have a super week full of love for everyone.  We sure love and appreciate all of you.

Rudi and Kathy

P.S.  I forgot to mention last week in my email about the vandalism that occurred on the temple grounds.  Some of you might have read about it in the paper.  It happened a week ago last Friday.  A man drove his van through the main gates on the north side of the temple.  He broke the gate and continued around the temple doing donuts on the lawn and went to the south side and knocked down and completely destroyed the life sized nativity.  From there he drove back and broke the other main gate.  About fifty thousand dollars worth of damage to the gates, nativity and lawns.  Luckily no damage to the temple itself.  The cameras got it all and the night security guard phoned the police immediately.  Thank goodness he was caught that day and arrested.  His car was damaged badly.  They say he has some extreme mental issues.  Sorry I'm late with the most excitement Nauvoo has had in a long time.  Too bad it isn't something positive!

Saying goodbye to the Prince's.  We had dinner at the Bassett's for the three engineers before the Prince's left for New Mexico.  Great people and an asset to the temple.

 Our Wednesday group that works both morning and afternoon shifts.  We ate at Chuang Garden in Fort Madison.  From left to right:  Ford's, Diederich's, Collyer's, Wilson's, and Houghton's.  Great food and great people!

Eagle season again.  Beautiful birds that swam near Keokuk at the dam to catch fish.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our favorite daughter-in-law, Kristin.  Her Birthday is February 5th.  Incase you can't tell which one is the mother and daughter.  Kristin is the one in the yellow sweater and her gorgeous 18 year old daughter, who looks like a younger Kristin, is next to her.