"When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echo's of gunfire or the shaping of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses? When the surf of centuries has made the great pyramids so much sand, the everlasting family will still be standing because it is a celestial institution formed outside telestial time."
Neal A Maxwell
I loved that quote and knew you'd appreciate why I had to use it as my thought for the week. I love my family and love being a mother and grandmother. I believe in families and how important they are in our lives. I love our prayer meetings. They are so uplifting and start my service at the temple each day with such a positive feeling. Each morning before prayer meeting I try to spend a few minutes in the celestial room in thought and prayer and going over all the parts we memorize to make sure I'm ready for the day. What a way to begin each day. Love it and will miss being able to do that each morning when I come home. I just might have to go to the temple each day to try and get that special feeling again.
This week was so special. On Tuesday the DesMoines Iowa missionaries that are going home came to the temple to do a session. The endowment room was filled to capacity (unusual for this time of year). I keep looking for Sue and Gary Gygi's daughter Taylor who is in that mission. I've asked a lot of the missionaries if they know her and everyone does but say she hasn't been assigned to a place close enough to come. Hopefully I'll see her before we come home. I talked to her mission mom and she said she's doing great and loved by everyone. She said she's serving in Iowa City right now and training two new sisters. It's about an hour away from Nauvoo. Wilf and Claudia you need to come visit us and maybe see your granddaughter.
We also had some excitement on Thurs. and Fri. Elder Kent Richard's from the second quorum of the seventies was at the Nauvoo Temple. He forgot to bring his temple clothes so they called Rudi to see if he was his size. Luckily he was and his shoes fit him also. Rudi and I got to meet him and relate how we know him. He performed a hernia operation on Rudi, I double dated with him in high school when I was dating Steve Rippen. They lived in the same ward on the avenues. He also married a girl from my home ward in Bountiful, Marsha Gerr. His father also delivered my first child Tiffini way back when! Yes, we go way back. He's wife Marsha was with him so we sat down together and shared hometown stories. She was a year ahead of me in high school. Kind of special to reminisce.
They spent two days checking everything out throughout the temple. Everyone and everything was on high alert and best behavior. Hope we got a high rating and passed the test, if there is a pass or fail?
Today in Canton we had another wonderful day with our special friends there. Our three speakers in sacrament meeting were so inspiring. Pres. Depperman along with Bro. Thomas and Sister Huffcutt shared their feelings on pure doctrine truths. Sis. Huffcutt helped us appreciate what a gift each hour of everyday is. She teaches early morning seminary and has a very strong testimony of the gospel. All well done.
In our temple prep class we discussed preparing for the temple. We showed a video that set the stage and then discussed in detail each step of preparation in their personal lives and the logistics of going to the temple. I took some homemade cookies I made yesterday. They loved them and we love them. Just four Sundays until we leave. I'm getting nervous about saying goodbye to these wonderful people.
After church we rushed home to get the dinner ready for our three missionary couples. Fortunately I had already made the clam chowder and the Sarah salad and dessert yesterday. We just set the table got the garlic bread in the oven and heated the soup. I have to plan ahead or we wouldn't eat until 8:00 pm.
We enjoy sharing dinner with our friends for Sunday dinner. I miss fixing dinner every Sunday for all my family at home. I'm looking forward to our Sunday dinners together again. Nothing better than sharing food and conversation with special people.
This week we started gathering up boxes to start packing soon. This last month will fly by and before I know it I'll be back home. It will be hard to leave this bubble of Nauvoo behind us. We've lived in such a wonderful place so rich is history and learned so much about the temple and Joseph Smith and the early Saints. It's a good thing our family and friends are so terrific at home or I'm afraid we could never leave.
As my subject stated we are having fun together as missionaries and enjoying serving in the best mission. We love serving in the temple and know this work is so important. We love seeing the saints in Canton growing and turning to the temple. We will never forget these wonderful memories. I'm so glad we have these emails to always remind us of our experiences. I think we are totally converted to missions and most importantly temple work. What a change it has made in our lives.
We love and miss you all STILL!!! Can't wait to see you all but know we are struggling to say goodbye to Nauvoo. Everyday we try and make mental images to always remember this special place.
Have another great week, and do something kind for someone. It'll make you feel great! Love to all.
Rudi and Kathy
Rudi and I at the Valentines Party. All the couples had their pictures taken together as sweethearts!
Rudi's picture for our personal history on our genealogy chart. Not bad for an old man!
Kathy trying to look her best! Hard to do!
Decorating Bro. Marriott as a cupid for one of the games we played. So much fun laughing and being together.
We all helped dress up one person from our table. Bro. Marriott is such a good sport and really cute cupid!
Playing a game, trying to keep the feather from touching us by blowing and waving the sheet up and down.
Rudi and I were among the last few to go out. Wow! Are we winners!
Crazy game but what a hoot!
Another picture of Bro. Marriott. This gorgeous cupid is a sealer at the temple. Super good sport and a lot of fun to be around!
Some of the other cupid entries.
Sunday dinner today at our cottage with the Ontiveros's, Ricks, and Marriotts. The Ontiveros's send their love to all our Diederich relatives who served in the S.L.C. temple with them.
Easy dinner of clam chowder, salad, hot garlic bread and blueberry cream dessert. Yummy and enjoyed by all.
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