This is also for Taryn!!

My wonderful little (but oldest) grand daughter gave me the neatest Christmas present – a Christmas Tree – actually 3 Christmas Trees in “seed” form.  Well, to let Taryn know how they have been doing and to let her know that I have been dutifully caring for these three little seeds, I post the following evidence:

As you can see, only two have sprouted, but I have not given up on number three.  COME ON #3!  Thank you Taryn!
Poppa

THIS IS FOR YOU TARYN…………

Growing up is hard to do, especially in this old world. My oldest granddaughter is 12 years old, and as we all know, starting into the hard years of growing up.  Worrying about what other people think of you has taken me much to long to figure out. It is what I think about myself that is most important, but I sure didn’t learn that anywhere near 12, more like 50 I would say.  Maybe that is part of our life journey, learning to love ourselves.

Taryn has auditioned for a part in her school play.  It is based around fairy tales and I think she wanted to play the part of a princess, or Snow White.  She however checked the box stating that she would do whatever was asked of her.  Her role came back as “Grumpy,” from Snow White and also one of the “Tree Blind Mice.” Needless to say, she was not happy.  It was not what she saw herself as.  It was not the role she wanted.  Tears and anxiety followed and a lot of anguish along the way.  I think she has finally come to grips with her part and I know will go forward and do her very best.  That is the most important lesson she can get out of this experience.  She is doing what she committed to do, she will do her very best and I pray in the process will have a ball a throughout this whole experience.  I also pray that she will learn that we need to take life a little less seriously, find the joy and laughter along the way, learn to laugh at ourselves and care more about what Heavenly Father and we think, than anyone else.  It is freeing.

Now you may ask, Nonna what do you know about this all?  You aren’t having to be Grumpy, you aren’t having to do something that will make you uncomfortable, and stretch.  You aren’t being laughed at! You are not out of your comfort Zone!!!!! I would say, “Taryn, Nonna understands and I have empathy.  Believe me if you will just have some fun, learn to laugh, and trust that it is a growing experience, it will all be worth it” Learn from Nonna now, not when you are fifty.

Love,

Agatha

Wear that beard with pride Taryn Begaryn, cutie patootie, funny bunny, sweetie pie, and just plain, my girl!!!!

BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE!!!

So we get into the car on Wednesday to go to our training meeting at 8 A.M. This is what the temperature in our car read…………………………………….

That doesn’t even take into consideration, the wind chill factor.  It is cold here in Nauvoo.  Because of that little factor, here is what has happened to the Mighty Mississippi!

You probably can’t tell too well from the picture, but it is completely frozen over. Now you know that when the saints left Nauvoo, they walked across the frozen Mississippi.  How grateful I am that this is as close as I will get to having to do that unbelievable task. 

I had to have my chance at walking “ON” the Mississippi as well.

So the re-enactment of the Exodus west will take place in a little over a week.  It is going to be a pretty telling experience as we remember those who were driven out of Nauvoo.  Richard and I will be walking for Brigham and Miriam Young, his great-great-great grandparents.  I will be carrying the flag of Ireland as well and Richard will be part of the Nauvoo Legion.  It should be an amazing experience………..

HI HO HI HO, IT’S OFF TO THE HOSPITAL I GO…

Remember, I told you about all of the “old” people here and how important you were if you were still walking and doing minimal physical things?  Well, I hit my limit yesterday.  SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO….I got to see the inside of the KEOKUK Horse pistol today.  I was there by 7 am ish and had a  house call this afternoon by my Nauvoo dr.,  as well.

Remember two years ago this November, I had a “Staff,” infection and nearly lost my eye? I had a shunt in my arm with an IV drip three times a day for six weeks.  My ear was affected, along with the glands in my neck etc.  ….Well, I had an ear infection in December of this year and took my second round of anti-biotic here in OLD Nauvoo.  Several days ago, I woke up with another ear infection (A 6 on the unhappy face chart!) So  Blessed Dr. Miller comes to the Brigham Young Home and makes a house call. I go back on another, my third round of antibiotics, since November. He told me if I got worse during the night to go to the horse pistol.  I got worse!!! My face hurt, my teeth, my neck, etc.  So, I got to meet a very nice Dr. Rofer and no “staff,” infection, but baaaadddd ear infection. (Remember I said at least a 6 on the “unhappy!” face chart!)

  Add drops to my regime and a few pain pills. Come home and look up after a few minutes in bed and lo and behold, there is my Nauvoo dr.  I think he is so kind, but maybe it wouldn’t look so good on the record here for someone to you know, “Pass,” on to the other side.  Needless to say, I am down for the weekend, can’t hear out of my left ear, taking horse pills, but on the mend.  Ho, ho, ho, ho, it’s back to bed I go………………………

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NEW FLOORS FOR OLD PEOPLE..

Nauvoo is old.  I mean really old, just like most of the missionaries here.  We all need a little “refurbishing” every once in awhile.  I keep telling Richard that I would love to go in for an overhaul but he seems to pay me no mind.  That is when I get the statement, “You are pretty enough just like you are!” Richard wouldn’t know if I had three eyes, or if my hair all fell out.” (It has to do with the money factor) So needless to say, no overhaul for me.  But the buildings here are treated to maintenance routinely. 

So this week the Cultural Hall is having the floors redone!  YAHOO!  NO RENDEZVOUS for a whole week.  The pole will get cold and my lines may be a little fuzzy, but I am enjoying every single minute. 

Of course, we are filling our time with FHE, a temple session for our cast, rehearsals for the Exodus, song practices for the new Sunset, and one night, one night, we went out for dinner!

The single sisters found a place called “Gators,” in Burlington.  It was actually very good and we had a waitress that was really fun.  We being the shy group of people that we are even pitched in and sang  Happy Birthday to the only other people in the place.

I stuck my finger in the Gator’s nose for my brother. Lots of fun, laughter, food, and love.  I sure hope the floors have as good of a week off as we did.

Here’s looking at you kid!!!!!

Zone Leadership, Not For Sissies!

Being in the Zone Leadership requires a lot of running, sorting, conducting, sherpherding, assigning, praying, meeting and watching over.  It is a great privilege, but also responsibility.  There are three couples who will be in charge of 260 missionaries this summer.  Right now we have fewer missionaries and are practicing on the ones that are here. As leaders over 8 of the sites, we also train site leaders and make sure the sites are run and cared for properly.  In our meeting Sunday we were talking about making sure the leaders knew they were appreciated.  We needed to thank them for their service, and I said I am great at “frou, frou!” The men ask what is “ frou, frou?” It is kind of like a “ding bat,” I tell them.  Something pretty that takes up space.  So here is to “frou frou,” and hopefully gratitude and appreciation in the deal.

 

Best Present Ever!!!

So this is how my Christmas present from Richard and my children and grandchildren turned out.  The woman who gave the fireside about Christmas ideas came over and took a picture of it. She was so excited that Richard had come up with this and so was I.

The Jackman’s…..

The Conroys and the Williams’ contribution……

Richard and Jonathan……

Thank You!!!!

Small Town America……..

So I used to pay big bucks to try and have someone do my hair.  Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake you name it.  Then I come to Nauvoo and for $12.00, yes $12.00, I get my hair done and I love it.  Who would have known, a haircut and Gomer Pyle in the same town.!

The BIG 38th……………………..

I’ve decided to make the printing bigger, considering that to read now I really need “old lady” glasses!!! Ugh, aging isn’t for sissies is it?

So on the 3rd of January, 2013, Richard and I celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary!  Wow! When did that happen?  As I look back at this occasion, it just seems like yesterday in some respects. But in between that time, four children, 13 grandchildren, and a whole lot of life has happened.

I must say that I am very blessed.  We certainly have had our struggles, and I would never tell anyone that marriage is easy.  It takes a lot of give and take, sacrifice of our own wants, forgiveness, and just plain hard work.  But it is worth it.  I am grateful for a man who has made a wonderful father, grandfather, and husband.  He has taken such good care of me and I actually have not had to worry one day about being  provided for.  Not many women can say that, I am blessed.

This also happens to be the day that my Grandmother and Grandfather Malone were married, that is one of the reasons that I chose this date.  If I could turn out as angelic as my Grandmother, I will have succeeded indeed.

Then on another note, this month celebrates my parents 60th wedding anniversary!  Who does that? Sixty years!!!! That is a milestone in this old world! How grateful I am for them, for their example, for their love, for their ability to do hard things and keep on going.  They were married at 17!!! Is it a miracle that they survived???!!!  Absolutely, and I am the beneficiary of that relationship, as well as my children and grandchildren.  I am bounteously blessed.  So, this is actually a tribute to my wonderful parents.  How I love them, I will forever, forever be grateful for two people I admire more than anyone.  I love you Mom and Dad!!! HAPPY 60th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking Back Over the Month of December….

So remember, I have lost my camera once again! Thank heavens for the monthly slide show.  I will add a few photos collected over this month by others!

This is President and Sister Gilliland.  They are very nice, but he is still getting used to me. They contribute to the mission in every way including being in the shows! That is going the extra mile.

President Condie of the temple playing a Christmas Duet at the party!  He is multi-talented.  He sings, plays, and is just so funny.  He teases me all the time about my role as Agatha. 

Lots and lots of turkey at the dinner.  This is Elder Johnson from our MTC group.  We really love he and his wife.  They are being moved to Carthage for the rest of their mission.

Little Sister Bennett.  In our spare time we are assigned areas to clean .  She gets the reader boards in the groves.

Being shown the correct way to tie a quilt.  This one is for the Hoopes with all of our well wishes on it.  He is fighting cancer. 

Winter in Nauvoo, the mail must go out!!! This is Sister Elia from Hawaii!!

Not on my life!!! 

Breakfast at 7 A.M. I can certainly skip that, but they do serve sausage gravy!!

They are all over Nauvoo…..

Practically every night is this stunning.  It is so amazing to live by the river….

These are real live garlands.  They are all over Nauvoo for the Christmas season.  The sisters at FM make them and they are shipped in from Oregon.

An they crossed the frozen Mississippi leaving everything behind…….

This is such a beautiful place…….

Our best friends under the mistletoe!!! Richard and Jeanne Openshaw…..

Nativity in the Pendleton Log School, made entirely from things in nature…

So Christmas has come and gone in Nauvoo.  We did things for the humanitarian effort, for the towns people of Nauvoo, sang on the temple steps, caroled through the town.  We had dinners, parties, and secret Santa to one and all.  It was fun going to the mailbox each day with a gift from another anonymous missionary, and then Christmas Eve with our friends the Allen’s, Poulsens, and Openshaws. We played games, ate and watched that old movie about the little boy shooting his eye out!  I was so blessed to be able to have the experience of Christmas without all of the “worldly” things that go with it.  It was as wonderful as it was hard.  I missed my family something terrible…Richard knew it was going to be hard so with each one of our children doing an advent for me each day, it meant the world.  A treasure I will never forget.  Hopefully, it was an experience their little families will remember as well.  Thank you everyone.  Now I have gotten through this season, I will be home for Christmas next year!!