SURPRISE!!!!!

My children for some reason always love to surprise me! Richard is always in on the deal as well, and I am always, totally clueless.  So the other night we are coming home from Sunset and I think I see an optical illusion on my front porch.  That isn’t Jaimie is it?? On to take Jean home and then back again.  On my front porch is a tub that is marked Sister Jardine.  So I pick the tub up and out jumps Creed!!!!!! Yea, my kids are here for Mother’s Day!!!! Of course, Jonathan is on the side of the house filming, I think everyone is wanting to record my scream.  Won’t the world be a quieter place when I go on!! I know everyone here in Nauvoo thinks so. What a great surprise and gift and I was so grateful.  I had a wonderful time and I hope the Jardine’s did as well.  I loved being around them all and of course, love being Mom and Nonna as well. 

Jonthan commented how nice it was to be in this little town, no TV, cars or noise.  It actually is a very relaxing place to live and I will miss the small town atmosphere of it.  I would actually live out of town on a few acres and love it.

So for Mother’s Day, I came home from Land and Records and the Jardine’s were planting flowers in pots and in our front yard.  So very sweet and I will remember them every time I walk outside.  Jonathan mowed at least three times while he was here. The grass grows literally right before your eyes.

I can’t leave out the fact that I got to have Chief for a few days!!! I loved it and I am SURE that he remembers me.  I am hoping my own dogs do as well, and that they aren’t mad at me for the rest of my life.

Creed racing the bears at Pioneer Pastimes.

Tylee and Dane playing in the cabin.  She didn’t forget and they both really loved it.

Creed “milking” the goat!

GEODES!  Did I mention that Creed found a new obsession here?  You find these in the streams and they are round rocks, you break them open and there are crystals inside.  I guess it is like Cracker Jacks used to be for me, always a surprise.

Since I work at Land and Records three days a week I am pretty much into the history around here.  I asked Jaimie if she knew of any family that was in Nauvoo.  She thought about it and then we looked on Family Trees. Lo and behold, there were some names.  So I had her come to L&R and we looked them up. They had property here and some were buried in the Old Nauvoo Cemetery.  We made a disc, took the names and were off to the cemetery.  It is a beautiful part of Nauvoo.  President Hinckley said that besides the temple, it is the most sacred ground here.  Most of the headstones have disintegrated and so I am thinking there won’t be much evidence of her people.  We get there however and this is what we see……………..

WEALTHA BRADFORD  HATCH

JOHN PINCOCK AND MARY MARSDEN PINCOCK

Such a sweet surprise.  I think Jaimie was pretty touched, and I hope it made her feel like she was a part of Nauvoo.  Ira Stearns Hatch had a pretty amazing story that Jaimie needs to tell.  What an inspiration. 

I am sure that her ancestors are pleased with her and the choices she has made.  She is a wonderful mother, wife, and daughter. 

So thank you Jonathan and Jaimie, for giving me some very sweet and precious memories to take me through the rest of this amazing adventure.  I love you.