IT’S TIME TO CATCHUP!!! I KNOW JONATHAN!!!

Honestly, this summer has been a blur!! I was dreading it because last summer was so flippin hot.  But this summer has been entirely different! Whomever the Lord is blessing, thank you very much.  I really think that I have only been hot one day and that was including all of the time that we were doing Sunset. My least favorite number was “Grandmother’s Apron,” toooooo slow.  I however got to giggling a lot during this number depending upon who I was standing by. 

Sister Harrop, from Colorado, and I doing “Grandmother’s Apron!” Not my favorite number in the show, besides, I would never pick a BLUE apron!

(Note to self, yes Mother I know, it looks like my “living bra” has died, but in my defense, I have on 10 1/2 yards of fabric in a most unflattering pattern! If I had been a pioneer, I would have been a spinster!!! No makeup, no hair product and this outfit!!!!!)

We get to dance each night before the performance, usually to “In The Mood.”  What fun.

The only mosquitos that are my favorite!

Never stand by Sister Allen, she will get you in trouble.  Note to self…………remember the “which chin,” remark at church and the “seventeen months ago I came as a young YPM!”

The Audition……………My favorite part of Sunset!

One of my favorite numbers for the seniors, “The Clarinet Polka.”  Did I mention that I feel kind of young here.  Anyway, I am going to miss Sunset.  I bet that I will never again do any thing even close to what I have done here.  The Young Performing Missionaries are outstandingly talented, wonderful, fun and so full of life.  It is amazing to see what they accomplish while they are here.  They work from sunup to sundown and we have gotten quite close to them.  I was so touched the Sunday before they all left.  They actually made me an honorary Young Performing Missionary!!!! Imagine that.  What a huge honor.  Of course, I cried and cried. I received a special medallion that each one of them got.  What a treasure. 

It’s like sending my children out into the world.  May it always be kind to them.  The Lord is surely raising up an amazing generation.

Elder Thunell , related to Jonathan Browning the gunsmith in Nauvoo.  So  Nauvoo is quite now.  All the young YPM’S are gone.  The crowds have slowed down until the fall when the bus tours start coming back again to see the colors.

A VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE!!!!!!!

All of our children have visited us here in Nauvoo, as well as my parents. How grateful I am for that sweet blessing.  It has helped me immensely to not be so terribly homesick.  I however never expected the Upchurch’s to come and was so touched that they would even consider it.  I was so proud to show them off and to let them see just a very little of what I have been doing for the last fifteen months.  I was so grateful they came.  I will never forget it.  They seemed to enjoy themselves and were certainly good sports about being in this “Mormon,” community.  They even went to the Pageant.  When they came, I was so grateful to be with them.  It has been hard for me to keep in touch with all of the family, my days are honestly filled to the brim.  But I hope they had a good time.  Tara has such wonderful boys and they seemed to take it all in.

Uncle Gary standing up being recognized for serving in the Army!!!!

Being recognized for serving in the Navy!!!! I have always been so proud of him, even crying when I was 12 years old as he carried the flag in the Liberal parade.  How I have always loved this man!!!!

Gage would have made a great pioneer, being willing to carry his brother in a handcart!


Brody enjoying the ride immensely!!!

Playing pioneer games.  They were naturals.


Riding the covered wagon through town.  They were actually a little cold here. Well, a lot during the pageant!


Petting Jerry, yes that is a big horse!

On to the Family Living Center where they got to help make their own ropes…


Brody and Gage were always willing participants!!! Thanks boys for being such good sports.

On to the Blacksmith where Brody immediately volunteered to help make the wheels.

I’ve been working for fifteen months and these are some of the most well behaved children to be here.  I think they really enjoyed it.  Tara is an amazing mother!
So thank you Tara, Aunt Faye and Uncle Gary, Gage and Brody for adding to my bank of beautiful memories here in Nauvoo.  I am richly blessed to be able to call you “FAMILY!” (And don’t you forget it!)