Last weekend my special friends, Charlene (Brown) & Mel Stradling, were here visiting Nauvoo. My schedule was such that I actually had quite a bit of time to spend with them showing them many of the sites around Nauvoo, Montrose and Fort Madison. We had SOOO MUCH FUN! I'm always happy to have friends and family visit me.

Mel and Charlene on the Ft Madison bridge on the Mississippi River

When we were going across the Mississippi River towards Fort Madison, IA we got "barged"!!! That means that we were stuck waiting on the bridge for almost 30 minutes while 2 barges passed through and then had to also wait for a train! So we got out and walked around and got some neat pictures.

The first barge crossing through the bridge!

This is one of my favorite photos showing the rays of the sun coming through the clouds.
This was the second barge about to pass through the bridge!

We finally saw the 2 barges get safely through the draw bridge, but then had to wait for that train over at the base of the hill to pass! Oh well, it was part of the experience!

Once we got over the bridge into Iowa we went to the Pioneer Trail Memorial in Montrose, IA where the Latter-day Saints came across the Mississippi River to when they were driven out of Nauvoo in 1846.

This is a picture looking back at the Nauvoo Temple taken across the Mississippi River in Montrose. The Saints that were driven from their homes had heavy hearts and were so sad to have to leave their beautiful city and beloved temple.

I am so happy and grateful to be able to serve in this area and remember my ancestors who sacrificed so very much for their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope they are proud of me!

This is a second place in Montrose that is telling the story of the Mormon Pioneers and their exodus from Nauvoo where they also crossed the river.

Second place in Montrose, IA where they crossed the river....

Charlene was too cold to get out of the car!

Leanna Wilmore and husband
I met this couple Sunday at church. Sister Wilmore directs the Bells on Temple Square who perform with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra on many occasions. She was here in Nauvoo as a vocal coach to the Young Performing Singers who arrived here last Friday to work and sing this summer in Nauvoo.

Monday night the Young Performing Singers gathered on the front steps of the Cultural Hall after  attending our casts performance of "Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo" and sang a beautiful song to President and Sister Chynoweth who were ending their mission the next day. Sister Wilmore and her husband were also leaving to go back to Salt Lake City the next day. The singers voices are amazing and I can hardly wait to hear more from them throughout this summer and perform with them in "Sunset on the Mississippi" production which we have been rehearsing for 2 times a week and starts on the outdoor stage on May 24th!