NAUVOO CONNECTIONS
Oftentimes here in Nauvoo I have found as I visit with other Elders and Sisters that we are distantly related and as we search our family histories we find the connection. Such was the case with Elder and Sister Robison. I am related to Elder Robison through the Doyle line and to Sister Robison through my Dalton line! As you can imagine, it makes you feel a stronger feeling towards them.
The other thing that happens quite often is that you make a connection with the guests that come to visit here in Nauvoo. That is what happened on Sunday evening when my companions and I went to experience the program put on by the young performing missionaries on the Trail of Hope on Parley St. As they divided the large group of guests attending into smaller groups of about 12 - 15 the group leader I was in was getting acquainted with us before the program started and asked where we were all from. One of the couples said that they were from Gilbert, AZ. I immediately thought - I have a daughter that lives in Gilbert, but Gilbert is a large city and what are the chances that they would know her - but I told the woman that I had a daughter living in Gilbert and she asked her name. I said, Heather Shaner, and a look of recognition came over her face and she came towards me to give me a hug and said "I love Heather - she has done my hair for over 4 years (my daughter is a hairdresser) and I was her visiting teacher in the Ward. I knew she had a mother on a mission here, but I didn't know how I would find her!" Well, the Lord took care of that! We had a wonderful visit after the program and again last night when they came to see Rondezvous in Old Nauvoo - which just "happened" to be our casts night to perform. Also as I was visiting with Joni, it turns out that she is also related to Elder and Sister Robison!
                    Below is a photo of the Robisons, the Hansens and me after the show last night.

From L to R
Elder and Sister Robison, Joni, Barry, Raquel Hansen and me.

On my morning walk I saw this lone flower growing in a field of green grass. I stopped and took a picture because somehow a message came to me in that scene. I thought that even though that one flower was alone to bloom, it still brought its beauty to the picture. Even though I am here on my mission alone among so many, I can still add my spirit and my talents to the whole to make it better and different just like the lone flower does to this picture of grass.

Just ordinary flowers on my walk that lifted my spirits with their rich color and beauty.