I came out of the temple today to this snow storm! It is supposed to snow all day!

Today I was able to serve in the John Taylor Home. It is only the 2nd time I have served here. The first time was the 2nd week of my mission. After being inside a few minutes, I remembered how much I loved this home and being able to tell about John & Leonora Taylor.

Front entryway

The Parlor (decorated for Christmas)

John Taylor when he was 3rd President of the Church

Leonora Taylor

Another angle on the Parlor

Original artifact in the Parlor - needle point picture done by the sister of John Taylor of the "Woman at the Well "

The Kitchen

The children's bedroom

The rocking horse was made by John Taylor for his young children and especially loved by his 3 year old son, Joseph. As the story goes, when the Taylor family was driven out of  Nauvoo by the mobs in the 1846 with the rest of the Saints, they left behind this favorite toy of young Joseph Taylor. When they got across the river Joseph cried and cried and wasn't to be consoled. When asked by his Father what was wrong he said that he really wanted his toy horse. As any loving parent would do to console a sad child, John Taylor risked his life by coming back across the river to their home in Nauvoo to get this little rocking horse for his little son. I love this story that shows what a kind, loving parent he was in being willing to risk his own life to please a child.

The master bedroom

In the master bedroom is the actual shaving stand that John Taylor used 

Sister Jones and Sister Olsen were working next door at the Historic Post Office and came for a visit.

Leaving the site at the end of the day.

I drove by there tonight and took this picture

I went to the Browning Home site to do something special for a  Christmas surprise for my family

So Duane, Sandy and Emily Hill - these pictures are mostly for you since these are the places we visited and took pictures when you were here. If any of the rest of you have been here to Stone Arch Bridge or David's Chamber you will have a greater appreciation for these pictures. I wanted to take these wonderful pictures before they are buried in 3 feet of snow!

Heading to Stone Arch Bridge - looking out towards the Mississippi River

The frozen waterfall by the Stone Arch Bridge

The water goes under the bridge and out to the River

 These photos are my favorites at David's Chamber

I had a talk with my car - Annie - and she understands how important it is for her to keep me safe and warm during our winter together here in Nauvoo. We still have a lot of miles to cover together! The mighty Mississippi is in the background.

Tonight was the last performance of the Parley P Pratt cast. Starting next Monday we have been divided back into 3 casts.....change is the name of the game in Nauvoo. It is hard to change casts because they become like your family! But that means that now we will only have to perform in the nightly show 2 times a week instead of 3. So that is a plus!

These pictures were taken in the green room prior to the show while we are singing "This Little Town". Lots of good memories........

Our director, Sister Jones is next to the piano and the cast managers, The Harpers are up front facing us.

Winter arrived this week. It was 75 degrees on Monday and dropped 40 degrees on Tuesday for a high of 35! The flowers in the Woman's Garden are all gone and the tulips planted. It looks so bare compared to this spring and summer!

A light dusting of snow fell on Wednesday.

Burrrrr! It was a high of 18 today! Just a glimpse of things to come I hear!

The last group of missionaries going home for the year.....it is sooooo hard to say good-bye. 

But their farewell skit was hilarious. Each time a group does their farewell skit I think "It can't get better than this"....and somehow it does!

Young Elder Miller who has been serving in the Family Search Center

The Riries. The Pincocks, & The Murrays

 I got to serve with Sister Ford, one of the Temple Missionaries, today in the Brigham Young Home. It is a rare opportunity for her to be given permission to do this for a short window of time! They will be here the whole time I am here too.....good friends! I was the first to greet them when they arrived and came into Land & Records before they had even moved into their place!!!

 Friday night, my companion and I were invited to come to the Mission Home and play games with a few missionary couples and our Mission President's sister and her husband along with Pres. Gibbons and his sweet wife. Had a GREAT time! (I love playing games)
 Here I am with my new friend, Nanette Nelson. Can hardly wait for her to come back next summer!

Do you know what is on the other side of this rise in the middle of the photo?

THIS! Lake Horton in the middle of Nauvoo! Have you been there?

The flowers are gone! The moth balls are in to keep the deer out of the planted tulips!

It looks so bare without the plants!

The leaves are all but gone across the street

Those of you who have been following will notice the difference!

One night I drove by the Nauvoo Visitor's Center and had to stop and take this picture of the First Vision from the backside. All the flowers and greenery are now frozen and gone and tulips are planted in their place to bloom next spring!

 So this post is for all of you who had ancestors in Nauvoo. Here are a few of the historic home sites of some of the people who lived here in the 1840s. Are you related to any of these people? I'll post more later......

William Weeks home. Architect of the Nauvoo Temple, Seventies Hall and the Cultural Hall

William Gheen home

Yearsley Home

Heber C. Kimball Home

Newel K. Whitney Home

Nathaniel Ashby Family and the Erastus Snow Family shared this duplex

Patty Sessions Cabin

William Field Cabin

Wilford Woodruff Home

Chauncy Webb Home

Simeon Dunn Home

Lucy Mack Smith Home

Calvin Pendleton Home

Joseph and Emma Smith Home

John Taylors Home (in between the Print Shop and the Post Office)

Me and Flat Stanley visiting the Brigham Young Home