Grandma Martha

Dear Family,

Can’t say I’ve nothing to write about…have had a good summer. The highlight being the trip to Nauvoo with Rick, Reba and Heather. Priscilla drove us to the airport in Emily’s car. Priscilla was visiting with me along with her two youngest. She was here for the Genealogy Convention in Provo. After going to the security rigmarole and then waiting...we had a good flight to St. Louis. Since we got there in the late afternoon we stayed at a hotel. In the morning we went to the famous Arch…where we looked down on the city and the muddy Mississippi. In the afternoon we took a boat trip. From here Rick rented a car and drove to Independence …we stayed at a bed and breakfast place there--a fun antique collection home. Heather and I slept in a humongous bed of bygone era. We had a fun breakfast served on antique type dishes.

Some of the places we drove to was Far West. There is a new bookstore down the road…called a Country Store…where we enjoyed shop-looking. We also went to Adam Andi Ahmen (sp).

The missionary told us the Church has 3,500 acres…which are mowed by the men missionaries as their wives do extracting.

Rick and Misty were so kind to us. We stayed with them while we were in Nauvoo. We enjoyed little Ember.

Of course one of the highlights was April. What a talented young lady. She was at the theatre in the visitors center, at the outdoor show which formerly was located near the river but is now inland. She was in the big pageant which we saw twice…also in a cute play at the indoor theatre. We had a nice visit with her after one of the shows…she is so fun. She told us her mission was a four-month one.

We saw several of the places that Nauvoo had to offer. One was a house near the Temple where people could wait who were not able to go to the temple while their people attended. There was a couple there that showed us the rooms; they were from Manti and knew Hellmut and Gerda. They also had been Temple workers there. We did go to a session in the Nauvoo Temple.

Went on a side trip to Hannibal and took a boat trip. We also visited Mark Twain’s legacy.

It was a great time…thanks Rick & Reba.

Not long after returning home…I made a fun discovery in the family history field…through Family Search, I connected to our direct liner some Norwegian ancestors in the Ancestral File…and went back to the 1200’s -- also found descendants of the above…also found a new relative with whom we have same ancestor. See the enclosed chart.

Clogging has come back…I’m directing but haven’t been performing…leaving it to the young grandmothers.

A rat’s nest was made under the hood of my car…which had to be taken care of before the car passed emissions. Life doesn’t always run smooth.

September is a month of birthdays again…so Wendy, Dave, Mike, Rick Jr, Chris Lee….Happy Birthday. And a great welcome to earth to ZuriAnn Berlyn Kay. Fun announcement.

Thanks to Rick and John A. for cutting down dead trees.
Thanks always to Rick for helping me with my finances.
Thanks be to the Tomlinsons for the help with cards.
Thanks be to Marty & Janet with cards.
Thanks be to John and Sharron with cards.
Thanks be to Dave & Lucy with cards.
Thanks be to Jim and Priscilla with cards.
Couldn’t get it done without you.

Always fun to go with Janet for lunch …

Have a good summer…Love to all of you Mom.