THIS IS THE (second) Place!

I LOVE THIS PLACE

WINTER QUARTERS TEMPLE

A HAPPY SPIRIT!!!!

REALLY!!!

The Elders and Sisters will do anything to get invited over for Buchanan's waffles -- even this!!!!
Note left on my windshield!!!!!

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MEMORIAL DAY--MAY 30, 2016

Happy Memorial Day --- Happy Birthday Dad -- happy thoughts with dad, Trudy, my twin brothers, and all other loved ones who have passed on.  I especially have thoughts today of a great ancestor -- my great-great grandpa John Buchanan who served as a Second Corporal in the Mormon Battalion.  I honor him today.

Today was and has been a very nice day of celebration.  I miss being at the Roosevelt cemetery where I love to be on Memorial Day, but this has been a great day.

Elder and Sister Garies invited me to join them on their little outing to Elk Horn, Iowa-- a Danish town where they thought there would be a big day of Danish celebration.  I was exited to go with them.  We got there, and the little town was so quiet.  We found out that their celebration was Saturday and Sunday.  So we missed it all.  We made the best of it and had some fun surprises.  First we took a tour on the windmill in that town -- population of less than 700 people.  

VELKOMMEN! - to the authentic 1848 DANISH WINDMILL in Elk Horn, Iowa -- A Piece of Denmark Close to Home.  This windmill is America's only authentic working Danish Windmill.  The windmill is 60 feet tall, built in Denmark in 1848  It was dismantled, and shipped to Elk Horn, Iowa and rebuilt in 1976 and is an honor to the area's Danish heritage.  The town makes up the largest rural Danish settlement in the U.S.

We found out that the Lutheran Church was holding a Memorial Day service in their church.  We went there next and was happy to join them.  I was surprised to see such a large crowd of people  

Pastor Menter opened his message by reading Psalm 33:12-22

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance.........."

During this service he also read Ecclesiastes 3   "There is a time for everything......"

The congregation quoted this with him  "He is Lord! He is Lord! He is risen from the dead and He is Lord! Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

He quoted John 15:13-17  "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends......  He recited The Lord's Prayer.  They ended by singing "Onward Christian Soldiers"

(here are some of my thoughts from the service in the Lutheran Church today:  We do live in a blessed nation, a nation that might seem like it is in trouble -- and yes it does seem so-- but I also know that it is our Lord's nation -- he did choose it for us - he will protect it for us -- we must remain true and faithful always walking in his path  As I learn more and more about my ancestors who walked this land and learn of their tremendous amount of faith even in the harshest of circumstances, I marvel -- because I know that this is all in the Lord's hands.  He guides us from heaven, he sees and knows us all - all his inhabitants, he is aware of our every need -- he hopes we will walk in faith and "our hope should be in his mercy " - he is our help, he is our shield. He has guided me and my little family through some
tribulations; we have walked each day in faith, in hope and have felt his help, his love and his protective shield. 

There is a time for everything -- a time for every purpose ...I have a hundred or more thoughts of this chapter in Ecclesiastes -- for I have learned the importance of time -- and yet I find my self questioning it.  I've made wrong choices because of time --not having patience or understanding because I didn't allow time to teach me and help me understand.  I fought going on this mission for over a year and a half, because I didn't think it was the right time.  But now I know that it is the right time and earlier just wasn't, but it was a time of preparation.  I am so grateful for the right time - a time for every purpose under the sun.)

this picture says it all for me -- his greater love, his selfish love

--he laid down his life for us, his friends -- me and you,

and I am so grateful

It was a wonderful service - I felt the love of God - you felt the love of these people for each other, for their committee, for the love of their ancestors who have passed on and for the honor that they felt for them.  I was drawn to these people, I could have stayed - I told several of them that I could live in their beautiful little town.  There was definately a spirit of love, or brotherly love and protection for each other in this community.  It was a great experience. After this wonderful service ended we went out to the cemetery which is behind the church and attended a memorial service -- it was amazing and I was so caught up in it.  Flags - lots of flags everywhere and it was neat to be a part of the honor to our military men who had passed on after serving our country.  I got teary eyed during the gun salute -- I felt dad right by my side  I know he was there,  He knows how much I love Memorial Day and he was there celebrating with me in the little town of Elk Horn, Iowa.

The American Legion held a lunch in the basement of their church and we were invited to attend.  It was neat to see how many people me and the Garies were able to talk to.  Even the pastor told us of his friend who lives in their town who is a Mormon.  The meal was a perfect Memorial Day picnic style lunch.  Made me happy.

On our drive home we stopped at a scenic view to take picture overlooking Iowa.  What a gorgeous day we are having today.  There in Iowa and here in Omaha.  It was a lovely morning and afternoon.  Thank you to the Garies- and below is a picture of them in the overlook tower in Iowa.

Thank you Elder and Sister Gareis

Below is our memorial day message from Pres. Gardner

I love Captain Moroni's defense of the Kingdom of God found Moroni in Alma 46.

As you may remember, the liberty of the church was at risk.  Amalickiah sought to be the king over the land and spoke many flattering words to lead the members of the Church astray so that he could overthrow the government and take away the rights of the Church.

It says in Alma 46:10 "...he was a man of cunning device and of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea and to seek to destroy the Church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them."

We will hear many flattering words in our lives. Some of these will be spoken by others who we may have thought we could trust.  Some will be spoken by the adversary into our own minds.  We spoke of many of those flattering words that Satan tries to put in our heads at Zone Conference.  Phrases like, "I can’t do this." or "I am not good enough."  "I am not as good as he or she is."  "They won’t be interested." or "We are just bothering people."

We may also hear lies from the adversary that might tell us that it is ok to live contrary to the teachings of the Gospel.  You might be tempted by him at times when he says, "Everyone else is doing it."  OR "Just this one time wont hurt."  We may also at times be tempted by Satan to justify our own disobedience by saying, Elder ____ did this so its ok if I do that" even when we know it is against the commandments of God.

All of these flattering words are lies of the adversary.  He was the force behind Amalickiah as he was trying to lead their hearts astray.  He is the force behind trying to stop the work in the Nebraska Omaha Mission.

However, Moroni, who was filled with the Spirit of God and was obedient to his covenants, defended himself and those who were true believers in Christ, who had taken upon themselves the name of Christ because of their belief in Christ that should come.  He took a piece of his coat and wrote the following:

In Memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, our peace, our wives and our children.

He ran through the streets saying, "Whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let him come forth in the strength of the Lord and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion that the Lord God will bless them.

We too must raise our own Title of Liberty when we are tempted by the lies and cunning and flattering words of the adversary.  We must remember the Covenants that we have made with God to be faithful and obedient.  We must seek strength from the words of the prophets and apostles  knowing that they will never lead us astray.  We must seek our Heavenly Father in prayer and we must feast upon the words of Christ.

Perhaps your Title of Liberty will say:

In Memory of My God, My religion, My freedom, My  peace, My spouse, and My children.

I invite each one of you to defend your faith by praying and feasting up on the words of Christ.  Defend what you know to be true by living up to what you believe.  Defend the covenants that you have made by always being worthy of a temple recommend.  Defend your peace and freedom by keeping the commandments.  Defend your future spouse and your future children because choices you make now will impact their lives.

We love you.

President Gardner

CAPTAIN MORONI

and the Title of Liberty

In Memory of our God, our religion,

and freedom, our peace, our wives

and our children.

I

Sunday teaching - May 29, 2016

I went teaching with Elders Garrett and Karl on Sunday evening.  Since they are both new to the area, I am helping them meet the Karen members and nonmembers here that we know.  We went to Bue Law's home and the Elders gave them a short lesson on the sacrament.  They have seven children -- their two oldest girls are in our Young Womens,  Moe Zaw who was released i January was here this weekend with his brother visiting  They came with us to this home and it was sooooo neat to have his translation again and his amazing testimony.

We also visited  El Lar Paw and Saboe .  El Lar Paw is 14  She has a strong testimony and really wants to be baptized,  Her father won't allow it yet so we continue to teach her and are praying for an opportunity to teach her parents   Both of these cute girls will be going to girls camp with me in a couple of weeks.

HISTORIC SITE FIELDTRIP!!!

WHAT an amazing Saturday --it started out with my shift at the Winter Quarters Temple and then a four hour tour that afternoon to visit and see the pioneer historic sites.

Site 1: Grand Encampment Overview Site

The Missouri River was the western border of the United States from 1830 to 1954.

Site 2:  Taylor-Pratt Redemption Hill:

I was so surprised to find that this site was 9 miles long and 4 miles wide. Thousands of pioneers came to the Middle Missouri Valley.  This first picture was our first stop the Taylor/Pratt Redemption Hill.  There were between 12,000 - to 16,000 peope that lived there  at the mouth of the Platte River, in covered wagons, and great herds of livestock.  People who camped there arrived between June 6 and August of 1846.

This spot was halfway of the Grand Encampment.  Remember  the encampment was 9 miles long and 4 miles wide --- jam packed with wagons, people and cattle.

The Grand Encampment was east of Mosquito Creek.  A bridge, called Lower Mosquito Creek Bridge, was built over the creek near Grand Encampment,  (we had to spray us all over because of all the mosquitos that live there).
We were told a story of Thomas L Kane, who was a friend of the Church.  In 1846, Colonel Thomas Kane attended a conference of the Church in Philadelphia as an interested non-member  He was very impresed and assisted in arranging for the Mormon Battalion to be commissioned.  Before long he was on his way to the frontier to aid in recruiting for the Battalion and to learn more about the Mormons.  In the summer of 1846 many members of the Church were living in camps on the Iowa side of the Missouri River. Kane joined them there  Kane never forgot the things he saw in Iowa, and the deep commitment and faith of the Mormon exiles.  Though he never joined the Church, on many occasions he defended and served the Church in important ways.

Mosquito Creek photo:

We couldn't even see the creek because of all this and the mosquitoes

John Tayor and Parley P. Pratt chose to camp on a bluff immediately west of the Mosquito Creek bridge.  Other members of the Twelve joiined their wagon and tent village, which was then headquarters for Grand Encampment.  A large American flag was hung on a tall tree in front of
Brigham Young's tent, making it easy to diret visitors to where he could be found.  TheMormons built a bowery at Taylor-Pratt Hill for church meetings and social activities.  When Capt. James Allen asked for four or fice companies of Mormon men to serve in the Mexican War, Brigham Young called a large number of young men around him to hear Captain Allen's call to serve.  My great, great grandfather John Buchanan was Second Corporal of Company D

JOHN BUCHANAN

Site 3:  The Mormon Battalion Mustering Grounds 

For some reason, I didn't get a picture of this either, but on the grounds where it used to be was a bunch of buildings.  It is now the property for he Iowa School for the Deaf.  The first four companies (which included Company D that John Buchanan was in) of the Mormon Battalion was fully enlisted here and were marched down along the side of Mosquito Creek to the Trading Pint to draw blankets, utensils and food for their Mormon Battalion Trail march to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.  Enough men followed to Trading Point to complete a fifth company, bringing the Mormon Battalion to a full 500 men.  As Forth Leavenworth they would be issued weapons for their march on to San Diego in Mexican-held California,

Site 4 was - High Grass display, Highland and Bullock's Grove Marker:

on the marker it says:  "Arriving here on June 13 1946, after more than four months on the trail,
the Mormon Pioneers were  overjoyed to see the Missouri River Valley below.  This area would become a home for some of them until 1953.  (We had ancestors live here that long).  Gone are the small covered wagons and rugged individuals who walked the Mormon Trail.  Some lie buried along the way  Gone also are their rudimentary log cabins, tuition schools, churches, wagon shops, blacksmith shops, saw and grist mill, and farms.  Their pioneer fortitude and faith remain a a heritage to those who remember."

The renowned chief, Pied Riche - he was surnamed Le Clerc on account of his remarkable scholarship said:  "My Mormon brethren  The Pottawatomie came sad and tired into this unhealthy Missouri Bottom, not many years back, when he was taken from his beautiful country beyond the Mississippi, which had abundant game and timber and clear water everywhere.

These pictures are further down the road at the Mormon Trail

 ORIGINAL MORMON TRAIL

 Trail Center Sisters

This is the weed that was in their way when they went down the trail -- it grew up to 9 ft tall

Senior Missionaries:  Sis Cope, Elder and Sister Hanson, Elder and Sister Tremaine, Elder and Sister Writtle, Sister Crandall (her husband stayed behind at the Trail Center

Bob Sharp and Sis Latey -- they are the historians that took us on this tour

Trail Center Sisters:   Janson, Hyde, Slater, Young, Abbott, Strong, Orton, Beck,, Temp, Peyney, Chappell, 

Site 5:  Hyde Park site and marker:

Hyde Park is on Dumfries Road.  (Sister Hanson took a picture and called it dumb fries road).

Dumfries Rd

 The field of Orson Hyde,  the historian told us that at one time there were over 50 cabins out by those trees

 Our moment of silence

Sister Hyde at the Orson Hyde Monument -- she is a descendant

Quote on Monument:
 Hyde Park was a small farming community founded in 1847 by Mormon Pioneers.  It was named for Orson Hyde an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who took up residence here when he returned that spring from a Church mission in England.

During the summer of 1847, while Brigham Young and other Church officials were leading the advance pioneer company to the Great Salt Lake Valley, Hyde remained to preside over members in the Missouri Valley.  He enclosed 50 acres with a split-rail fence and planted 30 acres.  He wrote, ""The land fairly groans under the burden of corn and other products of my own labor,"

When most of the other Apostles returned from Utah, the presiding Quorum of theTwelve resumed its regular meetings.  In one, held here at Hyde's home on 5 December 1847, the Quorum voted to call Brigham Young as President of the Church.  Brigham Young had directed Church Affairs after the death of Joseph Sith in 1844.  The Quorum also ratified Brother Brigham's choice of Apostles Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards to be his counselors in the First Presidency.  In another meeting here the next day, they decided to build a large log tabernacle in Kanesville, (now Council Bluffs) immediately and a temple in Salt Lake City in the future  Just three weeks later on 27 December 1847, the new First Presidency was sustained by a conference of the general membership held in the new tabernacle.    Hyde Park retained its prominence for fie years.  As wagons moved west, Orson Hyde continued to preside over the Church in  Iowa.   He and a majority of the Saints stil inthe area finally moved to Utah in 1852.  There was further exodus in 1853, and few Mormons were left."

We felt the reverence and spirit of that wonderful place.  We sang "The Spirit of God like a Fire is Burning"  and then have a few moments of silence.

Site 6  Council Point

Here the Mormon pioneers had to stop on June 4, 1846 and discuss that they needed to do before crossing into Indian country  A quarter mile east was a steamboat crossing on the Missouri River  (now the river is almost 4 miles away from this point).

Here we sang:  Come, Come Ye Saints

Site 7 - Middle Mormon Ferry Upper Dug Way Location:  we didn't stop, just looked as we passed

Newel K Whitney, George B. Miller and Albert R Rockwood were asked by Church leader Brigham Young June 14, 1846 to find materials to build a ferry over the Missouri River.  Brigham  Young, a carpenter and boat builder by trade designated trees to be cut, trimmed and dragged by oxen from 6 miles north to the Pottawatamie Indian Mill.  There they were cut to sizes specified by Young, who then built and caulked a boat large enough to carry three fully loaded wagons, their teams, and families traveling with them.  Men with shovels cut a roadway down the river. They then cut three dug ways into the east and west banks of the river.  One on the Iowa side was half a mile above on the Nebraska side of the Missouri, and a third was another half mile above the Iowa dug way.  The dug ways were cut deep enough in the river bank to protect the ferry boat from being rocked by the current of the river while being loaded.

copied from Gathering of the Missouri Tour with Gail G. Holmes

photos and such -- Sat, May 21, Mon, May 23

Last Saturday evening I had four sister missionaries over for dinner -- what did we have????? you guessed Buchanans waffles.  We had a blast and they gave me a great lesson -- they saw my reminder on my fridge and told me that they should change their message to keeping the word of wisdom----I told them to go right ahead!

Here are photos of our evening.  The sisters are:   Sister Hyde, Strong, Svensson and Funk

Sister Funk, Svensson, Hyde and Strong

Monday I was taking six sisters on a picnic for their P-day = we were so excited -- I packed out lunch, took it to the mission office with me -- but the rain came, and it came hard so we had our picnic in one of the classrooms at the mission office -- still lots of fun -- I love all the missionaries that I get to hang out with.

 Sister Yancey, Young, Henry, Svensson, Youngberg, Cope, Funk and Beck

This video puts a smile on my face, especially her chuckle at the end.  Her companion is Sis Sveenson from Sweden, she is learning swedish.

***

Klaw Meh, Plue Meh, Lee Meh and Sis Cope 

Lee Meh graduated from 6th grade last week and I wasn't able to go to her school and be there for her.  So I took the three girls out for ice cream to celebrate and we ended up at the park for some fun times.  They are cute girls -- and I hope they can stay strong in this big world.  I love them.

LeeMeh and some of her 6th grade graduation class!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD 

 HAPPY VETERAN!!!

grandpa with Christy during a Memorial Day gun salute
our honored and favorite Veteran

Dad's birthday is May 30 which falls on Memorial Day week

a bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace" at my dad's funeral

MY DAD

He was a fine man -- a man of compassion, integrity, gentleness, spirituality, patience, loving, teaser, people person, loyal and a great father and friend.  I miss him so much yet, I feel him often.  


****************************************************

TRUDY MONSEN

MY NIECE

DAUGHTER TO RUDY AND JULIA MONSEN

DIED MAY 27 1994 

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON ROAD TO

OUR FAVORITE CAMPING SPOT

Trudy Monsen was in her youth -- so vibrant, adorable, much ambition, loved her schooling as a beautician, amazing testimony of her Savior -- bore her testimony often, she spent alot of time in my home while at school in Salt Lake City.  She loved her family more than anything -- she adored her brothers and her parents meant everything to her.  She loved being in her family home.  She was killed in an automobile accident and her funeral was on dad's birthday -- all during the memorial day week and weekend.