For Thanksgiving we had 24 people at our table. Barb's mom and dad moved here on the 29th of October. They only live 2 miles away from us and it is a huge blessing to have them here. Our kids have never lived by grandparents before. Besides Barb's parents, we had Barb's sister Brenda and her family, my brother Ty and his family, and Ty's friends the Bunderson's here for the weekend. We were able to enjoy Thanksgiving here in our 101 year old historic farm house. There was plenty of food and all was right with the world. We put together a scavenger hunt in and around all the historic sites with clues from Church History. It is debatable whether it was more fun to put the scavenger hunt together or actually participate in it. On the Friday after Thanksgiving, we took eight of the youth staying here to the Nauvoo temple to perform baptisms. It was a sweet experience. The temple baptismal font is actually the biggest one in the world. As the saints were preparing to leave Nauvoo at the end of 1845 and the early in 1846 they were trying to perform as many baptisms and endowments as possible. The size of the font would accommodate multiple baptisms at the same time. In my estimation you could probably have up to 3 or 4 going at the same time.
I always look forward to Thanksgiving. It is a time for family and food - two of my favorite things. We are grateful for the bounteous blessings that the Lord pours out upon us.
On October 30, 2011 I blessed our little Abbie Mae at the LDS church here in Nauvoo, IL. Those in the circle were the following: Casey Cluff, Ben Cluff, Jim Hansen, Tyler Cluff, David Cluff, Bishop Glen Anderson (Bishop), Robert Ludwig (Nauvoo Illinois Mission President) Durrell Nelson (NRI Employee), Bob Northup (Home Teacher), Nick Camberlango. Those of the family in the congregation were the follwing: Barb Cluff, Grandma Cluff, Grandma Hansen, Bev Rosenbalm, (Kendra Peterson came for the weekend, but did not make it to the blessing) Angie Cluff, Sarah Cluff, Emily Cluff, Floris Cluff, Colton Cluff, Sam Cluff, Sadie Cluff.
As we were blessing Abbie, I felt an overwhelming feeling of love for our brand new little daughter. She is such a blessing to our family and I can't help but feel how empty our lives would be without her. She was born in Carthage, IL - the very town where Joseph and Hyrum were taken home to the Father. The Lord knew she would come to us while we lived here and that the beginning of her life would be in and around the history of the church. She is never wont for attention. Many of the senior missionary couples have made her quilts, hats, socks, etc. She really does have many grandmothers and grandfathers here in Nauvoo as do Angie, Sarah and Emily. Abbie may never know what it was like to live in Sammamish, but she is experiencing life in a very unique way. We love her very much. In fact, I keep teasing her sisters that I may have to make her a "coat of many colors". I ask them if this will upset them and they just laugh at me.
As of late I have also had the opportunity to drive some of the wagons pulled by the big draft horses. Since I was a little boy working with horses with my dad and Grandpa Cluff in Idaho, I have wanted to do it again. I have had many opportunities to work around horses in my life, but these big horses fascinate me with their seemingly boundless strength, yet gentle manner. As we prepare for the reenactment of the exodus of the Saints on Feb 4th, there are many opportunities to work with the horses. For the reenactment we will hitch up all the horses and put the covers on the wagons. It may be a very cold day, but that is how it would have been for the saints. Anyway, posted below are a few pictures of the me with the horses, Nauvoo in the fall and baby Abbie.
