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I survived the spring shutdown, barely, and have also survived the onslaught of the summer missionary's first week of settling in and their training.  Arlene was busy in the office for a few days and relaxing a bit the other days while I was trying to catch up on temple projects the whole shutdown.  Boy am I beat!  What a frantic few weeks we've had since the middle of April!  Today's weather is going to hit the lower 80s and it will be in the 70s the rest of the next week so it looks like spring is finally here to stay for a bit.  Of course, we're looking at thunderstorms for the next couple of days but, well, that is to be expected.  But, today is spectacular!

Our first missionary meal together, one of many, for the summer missionaries.  At least this week.

We were responsible for two couples before they came to Nauvoo.  One was Leonard and Kathy Anderson from Bremerton Washington.  Unfortunately, I was seated behind them so only got their backs but you can hear their introductions.  They knew Arlene's sister very well before she passed away last year.  Very nice people.

The other couple was our own Terry and Mary Baggs from the Sacramento Temple.  We were so happy to have them come and they have been a joy to work with.  Sister Baggs is so happy to be just a temple worker for a change and not a member of the temple presidency!

So, in honor of their arrival in Nauvoo, I made a Lasagna that took up the whole oven and 3 hours to bake!  3 pounds of cheese, 64 ounces of cottage cheese/ricotta, 1 pound of parmesan cheese,  a dozen cans of tomato products, 2 pounds of pork sausage (taste so much better that way), 2 boxes of noodles, and a lot of spices.  Yummy and they had seconds.  Kevin is so looking forward to some home cooking when he gets off his mission.  Guess I'll be making this before we head West in November.

Sis/Bro Anderson, Sis Seger, Sis/Bro Baggs at our apartment for dinner their first Sunday in Nauvoo.  So much is going to happen their first week!  

Here is the kitchen crew preparing one of our lunches.  President Nelson on the right passing through.  His daughter is just to his right and his wife, sister Nelson, an Assistant Matron is in blue a little farther to his right.  It takes quite a few people to set up and feed between 100 and 200 people daily for a week.

All set up and ready for the missionaries for lunch.

At our Tuesday lunch the temple paid staff was introduced.  L to R is (my boss) Rick Jensen-the head Temple Engineer, Blake Duncan-Senior Engineer, Jamie Steen-Janitorial Lead, Bro Graham-Gardner Lead,  Diane Chavez-Laundry Lead (also suffering from cancer),  Dale Jacobs-Security Lead, Peggy Dewey-Admin Lead (Arlene's boss).

Remember that field that was all blackened and burned out after the prairie grass burn demo?  Well, this is what it looks like now.

It won't be long and this field and stage will be alive with activity and people/props.  Just a few weeks and they will start getting ready for pageant and the summer activities.  It's nice and green now, the weather is beautiful, and things are all calm and pleasant.  It will be changing very soon....

We've gone under 6 months left to serve now.  One of the engineers I work with has 3 months left before he leaves so we are all within a few months of our end times here in Nauvoo.  Seems like we have been here forever.  I'm thinking a year is about enough time for a mission here....I am tired.  We do have an overnight trip scheduled for Adam-Ondi-Ahman in mid-May so we are looking forward to that.  It will be the only "vacation" time we have ever taken since we have been back here.  Should be fun.  It includes a session at one of the temples near the site.  See you later!