Christmas

Our fall was beautiful, I know some of these emails get confused ( in my last note it talked about the draft horses wife's  got to go home with their missionary teamsters  !!!! Yikes you need to learn to read between the lines and roll with the punches LOL.    We had a great Thanksgiving, all 200 of us!   Last Sat. we had a Christmas walk in the evening.   First we had a lighting of the big tree (I helped decorate it) then we had luminary lights down the streets and all of the visitors could go from shop to shop and hear Christmas pioneer stories -Real stories.   Then the manger pageant (really a good one, then go to the family living center for hot chocolate.  And good stuff --Really nice!!

   These last weeks I have been making big red velvet bows for all of Nauvoo (our sites), I made about 300 they only wanted me to make them so that they would match.   All fresh garlands and wreaths on everything - it is really cute.   The cast Christmas party I was in charge of was   GREAT ~!!! FUN and not boring!! . The cast through a surprise (after performance) party for my birthday and to thank me for the Great cast party. I had a nice birthday!!  .   I actually get 1 night a week to do what I want to do, meaning sew or sleep!!(This mission is not for pansies).   We are talking obedience! here.  Well last Sunday the 11th of Nov.   I got my chance to talk at sacrament meeting, WOW--I did it.  The talks are always soooo good here that I was really worried.   I talked about “Who is Jesus - The Messiah “you know it is one of my favorite subjects. I had missionaries say they had learned something and it was interesting and good!  So I feel OK about it and it is over -WHOO. I will tell you I was helped, I asked for help and I got it!!!     I started a quilt for the mission pres. and wife months ago; I can't remember if I told you about it?   The Pres. and wife have served here for 4 years and I thought they need a token of appreciation.  All of the lady missionaries made a 6 " patch and I put them together -   She cried , she loved it , It was a lot of work but I am glad we did it .   So now we are on to Christmas.   We will all have a Christmas dinner together and a Program in the Evening, it is on a Sunday so we don't have to put on Rendezvous that night!   My companion and I have a TREE!! . We have a free DI here and anyone leaving leaves their extra stuff so we all go shopping after any missionaries go home, it is a joke around here - When we leave, and we’ll leave it for someone too.   I have had some wonderful experiences with some  visitors , and I learned that Missions didn't just come to give  and help others  we really learn lessons for ourselves about life, I didn't know that I didn't know so much about life . And about people, I am glad to learn.   I think my part here was to happily help with everything,   and be the fun and excited person, they say I make people laugh--GOOD.    I've got my van all decorated with garlands and bow's  and I have squeezed in making ginger bread cookies (decorated -of coarse  for all---you know a boy and a girl holding hands  with mini  M&M's  and my sham Tort is a success ,also my Chocolate forest cake .   So I think the best coming up- besides every day at the sites and performances at night is we get to sing on the Nauvoo Temple Steps Christmas night. Last Christmas it was snowing, what an incredible experience this all is.  The horse drawn wagons still go out for tours and they are decorated with bows and everyone bundles up in quilts, I love those horses!!!  . Well I will get to really enjoy the real meaning of Christmas this year.  I am so proud of Bradley in Brazil. I am proud of all my Grandchildren and I miss you all!  
LOVE,   Sister Howard,   MOM

      PS.  I know we live in a bubble here -I wish the rest of the world was like this, we pretty much love each other!   How novel!            IT SNOWED!!

Pumpkin Days

We have sent a lot of the missionaries home that came for 6 mos.,  they were mostly teamsters for the wagons and to take care of the horses, we have 16 beautiful horses you know DRAFT horses, I love them. They are matching sets!!! So their wives went home with them, of course. That brings us to about 100 missionaries here for the winter. We do a show every night so I am on every other night.   

My brother Dr. Carl Howard came a few weeks ago, that was so nice, he helped me with my hip I popped out of whack.

Well today we carved 600 pumpkins for the town's pumpkin parade. The pumpkins will line the street and corn stalks too. Nauvoo is big on pumpkin days so we missionaries participate for good relations and FUN!!!  I am going to be in the parade as a Christmas person!  You know - Big red bows, bells on my feet, a wreath on my head that lights up with batteries and a Christmas tree on my back pack, it looks cute and I will hand out candy.

  Well the weather is soooo beautiful now the trees are all in different colors.   I have helped in the yards we had to take out the gorgeous plants and plant tulip bulbs before the frost 24000 bulbs !!! Yes I said 24000, spring will be beautiful.  The trees here are so beautiful all of the fall colors, and the wind, wonderful now but not when it is an ice storm (YES ANOTHER WINTER !! YIKES!)

   Last week there was a inner faith to do and it was our turn to host. This is where 6 different religions, here in Nauvoo, get together to discuss and tell what they believe about a particular subject (7 min. each) ( what is the nature of GOD ) was this month.,  any way I made the carrot cake to be served to the 100+  visitors and it was great .  We decorated the table in fall colors. It was fun to do my old stuff. I didn't get to go because I was in the show that night, I heard it went well.

  Well I'm HAPPY and I love working on the sites and telling people about the history and whatever else they ask, that is the part I love the most. !!!!.    I organized the ladies to make a quilt for our president who is going home in Jan. after 4 1/2 years so this has taken a lot of my spare time, of which there isn't any! It is wonderful, everyone made a patch (80).
 LOVE,  Sister Janet Howard   AKA, MOM!

I Love working in the gardens here

Hi everyone, Did you enjoy the “Butterfly Circus" email I sent you!
  It has calmed down here a lot, it was so nice to have the girls come and see Nauvoo.  As you can see in one photo I love working in the gardens once a week, I've really made a dent here (You know I'm fast) well we have fun, my supervisor is Sister Skidmore.

  The first Sunday of Aug was 'Fast day " and I was working at the Skofield Bakery giving tours and a family stayed and asked lots of questions, I loved answering. I felt it such a blessing to tell them about the blessings of the temple and the peace that this gospel gives us. I feel the Holy Ghost with me whenever I need him, I don't want to end this setting apart to be a missionary - it's wonderful.

 These dolls I made for some missionaries that are leaving and I love them soooo. One of them was in charge of the Sunset Show, She was wonderful, and I put rouge on her dolls cheeks because she wears so much but it looks darling on her -I LOVE HER.  The other was like the dad here and made us all wood necklaces and beautiful pens with wood on them.   I hate to see them go. 

I had 50 tomatoes on my bushes and something ate them!!! I think a raccoon or a skunk.  I put coast soap slivers around, I hope they will stay away.   Well I finally got chiggers!! On one of my arms, Yea Jannette they drive a person crazy!!!  I got them working at Wilford Woodruff s back yard. 

  Well I'm happy still! The young preforming missionaries are leaving tomorrow, they were such fun, I hope they choose good companions to marry and have a life filled with love and kindness.   It is late and I'm in the gardens tomorrow at 6 am.

 LOVE, MOM/ Sister Howard





Visiting Nauvoo

Me, Brookelyn, Jannette and little Sadie got to go spend a few days in Nauvoo. It was so fun to see Janet giving tours at all the different homes and businesses.  We got to see her sing and dance and be in plays! She's a great missionary! The other missionaries there just love her. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to go and feel the spirit of the pioneers and see how hard they worked to build a beautiful city, and then have to leave it all and start over.
          If you have the chance to go to Nauvoo you should! I think it was even more special because we had someone we love there as a missionary.
Love you Janet!!  Love Jodi

They warned us that the crowds were coming

Well, They warned us that the crowds were coming - be ready! Yep they are here! 

 It is humid here so everything grows weeds and flowers!  I am really enjoying all that comes with this mission, even my growth, I can say that NOW.   We have had some really incredible experiences happen here. The saints that gave so much to the early church, are not forgotten and we feel them often, they were good strong humans.    

At this time the L.D.S. Church has 52,000 missionaries out, in the world and we are all paying our own way.
 Here in Nauvoo there are about 500 missionaries, performers, musicians, Temple helpers and helpers that keep everything going, here now.  

One man said “How does this all work?   About 90 % of everyone here are volunteers and pay their own way how does the church get people to do that?! I don't understand. 

The answer was *** How do we explain this to someone ---   The pioneers (saints) didn’t go through all of this persecution because they liked Joseph Smith! If that was the case the church would have died with Joseph and Hiram Smith (the Mobs thought the church would die - the mobs were Satan driven - most mobs are).  

We told him, The man,  This church is CHRIST'S church, our prophets are chosen and guided by Christ just as in Abraham's day. God loves us in the 2000’s as much as Adam's children.   When you read the Bible and read the Book of Mormon you get the whole picture of what Christ wants for this world. Now that you have intellectually read these books - Now Ask GOD if this is all true and asks for his spirit to tell YOU! IF it is TRUE.  We believe in personal revelation, this means you can get an answer for yourself and don't have to believe me.  Once you have felt the Holy Ghost tell you, you are willing to give all you can and that is why our church has so much. Yes we pay tithing but it goes to build temples and churches we meet in - and lots of it goes to humanitarian help all over the world.  Our clergy and even our Tabernacle choir are all volunteers so our $ is used to help the world (the Red Cross will tell you we are there before they are!).  

   There are 5 main shows to see and vignettes too; I have tried to get to all of the vignettes I had time for. I went to one yesterday (Joseph Smith giving the King Follett funeral Discourse) the actors are superb and it was wonderful about 20 min.    This talk was given at a funeral of Joseph's friend and He told of the spirit world and all of wonders and love that are there, how this world is for us to grow and serve God and each other. I have a copy of the whole discourse Joseph gave in 1842.  There is so much more than this earth!   I also went to Joseph's and Emma’s letters to each other vignette --- loved it!  

  Well enough for now, I will tell you some of the experiences when I see you. (9 1/2 mo. here and 9 1/2 mo. left)
   I am soooo glad I'm here,   

 LOVE, Grandma/Sister  Janet Howard

Yes, I'm still alive!

Yes, I'm still alive!  It is almost July and almost Billy's birthday !

 The shows are in full glory and we do 2 a night .   We have a lot of people here and when I am at sites, we are giving tours as fast as we can, alternating with another sister, actually we are giving tours at the same time, Wow It is so rewarding! Each group is different, I am told to say the story of the site but to be guided by the spirit what else I feel to say to that group.  I have had some real experiences and  some wonderful discussions. It is the youth I feel so impressed with  and I have had parents say "they are so glad they came to my site".   You know I feel so happy about the  gospel and all that it gives us including inner joy, that I wish I could help others to feel this glow inside.  The knowledge that I ,and all of you are children of God  and he really loves us, is so filled with hope!

I come home each day exhausted so I take a quick nap and then go to put on a show. I bought a new CD yesterday (Mormon tab. = THIS IS THE CHRIST ) I love it, I fall asleep to it at night .
 My Rellicinda skit is doing good ,they love it . It is a tongue twister and I have to keep my mind focused. I'll try to send a photo.

I bought a bike last week for $10.00 (used) It's so fun to ride. I am so looking forward to having the girls out here next month.

I'm kind of the happy one around here,  They say I'm always smiling, I guess I am. I'm glad to be here.  I miss all of you, especially the kids. I hope you all liked the pioneer hats I made you. did they fit ?

 The essays I sent you,You better read them !!! ( pre-existence, intelligences, and who are you ) there is alot of knowledge in it, things you need to know. The next one is about done ( The Purpose Of Life and Why are we Here? )    You are going to get a new subject every month, this is hard for me to find time but I am so willing to do it .

We have fire flies!!! They are soooo fun to watch it looks like fairies all over the place.

   Well good night for now.
LOVE , S/MOM

May 28, 2011

Hi,

   We did our dress rehearsal tonight for the SUN SET SHOW- it was raining some but we did it anyway.  It is an outside show, fun and cute, I did my solo (Rendacilla) this is funny I am BY MY SELF!!! And I memorized a story about Cinderella but it is all mixed up - yes I memorized it, WOW. It is cute and of course I made a funny costume for it.   I get lots of laughs.   Yes I will do it for you at home - but only if you beg ha ha .  

  Well it is so green here.  The other night I went for a walk about 10 pm.  It was windy and cool and dark with the moonlight, I think it was the most beautiful walk I have ever had.   There were fire flies,  and fields of grass, the moon and it was by the horses, over a bridge and on a dirt road, I just wanted to stay there, and Oh yes there was some water going under the bridge making wonderful noises.   When the girls come here they will get to go on a hand cart trail for 1 mi. ,if they want and that is where I was.

   All of our outlines have been re written so I have to kind of learn them a new. It is nice living around really great people, we are asked to do a lot, but it is wonderful to see how willing they all are and we are all in the same boat so we are all rowing together!!!   

  It is hard to get to all of you and the young women too and my ward family writes too, I feel guilty if I don't write, I really can't.

   I am making pioneer caps for the boys in the family, everyone wears them here and they look great.  

 I have 12 months left in my mission. I'm  Happy,

 LOVE, GRANDMA

Pictures


Janet sent some pictures of her mission. It's fun to see where she lives, her outfits that she wears and the sisters that she serves with. We are so proud of her and thankful for her good example.

Janet's House



Janet got to come home for a few days in February to help Jannette with the baby



Riding the train home in February 2011





Bee Catcher



I Love it here!

Hi I am going to write a new e-mail to you all.  I haven't sent one for a long time.

 Today I was assigned the prep. morning thought - it was on resurrection, judgment and immortality and I studied all week (that is whenever I had a chance) I learned sooo much on the subjects.  Did you know the Earth is to go through a judgment, resurrection and it will be immortal and be exalted  too? 

   I also (hang on to your hat) played the violin for prep meeting (who knew!). I played “O MY FATHER" I am so proud of myself I haven't played for others for 20 years.   I bought a violin a few weeks ago.  It is my goal to play the Lord’s Prayer before I go Home.   

   I don't think I told you we got to go to the St. Lewis TEMPLE a few weeks ago I loved it. I went to an OMISH town last week and bought food - they had grains and sprouts, nuts etc., really cute place. 

 I love it here and I love my NEW companion (as compared to my LAST!!!! YIKES!) My new one is older but so funny what a personality! Thank you heaven!   My last  one still loves to annoy me - if she was the last human on earth I would go to the other side - she would follow , she has to annoy someone and I've been told - I'm her main target.

The weather is beautiful and the Geese are coming back (babies soon).   I love the horses here, they pull the tour wagons.   Well enough for now.

 Love, Sister Janet Howard.   

 I get to talk to visitors every day --you know I love that.

I think I'm coming home for a few days

Today is our big celebration for the exodus of Nauvoo. I have a part.  No time to talk about that!    I think I'm coming home for a few days  to help Jannette.  I have to talk to the mission president this morning. I will come by train, tomorrow, it takes 1 1/2 days and stops in Salt Lake. Thats all for now  Today is Dean's Birthday      Love Janet

Pictures



December 29, 2010


Yay we finally got some pictures of Janet in Nauvoo. It's fun to see the differant places she gets to be at.
She looks great!

January 17, 2011





January 16, 2011

                                    

January 10, 2011



January 10,2011



January 7, 2011

 
 


December 29, 2010





December 29, 2010



December 29, 2010




December 29, 2010



December 29, 2010




December 26, 2010



December 26, 2010




December 6, 2010



December 4, 2010

January 18 ,2011

Hi !  I thought I sent another e mail, did you get my photo ? I have more and every day I learn one more trick with my camera or the computer !       I love all that we do here, I was at the call center ( when guests come to the pageant or to our sites some fill out comment cards )    I got a card on some new cabins that are rentals here real cute and right in town.   They sleep  whole families !  I understand that June is full of acts and skits  and July is some skits and the pageant ,but it is really crowded in July and hot and muggy ( so It is a long way out here ) If you are really planning on coming out the tickets are going fast.   MAYBE NEXT YEAR ??? or maybe this !?..         I lost some of this email.        I'm doing good I fell up the stairs  and twisted my ankle but all is good-same leg as my bad knee -I am doing real good though.          Today I cut out my show dress CUTE!  I have 4 parts in the evening show and we all have fun.  Tomorrow I am at the bakery, Brad went there.            Sadie makes 13 Grand kids! So Cute ! and Nikki and Scott's makes 14,  Am I a lucky grandma.  Say your prayers !! LOVE ,Grams

 

 

Carthage Jail

      I have thought alot about what I wanted to write as I go along each day, there isn't time to write !!!   I bet you wonder what is so time consuming  !?.  There  are sites to help at each day, 7 days a week we give tours every day and a show every night except Sun.  On Sunday we are at zone conferences and music performances, so wonderful .

     The Mississippi is so big and beautiful last week it was slightly frozen and snowed on  what a sight . and the sunsets are exquisite, corals and orange .  

      Well what I really want to tell you is, last week I helped at the Carthage jail .   I gave some tours, Yes ME !!   I feel so good there .   Just as I was leaving this man (about 30+ with 2 little girls) came in just as I was going off of my shift.    I felt so drawn to them, I welcomed them  but another lady took them to watch a movie, then go on a tour.  I told the other sister to be sure to give the girls a picture of CHRIST .    The father said they were not very religious but he wanted his girls to  come with him.    I felt so compelled to that little family, as I left  I wanted to go back and I haven't stopped thinking about them, I wish I could talk to them again . I know I could help them, I love them and I want them to be happy, I hope they come to Nauvoo.    ( Carthage and Nauvoo are about 30 mi. apart.

      On Christmas I fell- my front foot went forward and my back knee went down , I stood up and thought O GOOD I'm ok      Then 2 days later I was walking and my left knee went POP ! yes I am kind of in trouble but I am determined to not let it slow me down. The DR. for the Missionaries has looked at it  and is worried, I am a little concerned, I had a blessing on it this morning.  I am hobbling around and I use a cane.  CUTE HUH .   I made gingerbread cookies for all of the missionaries and put them in the mail room  today. They loved them .We had a New Years party tonight, Yes I'm home already, we laughed and had a fun time. My knee hurts so I'm going to bed with my new heating pad  Fun . 
 I LOVE EVERYONE.
 check out www.mormon.com?  there is a new short video about new years ,really cute, I hope you find it .