Week 35--April 19-25, 2020


Each week as Garnalee thinks about putting together the blog she wonders what pictures are we going to have since we are stuck at home. However, something comes up that let us add to our story of being here in Missouri. 

We hope that all of you are keeping some kind of a journal of what is happening in your life because of COVID-19. How are you feeling, what has happened, what changes have you made? As Garnalee read, "This time will be talked about for generations." Make sure that those who follow after you, your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, know how you made it through this time. 

The COVID-19 has helped the missionaries find new ways to share their message of God's love and the message they have to share. This sidewalk art was on the sidewalks at the Visitors' Center. 

"Our message is simple."

"We are His children."

"He loves us so much He gave us families."

"He knew we needed direction to return to Him."

"He gave us prophets."

"Prophets testify of Jesus Christ."


There were a few more but the chalk was too light.

We were at the Visitors' Center to finish up our inventory and had to take another picture of the tulips. They have really  popped and are so beautiful.

Tom wanted to find Arrowhead where the Kansas City Chiefs play, so we took a drive on Thursday. Arrowhead Stadium is located in the Truman Sports Complex just a couple of miles from us..

Which also houses the Kansas City Royals Stadium.

A view of both stadiums.


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What to do when we are stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic?  Putting together a puzzle left in the apartment of another senior couple fills many hours. Who cares that it is a Christmas puzzle!  

Week 34--April 12-18, 2020

We started some new Easter traditions that we learned about from David Butler and Emily Freeman as part of their Easter presentation.  One was a testimony and scripture tree. We had the sisters over. We talked about Mary at the tomb on Easter morning. After Jesus appeared to her she was instructed to go tell the apostles and bear testimony of what had happened. We each then wrote our testimonies on paper,  placed them in an egg, and hung it on the tree. We then discussed the apostles on the Road to Emmaus. After the Savior unfolded the scriptures to them they recognized Him. We each then wrote a favorite scripture about the Savior on a slip of paper, placed it an egg, and hung it on the tree.

 We thought that we would get out of yard work this year. Not So! The beds and trees around the Visitors' Center needed to be mulched. So on Tuesday we all went to work.

Sister Cannon thought mulching would be a formal affair so she wore a skirt.  (She was actually training some of the young missionaries later in the morning.)

President and Sister Cannon.

 We are all part of the Mulch Workers Union. One of our senior missionaries has a good sense of humor.

Sister Larsen carries a bag that is almost as big as she is.

 Elder Brown opening another bag to spread.

 Elder Larsen has been busy pulling weeks before putting down the mulch.

Elder Harrington and Sister Brown work on the bed next to the welcome sign.

 Sister Harrington gets another bag.

Here, Sister Harrington take another one, Elder Brown offers.

It was a good time to be with the other senior couples and to be working outdoors. The temperatures were cool but we soon warmed up with our hard work.

We made short order of 135 bags of mulch in two hours. We will have to wait for more to be delivered to finish the project.

More bags arrived and we finished the project on Wednesday.

On Thursday we drove to Liberty to see the flowers in the beds there. There is an assortment of beautiful purple tulips with some yellow daffodils thrown in.

 We see trees like this one all over the area. They are called a redbud, rosebud, or Judas Tree. The light purple blooms are gorgeous.

This house is across the street from the cemetery where we walk. They have placed a variety of bottles on stakes along the driveway. Yard Art Independence style.

On Saturday we decided to walk to the Visitors' Center. We passed this house which is typical of the older homes in the area with porches. This one is called Bryant House and is on the National Registry. It was built in 1867, and expanded to its present Queen Anne-Eastlake design in 1890. The house was owned by Dr. Bryant and his wife, Harriet Smart Bryant. He was a prominent physician and successful businessman in the area. His wife was the daughter of Judge Thomas A. Smart.

 The flowers at the Visitors' Center are a little behind the ones at Liberty Jail because they are on the west side of the building. A lot more yellow flowers here.  We didn't mulch where the flowers are located because they will be dug up and annuals will be planted in their place.  We hope to salvage some of the bulbs to bring home to Idaho.

This flower reminds me of a peony bud. The tulips that were planted are fuller than the ones we have at home.

A light delicate tulip.


Each Thursday we have the opportunity to join a ZOOM call from the History Department of the Church. We are given presentations on various aspects of Church History from knowledgable people who have done extensive research. This week the presentation was on "Joseph and Emma Smith: United in the Restoration."

Also on Thursday, Sister Henderson had a birthday. She turned 20. Garnalee made a chocolate cake, and we invited the sisters over for cake and ice cream.

Temperatures have really been erratic.  One day in the high 70s; and the very next day highs in the 40s. My sister Marion referred us to watch The Chosen on YouTube.  Season one was eight episodes.  We have watched the first seven. It's free to viewers around the world and portrays the life of the Savior as interpreted by this group of filmmakers.  To their credit, it's very well done and is inspiring.
The project of inventorying the books in the VC library is finally finished.  There are many books and articles in the library that we will have to read as they pertain directly to what we talk about in our tours.  We're thinking this quarantine could last another month.  Only time will tell.  In spite of being sequestered, we can go out for a walk every day and enjoy being out-of-doors.

Week 33--April 5-11, 2020

We loved General Conference. It was as President Russell M. Nelson promised, "unforgettable and memorable." One of the highlights was participating in the Solemn Assembly at the conclusion of the Sunday morning session of conference. 

 Garnalee spent Monday making face masks for the sisters in our building and for Tom and herself.

Sister Hair and Sister Christensen model their masks.  Breath taking don't you think?

You can tell by their eyes that Sister Pomeroy and Sister Henderson are smiling under their masks.

We went to the Visitors' Center on Wednesday to work on our book inventory in the library and saw that the tulips and hyacinths were blooming> Couldn't resist taking a few a pictures.

 The Facilities Management team will dig them up in a few weeks and throw the bulbs away. I have asked them to save me some so I can bring them home and plant them in my flower bed.

Tom and Garnalee wear their masks when they go to the grocery store. Many other people are doing the same. "I was pretty sure I look dorky with my mask on," Tom said, "but I didn't feel so bad when we saw more than half of the people in the store also with masks."

We're able to keep busy with daily scripture study, CFM, and inventorying the VC library. Two positives: 1) We aren't stir crazy yet, and
2) Neither of us has gained our "Quarantine 15" yet.  We walk 40-45 minutes every day and are trying to be a little better about taking smaller portions at mealtime.

Week 32--March 29 to April 4, 2020

Happy Birthday Heather!

Sister Villegas and Sister Coronado, both from Mexico, who served with us at Liberty Jail returned home on Sunday. They have been good guides and have grown a lot during this missionary experience. We also served with Sister DeLeon from Guatemala, and Sister Romero from Peru who have not been sent home yet because the borders of their home countries are closed. No one in and no one out.

After our walk and breakfast, Tom went with Mike White who doesn't have a car and hadn't been able to contact two of his five new families for which he was the ministering brother.  We finally found them, and had to leave notes on the door because neither answered.  Two days later one called, so it was a success.

Also on Monday, after lunch, we took a drive to visit the Civil War battle sites that are located in the/Independence area. Missouri saw some of the most violent clashes between family members and neighbors. Reported to be worse than any other state in the Union during the Civil War.
On August 11, 1862, organized units under Confederate command and irregular units under the direction of William Clarke Quantrill attacked the federals that were stationed in and around Independence square in an attempt to capture weapons and munitions. This battle was a victory for the Confederates and came to be known as the First Battle of Independence. The Marshall's House and Jail served as the headquarters for the Union Provost Guard that was attacked by some of the Confederate soldiers.

The Confederate troops tied their horses up around Courthouse Square and began their surprise advance on the Union headquarters and camp. There was a rock wall down the center of Walnut Street. At the Mormon Visitors' Center a gully behind the wall became the rallying point for the Union soldiers.

The Gilbert Whitney Store is located on Independence Square. It was established by Gilbert Whitney when the Mormons were in Independence.

 Two Confederate soldiers who died during this battle were Colonel John Taylor Hughes and Colonel John H. Boyd. We had walked by their headstones in the Woodlawn Cemetery many times but didn't realize the significance until now. Colonel John Taylor Hughes was killed while leading his troops in the First Battle of Independence.

Colonel John R. Boyd was wounded during the attempt to drive the Union forces from the wall and later died.


















The Second Battle of Independence or the Battle of the Big Blue occurred five miles east of Independence on the Little Blue River and later extended into the city of Independence on October 21-22, 1864.  15,000 Union and Confederate forces were engaged in this battle. This battle was also a victory for the Confederate troops.

Mrs. Robert Hill observed the battle from the upper porch of the Bingham-Waggoner Estate and wrote her observations: "From the balcony, which is very high, we had clear view of the battle for more than a mile. We saw the Federals capture a battery in Noah Miller's field. It was magnificently defended and no less bravely attacked. We could see the far-off flash of red fire coming out of the guns and pistols and men fell by the dozens. It was one of the most sublimely thrilling sights that no one could imagine...What the issue of this tremendous battle will be, god alone knows." We visited the Bingham-Waggoner Estate last December.

On our way home from visiting the Civil War sites we stopped by the grave of Granville Hedrick. When Joseph Smith was martyred he broke off from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and established the Church of Christ. The sign outside of their church says that it was established April 6, 1830.  The Church of Christ (as our church was originally named), still owns the 2.5 acres that are called the Temple Lot and marker stones were set by Joseph Smith.  Their church building is across the street from the Independence Visitors' Center.










We loved watching General Conference on Saturday. We invited the two apartments of sisters that live in our building to come and watch with us. One of the surprises was the new symbol President Nelson unveiled that will represent the Church.  We love it.

President Nelson's prophecy at conference last October, that this conference would be "memorable and unforgettable" certainly came to pass.  No members got to attend the sessions.  Only the speakers for the session were in the room, and all were the recommended six feet apart.  Music from the Tabernacle Choir were prerecorded.  This certainly was a historic conference!