Weeks 58, 59, 60, 61,62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67. July 28, 2014 --- October 6, 2014

It looks like it has been awhile since our last post so we want you to know we are alive and doing well.

We are still busy every day and have great missionary experiences that we are enjoying very much. The summer went faster than we could have even imagined but Elder Pincock did have the chance to pick some grapes from the oldest grape vineyard in Illinois, its just down the street from our apartment.

grapes picked from vineyard on Parley Street, Nauvoo

 Both the Nauvoo Pageant and British Pageants were so good and we enjoyed attending several times and being in the finale one night. Both stories are about Saints who came to Nauvoo  and were part of this history.  We just got word this week that the British Pageant will return next summer.

British Pageant,  "Truth Will Prevail"

We loved being in the Sunset By the Mississippi  variety show.  It was so fun to perform two shows a week plus two shows of Rendezvous a week.  It was very busy but so fun.  The weather was perfect this summer and made everything very pleasant.

One event that goes on in the summer are vignettes that tell the stories of people who  lived in Nauvoo.  The presentations are done by the professional actors that are part of the Pageant.   There was the story of Emma and Joseph,  The King Follett Story was another.  One of my favorite was the story of the missionaries who went to the Seventies Hall for mission  preparations and then went out into the world to preach the Gospel.  The music was beautiful and this building is referred to as the 1st MTC.  It was such a great thing to be part of all these events.

Joseph and Emma performing in --"Letters of Joseph and Emma"

We also had wonderful presentations  from the Young Sister Missionaries and The Young Performing Missionaries that were remarkable and so enjoyable for us.  What a blessing we have had to be part of all this.

Dancing in the streets with the YPM Band

 

YPM's on "Sunset by the Mississippi" stage

 One of the best parts was all of the guests we had at our home who came to enjoy this beautiful city of Nauvoo.  We had such a great time with each and every one of you and are so grateful for your visits and the memories we have because you all came and shared this special time of our lives  We hope your visits and memories last a life time and that you remember the special feelings that are here.  The pioneers had faith and courage to do the things that they did.  We have the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Happiness in our lives because of their courage and extraordinary hard work. Thank you all who came to enjoy these things.

Wow!  We brought our trusty 12 year old van to Nauvoo.  We didn't know if we would have a garage or not and we didn't know what kind of use we would need a car for so we brought our trusty old friend.  While my sister, Sandy Merrill, was here the mileage turned over to 300,000 miles.  So she got to celebrate with us.

that's lot's of miles!!!!

Still looking pretty good

We are so proud of this van! We are just praying it will get us home.  A few weeks ago we took it in for general maintenance and they gave us a brand new van to drive for 24 hours.  It really made me want my good van at home.

I had a great grandfather  who lived in Richmond, Missouri.  I have always wanted to know more about these relatives.  Last week David and I had a great day checking out the records at the court house in Richmond.  I found out that he owned a trucking business (garage) and was well liked in the community.  We located his grave and next to him the grave of his son.  We found the name of his wife, grandchildren  and a copy of his obituary.  It was a very enjoyable day.  And to top it off we got to have dinner at Cracker Barrel.

Sister Pincock at the grave sites of her grandfather and his son, Eddie
in Richmond Missouri

One of the remarkable things we have here in Nauvoo is called Nauvoo on the Road.  It's a van and trailer with activities from  Nauvoo but we take them to towns for their fairs, farmer markets, etc., and we give people a small taste of what Nauvoo is all about.  We get a lot of people coming to Nauvoo because of this event.  We like to follow them around and visit the fun events where they go. A few weeks ago we got to go with them to a fun Heritage  event in a little town called Muscatine.  It took us a couple of hours to get there.  We set up the games, brick demonstration and cookie making, etc.  It's a lot of work but fun to be out with the public and see many different community activities in the area.

with "Nauvoo On The Road" at Harvestville Farms

We have fun every night when there is a BYU game.  We have several couples who come over for the "tailgate" party and then have fun watching the game and having fun with the other missionaries. Elder Pincock takes it pretty seriously and even upgraded his teeny TV to one that we can see what the score is on the screen.  I have fun making food for the festivities.

reflection of the Nauvoo Temple in windows at the Visitors' Center

We got to preview the new movie "Meet the Mormons" last week.  It starts in the theaters on Oct. 10, so I hope you all go to  it.  It's a fun film that tells the story of 6 Church members and how their lives have been influenced by the Gospel of Jesus  Christ, which is the message of the movie -that we are Christians with Christ in the center of our lives.  I hope that we all remember to live Christ-like lives and do our best to help others and live so we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ.
   
We love you all and look forward to our reunion with you in only two and a half months.  It's unbelievable.

Another beautiful Sunset on the Mississippi River

Love,
Elder and Sister Pincock

weeks 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57. June 2--July 27,2014

Hello again:

It seems like a long time since we last undated our blog.  In fact it has been almost two months. But of course it has been our busiest time of the year and much has happened.  June brought a big jump in the numbers of visitors (17,000) while July has been even busier.  With both the Nauvoo Pageant and British Pageant the numbers of visitors has more than doubled.  We are seeing over 2,000 folks per day in the Visitors Center and will have a total number of guests by the end of the month probably over 50,000 for July.  There have been about 50 bus loads of visitors (mostly youth) during July.  In fact, right now we have 8 bus loads of youth(over 450) from the Kady Stake in Texas that are here to experience Nauvoo.  And we get to see most of all the visitors when they come to the Visitors Center.  We have met many friends and friends of friends.  We love it!!!

The month of June started off with the BYU groups coming to perform on the outdoor stage each night.  The first group was the Living Legion  Group.  This was a delightful combination of Native Americans, Central Americans and Polynesians.

Living Legends dance group from BYU

Their presentation was excellent and the participants were so helpful and polite people.  As part of our Public Relations job Elder Pincock and I were assigned to take care of these groups and help them and follow them to their performances.  So we had many opportunities to see their shows and be with them.  We got to go to surrounding communities to accompany them and see their day shows.  They also performed in Nauvoo almost every night right after the Sunset by the Mississippi show.  The other group that came the middle of June was the Jazz Band and Contemporary Dance Group.  They all had extraordinary talents and abilities.  It was all so fun for us because of the opportunities that we've had in past years to help with the International Folk Dance Festival in Rexburg.
                                                                                                                                                              We have had other special experiences this month.  We got to go with the directors of  Nauvoo On the Road to make arrangement for our van and displays to be a part of events in Ft. Madison, Bonaparte, the Illinois State Fair, and events in surrounding communities.

making a rope at Nauvoo On The Road

We had a special event called Thank You Quincy Days for their help to the pioneers when they were driven out of Missouri.  We did many service projects for the town of Quincy as a combined effort with the stakes in the Des Monies Mission area.  About 400 people showed up to do clean up, painting, and other service. 

We got to wear the "yellow shirts" that are worn by members as we do Humanitarian efforts around the world.  Our job was to hand out flyers at the farmers market that morning to advertise the concert and performance of the Jazz band Contemporary Dance Group.  They did a performance in the town square park as part of the Thank You to Quincy Days.  It was a very successful Day.

Gazebo at Washington Park in Quincy, Illinois
(Quincy will always be a very special in the history of the Church)

From there David and I went to St. Louis to catch an airplane to fly home.  David's father is suffering from kidney failure and we decide it was appropriate to make a visit and spent a couple of days with his parents.

David's parents with our daughter Jennifer

We had an enjoyable time with his family.  We also got to see all of our children and grandchildren and be with them for a few hours.  I loved going to our home in Rigby and walking through the yard and house.  It helped to bridge the gap of leaving the Mission Field and returning home-only 5 months away now.  We thank David's brothers and sisters for keeping us updated and part of the loop as to the changes in their parent's conditions and the events taking place in their lives.

Another special event in the Mission was the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum.  It was held on the grounds of the Carthage Jail.  A special program of their sacrifice and remembrance included special musical numbers by the Young Sister Missionaries and the Performing Missionaries.  The Mission President spoke about their lives and events at Carthage.  Two riderless horses were guided through the crowd and bells tolled marking the exact time of the martyrdom.  What a privilege it is to be part of these special events.

Tribute to Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage Jail
(Rider-less horses at the Martyrdom Commemoration on June 27)

That day also marked the beginning of an eventful month of visitors.  We love to have guests!!!!! Cammie and Lucas arrived on June 27th and got to go to the Martyrdom Program with us.  We truly enjoyed their stay.

Ingram family on their rented bikes in Nauvoo

A few days later, our friends Jack and  Francis Holmes arrived and we had a delightful time with them.  They were here during the flooding of the Mississippi in Nauvoo.  The river rose up Parley Street to the grassy area where the statue is.  There was no damage in Nauvoo.  They were also here for the beginning of the Pageant presentations, the 4th of July and a special visit to the Tukuafu Home.

E/S Holmes and E/S Pincock at the flooded Mississippi
(the bank of the river should be out passed the trees)

Our daughter, Annette and  family were the next house guests and the unique opportunity of staying in a missionary apartment and all that goes with the great food we shared, air mattresses all over the floors and having only one bathroom for all to share!  It's amazing how well it all works out.

the Buhler family at Anna Amanda
(a children's musical)

The Buhler and Ranson kids at the Mississippi River
(notice that the river is not as high as the previous picture with the Holmes)

Jennifer and Quinn were next along with Quinn's parents to have this experience and share precious time with us.

Ranson family at the horse-drawn carriage ride

Ranson's at the Sunstone by the quarry where the limestone for the 1st
Nauvoo Temple was gathered

Shannon and Todd just left a few days ago with their family, Mitchell, and Georgia and Sherwood Ricks. What a great time we have had with everyone.

Todd Ricks family, Mitchell, Sherwood and Georgia Ricks

dinner at the Hotel Nauvoo (where else)

As with all of our other visitors we attended the temple, watched endless shows of "Rendezvous", "Sunset By the Mississippi", Vignettes, Carthage tours, both Pageants,  carriage and wagon rides,  "The Promise" and the darling show "Just Plain Ana Amanda".  Did I forget anything?  Oh, don't forget the many trips to the Nauvoo Hotel for that delicious meal and delightful time at the wonderful buffet and the trips to visit the Amish store, "The Dutchman".

Amish men with their horse and buggy

Dozens of tours were taken of the Historic sites.  I especially enjoyed giving tours to all at the Visitor Center. We truly do love serving here.

We miss you all and hope you treasure your experiences in Nauvoo.  Those experiences enhance our knowledge that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored.  The early saints made great sacrifices to help this all to happen and that we can and do receive the blessings of their efforts.  I'm so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that I know the purpose of life and what happens after this life experience.  We invite everyone to be part of this message and live your lives the best you can.  We love each of you and pray for the Lord's blessings to be with you in your journey through life.

Love,
Elder and Sister Pincock

PS.   We have loved seeing so many others who come into the Visitor's Center on their visit to Nauvoo. What a delight to have met our new neighbors, who moved in across the street from us in Rigby, Kim and Nathan Smith and children and it all happened here in Nauvoo.  We have seen Coach Wade Anderson and family from Rexburg, James and Brenda Hancock (son of our friends, Buddy and Zola).  We saw our friends the Watkins who served in Armenia.

E/S Watkins dancing on the Sunset By The Mississippi Stage
 (they replaced us in Armenia)

Ryan and Ana Korina (niece of David) Lisby spent a couple of days while Todd and Shannon were here. We saw Craig Cobia and his wife ( from Rexburg).  Their son is one of the Young Performing Missionaries. We also had a nice visit with Brother and Sister Lloyd Newell.  Bro Newell is the host with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and his daughter is a young sister missionary here. (Our granddaughter, Brenna, replaced Sister Newell in the Richmond Virginia Mission where Sister Newell served on her outbound mission from Nauvoo.   We had met Bro Newell a few times when we had attended the Tabernacle Choir broadcasts in Salt Lake.  What fun that was!
     

Week 47 and 48 -May 19--June 1, 2014

Hi:

Can you believe it us already again!!!

Once a month we have a District Meeting.  Our districts have 4-5 couples in them.  David and I are District Leaders and we have 4 couples and 2 single, young sisters in our group.  This month we had the meeting at our apartment and  started it with a ham dinner.  One couple brought a honey glazed spiral cut ham that was delicious.  We each brought something and ended up with a traditional ham meal with yummy potatoes, corn, rolls, salad and cake for dessert.  It's always a good time.  Our lesson was on how to give good tours and we went over all the points that hopefully we have learned by now.  Of course, there is always room for improvement

flowers in Spring

We had a cast party the next day on our back yard patio.  We grilled hamburgers and our 60 cast members brought endless good food.  It's so nice to have a grill and patio.  We  have enjoyed them several times already this spring.

Last Saturday we went to Iowa City with another couple.  They have a membership at Costco so we bought some fun food there.   Outside of Iowa City we stopped at Kalona, Iowa.  It is a Amish and Mennonite town and we the enjoyed the atmosphere and had fun going through the quilt and antique shops.  The Amish make delicious cinnamon rolls.

Garden in Kalona, Iowa

The next day we had the opportunity to feed 19 young sister missionaries on our patio.  We grilled hamburgers and had salad, baked beans, watermelon, corn on the cob and then all the yummy desserts that we bought at Costco.

some of the Sister Missionaries at the BBQ

The chef in his bright pink apron  (towel)

Enjoying the BBQ

having some conversation and strawberry shortcake

We had cheesecake, apple pie, strawberry short cake and smores.   It was fun to feed and enjoy these delightful sisters.  We had a short object lesson.  We played one of "magic games" (where you have to pay attention and figure out how to solve the trick of the game) and then made the point of watching and paying attention to our guests so you can identify the needs of our guest and be able to help them have a fun and rewarding visit to Nauvoo.      That night the Young Sisters put on a remarkable Sociable (Fireside) where they sang, danced and narrated beautiful music to the theme of The Atonement.

Sister Missionaries at their Fireside (Sociable)

On Monday, Memorial Day, there was a city activity in the park that we went to and had pulled pork sandwiches and enjoyed talking with people in the community.

Tuesday we  went with another couple to check out some Chamber of Commerce offices  and future sites of Nauvoo on the Road.  Our first stop was across the river in Fort Madison.

Us in Fort Madison by the Mississippi River

We  met with a man from the C of C but the Old Fort was closed so we didn't get to see it.  We have heard that it is a fun place to visit. Maybe some of you coming next month will be the lucky ones to go with us to see this Historical Site.

Old Fort Madison

Our next visit was in Bonaparte but the lady from the chamber didn't show up so we had a home cooked meal at their finest restaurant on the Des Moines River.  We had fun playing in the park until we had to move along.

Elder Pincock has not forgotten how to swing

We traveled to Fairfield and and had a successful meeting with some very nice people.

City Hall in Fairfield, Iowa

They have a  beautiful Convention Center where the BYU    groups are going to perform in June.  Two specialty groups will join the entertainment in Nauvoo this summer,  Living Legions and Synthesis will start arriving this week and will be doing some outreach performances in communities surrounding Nauvoo.  We got everything set up for their visits.  Of course we had ice cream on the way home.

Wednesday we had a surprise visit from Brent and Mary Beth Jones from Rexburg.  They are preparing to go to Jerusalem for a special assignment  (mission ?).  How fun for us to enjoy the visitors that we know as they come through and stop in Nauvoo.

Friday I had my 2nd six month tests and checkup since my last surgery over a year ago.  Everything looks really good so I think I will go on living for as long as the Lord permits me.  I feel pretty good except for the weight I've gained.  With the description of all the food we eat, is it any wonder?  My doctor said I look like I'm all better now and don't have that "bad health" look any more.  As you remember I have been blessed to have my surgeon from Idaho Falls who moved to Des Moine the same time we came to Nauvoo.   It's  so fun to visit with him and he is bringing his family to Nauvoo in a couple of weeks.  AND  we got to eat at Cracker Barrel.  It was so fun!   Thanks to all of you who finance my shopping trips to Cracker  Barrel through your generous gifts for Mother's Day, etc.  I sure love you.

Doing the Variety Show with the Young Performing Missionaries is a highlight for us.  David has three or four parts in this productions so if you don't have  your trip to Nauvoo planned yet you better hurry.  He is still doing his major role in Rendezvous.  You'll never see entertainment like this again!  Last night we were about 1/4 of the way through Sunset by the Mississippi  when it started to pour rain on us. This show is held on the outdoor stage.  We were in the middle of the girl's song   but we kept on singing until we finished the song.  There was no one left in the audience by that time and we all started screaming and running to get under cover.  We were soaked clear through and in our long dresses, aprons, slips and pantaloons.  We were having the time of our lives!  Where else could you find 50, 60, and 70 year old having so much fun?
Wish we had a picture of the straight hair and soaked clothes!

But we did get a couple of pictures of a rainbow and the Nauvoo Temple.

Where you will find your POT OF GOLD!!

There is gold on the hills of Nauvoo

Can you see the double rainbow?

During the next few weeks we will have some special visitors that we became friends with on our first mission in Armenia.  Dick and Edith Watkins, who replaced us in Armenia, will be here and then a few weeks later Jack and Frances Holmes will be in Nauvoo.  The Holmes were our Humanitarian supervisors while we were in Armenia.  We are looking forward to seeing them again.

We love all that we do.  Hope your summer is going well and that you are all being careful and safe in the warm weather activities.  I have probably shared this line from Rendezvous with you already, because it is one of my favorites.  "Don't confuse that which is impressive with that which is important."  Hope you are remembering to take time to help others, be really kind and helpful to each other, and live as though the Savior was right beside you because He really is.  Have a great weekend.

Love,
Elder and Sister Pincock

   

Weeks 43, 44, 45,46 April 21--May 18, 2014

Hello:

Yes, we are alive.  Time goes by so quickly we had not realized that it has been 4 weeks since we last updated our blog.  We have wonderful experiences here and love every day. We have had nice weather and the flowers and trees are beautiful.

Tree blossom's in our back yard

We spend a lot of time on our public relations job.  We deliver brochures to many towns in the area and work with the Chamber of Commerce.  We arrange for the different groups who will be coming during the summer and David updates the mission website (www.historicnauvoo.net) weekly and keeps in touch with other key people in the area to promote the communities and activities going on. Take at look at the site to see all the different things that goes on here.

The Deseret News called Elder Pincock because they were doing an article on Church historic sites and wanted to do a telephone interview.  He was happy to do that and the article was published in the Deseret News and the Mormon Times.  If you are interested you can read it at http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865602820/Tips-for-families-on-the-church-history-trail.html

The Visitor Center is running pretty smoothly and we have trained many missionaries for the summer.   The busy time has started with the Young Performing Missionaries and Brass Band Members in full swing already.  We have seen both of the new plays that they are putting on and enjoyed a nice concert in the Women's Garden by the Brass Band.  We are very lucky to be in the Visitor Center each day because we are aware of all that goes on each day and in the middle of much that happens.  On Saturday there were 1400 visitors that came into the Visitor Center.  We  enjoy working with the Young Sister Missionaries.  We're all getting used to the routine. and enjoying our work and experiences.

A couple of weeks ago there was a Civil War reenactment in Keokuk.  There were all kinds of booths set up with Civil War artifacts, uniforms and equipment.  There were presentations and a reenactment of a Civil Was battle.

Some of the participants at the Civil War reenactment

Nauvoo took its On-The-Road van and had fun games and demonstrations to add to the activity that was going on there.  Nauvoo-On-The Road is a van full of pioneer activities that the mission takes to events in other communities.

On the 29th of April we spent our Preparation Day with another couple and went to Burlington.   We had lunch at Big Muddy's on the banks of the Mississippi river.  The water has been quite high and we see big logs floating down the river a lot.  We paid a visit to Gypsy's and I bought a new necklace that I really like.

Elder Pincock trying on a new hat from Gypsy's store in Burlington.
(thank goodness he didn't like it)

We make a trip to Quincy every other week to get fruit and vegetables  and other favorite items.  This last Tuesday we went to Iowa City to the Costco Store.  We were with a couple who have a membership there and it was fun to shop at a new place.  We went to Kalona on the way home.  It is an Amish/Mennonite community.  We enjoyed the cute antique stores, quilt stores and the Amish bakery.  Iowa is famous for its unique custom of painting patchwork quilts on the sides of their barns.  That coupled with the beautiful manicured farms in the country side made an enjoyable day trip.

One thing that I have really enjoyed are the school groups that come on field trips to Nauvoo.  It brings back such fun memories of teaching school and taking my students on many field trips.  They come in with such good manners and stay in their lines and ask cute questions and say thank you.  I just love it.

David   is doing such a good job in Rendezvous acting as the editor.  People tell  him that he looks really natural as he weaves the stories together throughout the play.  One night while Elder Pincock was doing his Editor part he looked out in the audience and recognized some of the guests. It was Ron and Diane Tietjen from Rexburg.  We had a nice visit with them.  Always great to see folks from home.

Tietjen's at the Visitors Center

We have found the Nauvoo Hotel a very fun Friday night date. We  go there once a week and enjoy the delicious buffet.  It's decorated really cute and we like the atmosphere.  The mission is fully staffed again and things are going pretty good.  We really like our new Mission President.

Sister Chynoweth (wife of our interim Mission President)

Each sister that serves in Nauvoo gets a shawl made on the looms in the Family Living Center, made the way Pioneers made their shawls.  I just got mine about a week ago.  All the little things that go on in Nauvoo make it a fun, fun place.

Spring has been beautiful to watch the blossoms come out, and everything turn green.  The river has changed again.  The water is still pretty high but we have many gorgeous sunsets and calm water views.  The wild life is fun.  One of my favorite scenes is that of the goose families waddling around.  The mother always leads, the babies stay in the middle and the father follows behind or maybe its the mother in the back and the father leading.  Anyway, its very cute as you can see from the picture.

Mother and Dad Goose out for a walk with the Kids

Goose family out for a swim

The herons are a beautiful sight as they stand in shallow water along the banks.

Heron on the Mississippi

We  see a variety of weather with the rain (one night it rained for four hours without stopping), lightning across the sky, large hailstones and black ominous skies. Mostly we have nice spring days  with a little humidity.  Shortly it will be too hot and too much humidity.

Well, you know how much we love to have company and last week was a wonderful treat as John and Reenie Blakely came and spent a few days.  They are our next door neighbors in Rigby. The first day we had off and we loved going to the sites with them.

At the Log Schoolhouse

At Carthage Jail with John and Reenie Blakely

We enjoyed our first night at the Hotel Nauvoo for the buffet dinner and then off to Rendezvous where we entertained them and dazzled them with our super acting abilities (just kidding).  But we do enjoy our parts. The next day I got to give them a tour of the Visitor Center where we tell about the Restoration of the Gospel-the 1st vision, the Organization of the Church and the translating of the Book of Mormon.  The next section is the life of the Saint in Nauvoo while they lived there (their culture, economy, religion, Nauvoo Legion and settling of the land in Beautiful Nauvoo.  The Christus Statue is a highlight along with the tour of the Women's Garden.  The last part includes the Martyrdom and the Exodus.  That afternoon we went to Carthage and had an excellent tour given by E/S Excell who serve there full time.


 That night we decided that the Hotel Nauvoo was the place to eat and so back we went.  I was so excited to have an excuse to go back.  The next day we had the morning off and so we took John and Reenie to the Stone Arch Bridge (where the runoff water from the bluff drains into the Mississippi River).  It's a nice view to enjoy.

Blakely's at the Stone-Arch bridge.  (end of the hand dug ditch that
the Mormon's hand dug to "drain the swamp" in Nauvoo

We saw the barns where they keep the horses for the wagon rides and took a ride along the River where we saw a large barge and the round house that belongs to Tukuafu's.  It's a very pretty ride.

Turtles along the Mississippi River

Tug boat pushing barges up the Mississippi

We served at the Visitor's Center for the afternoon and John and Reenie saw several more sites in Nauvoo.   Guess where we went for Dinner?  You got it! The Nauvoo Hotel.  How fun is that?   The next morning we had to say goodbye to them but we have been relishing the memories of having them here, enjoying their company and sharing some special Nauvoo feelings both historical and spiritual.  Thanks to John and Reenie for coming to Nauvoo.   They are special friends.

John and Reenie on a horse drawn wagon ride

with the draft horses after the wagon ride

David and I just had to go to the Hotel Nauvoo for dinner that night in tribute of their trip and the time we spent together.  :)

Oh yeah!!! Finally finished the 50,000 gingerbread cookies

What an experience to be here.  We love serving and helping to tell people about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and His plan of Happiness for us.  It's very hard to be away from our family for so long but we truly feel the blessings from our service and would not want it any other way.  We give a special thanks for the fun Mother's Day cards and gifts (we are going to Des Moines this weekend) and I plan to spend every penny at Cracker barrel!  We are so proud of Braeden and Cayden for winning their elections and places on the executive boards of their school government,  Brenna's grand service in the Richmond VA mission, Carson's healed broken arm, Jennifer's graduation with a Masters Degree!,  Christian's impressive interview for a prestigious job (even if he didn't  get it ;(   Seth's many winnings at the National Jump rope  competition, Braeden's Eagle Scout project finished, Noah's wrestling successes-----  and OH DEAR I will never be able to mention every good thing  you are all  doing but believe me we we love you and acknowledge all that you do.  You are all WONDERFUL.  Can you believe that we have been gone almost 11 months.  Always be the best that you can be.

Love, Elder and Sister Pincock