070 Tuesday to Tuesday (August 19-25, 2015)

To say I am behind in my writing would be a mild statement of fact. I know I need to write, but there have been so many things happening that, as usual, I’ve put it off. I’m going to try to get up to par sooner than later. I love keeping this journal, but the thoughts of writing are daunting. So, I begin fresh.

On the 19^th, we had hoped to see Denise, but as usual, she didn’t respond to our invitation. It gets discouraging when someone you have worked with so much just turns their back on you. We continue to pray that she will see the importance of the Gospel in her life.  Then we were supposed to do some service at the Church building that evening, but that was not possible. However, we were finally able to have FHE with the Armstrongs. We told her we were not just fellowshipping her, but we wanted her to truly think about baptism. It was interesting that this time she stated that her son and his wife were very active in their Church. They weren’t baptized, so she was sure that it wasn't that important. Another kink in her progression.

On Thursday, we attended a luncheon given by the Salvation Army for the volunteers. We got there a little late, but I had made funeral potatoes. It was actually the second time, but I was proud that they turned out so well. Heaven knows I’ve not have many successes at cooking. We got to talk with many of the volunteers. It is interesting how many people with regular jobs also volunteer lots of hours to others. That is where the Lord’s blessings come – when we think about others and not about ourselves.

Ham and cheese sandwiches for children who would otherwise not get much food during summer.

Working to put together the food for children.

Waiting to get food to make lunches.

That afternoon we both had dental appointments – always fun. I don’t particularly like my hygienist. Even when I do a good job keeping my teeth clean, she makes it sound like all my teeth are about to fall out. Craig always walks away with little cleaning (supposedly, he has something in his mouth that prevent plaque). Now, I ask, is that fair?  No! 

Friday found us back at the Temple. It is good to go back. The worst part is the traffic there and back. It is only 75 miles but the traffic makes it hard to travel, and we are worn out by the time we get home. But it is so worth it. The Mexican Fiesta started on this day, but we weren’t scheduled to work. We knew that the next day would be full. 

Chicago Temple, 21 August 2015

On the 22nd, we had the 2-7 shift at the Mexican Fiesta. We worked from 2-7, but we had to get there early because I wanted to look around to see what they had in the way of decorations. I would have to buy them today because I could not buy them on the Sabbath when we had to work again.  We also had to work out arrangements with the Spanish-speaking Elders who were also going to help. One did not show up, but he got to go to the Temple, so can’t fault him for that. However, it is interesting that when we try to impress upon them that they had to be at the festival, you would think they would notify you ahead of time that they want to go to the Temple.  Oh, well! So I bought a bride and groom and one other beautiful day of the dead dolls. Someday they will go to Amy as she is the only one who seems to like them – after all I got the idea from her.

This year the Mexican Fiesta was almost boring. It didn't feel that there were as many visitors as last year, although it was announced later that there were 4000 that went through the booth. I’m not that sure. The booth is held in the pavilion where many of the performers are. I do have to say that the Mexicans love loud, I mean, loud music. Much of the time we could hardly hear ourselves talk. It just doesn’t seem to be the optimum place to have the genealogy work.

On Sunday, we left Church after Sacrament to get to our 2-5 shift at the fiesta.  It was interesting that the thoughts kept coming that this was the last time we would be here doing this work. We have made some really good friends through our work with the Milwaukee Genealogical Society and the PAF group here in town.  We got to talk to lots of people. Our Missionaries this year weren't quite as friendly as last year's had been. I tried to encourage them to make the first move, but they tended to want the people to come to them. It's times like this that I realize they are young men who aren't quite as forward as I tend to think they are.  


On Monday, we actually got to go to the gym. It really helps both of us when we get out and exercise. I really enjoy exercising, although sometimes I admit that thinking about it makes me want to just forget it. Now, at last once a week, I just do the tread mill because I can read while I do it. Most of the times though, I will do 15-20 on the tread mill, 15-20 on a stepping machine, plus I will also do weights.
I'm actually doing some at home, but not enough. 

We began to realize that one set of the Senior Missionaries (Elder and Sister Carter) was getting ready to leave in September. Then two weeks later another set (Elder and Sister Linsleys) would leave. The Linsleys had asked the Carters if they would take a few items back for them because the Carters had a big truck. When I heard this, I asked if they would take one tub for me. In that tub I planned to take all the albums and pictures that I had brought with me and meant to scan and send them home. It meant that all those albums and pictures needed to be scanned. So, I began to scan. Do you know how long it takes to scan hundreds of pictures? Many hours and many days!!!!!!

On Tuesday, we had a district meeting.  Afterwards, we picked up the Mission President's car so we could use it that evening. We had been asked to go to a place on the western side of the state called Prairie du Chein where we had to pick up two missionaries and bring them back to Milwaukee so they could leave for home the next day. Their universities were starting early so they got to leave a few weeks early. Since Prairie de Chein is past Madison, we knew if we waited until the morning, we would not make it considering we would be traveling during the worst of the travel times.

We started out around 5:00 for Prairie du Chein. There was a Wisconsin Historical site there that we could go to for free because when Katie was here we bought a "passport" to be able to visit all the state historical sites for one price. 

We took off and stayed at a Baymont Inn that advertized a buffet breakfast. It costs as much as any other hotel, but the buffet clicked it. When we got there, I went in to set it up. I asked if the buffet was in the bar area being used that night. She told me they didn't have a buffet. I then told her, very nicely if that's possible, that the reason we chose that hotel was because of the buffet. Oh, there is a buffet she then says, the food will be laid out like a buffet. The toast, juice, and muffins were certainly laid out  and spread out over the table.

Our scripture for August is D&C 42:6:

          And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by 

          two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, 

          declaring my word like unto angles of God.

Elder and Sister Lenhard

069 Tuesday to Tuesday (Aug. 12-18, 2015)

On Wednesday, Craig spent time getting a Vitamin B shot and picking up prescriptions.  We had to run to genealogy library to run off more papers for the festival this weekend.

I spent time today trying another tactic to find out information about my gggranddaddy, William J. Walton. This has been the year of breaking down my wall with this family. I haven’t been very successful except to find his father and possibly mother, Phillip and Frances Walton. I also found out that William’s wife was truly Elizabeth Plummer. I have known for a while that Elizabeth was his wife’s first name. Grandma Walton (Booker’s wife) said she thought her maiden name was Plummer. When I found William’s death certificate this past week I thought I had made a breakthrough. I was hoping that whoever gave the information for the certificate would give me the maiden name for William’s mother. It turns out that Booker gave the information for his grandfather. He listed the parents are Mr. William Walton and Mrs. William Walton.  Granddaddy, what were you thinking?

So, I went looking for William’s brothers and sisters. I found one, Reuben Jordan Walton, who was buried in Abingdon, VA (down the road from Meadowview where I lived during high school years).  Not only did I find his memorial on findagrave, but I found his death certificate also. His mother was listed as Elizabeth Pluner. I’m sure it was just a misspelling. I have found an Elizabeth Plummer (as a child), in the county where Granddaddy would have found her. However, I have not yet been able to connect this Elizabeth to my Elizabeth. There is only one Plummer family in the area that I have found, so I’m working on it. 

After the breakthrough with Reuben, I decided to work on William’s other brothers and sisters. I have found much on Cynthia Walton and her husband, Wilborn Kilby. Just like many in my family, their work has been done. The Kilby’s are well connected to the Primitive Baptist Churches in the Grayson area and surrounding counties. Yet, someone in the Kilby line has been doing the family Temple work since the 1930s. What a blessing!!!

I am still collecting the work for the related lines in this family and, hopefully, I find the clues I need to get more information on Phillip and his wife.

On Thursday, we had tickets and guest tickets to go to a “preview” of the Irish Fest. Virginia and Dave Armstrong came with us. We ladies have a pinchet for shopping. The men didn’t want to tag along, so she and I looked at everything. She ended up buy a candle holder with the tree of life on it. If you look closely, you see the symbol for the Trinity in the middle. Craig and I wanted something with the same design, but we waited to buy until later.

Virginia and Dave at the festival with us

 

Us with a Leprechan and Strawberry Shortcake???

Can you see the cruise boat in front of the barge?

Finding family names

My bowl I bought a tray to match

The Willis Family Band, family of several children playing instruments and singing

Friday, there was Zone Conference. It went from 10-4:00 that day, and we knew the day was going to be a long one.  We worked the festival from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm; however, right after we got there, the most violent storm came through. When the rain started in torrents, the wind felt like it was going to tear us to pieces. When it finally stopped, everyone was leaving so they let us go early in order to get back home.

On Saturday, we started at the gym, left there and got home only to head out to the Civil War Museum in Kenosha, WI. It was a beautifully warm day, and the museum was really nice. As we went in, a couple of families were coming out together. One woman said that she had bought a Southern cookbook, and another one said there were some good recipes. I told them that we may have lost the war, but we sure do know how to cook. They laughed, but I’m sure they recognized my accent. 

Between the North and South

Craig in front of the Union House

Different wars remembered around the camp fire

A description of the museum on its website is this 

     "The Civil War Museum is like no other Civil War museum in the country. The museum focuses on the Civil War
       from  the perspective of the people of the six states of the upper middle west: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, 
       Minnesota, and Wisconsin. These six states sent over 750,000 men to serve in the Union army while providing
       much of the food and raw materials necessary for the northern states to carry on the war. Through the use of
       personal stories and narratives, the Museum also explores how the Civil War impacted the people on the Western
      home front before, during, and after the war by connecting the prewar causes to the postwar effects."

Union Newspapers

That night at the festival  I had to be at the computer the whole time, and believe me when I say working on one of those foldable tables that we use at Church is terrible. It is too high, and I have to hunch my shoulders to raise my arms and work. By the end of the day, my shoulder was killing me. Craig got to do a lot of interesting jobs, and I was quite envious.

I hurt in my shoulder on the left side and my arm on the right so much that it was awful. I tried to work less and save arm but to no avail. I can tell it is coming from my neck. Someday I’m going to have to take care of my neck and have the pinched nerve looked at.

We went back to the tent that had the glassware where Virginia bought her candle holder. We ordered a small glass picture with the tree of life etched in it and shaded silver. Then it would have the symbol for the Trinity in the center of the roots. Our family name will be on the bottom. We are so excited. Although we ordered a small picture, it will be gorgeous! We should get it in a week or so. 

Lenhard Family Tree

Again, on Sunday, we went to Church for Sacrament meeting and then headed to the Irish Festival. We only had to work to 5:00. It was another beautiful, although hot, day. I got to work on computers once again, and I was glad it would be a short day. There are some really good people at the Irish fest. The woman who first recruited us, Jane Meyer, is dying of cancer. She is covered with it, but you wouldn’t recognize it just by looking at her. She is in her 90s, I believe, and she is quite the ruler of the roost. She does look more frail. Some of the others who work with her are ready to take over, and they aren’t afraid to say that things are going to change. I hope at the end of my life, I won’t have others waiting on the sidelines waiting for it to happen so they can benefit.

Monday, we finished up our work with Feed the Kids. We have enjoyed working with them, but the leader who gets the work done, is quite the task master. She also has a problem listening. However, we are glad that we got to work with the Salvation Army in feeding so many children who otherwise wouldn’t have something to eat at least once a day during the summer.

The Chicago Temple opened again today. We will be going later in the week.

Tuesday, we had our regular District Meeting. Elder Goodale is once again leading us. He will go home soon, and we will miss him.

Our scripture for August is D&C 42:6:

          And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by 

          two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, 

          declaring my word like unto angles of God.

Elder and Sister Lenhard