Living in a bubble

We've heard people say living in Nauvoo is like living in a bubble. That is true in many ways.

First, we're surrounded by wonderful people! We work with them every day. A little humor adds zest. Yesterday right after a training film in the creation room, President Condie looks at a sister in the front row and says, "Sister Miller, have I told you lately that I love you?" He has her and her husband come up and puts an arm around each of them. Then in a serious way says, "Sister Miller has had some health problems lately. She went to the doctor and he said, 'Do you wake up grumpy in the morning?' She said, 'No, I let him sleep.'" The room erupted in (reverent) laughter!

Then there is the spirit of those who used to live here. We drove up to the spot where the Foutzes lived. You drive up Mulholland past the temple a few blocks and turn right on Wilcox and then right on White. It dead ends in a woods. There are two modern houses there now, but Eldon's ancestor, Jacob Foutz had a home there when he was a bishop in Nauvoo.

The road the Foutzes lived on

Another home that intrigues me is the Joseph Coolidge home. After the exodus a Mr. Kaufman lived there and hospitably put an inscription on it in German that means, "This house is mine and yet not mine. Who comes after me shall find the same. I have been here and who reads this shall also have been here." This two-story home is right across the street from the brick duplex where Margaret Johnson's ancestors lived.

The Coolidge home

Most homes have had to be re-built. Only five have been lived in continuously: Sarah Granger Kimball's, Brigham Young's, John Taylor's, Heber C. Kimball's, and Wilford Woodruff's. The story is that the restoration started with the Heber C. Kimball home. His grandson bought the home and planned to restore it to use for a summer home, but as he was in the process, so many people wanted to tour it he decided to open it to the public. That was the beginning of the Nauvoo Restoration organization.

At Fort Madison, the furthest western fort of the War of 1812

Another way this is a bubble is the beauty of nature all around. We've never lived in a place with so much birdsong! When we come out of the temple after our shift it's usually sunset.

There is one way it is NOT living in a bubble. Have you ever tried to go grocery shopping with your spouse? Eldon says I'm a drag and spoil his fun. I think he's an irritation and takes twice as long as I would on my own. I'm thinking I should start staying in the car and let him have at it like he does at home. Grocery shopping is his recreation. I was thinking we needed to stay together as missionary companions, but Brenda says no. I'm thinking of this quote from Kahlil Gibran:

"Let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of heaven dance between you."

But the rest of the time, hold hands!