Celebrating at the
Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial
Putting up the Christmas Lights at
the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial
Me in the lift. |
Melanie and Lizzy in the lift. This is a little higher than I dare to go yet. |
Some time during the middle of October, Brent and I working on a maple tree near the front gate. It was a perfect day to hang lights. |
Brent and Melanie near the Front Gate, |
At the Front Gate. |
View from the lift. Front Gate and the Gator on the ground. |
Brent in the lift. Notice the harness that we have to wear. It is heavy for me and gets kind of heavy after a few hours plus it is awkward because we are hooked in and it gets in the way. |
One of 50 tubs of light that we checked and hung. There are about 3,000 lights in each box. Do the math. |
Brent hanging lights from the ground. We worked on many small trees and bushes. |
Notice the coveralls that I wore to keep warm. They were a nice fashion statement. |
The poles had hooks on the end to help position the lights when you couldn't reach the branches on the trees and bushes. It took a little practice, but we learned how to use them. |
There were 40 Poinsettias delivered for the residence and the Visitors Center. They were beautiful but had to be watered and tended every day. |
There were many Nativities displayed in the Residence. |
Most of the Nativities belong to Elder and Sister Johnson who are the Visitor Center Directors. |
The children could play with this Nativity. |
Tree in the Visitor center |
Tree in the Residence. |
The following pictures were taken of the lights. |
The stable and star used in the Live Nativity, The star is on the flagpole. |
Taken from the stable after the live nativity. |
Costumes for the Live Nativity |
Getting ready for the Live Nativity on the 2 nights after Thanksgiving. |
Brent helping build the shed for the animals. |
The sheep and donkey stayed the entire time the lights were on. They were a great attraction for the children. It also took some time every day to feed and water them and clean out the shed. |
Visitor Center Poinsettias |
Visitor Center Poinsettias |
Two of the bushes that the Sisters helped decorate. We used the tennis ball. |
Our daughter, Melanie, visited. She loved the bridge. She said it was "magical" to walk through it. One of our ward members, Rachel, got engaged under the bridge on Christmas night. |
We celebrated Joseph Smith's Birthday on Dec. 23. It was a highlight of our Mission. |
This is the original hearthstone from the home where Joseph Smith was born. |
The Parker brothers playing "Praise to the Man" on the night of Joseph Smith's Birthday, Dec. 23. It was a moment that I will always remember. |
The Parker family played during the Birthday Celebration. It was an honor to hear them. They are a great family. |
The night after the big snow storm. It was so beautiful |
Visitor Center |
This is the tree Brent and I did together. It was cold, but we worked hard. When it was almost done, I couldn't go up any higher so Paul helped Brent finish it. |
Fence along the road. The Young Men and Young Women put up these lights under the direction of the Shefchiks. |
Brent and Bill Shefchik did these trees and Brent and I put the lights along the lane. |
Taken from inside the bridge. |
Melanie and I put up this little arch over the stone bench. I don't think anyone sat on it. |
All the work was worth it. |