July 2, 2015- July 6, 2015
After much preparation and a lot of faith, we managed to come together for the Whitehead Family Reunion in Nauvoo Illinois. Most of us experienced some form of opposition to making it to the reunion, but Debbie's family and Ian experienced the most. We received a call from Debbie early on July 2, letting us know that Ian's had apparently choked on some food the night before and his esophagus was swollen shut. They were on their way to the emergency room. They didn't know if they would make it to Nauvoo that day or at all. Dad and I, Kevin's family, Danica's family and Brent's family kneeled in prayer on behalf of Ian. We were given information throughout the day. Debbie later told us there were miracles in Ian's behalf and even though he had to have surgery they were planning to come. We experienced such a sweet feeling of joy when all of the families pulled into the parking lot at the Nauvoo house at just the same moment. What a wonderful answer to our prayers!
Missy and her family had arrived a little earlier. When we went in, there was Missy and Merynne preparing dinner for us. We were so grateful for their loving service. We settled in and enjoyed a nice dinner together. We all fell into bed exhausted. Debbie was the first one up each morning preparing breakfast for the family. We were grateful for her kindness. We rose early and some of us went to the Nauvoo Temple, later another group attended the temple. We loved being in the temple. It has been so beautifully restored. It was good to think of our ancestors being there. The temple is in such a lovely place overlooking the Mississippi river. The children did crafts and games while the adults attended the temple. Debbie brought a lego set of the Nauvoo temple for the children to work on. We started touring Nauvoo after we finished at the temple. We enjoyed seeing the sights at Nauvoo. We took a relaxing ride around Nauvoo on a horse drawn wagon. It was so relaxing that the youngest and the oldest ones actually dozed off. One of our favorite places was Pioneer Pastimes. We had wonderful food. Missy's Hawaiian Haystacks, Debbies pulled pork sandwiches and Brent and Loni's fajita's. We also enjoyed a nice dinner at the Nauvoo Buffet. The younger ones loved playing outside. We watched the fireworks over the Mississippi on the Fourth of July. The setting couldn't have been more perfect. It was a great area to play soft polo. Debbie's family did a mini olympics for us. Some of us went to Sunset on the Mississippi and the dress rehearsal for the British Pageant. We got to visit with the director who also directed it in England. Sometimes we were hot during the day, but the evenings were very pleasant. Over all it wasn't as hot as we thought it would be. Some of the children had their first opportunity to catch a firefly. We all liked watching them come out at night. Sunday, we went to church. In the afternoon we visited Carthage and felt the spirtit there of Joseph and Hyrum's sealing there testimony with their blood. Later some of us played a game where we competed in groups to see who could memorize the First vision . We had lots of ice-cream and popsicles to cool off with. For three days, in spite of creaky beds and creaky stairs, it felt like a piece of heaven.
The theme song I selected for the reunion was "Fill the World with Love"
From Goodbye, Mr. Chips. Composition and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse with arrangement by Mack Wilberg.
Fill the World With Love
In the morning of my life I shall look to the sunrise.
At a moment in my life when the world is new.
And the blessing I shall ask is that God will grant me,
To be brave and strong and true,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through.
(Chorus)
And to fill the world with love
And to fill the world with love
And to fill the world with love my whole life through
In the noontime of my life I shall look to the sunshine,
At a moment in my life when the sky is blue.
And the blessing I shall ask shall remain unchanging.
To be brave and strong and true,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through
(Chorus)
In the evening of my life I shall look to the sunset,
At a moment in my life when the night is due.
And the question I shall ask only I can answer.
Was I brave and strong and true?
Did I fill the world with love?
Did I fill the world with love?
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Did I fill the world with love?
Did I fill the world with love?
My whole life through
It was my hope that this song would inspire our children and grandchildren in the days to come. Here is one incident when it did. Melany shared this with me.
I was asking Jayson if we should obey God grumbling or with happy good feelings and then Avery joined in the conversation with the following.
"You've got to fill the world with love. Actually I don't know how to sing that song, but I've got a t-shirt."
