8:45 A.M.

8:45 A.M

August 23, 2015

     The gathering begins around 8:42 every morning Monday through Friday in the mission office. If we are late we know to head directly to President's office where they will be quietly waiting. "They" means the rest of the office staff. Some mornings it is quiet as a tomb. Some mornings there is back and forth talk about mission business. We begin with business of the day at 8:45 and then, turn the time over to a designated thought giver for the week. A thought is presented and then, someone is invited to offer a prayer to begin the day in the office.  Now, how many of these little meetings have all of us attended in our lives as church members? Lots and lots.
      We have been told there was an additional Article of Faith written.  Number 14. It begins like this:   
   "We believe in meetings. We believe that there were always meetings, always will be meetings, and in the future, many more meetings will be planned....."   

     These little morning devotionals are truly a blessing to us in the office. It is a reminder that we are about something bigger than office work. It is a time to reflect as the designated thought giver covers any and all things from families to Lectures on Faith.
     After our three hour block of Sunday meetings today the weather was fine so we drove to the old cemetery where Joseph and Emma's oldest son, Joseph III, was buried. It is in a beautiful spot under an old, spacious tree. It is so easy to soberly think and ponder the meaning of life in a old cemetery. What was the reason for this family to have to suffer so much for the gospel of Jesus Christ to move forward? Why did Emma really pull out? What lessons do we need to learn in our life trials? I guess we just don't quit. Never will my life be as hard as Joseph and Emma's. I pray my kids and grandkids stay the course,  If any of you are expected to be at a meeting pertaining to a calling or pertaining to your own salvation (sacrament) get there.
My love, Sister Seaman

Eddie and Harry

     Yesterday was P-day for us.  It is always Saturday.  It is the day we do our shopping and errands, our visits to historical sites, fishing trips, etc.  You get the idea.  It is a day that sends Sister Seaman a little bit crazy as she can not just sit around in our dark and dreary (I kind of like it) apartment and do nothing, as she puts it.  I on the other hand have learned how to vegetate. Going into a passive mode is something that I can feel good about, at least for a while.
     Sister Seaman generally wins on what we should be doing on these days and I am generally ok with it.  Yesterday, after a we get ready for the day, she decides we need to do the tour of the Bingham-Wagner Estate.  It is a large old house situated on about 20 acres of beautiful grounds. The original part was built in the mid1800's and added onto and remodeled in the early 1900's.  It has been beautifully restored with original colors, original furniture (in most instances) and is a truly beautiful old home.  It speaks of money in a time when there wasn't much money in Independence.  The owners in the first half of the 19th century, built and operated a large flour mill, some of which is still standing, just north of the house.  The flour mill today is part the of Trails West Museum.  The original Santa Fe Trail runs right up the east fence of the estate property.  The staging area for the wagons headed west is on the south part of the property and you can still see the ruts of the wagon wheels in the limestone.
     After we  looked the estate over, we decided to do the covered wagon tour of Independence.  We were only able to get a 20 minute tour, because it was Saturday.  Eddie and Harry were the Missouri Red Mules pulling the wagon.  To me, they were far more interesting than the tour itself.  The one named Harry had a full name of Harry A. Truman.  The "A" stands for the kind of animal it is half like.  Harry's father was a monster "jack" as they are known.  Apparently, when you cross breed a mare and a monster jack, you get a sterile, stubborn, hard working, smart animal known as a mule.  They were the animals that were relied on to pull thousands of pounds of freight across the American Frontier. It is hard to believe how much weight those mules can pull mile after mile.
     I can't remember what Eddie's last name was.  It could have been Murphy.  Anyway,  we had a good day and learned a lot about mules and olden times.  Sister Seaman wins again.  I sure love that gal.

Sincerely,
Elder Seaman