Into the Visitors Center strode our wonderful grandson Dallin
Crandell totally unannounced! He wanted to surprise us and indeed he DID! After hugging him and crying Sis Thurgood rushed with him out to the Carriage Ride to astonish Elder Thurgood. Dallin jumped on the carriage and listened to his Grandpa's stories on the ride through the old Nauvoo countryside. He said goodbye as he was expected at his new job in Maryland the next day. We urged him to take short nap at our house & eat whatever he could find...since he'd just driven 23 hrs straight from AZ. He was still there when we got home and when he learned we would be dancing and singing on stage within the hour, he stayed to watch Sunset on the Mississippi.
Afterwards we hugged him goodbye and so did 2 girls in the cast whom he'd known in AZ. He drove towards MD and we went home to bed. Less than an hour later our doorbell rang and it was DALLIN! He'd felt impressed to return to get a full nights sleep before proceeding! What a spiritually-in-tune man! What a Joy to have our first FAMILY here! It feels more like home now.
Two more Crandells surprise us!
Dallin's sister Jerrica who just graduated HS Valedictorian, bound next for BYU and their beautiful mother (our daughter) Tisha! We went to Ft Madison to pick them up at the train station and this is what we FOUND! What a fun
3 days we had with them! Their return train was flooded out so they flew home from Peoria, IL. Tisha had felt impressed to buy trip insurance (which she rarely does), so their flight home, rental car and gas were FREE! Crandell's do follow the Spirit!
By the time we got home this is what we found on our road! The Mississippi came up 24" on our road for 100 yards so we couldn't even drive the Explorer through it...for 5 days and had to go around the other direction 12 miles to get to and from Old Nauvoo each day! So happy it's subsided!
Sister Thurgood became a full fledged Teamster. Twice a week for 3 weeks now she has driven the team and rode shotgun for her Elder. She's also joined him with the Ox Wagon ride telling the story. What a blast! She was given the script to learn a vignette of
Lucy Mack Smith and was a site guide in Lucy's home when our missionary actress Sis Wadley performed it... look who came by for a visit along with our mission president and his wife...Elder & Sis S. Gifford Nielsen (of the Seventy... He is in the NFL hall of Fame) They toured Nauvoo and spoke to us 4 times. Such an outpouring of the Spirit! (which is already so profound here). He told us that in meeting with the Prophet and the Twelve each week they have all marveled at the change that came upon Pres. Nelson when he was ordained the Prophet. He said, "For him the veil has parted and revelation is pouring through him daily. It's NOT GOING TO STOP!" He urged us to follow the Prophet's warning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6iINV_p-8E
Crandell totally unannounced! He wanted to surprise us and indeed he DID! After hugging him and crying Sis Thurgood rushed with him out to the Carriage Ride to astonish Elder Thurgood. Dallin jumped on the carriage and listened to his Grandpa's stories on the ride through the old Nauvoo countryside. He said goodbye as he was expected at his new job in Maryland the next day. We urged him to take short nap at our house & eat whatever he could find...since he'd just driven 23 hrs straight from AZ. He was still there when we got home and when he learned we would be dancing and singing on stage within the hour, he stayed to watch Sunset on the Mississippi. 
Afterwards we hugged him goodbye and so did 2 girls in the cast whom he'd known in AZ. He drove towards MD and we went home to bed. Less than an hour later our doorbell rang and it was DALLIN! He'd felt impressed to return to get a full nights sleep before proceeding! What a spiritually-in-tune man! What a Joy to have our first FAMILY here! It feels more like home now.
Thank you for treating us like royalty and not even complaining about having to wait on the late train and drive us all the way to Peoria. You two are amazing! We loved watching you perform together! You were GREAT! We loved riding in your wagon and taking your tours! Mostly we just loved being with you in Nauvoo as you faithfully serve with all your hearts! We love you!
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