What is the True Spirit of Christmas? December comes just once a year. If we’re not careful it can pass us by in a frenzied whirlwind of ribbons, packages, and parties. Or, for some, it may seem like a month just like any other. Nothing special. Neither of those scenarios sound like a fun Christmas! […]
8 Ways to Find the True Spirit of Christmas Read More »
I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but we are not living in a peace-filled world this Christmas. There are wars and countless conflicts happening right now across the globe. Sometimes, the conflicts are happening in our own homes, families, and communities. This Christmas I have been struggling with this question: how do we find peace
Five Ways to Find Peace in Christ this Christmas Read More »
Happy New Year Everybody! January is an exciting time of year. It’s like we all take a collective deep breath, shake off the dust and wear-and-tear from the year, and agree to begin again. Hope runs rampant! I love that contagious feeling of hope and positivity—feeling like good things are coming our way. I wish
Four Ways God Can Help us in the New Year Read More »
“We assume so many things that aren’t so,” said Karen Ihrig. Ihrig has lived in Nauvoo for 50 years and she’s been engaged in civic involvement for the last 30 years. “It’s not what you know that ain’t so,” said Ihrig. “It’s what you think you know that ain’t so.” Originally from Chicago, Ihrig came
A Pillar of the Community: 50 Years in Nauvoo Read More »
This poem was written by my 5th-great grandfather Jesse Ballard (1808-1865). He writes about the biggest trials he faced in life including the deaths of his wife and his seventeen-year-old son. His poem is very religious and even though he wasn’t a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the focus of
Bridging Time Through Poetry: Words from my Fifth Great-Grandpa Read More »
One of the best parts about living in a small town is the community events. I especially love the LDS church history events. This Saturday, February 3, 2024, there’s a special annual event called the Nauvoo Exodus Commemoration. Finding A Safe Haven Living here now, when the population is around 1,000, it’s difficult for me
We Are All Refugees Read More »
If you were to meet Karen Blunier, owner of Nauvoo Yoga, your first impression of her would probably be that she is an incredibly calm and mellow person. In first meeting her, you would, of course, have no idea where she’s been and what she’s been through. You wouldn’t know that she’s a nurse with
Rooted in Balance at Nauvoo Yoga: How One Woman Found Peace Read More »
On Friday, September 22 at the Nauvoo Stake Center, a chapel full of people came to learn about the history of the life of Joseph Smith. That particular Thursday and Friday marked the bicentennial of an important event in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On those dates in 1823,
The Book of Mormon: A Wondrous Work Read More »
I wanted to write about this revelation from Doctrine & Covenants that you can read fully here. This is a big one! Note: I’m not going to write about plural marriage (this is such a big topic. If you are interested in learning about it I recommend you read the Saints books or this essay
Everlasting Marriages Are Not Made of Magic Read More »
Disclaimer: As of June 2023, I am a promotional partner of Three Keys Collection. This means I promote their products for compensation such as discounts and deals. You benefit, too! You can receive a discount to this local Nauvoo business by subscribing here! Jean Brown started her clothing boutique Three Keys Collection to inspire her
Hand-Me-Downs to Chic: One Woman’s Story of Confidently Dreaming Read More »
