We Made It

Don't we look lovely? Well we survived TREK. We came home dirty, sweaty, stinky and tired but overall we felt good, had a great experience, and burned enough calories to justify a stop at Dairy Queen on the way home. We pulled 25 miles in 3 days. The Willie and Martin Handcart pioneers definitely exemplified amazing faith. They kept going and they didn't even know what the Salt Lake Valley looked like. They just knew they had to follow the prophet and the Lord helped them.


This youth conference consisted of about 375 kids and with all the support staff the numbers were about 500. We had an excellent food committee that took care of our famished stomachs each day. They had a 3 person medical staff that consisted of at least one nurse and one doctor. This medical staff walked with the handcarts taking care of injuries and illnesses. Many were greatful to have them nearby. The handcarts were divided into 4 companies with about 10 handcarts to each company. Our ward contributed 6 handcarts to the C company and our bishop was the Company Master for C group.


In our family we had 5 boys and 3 girls: Steele, Jacob, Connor, Mitchell, Jared, Rachel, Amber, and Lizzie. They are great kids with tons of strength. We kept running into the company in front of us because our ward's pace was so fast. We did have an advantage in that the boys out number the girls in our ward. Almost every family had 5 boys and 3 girls. Not to say the girls did not contribute. That is far from the truth. Rachel, Amber and Lizzie showed remarkable strength. Someone teased Amber about a boy and she pulled like mad for a bit. I think she was pulling the whole cart by herself. It was amazing.

The first day was nice and cool. It made the 10 mile hike much more bareable. We also started later in the day and walked into the evening. This first day was also when we did something called Testimony Hill. It was a 45 degree incline that we had to get our carts up. This wasn't so bad because everyone from other carts pitched in so there were at least 10 to 15 boys running/pushing this cart up the hill. There were also ropes tied to the front and men pulling from the top of the hill. When we reached camp and got set-up (girls in tents, boys on tarps) dinner was served. Luckily our stake president didn't want to starve the kids so we had some of the best tasting stew. Some didn't like it but I was so hungry that it tasted marvelous. Because it was nice weather during the day, it got really cold that night. 31 degrees to be exact. One kid woke up with ice on his sleeping bag because it had gotten a little wet. Needless to say because of chatting in my tent and because the ground was so hard and it was so cold I did not get much sleep.

The next morning we arose early and packed up the hand cart. We started off with the woman's pull. All the men were taken to the Mormon Battalion. Before we left a beautiful talk was given by the Stake YWs president. Of course I didn't take notes and now it has been a week since so I have forgotten most of it except the spirit of the message. It was during this time that the most exciting adventure took place for our handcart and one other handcart. I was the lead handcart for our company (There was one other company in front of us) and at one point there was a line up in front so my girls went back to help others. Well we took so long helping that we slowed the show down and when we started to move again the other company was no where in sight and I took us the wrong direction. This was a very difficult non-path I chose. Luckily only one other handcart followed us. By the end of our alternate route my friend who was the other handcart's ma started yelling at the Mormon Battalion men to start helping because this was ridiculous. What I learned from this experience is that I should always look to serve, but I need to make sure that I can continue to move forward as I serve otherwise I might get lost or hold up others that might be following me. If I do get lost, however, I can always make it back.

After the woman's pull, we walked uphill, we walked some more, we walked uphill some more, and we walked and walked and more hills were thrown in. This was by far harder than the steep testimony hill and the first day. We were told that the first day would be the toughest. By the end the kids didn't trust us (the mileage we thought we were walking had been changed without the Ma's and Pa's knowing) and I wasn't sure I could take another step, but we kept moving. I think we totalled 13 miles that day because the trek staff couldn't get their vehicles and equipment into the original campsite. We were all so happy when we could see fellow ward members walking towards us saying just another 5 minutes. They were like angels. We became really excited when we could see and hear the camp cheering. The best part of this day was because it was warmer than the the day before, the night was also warmer (17 degrees warmer). I slept a lot better.

The next day we were blessed by our endurance of the previous day. We only had to walk another 3 miles to get to the cars and this was the hottest day of the trip. It would have been miserable if we had to walk the original amount. I guess I learned my lesson on enduring and not complaining because I never know what the future holds.

Overall this was a great experience. There were many more things I witnessed such as the examples of obedience and testimonies of the youth, but this entry has gone on long enough. Hopefully I have enough here to remember items that will be useful to me in the future.

Faith

Okay, now that I am embarrassed for writing my last blog (I hope no thinks of me as a freak), I am here on a little more serious note. I know without a doubt that the stake we live in is one of the reasons for the temples being built in Phoenix (a third temple was announced yesterday for the west part of Phoenix).

Our youth pioneer trek is this upcoming weekend and because of the dryness of the area there was fire restrictions. We were going to have to try to huddle around propane lanterns for warmth. Well the organizers of the trek asked the stake members to start praying for moisture a couple of weeks ago. Guess what happened this weekend. Supposedly 6-8 inches of snow fell in the area of the trek. Good news: fire, bad news for me: possibly colder :)

Talk about faith to move a mountain.

The Question of the Day

When do you stop letting your children shower with you? When you do that do you stop letting them see you in your birthday suit?

I am reaching very unknown territory and need advice. Last year during the summer the girls showered with me after swimming. It was a lot easier and convenient. Instead of me waiting for my turn or them waiting for theirs we compromised. It also saved time, one shower versus one shower and one bath. Well after summer we started doing our separate thing. It was nice to have my own shower back. I somewhat dreaded the summer because it meant more time because I wasn't going to give up my privacy this year. Well since we began swimming the girls have begged to shower with me instead of having their own playtime. I even let them shower without me instead of bathing, but no they want me to join them.

So I pose the question again. What is the appropriate time and course of action?

Updates

Summer has come for us and it is hot. I hope we are ready. Luckily late Spring will be back on Thursday. In the mean time we had to jump in the pool to cool off. It was very pleasant because with the hot temperatures the water was just right. Not too hot and not too cold.

Kelsey continues to grow in attitude and independence. Last week Macy was invited to a friends house to play, but Kelsey was not. She was so mad. She cried hard for a half an hour. I tried to explain to her that she was lucky enough to get to hang out with mommy, but that was returned with loud "no". All the old ladies in Walmart tried to cheer her up but she wasn't going to have it. The next day when we went swimming she looked at me and said "I going with Macy! I not staying with you!" That same week she decided she was going to put on her own swimsuit. This did not go well for her. She couldn't get her feet through the holes so was crying and screaming. I tried to help and she yelled at me not to help. I still helped a little otherwise she might still be crying. Then she was crying because she couldn't get it pulled up. Again I was told not to help when I started to intervene. Then her straps were twisted so more crying. I did my best to secretly help but I was yelled at many times. Despite her independence, she has this great fear that we are going to leave her. Whenever we get ready to go places if we all go out of sight she starts to cry "don't leave me". That is when we pose the question, have we ever left you? She is so silly. A favorite song to sing is from Sleeping Beauty. She sings "I know you I walked with you once ..." and she sways back and forth.

Macy is still the ever vigilant big sister. We recently had to put soap in Kelsey's mouth because she won't stop calling people butthead and butt. Well Macy told on her (although I could clearly hear it) so because I threatened I had to do follow through. So when I got out the soap Macy starting screaming and pinching me because I was punishing her sister. What is up with the love/hate relationship between the two of them? Macy has also come a long way in swim lessons. Yesterday she swam out to me without any coaxing. She is getting braver.

About me, my garden didn't do so well. I am not sure if there will be anything to harvest besides tomatoes, onions and maybe a bell pepper. I don't think I put it in a place to receive enough light during the day and because the plants don't look too hot I haven't watered them as religiously as needs be. If and when I attempt the garden again, I will need to hook up some kind of watering system so all I have to do is turn on the facet for a few minutes.

Trekking it

Well I have been busy working on trek things. Saturday I seasoned our dutch oven that we have owned since we have been married (7 years). Actually Brian received it before we were married. Sign of a true camper. I think it turned out okay. It didn't follow the directions to the letter. I let it sit longer between times of wiping it down after heating it. It is a little sticky in places so I hope that is normal. Anyone a dutch oven cooker and know if that is okay? I would hate for the oil to go rancid and then take the oven to cook with on the trek. The kids might not be thrilled with us.

Then on Monday I finally pulled out the sewing machine Brian bought for me a year and a half ago because I said I would use it. I made a water bottle holder for our handcart. One of the Ma's from last trek did this and said it added a little more convenience. Then because the sewing machine was out I altered Brian's shirts for the Trek. He wanted to look a little more authentic and so needed the collars removed and tacked down. I think they turned out pretty good if I say so myself.

By the end of this trek I will be quite the homemaker and will be fully prepared to do some good camping.

Mother's Day

Well Mother's Day was a great day. All of the church meetings were cancelled so the dads could be home. We took advantage of this and took a drive up to the mountains. When you take a drive to the mountains it is a little longer trip than when living in Utah. So we packed up a picnic, our jackets and the DVD players. In the mountains we went to a fish hatchery first. Brian commented that it was not my ideal location for Mother's Day (I am not a fish lover.) It is a perfectly fine place to visit because I didn't have eat them, touch them or swim with them. The only bad thing was the smell. The girls loved seeing the fish.

The little un-manned visitor center had record fish on display. One that caught my interest was the 3 almost 4 lbs. blue gill. I would not have wanted to swim by that thing. Ask my grandma and mom how friendly they are. At Lake Powell they like to swim by you and one of their fins has a hook on it so it feels like they bite you.

After the fish hatchery we made our way to a lake for our picnic. It was beautiful weather and the girls really enjoyed throwing rocks into the lake and over a tiny ledge. In fact the first picture was of us trying to do a family photo. Kelsey was not excited about this because we had to force her to stop throwing rocks and sticks for a few moments.
In the above picture you can see Kelsey's lovely hair. She pulled it out of the clip in the car and wouldn't let me do it again.

That evening we came home and Brian gave me my Mother's Day cards from the kids. Saturday he helped them make the cards for me. They dictated what to write and he played the scribe for them. They also gave me the gift of relaxation (a massage from Spa Envy). Thanks for a good mother's day.

Beautiful Day

Last night and today have been perfect days. The weather was so pleasant we took a long walk last night as a family and then Brian and I relaxed outside while the kids were in bed. We woke up to another perfect day. The weather again is very pleasant. Not too hot and not at all cold.
Today was Macy's first visit to the dentist and she did fantastic. She had no cavities and everything looked good. She was very cooperative even with the x-rays, but extremely shy. She wouldn't talk to anyone and would only talk to me when everyone was out of the room.
Here Macy is hiding from the dentist. When she was told that Dr. G had to come and look at her teeth before she was done she started squinting. When no one was around I asked why she was being silly. She said she hated Dr. G. She kept her eyes closed the entire time he examined her teeth. He thought she was being grouchy. I tried to tell her he was a nice guy, but who can convince a four year old.

Today was swim lessons again. Here is Kelsey's latest dive. She loves swim lessons and diving for the rings at the end. I think she likes the diving because she gets a piece of licorice right after.