Pioneer Trek

If you ever want to have the greatest/most difficult time ever, say yes when your stake asks you to be a Ma and Pa on a Pioneer Trek! Neither George or I have callings with the youth so it was really a random opportunity we had to go on trek. We had the best 'family' with 2 girls and 5 boys as well as a "auntie" (a stake leader). We trekked with a handcart 26 miles! Before we left I worried that we would need a schedule of who would push and pull, but it was a chore to get those kids NOT to be on the handcart. We experienced a hailstorm that took out 30 tents and came with 50 mile per hour winds! It was a very building experience when our 'kids' commented that they couldn't imagine the pioneers being in that kind of weather in October and November. There were so many wonderful and spiritual experiences, but what I loved the most was that in the beginning our 'kids' would eat and hang around their friends when there was some down time, but by the end we were together all the time. I really do feel like I have 7 more children! One more thing, our oldest 'son,' Tiko, a talented Tongan athlete, called the Saturday before to say that the first USA rugby tournament game had been scheduled Wednesday afternoon when we were heading home, and since he was his team's captain, he felt that he needed to full fill this obligation and couldn't come to trek. We were devastated, but agreed that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. Several hours later he called back and said he would work it out to come and his bishop would take him home early Wednesday morning. About an hour after that he called again and said he felt strongly that he needed the whole trek experience and would stay the whole time. During a devotional where we were talking about sacrifice, George asked him to share his sacrifice. You could tell he was uncomfortable, but his willingness to share touched so many of the youth. This was an experience of a lifetime! We feel so lucky to have been a part of it!

So, we were going to paint the kitchen for the 4th of July weekend! It's something that I've wanted to do for a while (since we moved in 2 years ago) so when my mom asked what we were doing and I told her that she said she wanted to take the boys and go camping. Since I am not much of a camper I thought this sounded great. And since we wouldn't have our little guys around, our plans changed. We got to spend a night in Park City, and while Alan and Benson definitely had more fun, it was sure a nice 4th for us!