O Pioneer

This past week, Jason and I had the opportunity to participate in Trek. Here are a few pictures of our 3 day adventure.

Pulling our handcart:
This is Oscar. He was very nice to have around. Both nights, we would hear the coyotes, and they were getting closer... and then we would hear Oscar barking, and the howls would get further away and eventually disappear. We liked him. Even the last morning when he walked around for a while with a dead rabbit in his mouth.
One good looking pioneer man... (looking a little modern with those sunglasses)
The crossing of the Sweetwater River.
The second night we survived a horrible storm. It lasted for maybe 30 minutes. It started so fast, not many people were prepared. Probably about 1 in every 3 or 4 tents did not stand the remainder of the night. (There were about 400 people there.) 3 of the 8 poles of our tent came out of the little holder place for them, but the tent was still standing just fine. We found one little rip, but it didn't leak. I guess Coleman makes a pretty good tent!
The final stretch:

We walked and pulled the handcarts about 30 miles in three days. The days were nice and hot, and the nights were nice and cold. Especially the second night, I was wet from being out in the rain, I didn't think I would ever get warm again! (The first night had some crazy, crazy winds, and we thought the tents would fall over. I guess that was just preparing us for the second night of wind, thunder, lightning, and rain.)

We were able to see where the pioneers of the Martin Handcart Company stayed to protect themselves a little more from the winter. It was a very spiritual experience, and I'm so grateful that I was able to be a part of it. It gave me an even greater appreciation for the early Saints and the hardships they suffered to establish what we are blessed with today.

We also participated in the Woman's Pull. This is a tiny glimpse into what the women endured when all the men were asked to join the Battalion to assist in the Mexican War. It was a very short distance we pulled, but it was up a pretty steep incline. The men were standing on both sides at the top, and I was very touched and emotional when I looked at them and saw the emotion on their faces and that they all had taken their hats off as they watched us go up the hill.

I realized in the last couple of weeks that one of the reasons I needed to go on Trek was because I needed to be reminded of how blessed I am, and the good life I have. I knew I needed to be more grateful for my wonderful children. They didn't get to come with, (Livia stayed with a sister-in-law and Sam stayed with Jason's parents. Thanks so much Ashlee and Mom and Dad!!) and it was hard to be away from both of them for three days. I am so grateful for them and the joy they bring to my life.