Trek

It's been a long summer and I am so behind on updating our summer! This summer in June our ward went on the Pioneer Trek in Wyoming. There were lot's of events that lead up to going. We had wonderful Firesides and Great Dinners. I really wanted Travis to go, but he wasn't so Keen about going, but I felt that we needed to do this as a family. Our ward went on June 9, 10, 11th. Travis had a load so we had to go up a little later than everyone else. I was so excited to get there and bond with our ward. We didn't get there until Thursday Evening. I didn't know where our ward was camping so we ended up touring the sites at the visitor center. It was neat to see Travis's Great, Great, Great Grandparents names on the wall. James Barnett Cole and Lucy Ward. I couldn't believe when they showed us what 17 lbs was. That is all they could take with them for each family member. It was basically a change of clothes, a few books, a blanket, utensils and a pair of Shoes. We finished with the tour and asked where our ward was camping. We found our ward, but it started to storm! There was a microburst and families in our ward were Literally trying to keep their Tents from blowing away. I went to go look for our tent that we were going to borrow. I got stuck in the Microburst and the rain felt like Pins and Needles. All I could think about was "how in the world did the Pioneers do it and it was in the middle of Winter!! They couldn't get in their cars and get warm. The storm was over in about 30 minutes and the clouds parted and the sun started to come out. I guess when we found our tent they were mopping it out. I guess their was a inch of rain in the bottom of our tent. We unloaded our things and set up our tent. It was getting dark and it started to get cold. I put Whitney's p.j's on her and we settled dwon for the night. I was bundled up and hunkered down for the night. We are pretty Lucky because we were able to bundle up, the Pioneers didn't have that. Some of them slept under their tents, because they had no blankets and used their tents as blankets, but their hair would get frozen to the ground and sometimes they would have to cut off their hair so they could get up and keep going. I actually got hot during the night, but I don't think that Trav slept very well because he was worried about Whitney being cold. Her face was ice cold, but for some reason the cold doesn't seem to bother kids, The next morning I woke up about 5:30 a.m. That day we were going to hike to the Sweetwater River. I forgot to Mention that I was six months pregnant, so the doctor told me that I could only hike two miles and that was it! We missed out on hiking to Martin's Cove so I was really excited about hiking to the Sweetwater River! When we got there, we all got our handcarts and got into our groups that we were assigned to. We were in the Howarth's group. We filled up our water bottles and got our carts ready to go. The missionaires briefed us and then told us that the River had flooded over and that it was really muddy and that some places that the mud would be up to our Knees. The weather was cool, it wasn't hot at all and we started off! I did really good up until one of the little streams that we needed to cross. Ladies were jumping over the streams. Brother Boulton was carrying ladies over and he did a great job. and then I was worried about falling in and he came over and said that he would give me a ride over the stream! he started to jump over and then he landed in the water and he got wet! I felt so bad that he was wet, but he never complained, he just smiled and kept going on! :) We got to the sweetwater river and it looked deep! People started crossing over and they weren't kidding when they said it was deep! There was no way of getting around it, we had to cross. I can't remember who helped me across, but when I stepped into the Sweetwater River I started to feel for the Pioneers. After I got out of the water. I felt the Spirit so strong that I couldn't contain my emotions anymore. There was a Missionary standing by me and said, "Are you alright." I started to cry and told her that this place was very spiritual and I could tell that the Pioneers REALLY had been there! I could feel there spirit Strongly. They weren't kidding when they said that the Pioneers were able to Linger there, because it's true!!! I didn't actually see anyone, but I DID feel the presence of someone beside me! Even typing this right now the spirit is REALLY STRONG! After everyone was out of the river, they re-enacted the rescue. Of the three boys who gave up their lives so that some of them could stay dry. Before they re-enacted babies were crying and kids were laughing, but when they started the re-enactment. YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP. It was so quiet. A Gentleman began singing a song and soon you could hear a number of people crying. Including me! The spirit was so strong!! After they were done a missionary said how cold it was when they went through the sweetwater river and said that the women's skirts didn't dry for two weeks! I found out later that their skirts were made out of wool. No wonder they didn't dry!
We Walked a little longer and then we stopped for Lunch. I was so hungry that a Turkey sandwhich tasted great to me. After Lunch it was going to be the Women's pull. That meant that the women were going to pull the carts up the hill by themselves. This represented when the Men either had to go off to war, or they got called on Mission's or they died from exposure from the cold. Travis was so sweet and was worried about me continuing to go on and so Sister Sorensen said that they would Rover me up the Mountain for the Women's Pull. They rovered me up to the top of the Mountain. Bishop wood had all of the men hike to the top of the mountain and the Lined up on Both sides to make a path. Then Bishop had each guy say something good about their wives. I was waiting for Travis's turn. I was a little worried about what he said, but he said. " I love her Determination." :) I am glad that he said it. Anyway...after all the Bretheren got done it was time for the Girls to pull their handcarts up the Mountain. Bishop Wood asked all the Bretheren to be silent and show respect as the sister's went up. Again as the sister's began up the Mountain it was silent and no babies cried, and the after the sister's got up the Mountain, some of the Men began to cry! Again it was so spiritual to see all of the women work together and help each other out to pull the carts. I imagine that the Pioneer sisters did the same. That song comes to Mind. "As sisters in Zion we all pull together." Because that is what our ward did. I didn't take any pictures but I have this all on my video camera. It was so AWESOME to see everyone helping out everyone else. As soon as some of the sister's got to the top of the Mountain, they would go back down and help the other sister's up the hill. How touching that was for me. As all of the sister's got up the Hill the boys started to sing. "Come Come ye saints and that is when I lost it! I can't describe the feelings that came over me. Again the Spirit was so strong! After everyone got up to the top of the Mountain, Men were crying and so were the women and you would see husband and wives hug each other and tell each other how much they loved and admired what they did for them. This is a side note and is kinda off the subject.
I am so grateful to my sweet Husband Travis for EVERYTHING he does for me and Whitney. He has always given me the best! Made sure that I was taken care of and some of you don't know this, but he saved my life at one point when I was deep into depression and took care of me and got the help that I needed, even when people told him not to get me the help I needed. Travis is a wonderful Dad to our sweet little girl Whitney! She just adores him! When he comes home from the road, she wants Daddy and not me! Travis is the most compassionate person that you would ever meet and has a HUGE heart! He has sacrificed so much for me and is a very hard worker! He never gives up and he is my rock and I am so glad that I met and married this wonderful man! He is my best friend and I love him so much and my love grows for him each day, even when things are hard! :) Thanks to him for a great eight years of marriage!
I can imagine that the pioneer women did the same thing and pulled together for each other and probably helped some of the sister's survive that awful time.
It was time to head back to camp, but because I was sixth months pregnant, I couldn't hike back and so they took me back in the rover to the start of the Trek. I had Whitney with me and she was so tired and it was beginning to storm again. I went into the visitor center and they had a movie and asked if I would like to watch it. I was still soaked from crossing the river, but Whitney was dry except for her diaper and Travis had the keys to the car..... (to be continued) :)