Trek Report

So I have slacked off a bit--actually, I have not been sitting around. Just the opposite. I haven't had enough time to sit and write as I would like because I have been so crazy busy! July was a whirlwind of events starting with the Kalispell Stake Youth Trek where Jim and I were a Ma & Pa and Mary and Billy were children in other families. It was absolutely awesome! I was asked (a few hours before) to speak at the Post Trek Fireside so I will post my thoughts on that here:
When the Trek was announced, I have to admit, I was one who secretly wanted to go and so I volunteered for the journals—something I knew I could do—to get as involved as I could.Then when Brother Westover asked my husband and me to be on the activities committee, I was thrilled to be able to help.It was neat to discuss and plan the activities and study about the Pioneers and what they went through and then try to find ways to share those experiences, and more importantly the feelings and lessons that the Pioneers went through, with the youth.
About 3 or 4 weeks before trek, at a stake mtg, we were discussing the Ma’s and Pa’s and that we needed to replace some who were no longer able to make it. That’s when Bro Allen and I were asked to step in—we already were planning to be there to do the activities, so it was an easier transition and though I knew it would be a lot more work, I was so excited for the opportunity to be there with the youth for what was perhaps one of the neatest experiences I have ever had.
I have to admit that before the idea of Trek came out, whenever a pioneer story was told I only listened half-heartedly, thinking that it really didn’t apply to me and since history wasn’t my strength (don’t tell my husband—he was a history major!), I would start to tune out. Since my involvement with trek, my perspective has changed completely. After having pulled the cart and gone through a scaled down version of experiences that they might have faced, I now have an inkling of any understanding and appreciation for the things the Pioneers must have faced. And most of all, I am so thankful not only for what they were willing to endure, but what they established: a legacy of hope for a better world where they were free from persecution to worship as they pleased.(Ether 12:4)
It didn’t take long to realize we had a very special group of youth in our family. Our first trial was crossing the river—twice. We saw the cart in front of us break and so as we took the lead, our youth stepped up to the challenge 100%. They scouted out and then after several attempts, found the best way to get up out of the water, straight up the 7 or 8 foot bank and onto the trail. And once our cart was up, they were not done. It amazed me how willing our family was to help cart after cart and pass on what worked to those behind them. They taught me from the very first day what it means to serve one another as the Pioneers must also have had to help and serve each other.
My favorite part of trek is hard to choose. We learned a lot about the Pioneers, but perhaps my most spiritual experience was the Woman’s Pull. First, to watch the YM and men leave was humbling and hard. I sat there and imagined what those Pioneer women must have felt as they watched their husbands and sons leave to defend their country, not knowing if they would see them again or not. And then, as we got our carts ready to go, and pulled them without our YM, I know our family realized right away just how much work our men had been doing. But it also taught me a few other lessons: if need be, we can do it ourselves. Whatever challenges arise, it is easier if we are a whole family unit. But, if we have to, we CAN make it ourselves. Pioneer women had to be strong, not just physically but just as important, spiritually and mentally. And the other thing I learned from this experience was the power of uplifting music. We certainly did not sound the best—as we huffed and puffed and belted out as many of the words of the song as we could between breaths, but something about the messages and the spirit of music kept us going. I know that had we stopped singing, we would have been tempted to stop pushing and pulling.
I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and that they have provided for us the gospel principles and teachings that will lead us back to them. I am thankful for the opportunity I had to participate in Trek. What a great body of youth we have in this stake and what an awesome opportunity this was to teach me about the Pioneers so that now I can relate better to their stories and experiences. I understand better now what it might have been like—timesed by about a million.

Land of the Free!

Happy 4th of July! I am so thankful that I live in such a wonderful country that, despite it's problems, is a land that promotes freedom and opportunities galore for its citizens. I love the United States of America and feel so blessed to enjoy all the rights and privileges it affords. I am also especially grateful for a husband who served in the Army to help defend those freedoms I enjoy. His loyalty and patriotism continues every day as he keeps our country's borders safe. He is an amazing man and a wonderful example to us all, especially to our children, of his love for this land and for the Lord who set it aside as a Promised Land. May we live up to that title and always fight for the right.

Happy Birthday Amelie!

So I am a little behind--I'll make up for it as much as I can as quickly as I can.
On June 28, Amelie turned 5. It is hard to believe that this little girl who loves to write her letters, wrestle with her siblings (especially Billy), make play-doh ice cream sundaes for us all and plan and host more parties than I could ever handle is now five. She is so excited! We had her party the day after her birthday. She is still very much a Princess, so we went with that theme again--and since the weather was perfect, we ended the party playing on the slip n' slide and in the kiddy pool in our backyard. It was a wonderful celebration and she is a tremendous little girl. She thrives on being a good helper and is always trying to help Tanner walk, climb, eat, . . . She loves to play with both her little brothers and her big brother and sisters. She was thrilled to be Tiffany's flower girl and to help her at her bridal shower. Amelie is a sweet, sweet girl and I am so very thankful that she is a part of our family!

Trek and Walking

Our stake is doing a pioneer trek this summer in lieu of Youth Conference. Jim and I were asked to be on the Activities Committee for Trek months ago and have been meeting and planning and meeting some more for quite a while. Last Sunday, though, we were asked to step in as a Ma and Pa as several couples had to back out. We were thrilled to help out. We will have a family of 101-12 children as we trek about 25 miles over 3 1/2 days. Yesterday we went to a Ma and Pa Training in the area where we will be going with trek and got to pull the handcarts about 2 1/2 miles and made dutch oven stew and rolls--nothing beats cooking in the outdoors, but this was exceptional! Pulling the cart wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be--except when we had to go down a hill, over logs and rocks, and then back up again. I made a pioneer skirt that I wore and it was great, except for when we were trying to push the cart up the hill. I kept stepping on my skirt! I'll have to think of some ways to remedy that before we get to the real deal. We also played games(my part of the planning :) and were well taught and instructed on our duties as Mas and Pas. We had a wonderful time with the other Mas and Pas and are really looking forward to Trek in July!

Not only was it a wonderful day of training, but right after we got there, Tanner actually took his first few steps all on his own! Since then, we have been prompting him to walk more and more on his own and he is doing great! He's such a happy kid, except when he squeals (it's high-pitched and loud!) and when four teeth are all trying to cut through at the same time (right now!)--poor kiddo! Here are his walking efforts from today.

Volleyball Victory

Mary has been very busy playing volleyball this summer already. She participated in both the Glacier an Flathead High volleyball camps and on Friday, she played on the Flathead Varsity team at the Glacier Volleyball tournament. She did VERY well. Her team placed second, losing only to a team from Helena. Mary is a very talented volleyball player and we love to watch her play! Way to go Mary!

President's Award

Billy finished the 8th grade at Kalispell Middle School on June 10 and was awarded the President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence. He did very well in school and worked hard to keep his grades up. I really enjoyed working with him, too, on assignments. I miss being in the classroom, so helping Billy out not only was enjoyable, but also helped curb my teaching 'fix.' Billy is a great young man and a wonderful son! We love him very much and are so proud of his academic accomplishments this year. He will enter academia in August as a Flathead Brave Freshman. He also starts seminary this coming year--lots of great excitement to come!

Amelie is such a character! Now that Tanner can walk with help, she gets her arms under his armpits and hauls him around the house. She even tried taking him up the stairs today while I was in the shower. She left him half way up--where I found him 5 minutes later trying desperately to get his chubby little legs up to the next step. She now knows NEVER to take him on the stairs and I am reminded that it is still safer to have Tanner in the bathroom with me when I shower (this was a first today.) But Tanner is really getting around. He walks along furniture and chairs and he crawls to get to more furniture and chairs. Eric was having a blast with him this afternoon as he ran to and from the couch, right around Tanner. The two boys were laughing and having a great time together. It was so fun to watch! Her is a clip of Tanner 'walking' with his walker.