Day 3 started out pretty easy....we didn't have to pull the handcarts today! After breakfast, which was a Mountain Man Breakfast with hashbrowns, eggs and sausage all cooked and mixed together and served in tortillas and the optional fruit, we headed straight out of camp with only the water we could carry with us. It was a beautiful day, as you can see. We followed the little draw that is right off of the camp and followed it down to the canyon to the creek.
About 1/3 of the way down, all of the leaders, who weren't Ma's and Pa's, "scouted" ahead to the Arched Rock.
Up there we had a cooler full of water balloons hidden and waiting!
We all stuffed our pockets and grabbed as many as we could. We told everyone to gather together below so that we could take a picture of the group from the hole in the arch. When they were all together, we let the balloons fly! They were all so surprised! It was great. It was so warm that some of the kids and Ma's and Pa's were upset that they didn't get hit and get a little water refresher.
We then gathered everyone, one "family" at a time and took pictures around the Arched Rock. This is all of the extra adults that were there that day. Don't I look cute in my pink shirt and cowboy hat?! This really is an amazing group of people to be put with. You just can't ask for any better!
This is Ma and Pa Cook's family.
Here is Ma and Pa Jensen and their kids.
Here we have Ma and Pa Larsen with their gang.
This is Ma and Pa Lounsbury with their crew.
And the last family is Ma and Pa Jemmett and their kids.
When we got down to the creek, we found a shady spot and all played a game about my grandma crossin' the plains. It was a lot of fun.
We then had a visit from Ephraim Hanks who told his amazing story of when he was told to go help the saints in the Willie and Martin handcart companies. If you want to know more of the story, you can go
here. He brought with him all of the fixin's for our lunch.
After we ate lunch and cleaned up, we headed back up out of the canyon. We walked out up another trail. Those who got back first had some fun with Gary and playing in the skid steer for a little bit.
Some of them also convinced "Ephraim", who was really my father-in-law, to give them a ride on the horse and mules.
Sierra went and took a little ride with her Grandpa. I know she enjoyed that!
While we were cleaning up camp and waiting for the time that we needed to leave, the families had a little contest to see who could get a fire going the quickest to burn a string that was tied across the cooking area. It was really close! They started building and leaning sticks right up to the string, but in the end, only one family could win in the end.....and it was the Larsen Family!
Soon after that we got all of the handcarts loaded, all of the kids and leaders loaded and headed to the Labelle church on the backroads. We dropped off at the end of the road by the church and walked in pushing the handcarts to meet our families. It was a great end to the day. We had a little ward party there with hot dogs, chips, salads and desserts. It was wonderful to see my kids and others in the ward there to support our journey. But it wasn't quite over.
The next day, Sunday, we had a special Sacrament meeting. The bishop made it all about the Trek. He asked a few of the kids and the leaders to tell about their experience and to bear their testimonies. He asked Gary to speak......and he said "Yes"! I was in shock! That meeting is one that I will never forget! I bawled the entire time....the Spirit was so strong in that meeting. Gary spoke about how all of those kids touched his heart in a way he never expected. He also met some of the leaders and has made some great friends, which he also was not expecting. I've seen the light shining in him that he's tried to keep covered up for years. He bore his simple testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. I have never heard it before. It was simply an amazing experience for all of those that know and love him. The experience may be over, but the journey continues. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to participate in this Pioneer Trek. I've learned so many things about myself and those around me. I've learned so much more about my relationship with my Heavenly Father and his beloved son Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I can't imagine my life with the knowledge of the gospel. I want to thank everyone who had a hand in helping with the Trek and making it such a success for all of us. I can't wait to do it again! On with the journey.......
About 1/3 of the way down, all of the leaders, who weren't Ma's and Pa's, "scouted" ahead to the Arched Rock.
Up there we had a cooler full of water balloons hidden and waiting!
We all stuffed our pockets and grabbed as many as we could. We told everyone to gather together below so that we could take a picture of the group from the hole in the arch. When they were all together, we let the balloons fly! They were all so surprised! It was great. It was so warm that some of the kids and Ma's and Pa's were upset that they didn't get hit and get a little water refresher.
We then gathered everyone, one "family" at a time and took pictures around the Arched Rock. This is all of the extra adults that were there that day. Don't I look cute in my pink shirt and cowboy hat?! This really is an amazing group of people to be put with. You just can't ask for any better!
This is Ma and Pa Cook's family. 
Here is Ma and Pa Jensen and their kids.
Here we have Ma and Pa Larsen with their gang.
This is Ma and Pa Lounsbury with their crew.
And the last family is Ma and Pa Jemmett and their kids.
When we got down to the creek, we found a shady spot and all played a game about my grandma crossin' the plains. It was a lot of fun.
We then had a visit from Ephraim Hanks who told his amazing story of when he was told to go help the saints in the Willie and Martin handcart companies. If you want to know more of the story, you can go here. He brought with him all of the fixin's for our lunch.
After we ate lunch and cleaned up, we headed back up out of the canyon. We walked out up another trail. Those who got back first had some fun with Gary and playing in the skid steer for a little bit.
Some of them also convinced "Ephraim", who was really my father-in-law, to give them a ride on the horse and mules.
Sierra went and took a little ride with her Grandpa. I know she enjoyed that!
While we were cleaning up camp and waiting for the time that we needed to leave, the families had a little contest to see who could get a fire going the quickest to burn a string that was tied across the cooking area. It was really close! They started building and leaning sticks right up to the string, but in the end, only one family could win in the end.....and it was the Larsen Family!
Soon after that we got all of the handcarts loaded, all of the kids and leaders loaded and headed to the Labelle church on the backroads. We dropped off at the end of the road by the church and walked in pushing the handcarts to meet our families. It was a great end to the day. We had a little ward party there with hot dogs, chips, salads and desserts. It was wonderful to see my kids and others in the ward there to support our journey. But it wasn't quite over.
The next day, Sunday, we had a special Sacrament meeting. The bishop made it all about the Trek. He asked a few of the kids and the leaders to tell about their experience and to bear their testimonies. He asked Gary to speak......and he said "Yes"! I was in shock! That meeting is one that I will never forget! I bawled the entire time....the Spirit was so strong in that meeting. Gary spoke about how all of those kids touched his heart in a way he never expected. He also met some of the leaders and has made some great friends, which he also was not expecting. I've seen the light shining in him that he's tried to keep covered up for years. He bore his simple testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. I have never heard it before. It was simply an amazing experience for all of those that know and love him. The experience may be over, but the journey continues. I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to participate in this Pioneer Trek. I've learned so many things about myself and those around me. I've learned so much more about my relationship with my Heavenly Father and his beloved son Jesus Christ. I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I can't imagine my life with the knowledge of the gospel. I want to thank everyone who had a hand in helping with the Trek and making it such a success for all of us. I can't wait to do it again! On with the journey.......
2 comments:
Aw, Niki, thanks for posting all this! It was fun to read. I wish so much I could have gone with you guys. I'm glad my kids went, though, and got to have this awesome experience!
that is a beautiful post. it made me cry. You and Gary are some amazing people. I am grateful you are my family. Love ya
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