tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24441662806290209592024-03-13T11:00:39.815-05:00How To Run Away From HomeRandy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-74171298837018812312012-01-04T21:41:00.000-06:002012-01-04T21:41:44.434-06:00Our 25th AnniversaryI have read newspaper articles about the 25th anniversary celebration and was really hoping I could have one of those celebrations. Not quite possible right now. We have been able to have some time to reflect on the past 25 years and how grateful we are for our relationship, our family, and all the friends who have touched our lives during the last 25 years though and that is priceless. Okay, that isn’t all we did. We took advantage of a little time off on Friday and went to a Bed and Breakfast on top of Casper Mountain. It was a class act place and I wish we could have stayed a couple more days. Our daughter, Sylvia and children fixed us a picnic dinner to take with us which was out of this world. We had salmon, rice, salad, chocolate dipped strawberries, shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers and some sparkling cider. At the bed and breakfast there was a tower room which was located at the top of the house that had windows on all sides so we could overlook the mountain area all four ways while the sun set. It was gorgeous. There was lots of snow when we arrived and then we woke up to quite a storm and about five to seven more inches which made us wonder if we would get off the mountain. We just left later in the day when it cleared a bit. We brought in the new year with our friends here at the Cove with the traditional toast using sparkling cider, singing of Auld Lang Syne and banging of pans. We all paid for it the next day and could hardly wait to get home for an afternoon nap.
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Sunburst Bed and Breakfast on the top of Casper Mountain
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Setting out our picnic dinner in the tower room.
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Randy waiting for dinner.
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A sunset made just for us!!Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-34891799488770031812012-01-04T21:36:00.001-06:002012-01-04T21:36:27.539-06:00Busy Month of DecemberUpon our return to Martin’s Cove from our trip south, we got right back to work and I can’t believe how much we did in a few short weeks. It was really a nice site to drive into the Homestead late at night and see all the Christmas lights on the buildings, a large nativity set up in the yard of the visitors’ center and handcarts decorated all around. Everyone must have been so busy while we were gone because even the Christmas trees were up and the other decorations placed in their spot.
We attended our first community event the first Friday of December. We went to the Alcova Chili Cook-off. Now let me explain, Alcova is a community of about 100 counting surrounding ranches. We are sure glad we participated as there were seven pots of chili and we had provided three of them. We had a great time getting to know the attendees and visiting with all. I must say there was mighty good chili and it was hard to vote for only one pot. We were invited to the next event which was the Christmas program at the Baptist Church. I believe we made some neat new friends. An indication of this is being able to go to the little post office and meet up with the residents and receive big hugs.
One of our family home evenings was spent caroling to neighboring ranches. We started our evening with pizza from Sloans, which is a small convenience store in Alcova at which we caroled for our supper. Now we didn’t do it totally voice only, we were accompanied with a flute, autoharp and ukulele. We spent the evening driving around 95 miles to carol five different places. Now, that should give you an idea of how out on the prairie we really are with the nearest neighbor about 12 miles away. The fun part of the evening was caroling with several senior missionaries whom were doing it for their first time.
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One of the annual winter activities for the Polar Bears is to put on a big Christmas dinner and party for the local neighbors and vendors whom have been a big part of our past year. This year was definitely no exception as the plans went on for over a month and kept each of us very occupied with details of the party from favor cups to lights on the covered wagon stored in the barn along with homemade invitations to proper music selection. The evening was absolutely fabulous with over 84 people attending. Along with music from local talent, a great meal, a couple games, and door prizes to make for a great night, I personally was brave enough to volunteer to take Christmas pictures of those who attended. I must say the pictures turned out great and it was quite a hit for those who attended. I am so grateful for all those Christmas parties we attended while in the Air Force because I was able to share some of the ideas and experiences to help with this party. Even though we were exhausted, we hated to see the evening end.
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This is the wagon we decorated. I took the Christmas pictures right in front of the wagon with the trees as added props.
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One of the 15 gingerbread houses that were decorated for table center pieces. The details that went into this gingerbread house spilled over into all the rest of the plans.
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Sylvia and family were able to join us for the Christmas party. Nana is having fun getting sugar from Patrick, Kathryn, and Addy.
Right before Christmas, a beautiful bore frost came through. We had to sneak out while getting ready for the day and morning prayer meeting to take some pictures. I wish the pictures could really show you the beauty of all our buildings, trees, and mountains covered in the sparkling crystals of frost.
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Looks like the controls of the Rover are a bit frosted, uh? The steering wheel was a bit chilly to hang onto.
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The entrance sign had quite an intriquing look.
On December 23, five couples went to the Salvation Army and served the Christmas dinner. Along with completing our assigned task, we entertained with our caroling during various times throughout the day. I am grateful we had the opportunity to bring a good meal and some fun to those who aren’t as fortunate.
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This is at the Cove on Christmas Day. The weather was fairly warm and no wind. Just a tender miracle for us.
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This is Miracle. Miracle was born in Savage Pocket sometime in late May. When the cows and calves were moved down to around Missionary Village the first part of June, Miracle was missed in the round up. The ranch hand figures he was no older than a couple weeks when he was separated from his mother and other cows. He spent the entire summer and fall in Savage Pocket all by himself with no mother’s milk and no direct water source. When the ranch foreman’s brother came to hunt in November, he saw Miracle and told the foreman about him. With quite a bit of disbelief as to a calf being in Savage Pocket, the foreman and ranch hand went on horseback to check. Miracle was quite curious about the horses and came pretty close to them. They gathered him up and brought him to the corral. He is a little stunted in growth but not a significant amount. I named him Miracle (with agreement of the others) as he really shouldn’t be with us considering no nurturing, coyotes, wolves and whatever else may have gotten him.
Now for the rest of the story, Miracle does have friends. If you notice, there is a doe deer right outside the fence. This doe arrived shortly after Miracle was put in the corral and she stays very close by. She has even been seen in the corral with him several times which we haven’t seen any other deer in the actual corral. She doesn’t leave with the other deer that come feed for a while and then head out on the trail or up the hill. She does spook by us but not enough to desert the area. What if she is Miracle’s surrogate mother?? Something to think about.
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After decorating for the party one evening, I stepped out of the barn and this is what I saw. Isn't it just gorgeous.
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Our infamous Sweetwater River is freezing over.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-48234918861648967152011-12-02T08:02:00.001-06:002011-12-02T14:06:59.488-06:00Trip to Texas and ArkansasAfter dealing with mixed emotions about leaving Martin’s Cove for our two week get-business-done trip, we headed out early Friday morning, November 11 for Texas. The day was spent driving, more driving, and yet, even more driving. While Elder Smith drove, Sister Smith worked on labeling all the summer photos on the computer. Something about this “keep things organized” obsession overpowering her. We made it to Amarillo the first night and stayed at a dump of a hotel because a pro rodeo was in town. Oh well, just needed a place to rest for a few hours and then back on the road for another long day of traveling. <br />
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We arrived in Fredericksburg about 3 pm and found our camper all set up and ready for us…well, the outside was set up. The inside was a different story as it was our storage spot for over a year. We spent most of our time in Texas on a doctor marathon run; total of 10 appointments in three days along with lab work. Poor Elder Smith had to have his blood drawn two days in a row. We both received clearance to continue doing what we are doing which was such exciting news; especially for me!!! We were blessed to be able to spend time visiting with my parents, grandmother, and friends from the park and church. It was so great to see everyone and hear about their summer excursions. I was even able to squeeze in playing the dulcimer three times with Donna and Mo, my buddies. It was so much fun. We attended church at Fredericksburg which was fun surprising them by showing up. They were so excited to hear all about our adventures of the mission and believe me, we were excited to share. I was invited to do sharing time with the primary and tell them pioneer accounts and then we sang songs with Patrick the Parrot. After all, I am known as the Parrot Lady in primary. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvUBlqN4cBW9W-dKpRQ3qDF47fcelFlOTeVGT20xdnSLRpE_xZRLQPjlNbBcRRHzmuxnVZs63DsrAS0untmM5AGHbAJbgsB7lalZgV8W8hWnN3w-pQF4ZRssAczYyygrGJlPw8OI7Kw26/s1600/IMG_2313a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="160" width="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTvUBlqN4cBW9W-dKpRQ3qDF47fcelFlOTeVGT20xdnSLRpE_xZRLQPjlNbBcRRHzmuxnVZs63DsrAS0untmM5AGHbAJbgsB7lalZgV8W8hWnN3w-pQF4ZRssAczYyygrGJlPw8OI7Kw26/s320/IMG_2313a.jpg" /></a></div>The craft Angela and I entertained ourselves with one afternoon.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZvBEe6RTSPxhnvVgkEcGuQ2btjNAEEUASHNnkZr2pVV6GnDAytUTCYObS5KFF5OVEgKuds_dEOcET_sCfiOAY8gl3aAoNWEIJinIo8TlESb65A1RjmMm2qU6YDXQy-n8FeWLtSLqGaYS/s1600/Paisley+with+flat+travelers+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZvBEe6RTSPxhnvVgkEcGuQ2btjNAEEUASHNnkZr2pVV6GnDAytUTCYObS5KFF5OVEgKuds_dEOcET_sCfiOAY8gl3aAoNWEIJinIo8TlESb65A1RjmMm2qU6YDXQy-n8FeWLtSLqGaYS/s320/Paisley+with+flat+travelers+a.jpg" /></a></div> Paisley, the grand dog, with Colin and Ryanne, the flat travelers.
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The next Saturday, we headed towards Arkansas--another long day in the truck driving, more driving, and still more driving. Sure glad I have plenty of photos to label and what a great time to reminisce about our eventful summer. Since we are taking our pull camper back to Wyoming with us and knew we could not park it at Karl and Angela’s apartment complex, Karl found us a place across town to drop it for the week. So, they met us there and then led us back to their apartment. They are now living really close to the university at some new apartments. We were warmly greeted by Paisley, our grand dog. I never thought I would ever say that or claim a grand dog but she sure is special. Karl had school on Monday and Tuesday morning but somehow was able to go with us wherever we went. We spent our time visiting base, going by the old neighborhood, and shopping. Angela and I spent a girl’s day out with shopping and getting our hair done. It was a great time. The guys went shopping and to a basketball game. You know, the guy’s day out things. Elder Smith, Karl and Angela kept the family tradition of Black Friday shopping. They spent 2 hours waiting for a store to open, 30 minutes to get what they wanted, and then 3½ hours waiting to pay for it. Personally, I am not so sure the return on time investment was profitable…Karl would not support that decision though as he got a computer to finish up his school years. It was just great to see everyone having such a good time together. Angela and I also had an afternoon for crafting after visiting Hobby Lobby which is always fun for me.<br />
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We said our goodbyes early Monday morning as Angela headed back to work, Karl back to school, and us back on the road for two more very long days of driving, more driving and still more driving. A highlight of the trip home was getting to meet Melissa, Micah, and Maddie Harris at Flying J near Joplin, Missouri. Mike is deployed, so missed seeing him. This family is very special to us. They shared some primary songs and their Christmas wish list with us while we ate lunch. I have to research Micah’s request as he wants a racetrack that stays on the wall. Sure hope we get to spend a couple days with them this coming spring when they come visit us at the Cove.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46bDLIqWpw2ayw_Eyjl6JgK2XZpjB-oAd3yc-ANX5TFcaykOJVmElCRcBd4-pgaHHiKLY_YZiw8hyzXvAxAL5_0g5gZ6LyopEEydWtVvBRsjCPH8Fhxq2cKvyBiJT3ZUQr1-2BjfATbkC/s1600/Micah+and+Maddie+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46bDLIqWpw2ayw_Eyjl6JgK2XZpjB-oAd3yc-ANX5TFcaykOJVmElCRcBd4-pgaHHiKLY_YZiw8hyzXvAxAL5_0g5gZ6LyopEEydWtVvBRsjCPH8Fhxq2cKvyBiJT3ZUQr1-2BjfATbkC/s320/Micah+and+Maddie+a.jpg" /></a></div>Madie and Micah
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We arrived home about 11:00 pm Tuesday night. Was a very long drive on Tuesday but well worth it considering how much work we had facing us when we arrived. We spent Wednesday unloading the pull trailer and organizing a bit in the apartment. We definitely did the right thing because we woke up to four to five inches of snow on Thursday morning. What a beautiful site it was to behold!!Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-78175872256235878142011-11-13T09:13:00.000-06:002011-11-13T09:13:14.819-06:00River CrossingNovember 4 is the date the Martin Handcart Company left Fort Seminoe to go into the cove for protection and crossed the Sweetwater River when it was so very cold. The winter missionaries held a commemorative river crossing on Friday, the 4th. There were a few visitors whom joined us in our event. A couple from Utah, the Hathaways, have done this crossing every year for 13 years and have experienced all types of weather and conditions for the crossing. They were very interesting to visit with. They had invited another couple to join them which were descendants of Rebecca Winters which is a pioneer lady buried near Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Elder Smith and I were touched to hear the story of the moving of Rebecca Winters grave from this couple because when we did our Arkansas Youth Trek, we were the Winters family. Back to the river crossing, all together there were seventeen who crossed the river. The program began with a gathering to recite some pioneer accounts of the crossing and then I read a couple scriptures and gave a small spiritual thought. We then loaded up in the rovers and drove the actual trail from Fort Seminoe down about two and half miles where they would have left the trail. We then walked down the hill with handcarts to the river and crossed. The first step into the river was quite a shock to the system; it was extremely cold. By about half way across, I could no longer feel my legs or feet. Then we got out on the other side and the wind hit the legs and it hurt. I felt like ice picks were poking me over and over. It was one of the worst physical feelings I have had for quite awhile. The other sisters and I looked at each other and did not want to cross back but knew we had to. The weather was clear, very windy with temperature about 45. Knowing I had to get to the other side, I harnessed up in the handcart and started pulling. It was worse the second time across with getting numb and then climbing out of the river. I now have a much better understanding of the significance of the river crossing which occurred 155 years ago and the invaluable service the four valley boys rendered to the frail saints. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmYh1w2N2z8TSC51dk5AmOeNWAqFE0I4D1fBSYA2gl1kHqqwKcdvXUc3J9h_JIDdAE5JEFRhECBp3DWEGumpSqqMnu7uYr02p9s10JltFRrz7fmvPgWINwF_ep8KyESb4-XVNQny38OW8/s1600/DSCN2922a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmYh1w2N2z8TSC51dk5AmOeNWAqFE0I4D1fBSYA2gl1kHqqwKcdvXUc3J9h_JIDdAE5JEFRhECBp3DWEGumpSqqMnu7uYr02p9s10JltFRrz7fmvPgWINwF_ep8KyESb4-XVNQny38OW8/s320/DSCN2922a.jpg" /></a></div>Traveling the trail in our rovers. We are in the last rover that is camo painted. Fits us, uh?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4CElAWhlN-DAlulRsW_kGGMlUfmQMeFLP3UGegTce-FN4vDVXw9PdlHL0GtwGlh4ouS7z7Q_hNSv5uhLZDeAEa92BMlAoojO4r7pUG_KxOOB6HNT4CnKHcRtB3jc18jK2RtdvtOonObt/s1600/DSCN2929b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4CElAWhlN-DAlulRsW_kGGMlUfmQMeFLP3UGegTce-FN4vDVXw9PdlHL0GtwGlh4ouS7z7Q_hNSv5uhLZDeAEa92BMlAoojO4r7pUG_KxOOB6HNT4CnKHcRtB3jc18jK2RtdvtOonObt/s320/DSCN2929b.jpg" /></a></div>Walking down to the river across the prairie. I am in the red coat. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5yIq1nkejIU0GOgvL0RtV91hLnBwj02pRX5hIa6m6eis8XznRQeE9_8G_MX4qRMn8M8DrlsC6hiVwfGaEDD8KHJ20F5-MruD8H6cpZLLVFw2Ali5DhC5RyKLT7sZSWWCmsL-fBv2N5tG/s1600/DSCN2939a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5yIq1nkejIU0GOgvL0RtV91hLnBwj02pRX5hIa6m6eis8XznRQeE9_8G_MX4qRMn8M8DrlsC6hiVwfGaEDD8KHJ20F5-MruD8H6cpZLLVFw2Ali5DhC5RyKLT7sZSWWCmsL-fBv2N5tG/s320/DSCN2939a.jpg" /></a></div>Randy and Elder Vinton pulling through the river. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gC4hbz5U05oPVzGLcSH4dLS3lVvOYPGdxpB-khknHidBVu_aUgA8RHMcGKFi1qXMhBrSZREyMGw7LOGvvAl8w4Q6vVdI_QTyFQMVjCHlrhuhyphenhyphen7ppSOqizl6eAQqgWagVwS04iCKHA5Pz/s1600/DSCN2944a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8gC4hbz5U05oPVzGLcSH4dLS3lVvOYPGdxpB-khknHidBVu_aUgA8RHMcGKFi1qXMhBrSZREyMGw7LOGvvAl8w4Q6vVdI_QTyFQMVjCHlrhuhyphenhyphen7ppSOqizl6eAQqgWagVwS04iCKHA5Pz/s320/DSCN2944a.jpg" /></a></div>The women pulling through the river. Notice our faces and it is only a glimpse of how cold it was. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqCVV2mCngIuIDz3eckM3ZZXCnkxR8sAadQlScK01s0FQUmcdG2GjdplkMwmWiuyHQp1XwxPBTxpF2S_yk6SG059vGxfNVOeb4YlXp7hIeXek37HAlHfwyWTKD_zMCOfZKarOg3FbKMW8/s1600/DSCN2946a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqCVV2mCngIuIDz3eckM3ZZXCnkxR8sAadQlScK01s0FQUmcdG2GjdplkMwmWiuyHQp1XwxPBTxpF2S_yk6SG059vGxfNVOeb4YlXp7hIeXek37HAlHfwyWTKD_zMCOfZKarOg3FbKMW8/s320/DSCN2946a.jpg" /></a></div>Pulling up the bank of the river on the other side. To me this was the tough part because I couldn't feel my legs.<br />
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One morning as we were getting phone messages off the machine, we heard the voice of a young man whom wanted to know more about the church and wondered if we could talk to him. I returned the phone call with the thoughts I would get his information and do a missionary referral. When I reached him, he explained to me that he was using a friend’s phone so his parents wouldn’t get upset that he had called as they were Baptist. He explained that he had been reading a lot on the internet and wanted to talk to someone about what we believe. I mentioned having the young missionaries come speak with him but he was a bit nervous about that right now. I didn’t know where to start as he didn’t have a particular subject to discuss. He just wanted to know more. I was also a bit skeptical as I was sure this would end up as a prank phone call. After a short silent prayer, I started through the Articles of Faith and explained what we believe. He was very interested and had some questions while we were talking. I suggested he go to mormon.org to read some more as some of the information he had wasn’t quite on track. Then I suggested he go to one of our chapels on a Wednesday (he is 18 and still in high school) and I was sure he would find someone to talk to and would answer more questions if he didn’t feel comfortable with the missionaries because of his parents. He explained to me he was African American and was concerned about being entitled to everything because of his readings he wasn’t sure. I shared with him that my cousin was an active member, priesthood holder, goes to the temple and is African American and that I have a granddaughter that is African American which put his concern at ease. Being a recent convert I do not understand the total history behind withholding the priesthood from the African Americans and I was quite uneasy going any deeper. When the conversation ended I felt at peace with everything that was said. I am so grateful the Lord entrusted me with the opportunity to share my testimony with someone searching for the truth.<br />
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Elder Smith and I have had some great experiences in the visitors’ center lately. We served in the visitors’ center both Saturday and Sunday this past week. On Saturday, a couple came from Utah. They were the first family to go out on the trail after the dignitaries when the cove opened in 1997. They had cart #1. Then, she had been part of a support group for a trek group this past summer. Right from the beginning of meeting this couple, I could tell he was struggling with something and needed the time at the cove to work it out. They weren’t too interested in going through the center but graciously obliged me sharing thoughts and stories as we went through. He asked if he could take a handcart out and cross the river. Elder Smith hooked up a handcart on the rover and took them out to the river. Only he crossed the river and as he did so he would stop and ponder (which I am sure included some prayers). He crossed twice and the second time he crossed he placed rocks in the cart to symbolize his family and on the other side touched the rocks carefully as talking to them and then brought them back and put them back on the ground. It was heartbreaking to see him struggle but comforting to know he knew the right way to work out his struggle. On Sunday, we had a man and woman stop by on their way to Rawlins from Casper. He is the business manager for the Carbon County School District (recently moved to Rawlins) and she was asked to come and talk to their food service department as a consultant. Neither one of them members but she knew she was a descendent of a member of the Martin Company. They didn’t understand the story of the Martin Company before coming and didn’t realize their struggle. She was especially touched when she saw the name of her ancestor on the board in the center. She was so grateful they stopped by on their way to Rawlins and vowed to come back with her daughter. We have also had several sets of father/son visitors. I love it when the son is a teenager and spending time with his dad. It is so rewarding to visit with these young men and share with them the foundation of our church and challenge them with thought provoking questions while going through the center. I just love our visitors.<br />
Our talents are truly being stretched. As I mentioned in the last blog, I am tagged with helping with the music for prayer meeting and some Sundays. It is coming along and is actually somewhat very enjoyable. Because we are a small group and all learning together, the acceptance of the missed notes or off beat leading is so comforting. I can also testify that practice really pays off and in itself practice is a good stress reliever. Just this past couple of weeks, I have had the opportunity to stretch a bit more. Prior to the departure of the other missionaries and couple sisters made arrangements to machine embroidery our handcart emblem on white ties for our husbands. Cool idea but our machine broke during the beginning of the process and had to be repaired. It was not returned until after everyone had left. So Sister Fenn and I went to the store and received some lessons on the machine. We were both very nervous about completing the project and even talked to another business about doing it for us. But we attempted one and it went pretty well so we did a couple more. Well, when I left on Thursday, there were 40 ties done. Elder Smith has also learned quite a bit. The first was winterizing all the water lines and such all over the homestead. Just this week, he, along with the other Elders, had the puzzle of how to fix the flagpole which is about 35 feet high. The wind blew so hard that it broke the rope with the flags on it and carried them over towards the corral area. The pole had to be extracted and laid down, the pulleys repaired, rope restrung, and then placed back in place. The pictures will tell the story and each one of the Elders were in heaven playing with the toys to do the job. A tender mercy for the whole process was the wind did not blow (which is a monumental moment on the plains of Wyoming), not even a whisper of a breeze, during the process making it a safer event. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiL_a9uBWVjmZ9Mg9L-FLO63HKyCKaoB-IpNNlepzp_ZmqtN09gVTupmaH2e7sdgsQp-MpmThL3sHA56THu7pPno8xL-EoUj88v3WcMW1ae5Czv5nP4Z03tOlhrOKW7SMgDQTIK23c0Z-H/s1600/IMG_0670a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiL_a9uBWVjmZ9Mg9L-FLO63HKyCKaoB-IpNNlepzp_ZmqtN09gVTupmaH2e7sdgsQp-MpmThL3sHA56THu7pPno8xL-EoUj88v3WcMW1ae5Czv5nP4Z03tOlhrOKW7SMgDQTIK23c0Z-H/s320/IMG_0670a.jpg" /></a></div>This is my nervous look for working on the ties. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVA2vJEEQsUuRcjxoUj3Kwh-mLe6Kg2r3HRtg3OK3qEhZwPAyeq0CgrltLbndbV6tqyZkbkpLbdPfaqLXFN9dVoYX5HFXxe6MmcqzLvupc8_cj1nSA9Wl4u19TWaHe6MyCYWoFgKWUfse/s1600/IMG_0705a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVA2vJEEQsUuRcjxoUj3Kwh-mLe6Kg2r3HRtg3OK3qEhZwPAyeq0CgrltLbndbV6tqyZkbkpLbdPfaqLXFN9dVoYX5HFXxe6MmcqzLvupc8_cj1nSA9Wl4u19TWaHe6MyCYWoFgKWUfse/s320/IMG_0705a.jpg" /></a></div>Using the "right" equipment to remove the flag pole. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSiqu8gqoUOdRaqZcvw7AKlVJ8Qu89IlRkbQ7tDhpQo5L9VIa-aHGSYZSfbppeM5C3v-uoDz1X2-rTnzPwHVQ1eUObKYK0hmrZixW-czA8eAaVX9ekyB3QSCbaGJOrkXC0Lt3yCzBnHgy/s1600/IMG_0712a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSiqu8gqoUOdRaqZcvw7AKlVJ8Qu89IlRkbQ7tDhpQo5L9VIa-aHGSYZSfbppeM5C3v-uoDz1X2-rTnzPwHVQ1eUObKYK0hmrZixW-czA8eAaVX9ekyB3QSCbaGJOrkXC0Lt3yCzBnHgy/s320/IMG_0712a.jpg" /></a></div>Moving the pole to a place where it could be laid down. This was a slow and gentle process.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3wSjm2_O62r75NJVUsKgcYtRNYEdLPtlJz6CMHYLQ4hIZuKT6cJ_X82eTU9AExeGMFnwA5FrnZSjcJ7xVm22hWX1h1lnG7k7X5Xb44Psr0rpgopzbqYmlNqO__wue7BMW_1eJwmVynIg/s1600/IMG_0718a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3wSjm2_O62r75NJVUsKgcYtRNYEdLPtlJz6CMHYLQ4hIZuKT6cJ_X82eTU9AExeGMFnwA5FrnZSjcJ7xVm22hWX1h1lnG7k7X5Xb44Psr0rpgopzbqYmlNqO__wue7BMW_1eJwmVynIg/s320/IMG_0718a.jpg" /></a></div>One man's toy was not enough to do the job, so had to pull out something a little bigger.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD3HRoz3Mcw8Fzg9Zj4J-ZNhfWZ0W6dS_INpy88Vf9o32bxDAKesJ7sNDykkVkVvPw6oPsajlWjiyVMLskU0QVC4T9zN8Vyg4X1cqnDSFGNZI0jyMTR4bxkz5h8JAOwP01l3yselotMG2/s1600/IMG_0727a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqD3HRoz3Mcw8Fzg9Zj4J-ZNhfWZ0W6dS_INpy88Vf9o32bxDAKesJ7sNDykkVkVvPw6oPsajlWjiyVMLskU0QVC4T9zN8Vyg4X1cqnDSFGNZI0jyMTR4bxkz5h8JAOwP01l3yselotMG2/s320/IMG_0727a.jpg" /></a></div>That is my Elder in the bucket along with the director. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmA9SJF9lnboZc5AbNm_eXf5_VaZiyelGi2vNdf8L3HPce-wwl7g2DUHCHeBUvsQNZQOimjw35MPr6tKmCVkhD8huRCufAwQtycBa8wU6zET7vzeoqBi3cMu6bwijCF2-l4noR5nomTp6/s1600/IMG_0738a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmA9SJF9lnboZc5AbNm_eXf5_VaZiyelGi2vNdf8L3HPce-wwl7g2DUHCHeBUvsQNZQOimjw35MPr6tKmCVkhD8huRCufAwQtycBa8wU6zET7vzeoqBi3cMu6bwijCF2-l4noR5nomTp6/s320/IMG_0738a.jpg" /></a></div>Now the tractors backed up slowly to lay the flag pole down.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2in9nsCZ5C1CmWoVqRW1g_cwvnbf2ty9fmhpI6_MKuak4PEfjRmZmB_C0JhfyJA2Cz9lI33TxPmVrTlv7qa3ErqsEI-tqCCuPqIjLRwszSUb5wJwFt-sGKcnRLiMUrLvqzezRet0Cjh_E/s1600/IMG_0744a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2in9nsCZ5C1CmWoVqRW1g_cwvnbf2ty9fmhpI6_MKuak4PEfjRmZmB_C0JhfyJA2Cz9lI33TxPmVrTlv7qa3ErqsEI-tqCCuPqIjLRwszSUb5wJwFt-sGKcnRLiMUrLvqzezRet0Cjh_E/s320/IMG_0744a.jpg" /></a></div>Whew, made it to the ground safely. The Elders done good!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YoP0C_LXGQ2pI0XYXzLFKaIGagUiMi3xYBYiZmcnSUiGGnqZsJD0K5iCaGOv2frKq62zDdJOMktceuoOUuqEPAbFsWqILkOQSo8E3BAhGuj20P2e-G44z8L0cUb-i88jI3I_-Q0ZiN86/s1600/IMG_0749a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YoP0C_LXGQ2pI0XYXzLFKaIGagUiMi3xYBYiZmcnSUiGGnqZsJD0K5iCaGOv2frKq62zDdJOMktceuoOUuqEPAbFsWqILkOQSo8E3BAhGuj20P2e-G44z8L0cUb-i88jI3I_-Q0ZiN86/s320/IMG_0749a.jpg" /></a></div>All repaired with new pulleys, rope and flags. Time to raise the flag and even with respests of removing their hats. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPkMeMKp1FLICb4AAKb0lKFEzPyrQ57N0HGn1JRsC1s7xUOC5IULbjEzrXvGjtywqrWLFmeMOcR9RugQ6K6JAvmIQsLaMFnUqZMdmBp62OELVkM08j3pcFQeDlVVI0QCIVtvK0zT9bFRw/s1600/IMG_0752a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPkMeMKp1FLICb4AAKb0lKFEzPyrQ57N0HGn1JRsC1s7xUOC5IULbjEzrXvGjtywqrWLFmeMOcR9RugQ6K6JAvmIQsLaMFnUqZMdmBp62OELVkM08j3pcFQeDlVVI0QCIVtvK0zT9bFRw/s320/IMG_0752a.jpg" /></a></div>I got the best man for the job to help with ties!! Not really, he was just watching the machine.<br />
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We are headed to Texas and Arkansas for the next couple of weeks. When our mission was extended, we were told we could take some time to go home for doctor appointments and take care of other business. Since we had prescheduled our appointments for this timeframe we are the last couple to leave the homestead for our leave. It is a bitter sweet time for us to leave the place we have grown to really love to head south. We are looking forward to seeing some of our family and friends and spending quality time with them. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsKWBP8XX9Z6oTAJUTQKMsS9axmiQWhthCj4GovIBOnQephrLr6W21GPBa9dATxB8dQ4Ie4e399vXsEvnWJRoHGqXxWOfY6UXSJuTLCE1w4HHqV1hT9Ix0kN_fIWP6-vyuxNMd37yyWTZ/s1600/IMG_0682a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsKWBP8XX9Z6oTAJUTQKMsS9axmiQWhthCj4GovIBOnQephrLr6W21GPBa9dATxB8dQ4Ie4e399vXsEvnWJRoHGqXxWOfY6UXSJuTLCE1w4HHqV1hT9Ix0kN_fIWP6-vyuxNMd37yyWTZ/s320/IMG_0682a.jpg" /></a></div>How do you like our winter visitors?Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-6371408528763679782011-10-23T20:08:00.000-05:002011-10-23T20:08:23.935-05:00ALL ALONEWe have begun our winter season at the Mormon Handcart Historic Sites. It sure is different from the activity of the summer. Now, don’t get me wrong, we are not sitting around trying to find something to do as we still have assignments and chores. We are busy doing maintenance around the area and prepare for next summer. There is still scheduling and fine-tuning the treks that will be coming next summer, putting training manuals, script books, and the other necessities for the new set of missionaries arriving next spring together, and then the big thing that has kept Elder Smith busy is winterizing everything. First was the equipment and RVs and now are the water lines for the campgrounds, Ranch 66, and the homestead. I should find out how many feet of water lines they have to drain and blow out. <br />
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There are seven couples who will be staying for the winter. We are called polar bears but that had a real negative effect on us new missionaries from last year’s polar bears so we just call ourselves the winter missionaries. Since all of us prepared to only be away from home for six months and now have to stay for 18, we are allowed to return to our home for two weeks to take care of medical appointments, finances and anything else we may have to. We will be heading back to Texas around the middle of November and have to be back the weekend of Thanksgiving. Until we return there are two couples absent from the homestead each week so that leaves five to do all the work. That wouldn’t be too bad but our number of visitors isn’t decreasing very much; today we had 89 visitors and only three couples were working. All six of us were guiding visitors through the homestead and taking them up to the cove. We stay on assignment until all the visitors have departed; sometimes until 5:30 or 6 pm.<br />
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There is a scary part of just a few of us hanging around all winter. There aren’t many who play the piano or know anything about music so any of us who even can plunk at the keyboard are honing our skills. I have to play the piano for prayer meeting at least once a week and lead the music twice a week. I was so nervous the first day I played for prayer meeting. I practiced the same hymn for several hours out of the big hymn book. Then as one of the other ladies was practicing she found a simplified hymn book and it sure is making it a bit easier until I get more comfortable. I am so out of my comfort zone with this piano playing in front of people and the leading is even more nerve wracking. I think I will be bald by the time I am released from this mission. If you feel enticed, please pray for me that I don’t get too worked up over this.<br />
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Okay that isn’t the only new adventure for me. With the few numbers, we will be speaking in the branch, teaching Sunday School, or teaching Relief Society and Priesthood quite often. Last week, our guest Sunday speakers didn’t show up; so Elder Smith was chosen to speak on the spur of the moment for sacrament. That is alright as he is a counselor in the Branch Presidency but I am sure my turn will come. One more thing to make me nervous, so I am going to prepare a talk and have it ready for the next time someone doesn’t show up. Well, if I get a couple minutes to do so.<br />
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With staying for the winter, we do not stay in our RV. There are one bedroom apartments on the homestead for the winter missionaries. We started moving into our apartment on Oct 1 and are close to being totally settled. I just need to set up our office area and hang pictures. It is quite a cozy little place that sits on top of a hill overlooking the homestead and out across the prairie. I am going to get really spoiled having so much room to spread out in compared to the Bighorn.<br />
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On the Saturday we started moving, Elder Smith and I were occupied out at the campground packing up the fifth wheel getting it ready to pull into the homestead and Elder Smith was winterizing the fifth wheel. We were close to being done when one of the missionaries let us know there was a baptism and the directors were in Casper on an errand. So, Elder Smith as the counselor needed to preside over the baptism. We quickly cleaned up, changed clothes and headed for the homestead for the baptism. It was an eight year old boy whose family recently moved from Colorado to Casper and really wanted to be baptized in the Sweetwater River. It was a cold, cold day. In fact, it had been spitting snow and then rained most of the afternoon. So, we had the opening ceremonies for the baptism with about 15 people in attendance in what we call our Gathering Room and proceeded over to the edge of the river. It was so cold and wet, I had the boy’s little sister wrapped in my coat with me and Elder Smith had another child he was monitoring. We get to the river and I can see it is going to be cold. The dad picked up the young man and walked down into the river. The grimace on the dad’s face told all of us it was not real pleasant but the boy wasn’t quite clued in yet. The dad talked to the young man for a second or two and then set him down into the water which came up to about his waist. Within three seconds, that young man climbed straight up his dad’s body clear to his shoulder and he was letting the world know just how cold and unpleasant that water felt. He was screaming and yelling that he wasn’t going to do it and don’t make him. The dad tried to reason with him, the mother tried to reason with him, Elder Smith tried to reason with him and there was no way it was going to happen. The Bishop was in attendance and suggested to the family that he call his counselor in Casper and they can start filling the font and it would be ready by the time they got back to town. Sounds good to me but the grandmother said no because the boy wanted to be baptized at Martin’s Cove and she asked if anyone had a tub of some sort. I casually mentioned that we had a bathtub in our apartment we were moving into. Well, one thing led to another and we ended up filling our bathtub to the top and the father baptized his son in our bathtub. After the baptism, they confirmed him in our living room. It was quite a neat experience and event for us to partake in at our own home. <br />
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Another assignment that rolls around quite often is doing Family Home Evening. The Smiths had it last Monday so we decided we needed to carve pumpkins. So we purchased enough pumpkins for one per couple and had a blast as you can see by the pictures. We forgot to get candles though and no one has gone to town yet to pick up candles so the jack-o-lanterns look pretty sad in the dark. Every time we do some crazy activity all of us state that our children would never belief what we were up to and of course, that was the case with the carving jack-o-lanterns. It was quite a serious task for some of the guys as they had to use power tools.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6v3Wss4crqC0upw8OZso3Yp3gI6KCx9PC-fT7WccT1lHYinpuSCbdrUsUFoeGX0TrP1PzfA0nlaBXaM7aETbyKj9xG7RlbCh6k2mWNH5lWsyYtgthUdSiykXLn-MSlrK9DmolbPmbpFQ/s1600/IMG_0657a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6v3Wss4crqC0upw8OZso3Yp3gI6KCx9PC-fT7WccT1lHYinpuSCbdrUsUFoeGX0TrP1PzfA0nlaBXaM7aETbyKj9xG7RlbCh6k2mWNH5lWsyYtgthUdSiykXLn-MSlrK9DmolbPmbpFQ/s320/IMG_0657a.jpg" /></a></div>Our antelope friends are real friendly. This is right outside the door of our camper before leaving Missionary Village.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX77NK-KT4xud7t9VlwzRNzRpaUSa0vVBq8X5n0jhZqEvGIF5RTL-7-DvH1Pm2USSUdVUObWy05lZ2pBgPYA14vAqFgOBcdIfqDhNETyiBjpkqJB5GnuGqRMIuFdYI1pXL4oBApYzILFVA/s1600/IMG_0668a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX77NK-KT4xud7t9VlwzRNzRpaUSa0vVBq8X5n0jhZqEvGIF5RTL-7-DvH1Pm2USSUdVUObWy05lZ2pBgPYA14vAqFgOBcdIfqDhNETyiBjpkqJB5GnuGqRMIuFdYI1pXL4oBApYzILFVA/s320/IMG_0668a.jpg" /></a></div>We are pulling out of Missionary Village to go move into our apartment. I am getting spoiled with all this room in our one bedroom apartment which may make moving back into the Bighorn a bit difficult.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_M__aQnFbuhA_yxhOzwZMf2P0YFzMNVGXZoIq33HqkkuXfWM4wtOAdMo0WbyECb37nFtyrefsyrSEU5rs7eyeQP9UoSblekEfdNLRtszkC1tKx7QhqnkWRfcu4F5I9X13LN5B-Y3MNpn/s1600/IMG_2193a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_M__aQnFbuhA_yxhOzwZMf2P0YFzMNVGXZoIq33HqkkuXfWM4wtOAdMo0WbyECb37nFtyrefsyrSEU5rs7eyeQP9UoSblekEfdNLRtszkC1tKx7QhqnkWRfcu4F5I9X13LN5B-Y3MNpn/s320/IMG_2193a.jpg" /></a></div>Looking out our bedroom window in the apartment the night we moved in. I guess it makes it all worth it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVqYBdwM6BGjNpjJir2TqBSZTCQ3i-BhuGUFmru7eySEluknCVlEJ7V-pHccHoZUi6hi9CBTkpb5zKecP9VD7PohQCcVtL4Lw27lKtwBL31lblfAWyhVfUVi2kBbENjq6RBMFsp-nx13a/s1600/IMG_2211a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVqYBdwM6BGjNpjJir2TqBSZTCQ3i-BhuGUFmru7eySEluknCVlEJ7V-pHccHoZUi6hi9CBTkpb5zKecP9VD7PohQCcVtL4Lw27lKtwBL31lblfAWyhVfUVi2kBbENjq6RBMFsp-nx13a/s320/IMG_2211a.jpg" /></a></div>Our Family Home Evening of carving pumpkins. This is also our Branch here at the cove -- small in numbers but mighty in spirit!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RPiQBwUqm2yN5CZ4-S3IotQpOgnK0tyJ6Hyw8E9mDrj7lUAKTZWQyXpZGOh57WY-M8nKQ2RikrMFqsY-bI3-AiVNe522T6skud70XBpOB3Oz5V1YQrXiAFj79xIFjina5zSbI-QRtzV5/s1600/IMG_2220a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RPiQBwUqm2yN5CZ4-S3IotQpOgnK0tyJ6Hyw8E9mDrj7lUAKTZWQyXpZGOh57WY-M8nKQ2RikrMFqsY-bI3-AiVNe522T6skud70XBpOB3Oz5V1YQrXiAFj79xIFjina5zSbI-QRtzV5/s320/IMG_2220a.jpg" /></a></div>Getting serious about doing a good job. The ranchhand's daughter, Kathryn, and I carved a pumpkin together. We had a great time while Elder Smith snapped pictures.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVtZ0b7KpvvX08GwQB_1dEGq5I6sgCg9JESZvukNfAsstYuVv-Q9O3wtB9jQQ7ZfoEIYj5Kd9aR08ZZP7p_oupZjrzbSBom5uNk6rXbxjECjM1VnfzC25QQFk65CMohaL8YDpRSK3XBp1/s1600/IMG_2232a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVtZ0b7KpvvX08GwQB_1dEGq5I6sgCg9JESZvukNfAsstYuVv-Q9O3wtB9jQQ7ZfoEIYj5Kd9aR08ZZP7p_oupZjrzbSBom5uNk6rXbxjECjM1VnfzC25QQFk65CMohaL8YDpRSK3XBp1/s320/IMG_2232a.jpg" /></a></div>Well, how did we do??Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-31698795583731703122011-10-08T12:31:00.000-05:002011-10-08T12:31:30.879-05:00TIme To Catch UpWhew, I have a few minutes to breathe and my top priority is to get the blog updated. After all, it has been six weeks since the last post. We are putting in some long days once again with only a couple weeks to catch our breath from all the trekkers. Additionally, with Elder Smith’s new assignment as assistant director, he has been active orienting himself with the duties. It is exciting to see him excel at being a loved leader. I am constantly getting positive comments about how the missionaries love working with and for him. Makes me proud!!<br />
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As assistant director our P-days cannot be set in stone. Luckily, before knowing our future, we were able to go to the Guernsey Ruts, Register Cliff and Fort Laramie with our good friends the Petersons. These three historic sites are part of the Oregon and Mormon Trail. Fort Laramie is where many of the young pioneers would drop off the handcart companies and join the army to try and earn money for their family. Register Cliff is where several names are carved in rock…pioneer graffiti. The most interesting to us was the wagon ruts. I remember visiting there as a young girl but only saw one set of the ruts where this time we walked all over the hill and there are several areas of ruts which was just so exciting to explore. I wanted to take our friends to a great little Mexican restaurant in Lingle for lunch but they were closed for vacation. I guess they didn’t get the memo that I was coming through. It was a great get-away day. <br />
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Oregon Trail Ruts<br />
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Register Cliff Name--there are hundreds carved on the cliff.<br />
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The last day for missionaries to be on post was Labor Day. We were blessed to have Martin’s Cove as our last post during the Labor Day weekend. It was a beautiful weekend as you can see by the pictures. We are planning on taking a ride up there soon as we hear the colors are just beautiful. Along with the changes in the countryside, we are noticing the changes in the wildlife. The deer are beautiful with their velvet antlers, the antelope have nice healthy hides and coloring, and sage hens and such are appearing. Our evening entertainment is to watch the buck antelope keep tabs on their lady friends and to protect their territory. We were fortunate enough to see a couple of them tangle their antlers while showing off for the ladies. Of course, I didn’t have the camera close by.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_UfLMP4fLxQgqxZceiduONkm5x0w0X7fl5pAiyBg2sILCBdm6UBz0wea5V5vABSl90pv8sFCGRWaiZtsOzXG1d0GW6Shuq0bYS3rB6gRGdkPldik0u625zauC7E2wfgnvCDl-hRbNQ1a/s1600/IMG_2171a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_UfLMP4fLxQgqxZceiduONkm5x0w0X7fl5pAiyBg2sILCBdm6UBz0wea5V5vABSl90pv8sFCGRWaiZtsOzXG1d0GW6Shuq0bYS3rB6gRGdkPldik0u625zauC7E2wfgnvCDl-hRbNQ1a/s320/IMG_2171a.jpg" /></a></div>Last day at Martin's Cove.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBFvjckV1z8NBTNyt5nVwbYmexoYzgpqgMbMBYiqArVlhvYchZ6846LjXmVFrFIvfJoywjoC3VQJ34oRbg8D1VS4awaLY-dA4UxynkmNcYF_P5IDlsy_baCX0vaZw5_RXR4tQN5xQjUdZ/s1600/IMG_2174a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBFvjckV1z8NBTNyt5nVwbYmexoYzgpqgMbMBYiqArVlhvYchZ6846LjXmVFrFIvfJoywjoC3VQJ34oRbg8D1VS4awaLY-dA4UxynkmNcYF_P5IDlsy_baCX0vaZw5_RXR4tQN5xQjUdZ/s320/IMG_2174a.jpg" /></a></div>Trying to catch up on some computer work.<br />
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With the imminent departure of most of the missionaries, we have had some cool evening activities. One of them was the annual variety show where the missionaries displayed their various talents. There were several missionaries who read poetry, skits by various groups, and then singing or playing the drums. The true talent was displayed with the woodwork and paintings done by several. It was an interesting night. Then one evening after shift a bunch of us missionaries climbed thru Devil’s Gate. And when I say climbed, I mean climbed over rocks; big ones. Then there was an area where we had to walk and crawl the plank on a handcrafted slough. Not the typical activity you would see folks over 60 doing; and definitely not what I thought I would be capable of doing just nine months ago. On Tuesday, September 13, we had Girl’s Day Out. All the sisters went to town shopping for the day. We met at Christopher Banks at 9:00 a.m. and had quite a time with modeling different outfits, swapping each others items they picked off the racks, and selecting outfits for each other. After a couple hours there, everyone bunched off to go to other stores in the mall and later met up for lunch at Olive Garden. After lunch, there were carloads going thrifting, fabric stores, Hobby Lobby, each somewhere of their own interest. It was so fun to just break loose and then share each other’s treasures once we returned back to Missionary Village. Of course, there were several comments from store clerks about how did we get set free without the Elders. Benefits of a senior mission I suspect. Our last big activity before the majority return to their homes is a huge dinner on Monday. We will be celebrating the Canadian Thanksgiving with a typical American Thanksgiving meal. Fun, fun, fun!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsR8u_uAyI-BI6mhyphenhyphenXr9BlX56tDbc6iSZ5fZWSTLFki_sgstjv_Bt7Ns8nhHFEJlZSj9kKrPSWSRXRdfCkCrELuWoS71jMLL-OHrG2HH3pAFSKV189TxIEwVMOEkdMzt5fAbX1CSoK9Vb/s1600/IMG_0572a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsR8u_uAyI-BI6mhyphenhyphenXr9BlX56tDbc6iSZ5fZWSTLFki_sgstjv_Bt7Ns8nhHFEJlZSj9kKrPSWSRXRdfCkCrELuWoS71jMLL-OHrG2HH3pAFSKV189TxIEwVMOEkdMzt5fAbX1CSoK9Vb/s320/IMG_0572a.jpg" /></a></div>Elders singing some western tunes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTIG8n-qA1eu_j1V5TcUBHcehf1s7QJLFmKIKZIn7hgQzJnGTajYuQuYFd3FTIaKVBfDggWnV6mCopqQ_mIpbFza-e38QdGyOL8PDaE2pBurOGDMMawjfmUUWNAoZ8CNDzRNbDH6lDC4C/s1600/IMG_0574a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTIG8n-qA1eu_j1V5TcUBHcehf1s7QJLFmKIKZIn7hgQzJnGTajYuQuYFd3FTIaKVBfDggWnV6mCopqQ_mIpbFza-e38QdGyOL8PDaE2pBurOGDMMawjfmUUWNAoZ8CNDzRNbDH6lDC4C/s320/IMG_0574a.jpg" /></a></div>Sister dressed up to sing their Rover song. No we don't dress like this every day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSeuE_L8ijILlZnHxSkxgMMVzTdHRCYO1jL2ujhdA0aU1PzvbUPTS837gzMdfj3-eCAH1Ba-PuUJxD-C_FwfbjgtcaH3stm7aRJLuyK99zitOPbS7yHXXgjUvMkBMpacZ9CPO_DMLdirF/s1600/IMG_0582a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSeuE_L8ijILlZnHxSkxgMMVzTdHRCYO1jL2ujhdA0aU1PzvbUPTS837gzMdfj3-eCAH1Ba-PuUJxD-C_FwfbjgtcaH3stm7aRJLuyK99zitOPbS7yHXXgjUvMkBMpacZ9CPO_DMLdirF/s320/IMG_0582a.jpg" /></a></div>Colleen trying to revive the Bug Man after he "gave up the ghost"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ95l7hhB-w9NqSlgik7BBIflEEFZjMIFcI_NbMZAWd9lxBArpe3lP3VB_YKENdlcgVsRQXYuulAlV7y-5Tdc6ssFdhJOy1zt9S46QKvJRjpzLxD88TxISyi5In2ok9J2A0VqrmfP11xaQ/s1600/IMG_0600a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ95l7hhB-w9NqSlgik7BBIflEEFZjMIFcI_NbMZAWd9lxBArpe3lP3VB_YKENdlcgVsRQXYuulAlV7y-5Tdc6ssFdhJOy1zt9S46QKvJRjpzLxD88TxISyi5In2ok9J2A0VqrmfP11xaQ/s320/IMG_0600a.jpg" /></a></div>Girl's Day Out at Christopher Banks<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjPgoffHqtO8ghNmep938OTnL_csFWGMK9-Kzh4D-3-VsCMPLwyuUB2tuc9Q4t9tF8AYPI0iJJBLlkRitz2qLuQ3QuMwtX5BmSPf_UHSMf84Gzn6E261XL8BpR1jHzfn9t5_-FuFon4NR/s1600/IMG_0606a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkjPgoffHqtO8ghNmep938OTnL_csFWGMK9-Kzh4D-3-VsCMPLwyuUB2tuc9Q4t9tF8AYPI0iJJBLlkRitz2qLuQ3QuMwtX5BmSPf_UHSMf84Gzn6E261XL8BpR1jHzfn9t5_-FuFon4NR/s320/IMG_0606a.jpg" /></a></div>Lunch at Olive Garden. There were 48 of us.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXeIeyw6JEA_scw9fYVR2tSGNXWTj-Nfl38IEG_DCnwKLPJOAgZtgGUyBK092rdp6K-bJyTrwlDLx9hX16CyZ6I0h9WnDSEdygG6YvdZWJYzExsjES4PZi5h4vQhY9CRBhWRN1eL723m2/s1600/IMG_0630a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXeIeyw6JEA_scw9fYVR2tSGNXWTj-Nfl38IEG_DCnwKLPJOAgZtgGUyBK092rdp6K-bJyTrwlDLx9hX16CyZ6I0h9WnDSEdygG6YvdZWJYzExsjES4PZi5h4vQhY9CRBhWRN1eL723m2/s320/IMG_0630a.jpg" /></a></div>Devil's Gate<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaPjDL3EFgD90FH9_QV9eXXsyXA_DjitCRRNIhyprsou4Zbd4tplJMO1Yc9RhsJ7kQR0oG5svzWFsUyNYQWq6JKezSgiNAyj4uO4gscx3TMLFib5mWUvEHZGI9FkEqzUOD1njW4CLGDqk/s1600/IMG_0632a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGaPjDL3EFgD90FH9_QV9eXXsyXA_DjitCRRNIhyprsou4Zbd4tplJMO1Yc9RhsJ7kQR0oG5svzWFsUyNYQWq6JKezSgiNAyj4uO4gscx3TMLFib5mWUvEHZGI9FkEqzUOD1njW4CLGDqk/s320/IMG_0632a.jpg" /></a></div>Closer to the opening of Devil's Gate<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xGA7rJScnNRlnhl4XXa8JnzykpZPKGNR-1gmIgz4mxQkFCOd5GwaUorZo4-a0mGNJCFU7ElIqaPsAHF1EwmUjHcX9q9GzM7pKs9FSu-gc3-AlZDmIf2rH8nz2eXyg-uCYp4XP9Uq_pwF/s1600/IMG_0633a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xGA7rJScnNRlnhl4XXa8JnzykpZPKGNR-1gmIgz4mxQkFCOd5GwaUorZo4-a0mGNJCFU7ElIqaPsAHF1EwmUjHcX9q9GzM7pKs9FSu-gc3-AlZDmIf2rH8nz2eXyg-uCYp4XP9Uq_pwF/s320/IMG_0633a.jpg" /></a></div>Up we go.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cCAcCQqnvSdpXbjSemWE7_2Po8XSH-UYa1nFmH5FvPlVP01WHIbQrmQw2TFo2z3PqYXrrNoTgmvSvblnjPEZIuGCeGN3a1s0YcIeXy-VrD68BBrvFXd1BNjn3gmmJpizqj5wq9H5uppt/s1600/IMG_0634a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cCAcCQqnvSdpXbjSemWE7_2Po8XSH-UYa1nFmH5FvPlVP01WHIbQrmQw2TFo2z3PqYXrrNoTgmvSvblnjPEZIuGCeGN3a1s0YcIeXy-VrD68BBrvFXd1BNjn3gmmJpizqj5wq9H5uppt/s320/IMG_0634a.jpg" /></a></div>Up we go some more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0WAE_5H3V64jXzi0fzPdC6ZktX6xg3z0TANyl2q-L-kb87wizpLLGmHdCY1gHa4Ct0U5vMR4_LWM5IXRTVLPSUfmo8zmOE2EQuUoIPl8dK8gmxNwWBnayTmuhekCo2CvLG7YBpsTztss/s1600/IMG_0637a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0WAE_5H3V64jXzi0fzPdC6ZktX6xg3z0TANyl2q-L-kb87wizpLLGmHdCY1gHa4Ct0U5vMR4_LWM5IXRTVLPSUfmo8zmOE2EQuUoIPl8dK8gmxNwWBnayTmuhekCo2CvLG7YBpsTztss/s320/IMG_0637a.jpg" /></a></div>Now down we go and the camera had to go after this as I was trying to climb in a skirt. I forgot to take jeans to change into after work.<br />
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As I mentioned earlier, we only had a couple weeks to catch our breath, because the focus in September was training the trek leaders whom with bring their groups of youth, families, or wards to do a trek next summer. We had three weekends dedicated to the Trek Leader Training Seminars with over 350 attending. Each weekend has different attendees. The first day is spent with an overview of a trek and then we actually divide them into two groups and then take them on a short six mile trek. Randy and I were trek leaders for one of the groups for the first week. This is quite an eye opener for most of the leaders on how much physical stamina it takes to do the trek. Quite a few of them have to drop out and catch a rover ride back to the training. Randy and I were rover drivers the second week of training and kept quite busy. The second day of training has several vignettes about the pioneers and how the stories can be shared with the youth and then the nuts and bolts of planning a trek. I was in one of the reader’s theaters and then did a reading to music which really made me nervous. After the training, I had to hurry to the office as the leaders would come over to work on their individual scheduled trek, purchase reference materials, or just have questions. The office became quite an active for about four hours. The exciting part of participating in the trek leader training is getting to know these leaders and then we will see them next summer with their groups. We each had some very special moments visiting with the leaders and sharing stories. One particular lady had called me at the beginning of the week she was coming and was really obstinate about having to come to the training and kinda threatened me at to it better be worth it. I just promised her a hug when she got her and asked her to have an open mind and then let me know if it was worth it before she left. I did find her and give her the hug and then kept an eye on her throughout the training. At the end of the two days, I asked her if it was worth it. She got tears in her eyes and was very emphatic on how worth it and how spiritually uplifting the whole weekend was. She has also taken the time to write to our schedulers to share with the director as to how much she truly appreciated the training and us missionaries. This is why I love serving the Lord.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXowMHF4YIfQpLXgLmBxkjxJhzZ3W_q8wocNGKZmbt2RycMC2yMAFcySfgd1cerz3cTMOaLPERlRiE1kmAXDGHOigqD-xCkSl6XnysALH9bJqgNA8ofno4QeliHM9WnDTx2aBXYR7UNCRx/s1600/IMG_0626a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXowMHF4YIfQpLXgLmBxkjxJhzZ3W_q8wocNGKZmbt2RycMC2yMAFcySfgd1cerz3cTMOaLPERlRiE1kmAXDGHOigqD-xCkSl6XnysALH9bJqgNA8ofno4QeliHM9WnDTx2aBXYR7UNCRx/s320/IMG_0626a.jpg" /></a></div>The Elders waiting for their wives to finish up in the office.<br />
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One of Elder Smith’s new responsibilities is to give daily work crew assignments to 15 to 20 men and sometimes women a day for the various projects necessary for the upkeep of the site. With this also comes making sure enough materials are available to complete the projects. Both tasks that are right up his alley!! But with the limit of only one purchase card, we make several trips to Casper. We made three trips last week and so far it has been two this week. I am going to take advantage of these trips and take the computer along to type up the blog.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY94zZSH472dA_07dR0wNyocElZfpgB8AJjflqBfqYZ1MVJjWE3UP27od_FzIqf7bI5AmGYV-EY1WV8Uk9XJ94IaErHgSeKRsd8m78JZ7g2f_UQeHZokcZWsdl6jMXvGwExTjlNlsgj83/s1600/IMG_2127a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY94zZSH472dA_07dR0wNyocElZfpgB8AJjflqBfqYZ1MVJjWE3UP27od_FzIqf7bI5AmGYV-EY1WV8Uk9XJ94IaErHgSeKRsd8m78JZ7g2f_UQeHZokcZWsdl6jMXvGwExTjlNlsgj83/s320/IMG_2127a.jpg" /></a></div>Our friendly neighborhood watch guy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhXWc4_Q3QqAaa4JQm16CJyas8Ty9IxhflbcTEmyY4JzrB8Y2RzQO5LcOc48UEe17UUWVpTnGxpeDkIHxqcveHixroOP9CUxm9OEh4F8bZssFcYeOkPUvzIyLdHzI1LWeh7vTorFDXlDt/s1600/IMG_2159a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="236" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhXWc4_Q3QqAaa4JQm16CJyas8Ty9IxhflbcTEmyY4JzrB8Y2RzQO5LcOc48UEe17UUWVpTnGxpeDkIHxqcveHixroOP9CUxm9OEh4F8bZssFcYeOkPUvzIyLdHzI1LWeh7vTorFDXlDt/s320/IMG_2159a.jpg" /></a></div>These guys watch the cove for us when the trekkers leave.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZ-p6Sl5TPvgE1NybpqPxyyRrJZoEPzOyaT912QmcmQIDZnSRpBgsFk1nT8U_y9mQh629YI3pYBxMhSFub4ip-ds3LCxSdAgrr9iKDRnXCSPb2Gtbfna3RkqqjJuGgDUpoLYvL_CrhwlN/s1600/IMG_0619a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZ-p6Sl5TPvgE1NybpqPxyyRrJZoEPzOyaT912QmcmQIDZnSRpBgsFk1nT8U_y9mQh629YI3pYBxMhSFub4ip-ds3LCxSdAgrr9iKDRnXCSPb2Gtbfna3RkqqjJuGgDUpoLYvL_CrhwlN/s320/IMG_0619a.jpg" /></a></div>Thanksgiving dinner any one?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizhvJUkRyhgbSkRR7jFw2Cj6EVBK9r6VXElJKBIhBMGqLVIDBiooUCK6yWWgNwn7nYyXVO46bglZfXakx20AziY5MJE1H-r_mqhW_kx82jRlHGWDXQqbmva-TR91A8AkGKqvmBIDvn8A9/s1600/IMG_0656a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizhvJUkRyhgbSkRR7jFw2Cj6EVBK9r6VXElJKBIhBMGqLVIDBiooUCK6yWWgNwn7nYyXVO46bglZfXakx20AziY5MJE1H-r_mqhW_kx82jRlHGWDXQqbmva-TR91A8AkGKqvmBIDvn8A9/s320/IMG_0656a.jpg" /></a></div>This is our neighbors lawn. They are just much to comfortable around here.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-46535046307207601632011-08-19T17:45:00.000-05:002011-08-19T17:45:56.367-05:00Saying GoodbyesOur time here is coming to a close as we had to say goodbye to our 12-week missionaries this week. There was a pulled pork barbeque on Thursday night with the Martin’s Cove Band entertaining before dinner and then cowboy music after dinner. It was a wonderful evening full of fun and good friendship and giving us time to bid our new friends farewell. <br />
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Last Saturday evening the missionaries were treated to a grilled steak dinner put on by the Casper members of the church. It was so yummy having steak, potatoes, salad and cobbler. Since we had spent the summer in Casper last year, we knew some of the Casper people so it was exciting to get to visit with them and catch up on news. For me, the moving part of the evening was the smell of the barbeque. We haven’t had one barbeque all summer due to the activity of all and the late hours of posts. So, just to smell the coals burning was quite relaxing.<br />
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After the dinner, there was a fireside with Sister Dorene Lloyd and Sister Joanne Baird (Sister Marjorie Hinckley’s sisters). They are the sweetest things and show such deep love for each other. They, their other two sisters and brother (until their death) have met every Wednesday afternoon since the late 1970s and done various activities. Now, that is truly commitment. Their grandmother is Mary Goble, whom traveled with the Hunt Wagon Company and grandfather, Richard Pay, who also traveled with the Hunt Wagon Company. They had a little reader’s theater telling about their grandma and grandpa’s experiences while traveling across the plains. Mary Goble’s toes froze that they had to be amputated when she reached Salt Lake. She rode in the wagon holding her dead mother’s head down Emigration Canyon. Her mom had died just two days before reaching Salt Lake. During the journey, the Gobles lost a baby after 6 weeks which died in Nebraska. Thru a series of small miracles, Sister Lloyd and Sister Baird were able to obtain the grave marker for this baby. They brought it with them to show all of us. <br />
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The marker is made from a wagon board; in fact, it still has some nails in it. It was carved out and then was burned with an instrument to make it dark lettering and keep it readable. The marker was in the hands of a couple which live in Idaho in the middle of nowhere. They had found it in a creek bed on their property. Their yard was decorated with old antiques and this was part of the décor for several years. One day, the husband decided he would look up the name on the internet and see if he could find out anything about the child. To his surprise, he found out it was related to President Hinckley’s wife. They tried to write a letter to President Hinckley asking if he wanted it but the people who got the letter thought it was a hoax since none of the pioneers died in Idaho from the trail. So, President Hinckley never saw the letter. They sent other letters trying to reach the family but to no avail. It wasn’t until the Hinckley siblings were scheduled for a fireside in Idaho and one of the members of the ward or stake who knew about this grave marker (friends of the owners) put the two interested parties together that the marker was able to be placed in the family of the Hinckley’s. How the marker got in Idaho is still a mystery but it is known that thru the years several Bedouins would travel through and maybe that is how it got picked up and then discarded at a later time. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FoQEXpA2g1q2kOTgZLDIVHmF_ZP-9zKdwUf15rCumUY98CGzFKgCYEfQY-XNIcMcM5WIKqNC95psqOvfwHpgr7m1XUL19Q89hoAbl34_KGOCkJqa1MaZmhX1HGwjXq_zezETOfvWP8OJ/s1600/IMG_0561a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FoQEXpA2g1q2kOTgZLDIVHmF_ZP-9zKdwUf15rCumUY98CGzFKgCYEfQY-XNIcMcM5WIKqNC95psqOvfwHpgr7m1XUL19Q89hoAbl34_KGOCkJqa1MaZmhX1HGwjXq_zezETOfvWP8OJ/s320/IMG_0561a.jpg" /></a></div>Pay Sisters with Great Aunt's grave marker from 1856<br />
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Saturday was our preparation day (PDay) and we took advantage of having some time off. There wasn’t a real need for any groceries and such and I had everything pretty much caught up around the house so we went exploring. About 40 miles from here is Green Mountain and on the top of the mountain is a herd of wild horses. We went and found them. We were able to drive up fairly close but then got out and walked which got us a bit closer. We witnessed two stallions fighting and then mares protecting their foals of all different ages. It was an absolutely beautiful sight. I think pictures of them in the snow would be gorgeous. We then went to Riverton, Wyoming and decided that is not the town for us. We much prefer Lander.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL07h0oMaOSQ4DRF44kab-0W2lY-n2_Xe_m17H5ZM5dcwpa7elx2fQH6oPzh1YbGoJi-1P4LCIF_o_YW7uL-dsPqNHKO8hIGpfc_owlTX0QGuWcIhfcJHim3AB71r9rLg2WGHVTaPa9rC/s1600/IMG_1950a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL07h0oMaOSQ4DRF44kab-0W2lY-n2_Xe_m17H5ZM5dcwpa7elx2fQH6oPzh1YbGoJi-1P4LCIF_o_YW7uL-dsPqNHKO8hIGpfc_owlTX0QGuWcIhfcJHim3AB71r9rLg2WGHVTaPa9rC/s320/IMG_1950a.jpg" /></a></div>The Two Stallions<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1388cLdQXDw5PMjrnnybr7-H_E8gmZn_fb9O0mGRiBo_qVEw977BBMe3kC0qbyfIa07USkGfOAZwbPk68emIRt3I4a8n-9SiHAoz1h7ToI5VgzYIRwj0P7APj5PagHs4O2wml2FeXEfiA/s1600/IMG_1958a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1388cLdQXDw5PMjrnnybr7-H_E8gmZn_fb9O0mGRiBo_qVEw977BBMe3kC0qbyfIa07USkGfOAZwbPk68emIRt3I4a8n-9SiHAoz1h7ToI5VgzYIRwj0P7APj5PagHs4O2wml2FeXEfiA/s320/IMG_1958a.jpg" /></a></div>What we got of the fight between the two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSruvOQTexfCg9TTFFOR3yZgb96wvPBDzAnQM-IycstkBG5MPJ3RHg5fjzTXtnZ0eEawyHlJwGojnMGQsxMTtgh4RL6rlOyBnSPzS7y7dqkrEiMUGSifW2jTg8JahOCLKV1udWmPPQXNwO/s1600/IMG_1975a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSruvOQTexfCg9TTFFOR3yZgb96wvPBDzAnQM-IycstkBG5MPJ3RHg5fjzTXtnZ0eEawyHlJwGojnMGQsxMTtgh4RL6rlOyBnSPzS7y7dqkrEiMUGSifW2jTg8JahOCLKV1udWmPPQXNwO/s320/IMG_1975a.jpg" /></a></div>One of the small herds grazing<br />
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This past Wednesday was this week’s PDay and we once again went exploring. We traveled over to Lander to tour the Eagle Bronze foundry and Sinks State Park. The foundry was so very interesting. They were in the process of making a monument of two fighting horses which will be cast in stainless steel and are going to somewhere in Dubai as a sheik bought it. Oh, for the small cost of at least 2 to 3 million dollars. It was told to us that due to the shininess of this monument, it will be able to be seen from outer space. The process that goes on to make one of these monuments has sure changed the way I look at them now. I hope to go through the foundry again. The Sinks is where a river runs straight into a cracks in the mountain and goes underground for about a quarter of a mile and then comes right out of the rocks. I know you think I mean into a cave and then out a tunnel but no I don’t…I mean into the rock side of the mountain and then out from the rock pile down lower. They say the water that goes in takes two hours to come out. It was very interesting to read about and even more to actually see. We are enjoying exploring on our PDays and the next one is scheduled to take some missionary friends to Guernsey Ruts, Fort Laramie and Register Cliff. It will be a long day but a good one.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9ZHclHiRMiGStAcUsdzBq5OOQE25DDYTTe_-OJqRSjD8I7iwonuLGfMvlQFihV5jNQAz4bYxXMl-_w2QQvmd_cjB0VNztglJJChB0bYjZm1qkAbm0dVrTX8S_55l3lRAtgreL2U5hCMW/s1600/IMG_2021a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9ZHclHiRMiGStAcUsdzBq5OOQE25DDYTTe_-OJqRSjD8I7iwonuLGfMvlQFihV5jNQAz4bYxXMl-_w2QQvmd_cjB0VNztglJJChB0bYjZm1qkAbm0dVrTX8S_55l3lRAtgreL2U5hCMW/s320/IMG_2021a.jpg" /></a></div>The statue of the horses being made.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs6lo1bzkvqNt5xufZs6Ie6uQ_s-3XEqOF9GaohgLZMT2Cf00N5zGF5oO46ylLj4eKxeb8GakgXk0sgpXvnMWLvN44I9ObA1a9xENISe9ekx1HEsHQFRWvg1me0Sbh3mwphyhNCtAT46u/s1600/IMG_2033a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs6lo1bzkvqNt5xufZs6Ie6uQ_s-3XEqOF9GaohgLZMT2Cf00N5zGF5oO46ylLj4eKxeb8GakgXk0sgpXvnMWLvN44I9ObA1a9xENISe9ekx1HEsHQFRWvg1me0Sbh3mwphyhNCtAT46u/s320/IMG_2033a.jpg" /></a></div>The entrance of the water into the mountain. Sorry, but I didn't get a good picture of the water coming out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2hYEeuyc-MkTTD5nuzjiX5fCreGPvbhoYL6-csA5sk5vNWBj7-GMjOCqXPwlxfXVBb9R-fQWXYFgAX9X9mSu8YANyrl7L5wErhujtY7l47AltB1Ft16gHQC_TbRvjbuN2ITWLbygZeOJ/s1600/IMG_2051a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2hYEeuyc-MkTTD5nuzjiX5fCreGPvbhoYL6-csA5sk5vNWBj7-GMjOCqXPwlxfXVBb9R-fQWXYFgAX9X9mSu8YANyrl7L5wErhujtY7l47AltB1Ft16gHQC_TbRvjbuN2ITWLbygZeOJ/s320/IMG_2051a.jpg" /></a></div>This is when I was down closer to where the water disappears into the mountain.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEpZq1-vmvQiakcBOxtXm3t2fqsq0QdVU1wGPx9fv3_vYKlStGlcZzeGnV7U59bbKO6ydXEuG9W9OKIiCt4Lvmr4903ojjGL1hK7jEC9cD_iPceI6G3EknQd2-AmEFGoTAEds43XilSvM/s1600/IMG_2060a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEpZq1-vmvQiakcBOxtXm3t2fqsq0QdVU1wGPx9fv3_vYKlStGlcZzeGnV7U59bbKO6ydXEuG9W9OKIiCt4Lvmr4903ojjGL1hK7jEC9cD_iPceI6G3EknQd2-AmEFGoTAEds43XilSvM/s320/IMG_2060a.jpg" /></a></div>Do you recognize these two?<br />
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Martin’s Cove experienced a first last Friday. Three bikers came to visit on their way to Sturgis. It was a gentleman, his friend, and his son-in-law. They were just enjoying a guy’s trip and stopping to see the sights along the way. They decided to walk up to the cove before leaving. As they were walking the gentleman started to not feel well. He rested for a time at one of our posts but then felt he could go on. He only made it about 50 yards and collapsed on the trail. The missionary called for help and then called for the truck to come out on the trail as it was evident he was in serious condition. Another visitor to the area was a registered nurse and started CPR which continued for over an hour and half until the ambulance could get out here. The gentleman didn’t make it. Once the EMT arrived they knew he was gone and probably was gone as soon as he collapsed. It was a very emotional day for all of us as several of us had our own special memory of this visitor. I sure hope we don’t have any more days like last Friday.<br />
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With the winding down of the season, preparation is made for the winter. During the winter, there are six couples who are housed here whom take care of the property and prepare for the next summer. These six couples are called “Polar Bears.” Rumblings were going around the missionaries as to who was going to get asked to stay. It has been fun to kid and threaten our friends that they were going to freeze, need warmer coats, enjoy being snowbound, etc. Well, to our surprise, on Monday we were called into the director’s office and given the call from the Presiding Bishopric to stay and be the assistant directors for a year. What an honor but what a change of plans. I guess all our training for flexibility from the Air Force days has prepared us for retirement years also. I know this will upset some but to be in the service of the Lord is the most fulfilling and gratifying opportunity. Elder Bruce Carlson stated, “Faithful obedience, regardless of the apparent size of the task, will bring the Lord’s guidance, assistance, and peace.” There are thousands of things we could be doing with our lives right now and have the time to do it but we feel we are where the Lord wants us at this time. A statement from Neal A Maxwell has carried me through many a time, “God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability.” We are excited about our new calling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AHfXB04aX6E0h8-S8Cb-7cbZ9gy0ElLK3MZY2kmHgXKnqw6yy6N9jAco6LM87UBwRC-KzRhh1EoRWXE8zQpxOIAIwfkssS9yeHsf5um3cENGI2IMryq9MQ_bU02tBWYblML_KhvCTM10/s1600/IMG_0538a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2AHfXB04aX6E0h8-S8Cb-7cbZ9gy0ElLK3MZY2kmHgXKnqw6yy6N9jAco6LM87UBwRC-KzRhh1EoRWXE8zQpxOIAIwfkssS9yeHsf5um3cENGI2IMryq9MQ_bU02tBWYblML_KhvCTM10/s320/IMG_0538a.jpg" /></a></div>This is how we solve the problems of the day. By the time we had them all solved there were eight more people around the bed of this truck. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7omdYcs2zkaL1jzMVwhlrZgxl0opYngp7JbOIb4FSdUEwE3xjCXp_21ZLKRHQovpzmtMGsLPFeXdDF1C6wWg89KT3lm2DpphtClcb1btSa4INTnD3HE5ChyA_ooR9h2Oqz4ZfaIkHOrRv/s1600/IMG_0542a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7omdYcs2zkaL1jzMVwhlrZgxl0opYngp7JbOIb4FSdUEwE3xjCXp_21ZLKRHQovpzmtMGsLPFeXdDF1C6wWg89KT3lm2DpphtClcb1btSa4INTnD3HE5ChyA_ooR9h2Oqz4ZfaIkHOrRv/s320/IMG_0542a.jpg" /></a></div>Elder Smith dipping the handcarts into something that treats the wood and prepares them for next year. This was a cool contraption made by one of the Elders that saves a lot of brush strokes!!Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-54302021962841698332011-08-07T15:50:00.000-05:002011-08-07T15:50:59.794-05:00Trek Season is Winding Down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqNhageutdxyQOvbl-baVt88Wk7BYOWVwzpMZW7gUxxL_rj0AGLVxHYfYvQjzYbyRF3CRCmu6R7LKk10Hj1FD0vCfctA290YbeD6Fs3P8CQFRpgC9TflsP4FlH7PUgY4z5xFf1WEvMNs2/s1600/IMG_1899a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqNhageutdxyQOvbl-baVt88Wk7BYOWVwzpMZW7gUxxL_rj0AGLVxHYfYvQjzYbyRF3CRCmu6R7LKk10Hj1FD0vCfctA290YbeD6Fs3P8CQFRpgC9TflsP4FlH7PUgY4z5xFf1WEvMNs2/s320/IMG_1899a.jpg" /></a></div>Karl and Patrick were the first two to pull the handcart.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YihIs3cBOJ_8jSSFOPaGIWN6nGCbHGYyQeRI2L48YQIm_XlN3plSYgAxP94UcUpvffx48adtCUeCRgBlmuZXotkBfW9om8hIYRPyDySIQ6XtN74u8P-0-yzkStzchhc0M-0L7Jpap_Gn/s1600/IMG_1905a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YihIs3cBOJ_8jSSFOPaGIWN6nGCbHGYyQeRI2L48YQIm_XlN3plSYgAxP94UcUpvffx48adtCUeCRgBlmuZXotkBfW9om8hIYRPyDySIQ6XtN74u8P-0-yzkStzchhc0M-0L7Jpap_Gn/s320/IMG_1905a.jpg" /></a></div>Randy and Addy entering the beautiful cove.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivIzOX0k7F3gBjQMseKL7qp6NL7R5DZFw6cBaYLXhY4xe8BU0L1eUh65-hMR1lLSypYF0UyyYk3QQoy-inU4tXoqFMF3zqlDqPCLbSVYZT2XI2Yj7eFsa4zzoV9Ai2UVNinkFVxiHRx1D/s1600/IMG_1909a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivIzOX0k7F3gBjQMseKL7qp6NL7R5DZFw6cBaYLXhY4xe8BU0L1eUh65-hMR1lLSypYF0UyyYk3QQoy-inU4tXoqFMF3zqlDqPCLbSVYZT2XI2Yj7eFsa4zzoV9Ai2UVNinkFVxiHRx1D/s320/IMG_1909a.jpg" /></a></div>We had just listened to the stories from Elder and Sister Erwin and gathered on the benches at the head of the cove.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX5oTom_-9uEhHcmOoaEHgIC-yWJvIOpJXKQ7cHHSYRXLYuuiW6SMMuVnUrvAbCtx_pYOIQgqM2auEccnZ2CgOB0umBJVJv-JvD5RS6MvwiCiaHDkJRzCPPIeLlUEBfg02qUmcARrdytQ/s1600/IMG_1914a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX5oTom_-9uEhHcmOoaEHgIC-yWJvIOpJXKQ7cHHSYRXLYuuiW6SMMuVnUrvAbCtx_pYOIQgqM2auEccnZ2CgOB0umBJVJv-JvD5RS6MvwiCiaHDkJRzCPPIeLlUEBfg02qUmcARrdytQ/s320/IMG_1914a.jpg" /></a></div>Mom and kids pulling the handcart. Everyone took their turn. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-KPJa4fdFOKAgQoaVgJECtlic-EEhE8fzHyE_RDLWInhyphenhyphenYnZeKlAtyF047VYc4XFPkc4yKaPLJF7v5Gc56szUt1bbgev9C-PTZR9jHIMeKo7BySZQcunsqpqNL1Fut-X6TJrLCNB-3uV/s1600/IMG_1922a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-KPJa4fdFOKAgQoaVgJECtlic-EEhE8fzHyE_RDLWInhyphenhyphenYnZeKlAtyF047VYc4XFPkc4yKaPLJF7v5Gc56szUt1bbgev9C-PTZR9jHIMeKo7BySZQcunsqpqNL1Fut-X6TJrLCNB-3uV/s320/IMG_1922a.jpg" /></a></div>Family river crossing. It wasn't too cold just a bit swift.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPCHVKatr1zjGyYzFKibp__F57Ync6uY9JaeKFcaoH0JYrutAvaEOtNGBCULzjyZbrgErKtpjTfQVYbt1zDooqNDPcy694g3XlhbeXmOad9vAJ64CSXvFBDj0ImkHju6XNGY51RH_6AwH/s1600/IMG_1929a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="214" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPCHVKatr1zjGyYzFKibp__F57Ync6uY9JaeKFcaoH0JYrutAvaEOtNGBCULzjyZbrgErKtpjTfQVYbt1zDooqNDPcy694g3XlhbeXmOad9vAJ64CSXvFBDj0ImkHju6XNGY51RH_6AwH/s320/IMG_1929a.jpg" /></a></div>Karl carrying Angela. Hold on Angela he doesn't like the rocks on the bottom.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQ8rX12vNGgjBey93y9gw1LL1LEBjd1gg__TC4ug7DQSV5IiFWQwyfm0CYZ3AUbQnCwBtyS1H59snhdywYj5aojBJET8XPzxJ2uwH9JY1zcsJ5ri22HpHizbUX2RSH1bWkPYswwJh68XN/s1600/IMG_0520a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQ8rX12vNGgjBey93y9gw1LL1LEBjd1gg__TC4ug7DQSV5IiFWQwyfm0CYZ3AUbQnCwBtyS1H59snhdywYj5aojBJET8XPzxJ2uwH9JY1zcsJ5ri22HpHizbUX2RSH1bWkPYswwJh68XN/s320/IMG_0520a.jpg" /></a></div>Some of that unique Wyoming landscape we really enjoy.<br />
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This was the last week with a significant number of trekkers. There are one or two still on the schedule for the rest of the month but it is like the plug has been pulled and the sink is drained. We are hoping there will now be time to slow down and maybe even go and see some of Wyoming. As in two weeks, we need to gear up for trek leader training during the month of September. Our treks will now be with adults preparing to do treks with their families, wards, or stakes within the next two years. <br />
We had a good break from all of our activities the weekend of July 22nd. Karl and Angela were able to come to Wyoming and visit for a few days. I think they wanted to check on us and make sure we were really as busy as we write about. They arrived on Friday evening; and to make the weekend better, Sylvia, Kathryn, Patrick and Addy came out and spent the night. We had a great dinner of fried chicken and potato salad which was a real treat. On Saturday, we dressed in pioneer dress (yep, all of us) and then did the eight mile trek into Martin’s Cove including a river crossing. Along the trek, we read accounts of five or six of the handcart pioneers enabling us to learn and understand more. There were so many special moments shared between each of us and was culminated with the river crossing as a family. It will be a day forever planted in my memory. Sunday was church and the big potluck which I think Karl really enjoyed. Monday, Karl, Angela, Randy and I drove to Sixth Crossing where the Willie Company was rescued and then to the base of Rocky Ridge. We then drove along the Atlantic-Hudson Highway to Rock Creek Hollow. Now don’t get to excited because the Atlantic-Hudson Highway is not paved it was a long dirt road. Karl was thrilled to get to drive the truck on back roads. Angela and Karl were able to see some Wyoming countryside, booming towns in Wyoming like Jeffery City, and explore Lander for a little time. Our day was cut a bit short as I had a part in the family home evening program and Karl and Angela just had to see a bunch of old people hold family home evening. Tuesday, we went into Casper and spent the afternoon with Sylvia and family. We really enjoyed spending time with the kids but it made us miss family again.<br />
The following Wednesday and Thursday were our heaviest days for trekkers with 1800 on one day and 1200 the next and then the normal 500 to 700 all the other days. Elder Smith helped with greeting them and issuing handcarts (staging post) while I was in the office. It was very long days for us – 10 to 12 hour days. One of the groups that came in was from Houston Texas; a Spanish speaking stake from east Houston. They rode on a bus for 27 hours straight to come and, in several missionaries opinion, took the trophy for being the most special group of the summer. Randy was the orienteer for the group and even though everything was translated there was an instant bond once he said our address is Texas. A majority of these youth had never been out of the state of Texas let alone the city of Houston and every little thing they saw from the cottontails to the stars in the sky were so enthralling to them. They didn’t want to sleep as it would mean they would miss something. One of their buses broke down in Limon, Colorado and was delayed three hours to arrive but this did not dampen any of their spirits. Then one of the buses broke down before departing and they had to draw straws to see who would stay as everyone of them; young and old, volunteered to stay as they just didn’t want to leave. Their departure was seven hours later and they were not disappointed in the least.<br />
Friday, the 29th, we were at the footbridge where river crossings happen. There were three river crossings scheduled but one occurred before we got on post. Our first river crossing was the Idaho Falls unit which did the traditional crossing with silently pulling their handcarts through the river as families. Then the Houston Stake started their river crossing. We were so excited to be there with them. They began with a devotional given by the young men’s president while violin music played on the banks across the river. After the devotional, the 14 to 17-year-old boys pulled the carts across the river and along the trail. The 18-year-old young men and adult male leaders carried every female across the river. The men and boys carried their wives/mothers and daughters/sisters across. There were over 150 females so this took a little over two hours. All the time six youth were playing violins and a flute with no talking or playing done by those crossing. The entire group was very reverent. I was on the side of the river with the music and it kept blowing off the stand so I went over and held it for them which was really difficult to do while tears stream down your face. I wish I could have recorded the entire experience for you.<br />
So far this season, we have had units from Washington, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, South Dakota, Montana, Nevada, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. Our visitors that come are from even more states and foreign countries. It is so cool to visit with people from all over. It helps me with my homesickness for the Air Force. <br />
Again, this week was full of very long days from 7 am til 7:30 or 8:00 pm every night. Randy was over the staging area as the regular missionaries were campground hosts for part of the week. This is a very busy place as you have to be there early to greet the units coming in, receive the carts back from the units heading home and then be there at night for the units that come in and go out the same day. I spent the week in the office starting to put things together for the trek leader training and then helped Randy after 5 pm and all day Friday. <br />
It is so hard to realize our time here is so close to ending. In two weeks, the summer missionaries go home, then the second year missionaries go home the third week in September, and then we go home the second week of October. It has gone by so very fast and I guess it is baffling to me as I really didn’t think I would have the health to last. It is so gratifying to know we have a wonderful Father in Heaven that will take care of us even if we question our capability.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-39913183977714289072011-07-31T22:44:00.000-05:002011-07-31T22:44:47.495-05:00Notes from our Week as Campground Hosts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSA-DEieZMFEZ0I-7MQbV4yfO6je22XxGHe1o0DT1Bwf6aoL6zFTwEu-oEnHbtZAvZNuOxRieSu3h-M0J7-22bAV31V8ATOA3cpef0wvEl9k8XYtz1Rs20G_47sl6LuJNeett57q7CjP4/s1600/IMG_0497a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSA-DEieZMFEZ0I-7MQbV4yfO6je22XxGHe1o0DT1Bwf6aoL6zFTwEu-oEnHbtZAvZNuOxRieSu3h-M0J7-22bAV31V8ATOA3cpef0wvEl9k8XYtz1Rs20G_47sl6LuJNeett57q7CjP4/s320/IMG_0497a.jpg" /></a></div>This was taken Friday morning at the campground. This is only about a third of the campground.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8XOWZBIPwqra_Nrmb5N6K8aYRomTAwpDHV27CNryVjWyv_2Xgo8NpMC3FVkoUkyuJTFDppGigpZ7jQTJl7VbHZLPtMsuXuKvaYy267OT3Y87_E05mkcGP-cGiEsmkoaDPtIxPPk3taLz/s1600/IMG_0507a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk8XOWZBIPwqra_Nrmb5N6K8aYRomTAwpDHV27CNryVjWyv_2Xgo8NpMC3FVkoUkyuJTFDppGigpZ7jQTJl7VbHZLPtMsuXuKvaYy267OT3Y87_E05mkcGP-cGiEsmkoaDPtIxPPk3taLz/s320/IMG_0507a.jpg" /></a></div>Before sacrament begin while instructions for the day were being given by the trek leader. Isn't it beautiful?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMgL6NHGlKEeJLqhyVhfowwNnYJB3Zo2JlQYhZU6ofwquts7QRSzVWcy8k9F1fejsDRmhJxyZbDdSU4ZVnj6YWtYz9cIla7KNz76IHu31ppqHfOdYdNNaRvNq-AUp7f8NHxjNR-Gq05QJ/s1600/IMG_0511a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="240" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMgL6NHGlKEeJLqhyVhfowwNnYJB3Zo2JlQYhZU6ofwquts7QRSzVWcy8k9F1fejsDRmhJxyZbDdSU4ZVnj6YWtYz9cIla7KNz76IHu31ppqHfOdYdNNaRvNq-AUp7f8NHxjNR-Gq05QJ/s320/IMG_0511a.jpg" /></a></div>1800s Silver Sacrament Trays<br />
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Campground week proved to be very rewarding even though it was the busiest week of the year with fourteen units coming, a total of 1912 trekkers staying at Cherry Creek for various lengths of time. These are just excerpts from my seven page journal about the week. <br />
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Our first unit in was Batesville Ward from Utah. They were our guinea pigs for giving them information and get their support vehicles set up. I guess we did okay as we were quickly invited to dinner with them which consisted of Hawaiian haystacks; not a typical pioneer meal but delicious all the same. This unit was led by a Bishop that was facing knee replacement surgery for both knees the very next week. He never once shirked his duties and walked the entire way with his ward. It was a humbling experience to see him travel with them using his walking stick knowing how much pain he must be suffering and more so, knowing we have much easier modes of transportation to get him around rather than walking. This unit arrived so spiritually prepared from their youngest member to the Bishop; it was a pleasure to rub shoulders with them. <br />
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During our morning visits with the units, one of the cooks of the Lynnwood unit shared a heart rendering story with us. He is the grandfather to a set of conjoined twin girls. They lived for three years and passed away a year ago during surgery to give them transplanted hearts. They had a shared heart and liver. I sat several times and just listened to him talk and he was so touched by my sincere interest that he gave me a picture of the girls to keep. <br />
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One of our units, View First ward returned from trek with a pretty seriously injured young lady. While visiting with her, I discovered she had injured it during the women’s pull. She was pushing on the back and the cart started rolling back so she dropped to her knees to stop it and in turn it slid her some causing her knee cap to slip to the side. This story made me think about how many accidents of that nature must have occurred during the 1300 miles the pioneers traveled and they didn’t have medical service just a quarter of a mile away. <br />
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An interesting item was noticed today with the Pueblo CO Stake which would be staying the next three days. First, they came in rented vans instead of the buses and there were about 20 to park. Their unit functioned in individual families instead of as a whole unit like most stakes do. They came in their vans as a family of about 10 to 12, camped as a family, and cooked their own meals as a family. They did many of the story telling and events as families with only the main ones of Ephraim Hanks and the daily trek as a stake. It brought a realization to how it must have been with the companies of old to function just as families to get sustenance and keep going but yet be part of the big company. <br />
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During our sweep of the area once all the units departed, we noticed a plastic bag outside a tent of the Taylorsville Unit. These are seagull magnets and it would be shredded by evening time when the unit returns. So, we went to the support people which stayed with camp and told them it needed to be moved inside the tent. When we rode up in the rover, they thought they were caught and wanted to instantly repent. We were a bit puzzled and asked them why they were repenting. They shared with us they were in the process of burning their paper products from breakfast in the campfire when two seagulls started fighting over food scraps. As they fought, one of them got knocked into the campfire by the other seagull. Needless to say, he met his demise since the fire was really going. After we had a good chuckle, they had the gull (pun on words) to invite us to dinner. Who do they think we are? I am not up for blackened seagull. To add to the story, when we returned later that evening to check on the units, we noticed not so many seagulls were in the area. We mentioned this to the leaders and their reply was, “You are still coming to dinner, aren’t you?” <br />
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One of our units, Garden City Kansas Stake, arriving gave us an evening of excitement. After my rest, we returned to the campground where I stayed at the shack and Elder Smith went into the homestead to try and locate the support vehicles for the stake as we knew their youth were on the trail. They were very late and we were quite concerned. He found one sister with her vehicle and found out they had had some vehicle difficulty. After awhile, the sister, Sister Clemm, came down to join us at the campground with her suburban full of food as she needed some company while waiting for the others. It was great to visit with her. Thru conversation we found out she worked on a ranch near where I grew up, they now own a buffalo ranch in Kansas, and other great tidbits of information. Their car trouble was her suburban tire had received a flat from the Rock Creek Hollow road of tailings and then when they went to put the spare on the suburban it was also flat due to damage. One of the other vehicles was a suburban with the same size tire so they were able to use that spare to get her back on the road; what a tender mercy. Then, her husband was in the process of taking the two damaged tires to Lander to get them repaired. On the way there he smelled smoke. He stopped his vehicle and found that when he had received new tires on his truck prior to coming, the lug nuts had not been tightened so they were now hot and smoldering. It was so bad it had rounded off the bolt and wheel. So there was nothing to do but crawl into Lander and hope to find a new wheel. This was their other support vehicle that had the equipment including cook stoves in it. As we were visiting, Sister Clemm was getting quite concerned as to how she was going to fix supper for the trekkers. She had the food just not a way to cook it. Elder Smith said he would go ask the Taylorsville Stake if they would loan a couple of their cook stoves. He did just that but was met with some opposition. Not opposition to help out but opposition that she should fuss with fixing the meal instead they wanted to share their dinner with them. A little side note to add tender thoughts to this story, when the Taylorsville unit food committee was getting their supplies they felt prompted to purchase some extra. Even though they couldn’t figure out why, they followed the prompting. Now, they had their answer and were so touched to be able to share with another stake. We witnessed the third rescue in action. So, we had dinner taken care of for this unit and was just awaiting their arrival. When we saw them coming down the trail some distance off, Sister Clemm drove her vehicle down to where they would park. We were going to do a check of the other areas prior to going to the head of the campground to greet them. As we were getting ready, I turned just in time to see Sister Clemm drive up at a very fast pace. She let her window down and said they had a medical emergency and she needed to get to the medical vehicle about two miles up the road. I jumped in with her to guide her to where it was parked while Elder Smith stayed behind to help where he could. About a mile down the road, we noticed their medical vehicle pulled off the side of the road with the hood up and doors open. She stopped to see what needed to be done. Two young ladies had suffered a bad asthma attack and needed their nebulizer but the inverter wasn’t pulling the unit. I directed them to go straight to the campground shack for the generator we use when square dancing. It was closer than turning them around for the homestead. So, we all started towards the campground shack and just a short distance down the road, Sister Clemm and I noticed a commotion with a group of the youth at a pull off. So, we pulled off only to discover that one of the other girls went into a panic attack triggering yet another asthma attack. So, she got loaded into the seat I was in and I said I would walk back. I started walking with some of the youth and leaders when one of the leaders just broke down and needed consoled as she thought she had pushed her daughter too hard and was afraid she was going to suffer. I did what I could as we walked a short distance until they cut off for their camp. While I was walking back, Elder Smith had another one of their trekkers run up and let him know a young man was down and hurt his ankle. He was going to take the rover to retrieve him but I had the key in my pocket. Through conversation on the radios Elder Smith was able to get the Base missionary, Elder Nickell, to come pick me up and get me to the shack quicker. Elder Smith was able to take the rover to get this young man who was also really despondent. In the meantime, I asked if I could help with the young girls as they only had a couple medical people. One of the young girls wanted out of the vehicle to lie on the ground. We put her in the shack, first in a chair so she could breathe better. Her leader helped her take off her wet clothes from the river crossing and then needed to go help the other girls do the same. So they asked me to stay with her. I didn’t mind at all but didn’t want to be in there alone. Luckily, some missionaries were arriving to prepare for square dancing that night and I asked Sister Peterson to come sit with us. We eventually had to lay the girl down on the floor in a big fluffy sleeping bad and wrap her tight to get her warm and calm her from shaking. After some time, not sure how long, she finally rested and made the turn for betterment. She then asked if she could sit up and if I would hold her. No problem as I was already sitting on the floor trying to comfort her. As she was getting better, she would share stories of her family and then she shared with us that she felt the pioneer spirits helping her get better. She was a very special girl, Sierra Medina from Lamar, Colorado. Our camp shack turned into a little infirmary for about three hours and was it ever exciting. I am not sure what happened to help all the others as I was with Sierra the entire time but all of them were able to return to their camp late that evening. Another example of the third rescue was when members of the stake, came up to the camp shack with plates of food for the medical team and even the sick trekkers. Again the third rescue in action.<br />
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The Toole Stake had permission to hold sacrament at the campground in Amphitheater A under the direction of their stake presidency. Since we were the camp ground hosts, we were asked to attend sacrament with them. What an absolute beautiful experience! To attend sacrament while facing Martin’s Cove over the Sweet water river was so touching. I am sure it was very similar to when the pioneers held their Sunday meetings while traveling across the plains. The young men used a sacrament pitcher, bread tray and water tray dating back to the 1800s from the Rush Valley Ward which was established in 1856 while administering the sacrament. They were pure silver and gorgeous. Now passing the sacrament took a bit of time as there were over 500 people. Prior to sacrament, Toole unit had loaded all their equipment and cleaned their area so there would be no loss of the spirit after the meeting. To our surprise, all of them were ready by a half hour prior to sacrament starting. The three members of the stake presidency gave talks with special musical numbers given by the youth. It was so uplifting and powerful. After sacrament, the unit then was to go for a single file silent walk thru the cove. Again we were asked to assist with this as only about 100 could go into the cove at a time. So, we stayed at the lower post of the cove and assisted with keeping them reverent while waiting for their turn. Even though I was very exhausted from a really long week, the week ended on a high note.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-60520406670293002532011-07-20T18:33:00.000-05:002011-07-20T18:33:53.017-05:00Happy Fourth -- A Week Late<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIovSPi6zufv0NFVWIrt8n6gd0dMOf9-s6eKldXAjlFfx1s1OMOz9_fBYc5hEH_QWoKN1b_UjiMbpqz8Ws4f0Cau9M8HySjEzh3XGIaVjeIVBEOO12JkIrvNOFk0XY_ysQLR4FjEa8VAYa/s1600/IMG_0483a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630881926829646370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIovSPi6zufv0NFVWIrt8n6gd0dMOf9-s6eKldXAjlFfx1s1OMOz9_fBYc5hEH_QWoKN1b_UjiMbpqz8Ws4f0Cau9M8HySjEzh3XGIaVjeIVBEOO12JkIrvNOFk0XY_ysQLR4FjEa8VAYa/s320/IMG_0483a.jpg" /></a>Just one of the beautiful sunsets we watch every night. Don't you wish you were here?<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdAkSe38b03kMJNMlaUYeKx_2Z5yr8drkYFlAQPoyST5lyYRLT57_72vPbrsbACK_qAS2o96uNz4QqkzFKmPYOcSRz1xpWLwT95ZFfXKunWM5Eu1aqviLNilP4vvy1Ly_njbjpiNlhAJa/s1600/IMG_0481a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630881921950421538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdAkSe38b03kMJNMlaUYeKx_2Z5yr8drkYFlAQPoyST5lyYRLT57_72vPbrsbACK_qAS2o96uNz4QqkzFKmPYOcSRz1xpWLwT95ZFfXKunWM5Eu1aqviLNilP4vvy1Ly_njbjpiNlhAJa/s320/IMG_0481a.jpg" /></a>Top Notch Square Dance Caller!! He forgot to take my picture but that is okay as I lost my voice halfway through my calling.<br />
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I know this is a week late but last week got away with me. You will soon understand when you read the post for this week in a couple days. I had this written but just get it posted, so here it is.<br />
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Martin’s Cove was very busy over the weekend. It was expected with a holiday but didn’t think we would top our visitor numbers with 290 on Saturday. We are not sure where the holiday went nor what we signed ourselves up for as with our prior life we had the Fourth of July off. Family Home Evening for the 4th was great though. There were several flags that were thread bare from the Wyoming wind so we had a flag retirement ceremony. After the ceremony, some of the missionaries went to the fireworks at Alcova where they are shot from an island in the reservoir. We didn’t partake since we had early morning shift.<br />
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Since I spend at least three days a week in the office, there is only a couple days for doing posts. This week, I was blessed to work in the humanitarian center. As mentioned before, the sisters continually make quilts, knitted hats, and other articles for those in need. I worked on my first quilt since being here. It was a pink baby quilt and was so cute. I know I should have taken a picture but I was so excited to learn to tie and hope someday to be able to learn to bind a quilt. Then the ladies in the center did service for one of our sister missionaries. She was ill and was assigned to the flower watering around the homestead which is a good four hour job. Well, we divided and conquered the job for her. It felt good to be able to do service for another; oh yeah, that is an all day job now with being a missionary!!<br />
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The past week was actually fairly slow. I am truly grateful though because next week we are campground hosts. I did have a bit of an experience while working in the office on Thursday which I wish to share. At one of the multiple busy points of the day, I was transmitting on both radios and both telephone lines were ringing. At this point, an Elder came to the office to let me know the copier in the visitor’s center wasn’t working. I knew there were difficulties with it and couldn’t leave to fix it right then as I was the only one in the office. So, I told him if he sent the book over with whomever needed copies, I would just copy it. After a few minutes, a lady appeared with the book. I greeted her and asked her which page she would like copied. She mentioned she had several she needed copied. No big deal, I can do it. So, she turned to her first page which was Amy Loader and explained she was a direct descendant. I told her this was really neat as I was assigned to give the Amy Loader story for Prayer Meeting the next morning. I then started copying the pages. She asked if I would like to hear a story and of course I would as I miss most opportunities for stories while I am in the office. Her story was this: She and her husband went on a tour to England three years ago. Since their tour started on Monday, they went over earlier to spend the weekend finding the old home place of the Loaders. They went to the village and couldn’t find the home place but went to the church the Loaders attended before converting to Mormonism. They walked and walked around the church trying to get into the church to look at records but all the doors were locked. Now, this is very unusual as the churches are left open in European countries. Feeling a bit discouraged, they traveled to the next village as they knew some of the Loader children moved there when Amy and James left for America. They found another church and there was a gardener outside. So, they spoke to her about getting into the first church. She said it was not a problem just go in the blue door. They could not remember any blue door and that was very odd for there aren’t blue doors on the churches. After spending a little bit of time at the second village, they decided to return to the first and see if they saw a blue door. Sure enough, as they circled around the church they found a blue door which was open to access. This blue door led into the room where the records were stored so they were able to open books and see recorded christenings of the Loader children. When they were finished and as they were leaving, there was a lady approaching them on the walkway. The other lady asked who they were looking for and they said Loaders. She said she was a Loader. She was a descendant from one of the children which stayed in England. The couple and this lady discovered they were cousins. How exciting!! Since their tender mercy meeting, they have been able to get together in Utah, found the old home place, and shared family memorabilia which included letters Amy wrote back to her children in England. Family links being put together and I got to hear about it.<br />
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Saturday was our day off and we took advantage of it. I just wanted to do something other than buy groceries, clean house and laundry. So, we decided to take a drive in the country. We have purchased a gazetteer which shows some of the back country dirt roads. So, Randy drove and I navigated. We went to Alcova and drove the Alcova/Seminoe Cutoff which went through a really pretty canyon area. Half of it was easy gravel and half of it was paved. Not a bad drive at all so I was ready for some more adventure. After refueling and picking up a few groceries in Rawlins, I found a back road to the camper around the Ferris Mountains. From the gazetteer it looked just like the roads we had traveled. I am so glad my husband is as adventurous as I am. As the roads I took him on this time almost earned him a new truck. We ended up on jeep trail which hadn’t been traveled in a very long time. There were several spots that were washed out and then several sand trap areas. It was not designed for pick-ups but my pilot made it through for us. We ended up coming up behind the church property and through the actual Bar-11 ranch house and corrals. It was loads of fun and Randy was able to use his 4-wheel drive A LOT!!! But…I think I better wait a couple weeks before suggesting we do this again.</div>Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-32246141544470380862011-07-03T09:44:00.004-05:002011-07-03T17:39:31.636-05:00All God's CreaturesTwo months of fun and exhaustion sure goes by fast. There have been so many tender mercies and great spiritual experiences we feel we are walking on cloud 9 all the time. Again, these past two weeks have given us the opportunity for even more. The most prominent blessing for us has been noticing the doings of God’s creatures. As I have written before, we have antelope that make their home right (and I mean right) outside our camper door and wander all over the campground with very little fear of us. Last Tuesday, mama antelope brought her twins by to visit for awhile. They sure are getting big and boy, can they run. They look like a movie on fast forward all the time. They love to run circles around the older antelope (literally) until mama makes her bleating sound and then they either drop down in the grass or run over to her. It is very entertaining. <br /><br />One morning last week, we were headed into the homestead to work and noticed what we thought was a large coyote out in the grazing field between the highway and the visitor’s center. I watched it for awhile and then we figured out it was a wolf. The binoculars are in the truck within quick reach. Now that was cool, seeing a wolf in the wild. Maybe we should have been late for prayer meeting and kept watching it but we were good missionaries and carried on with our duties. Also for the past couple weeks, we have been watching a silver fox den. It was on the way to the campground where we square dance every night. Since we would head out in the evening, the kits were out and about playing. There were three of them but they sure didn’t stick around long and have moved out of the den and to wherever little foxes move on to. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OVeizaHyO5WX2Y9hij3ibfNcWbQxxaWK-QsRDBLuuDy0d_jZRUmoHYq1Aca6AYL5jOPQ5rEHt07w0PPY-B8nkSexWoaoZxlpUDlbp5UpOmZqdWqVzY5RENsJkv9qSUk7g4PkIGHM6vGa/s1600/IMG_0422a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OVeizaHyO5WX2Y9hij3ibfNcWbQxxaWK-QsRDBLuuDy0d_jZRUmoHYq1Aca6AYL5jOPQ5rEHt07w0PPY-B8nkSexWoaoZxlpUDlbp5UpOmZqdWqVzY5RENsJkv9qSUk7g4PkIGHM6vGa/s320/IMG_0422a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625137787303528050" /></a> Mama Fox and one of her little ones.<br /><br />Now some of the creatures we encounter aren’t quite as cute. Last week, a four foot rattlesnake decided to set up residence right outside the door to the office at work. Now, luckily I was safely tucked in the office working while one of the Elders kindly disposed of my guest. We have to constantly be walking with our heads down because these friends are quite plentiful this year. The missionaries have had to encourage at least one if not two to cross the veil every week. So far, Elder Smith and I have not been the ones to do the encouraging.<br /><br />Last week, we were given the opportunity to be the missionary couple for the men’s callout/women’s pull. We had a stake of over 400 youth to speak too and tell them the significance of these two activities. It was a great experience which gave each of us a couple fond memories to hold on to. The young men are told of when the men left their families in the most meager of circumstances either to respond to mission calls or death. To help them grasp how this might have impacted the ladies, they form two single file lines to go up the hill leaving the ladies to fare for themselves along the trail. The young women are told about the sisters who instantly had to shoulder the responsibility of leading their families when the men left. We then share that each of these youth will have hard things to face in their lives but if they hold onto their faith, these hard things can be overcome and endured. There is a lot more spoken about which I may include in one of the weekly stories as it is fairly lengthy. After our opportunity to share with the youth, I was touched to see one of my young women sit down with her journal and write in it. She reminded me of Patience Loader who kept a great journal in 1856 and thanks to her writings, we have the stories we know today. Another touching moment was one of their young women was confined to a wheelchair. We have handcarts special made to accommodate wheel chairs and she was in one of these and had made the entire trek. We were at a point where she was going to watch the girls pull their handcarts up the hill and then the priesthood would come back down to get her. But to our surprise and touching memories, all the young women came back down the hill and pulled/pushed her up the hill. What an absolutely touching site! Elder Smith’s touching moment was part of the instruction given to the young men at the top of the hill. They are to remove their hat, stand along the edge of the trail and remain until all the women are at the top. After the young lady in the wheel chair was pulled up, I then started up the hill to join the group at the top. Most other groups just start gathering while the sister missionary comes up, but there was one young man with this group that stayed there and waited for me to get to the top. He listened to his priesthood leader and obeyed. What an example!<br /><br />After this week, we have now had the opportunity to serve in all the posts for a shift and done each of the extra circular activities. So you ask, which one do you like best? That is almost as difficult to answer as the question when we are asked where we are from. Each post has special significance and wonderful stories to share with those who visit and each activity brings smiles, peace or understanding to the youth we are serving that I really wish we had the energy to do them all; all the time. The really sad part is we only have about six more weeks of busy season and then we will be occupied with more maintenance around the area. We just love it here! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdWzLAxHgym8RXaBt976hVWVi1KjKZ3RNZjPn0f2ktE4hljHcumMtEKFcdxTkifmdN2TIdi16KJx1lRY-vep7Nukbt9POLyuBF45-KA5fN_wzhY1xV8OpihwAYfBpdSfyvG3xLZqMcKdr/s1600/IMG_0428a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdWzLAxHgym8RXaBt976hVWVi1KjKZ3RNZjPn0f2ktE4hljHcumMtEKFcdxTkifmdN2TIdi16KJx1lRY-vep7Nukbt9POLyuBF45-KA5fN_wzhY1xV8OpihwAYfBpdSfyvG3xLZqMcKdr/s320/IMG_0428a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625137786194199330" /></a> Square dancing with the youth. Elder Smith is in the middle of the picture and doesn't see what is coming up behind him. It soon got very wet.<br /><br />This week’s tender mercy was reconnecting with a childhood friend after 40 years. I am so grateful I have a sister which is willing to reach out and ask the question; “do you want to know us?” My sister, Patty, our daughter, Sylvia, and her children, Patrick and Addy, came to Martin’s cove Tuesday afternoon with our friend, Kelly. She lost most of her family members during the past years, so we have opened our arms and she now has sisters, nieces and nephews, and cousins in her life. We all met for lunch to celebrate Sylvia’s birthday on Wednesday along with two of our cousins and she was formally introduced and accepted by all family members. We are only an extension of the true love of Christ and one big family which can be eternal.<br /><br />Last Sunday we were graced with the utmost special fireside. We had Joseph and Emma Smith’s great, great granddaughter with us. She attended church with us, sat at the same table with Randy and I at the potluck (we felt honored), and then gave us a very touching fireside. Growing up, Gracia knew little about her relationship to Joseph Smith. She told us a story of when her mother saw the Prophet's name in her history book. Telling her he was her great-great-grandfather, she quickly urged her not to share that fact with anyone. Gracia then learned about Joseph and Emma when she began babysitting for an LDS family, who eventually introduced her to the missionaries. When she was baptized in 1956 at age 18, Gracia became the first descendant of Joseph Smith Jr. to join the church and remain active. Her whole story of learning who she was; led to a lifetime mission of reaching out with love and compassion to unite all the posterity of Joseph Smith. During her fireside, she had this long scroll of paper which got unrolled that was over 50 feet long that had the family tree she has put together so far. She travels all over finding more and more people for the tree and even pencils in the names if they haven’t been added. Her husband, Ivor, shared several parts of the fireside and you can truly see how much they love each other and are dedicated to their mission. It was one of those moments to always remember. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiWS57TK4kTCSaVH5m_3aUOCGHp6vhvUiW5Xfne2BLy3lUrVJ8WvGkv5vExt-suiTd0p3JV3etvde38EbBsIzxROnoYeof8_Ww6TjkFWhcRxg_sLLh49SgzoykrYAoMQWCmh2Sw89YJDv/s1600/IMG_0466a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiWS57TK4kTCSaVH5m_3aUOCGHp6vhvUiW5Xfne2BLy3lUrVJ8WvGkv5vExt-suiTd0p3JV3etvde38EbBsIzxROnoYeof8_Ww6TjkFWhcRxg_sLLh49SgzoykrYAoMQWCmh2Sw89YJDv/s320/IMG_0466a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625138105300014946" /></a> Gracia and Ivor Jones.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Suj6D_6fwxgVjuqhYgsIgQdAOJpejAgtlH0Tb4G7aq2LxQorkvHXXexidkD93I9p7-9VzCImUEOS5ZBZxUm9NJD572eIwm0V_ygaSQbJR-dH1AFXLwSmtHT_kn__Q4N9uVnQAm87IrOe/s1600/IMG_0468a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Suj6D_6fwxgVjuqhYgsIgQdAOJpejAgtlH0Tb4G7aq2LxQorkvHXXexidkD93I9p7-9VzCImUEOS5ZBZxUm9NJD572eIwm0V_ygaSQbJR-dH1AFXLwSmtHT_kn__Q4N9uVnQAm87IrOe/s320/IMG_0468a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625138106770933362" /></a> This teapot belonged to Emma Smith. The death mask behind the teapot is a reproduction from the original of Joseph Smith.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduj_62zfLUl-R26PGUfNlTqPTIhmfnLI1RkvTz7y7I5eQY4I2oAMtbdQAtwiZ3jwSBdj7A8jBwoz3rcHLMkeOVHP2DFNVqZwnR1BXx3OixG4NHkJQdKSzIqenueeyFSP3E1riMkCgWf-Y/s1600/IMG_0415a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduj_62zfLUl-R26PGUfNlTqPTIhmfnLI1RkvTz7y7I5eQY4I2oAMtbdQAtwiZ3jwSBdj7A8jBwoz3rcHLMkeOVHP2DFNVqZwnR1BXx3OixG4NHkJQdKSzIqenueeyFSP3E1riMkCgWf-Y/s320/IMG_0415a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625137471501768098" /></a> After a heavy rainstorm, the mountains around us have several waterfalls as water doesn't seep into the rock. All of us say the mountains are crying just like we do when touched by those who suffered and died here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudwwdv50qG5r1kRfQDNyAnfonMKqgBxy9hd7PCczdC4cNBw_Th3ZSV7ZzjAXcotAOJJoLE7QLhnbqw5V3RgpJGZUuWqwwbNDdbBNQ1G4M0SxveRQKL29-39KD7DGm4jwMneJp_t35_PXs/s1600/IMG_0440a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudwwdv50qG5r1kRfQDNyAnfonMKqgBxy9hd7PCczdC4cNBw_Th3ZSV7ZzjAXcotAOJJoLE7QLhnbqw5V3RgpJGZUuWqwwbNDdbBNQ1G4M0SxveRQKL29-39KD7DGm4jwMneJp_t35_PXs/s320/IMG_0440a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625137792344382002" /></a> This little guy lost his mother so he is now part of the homestead family.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNwPOSJnnjKe6APKYouKEwNmVDInO5OTwUuv5df_jN4A9_-vTr1q4NFLCPfMOBfU7T1KorpdSzCCAOTlwsyCTl8UBRbbAIar2OQifgqIagre6mEvYfFB4WXtGfesNZ3GiIJSrwIlGKsIl/s1600/IMG_0421a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRNwPOSJnnjKe6APKYouKEwNmVDInO5OTwUuv5df_jN4A9_-vTr1q4NFLCPfMOBfU7T1KorpdSzCCAOTlwsyCTl8UBRbbAIar2OQifgqIagre6mEvYfFB4WXtGfesNZ3GiIJSrwIlGKsIl/s320/IMG_0421a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625137484063926658" /></a>Old school lawn mowing. Sure glad the yard is only 12'x14'.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK_aDHFn42emAR_-hPOi9XOezygnNa0fY__KQjMV9sRdTN3Hb2OWawodNvjpzI-f0ipCkBeTvlM1qDhPjeo-IM3TwVjczK7POE0n7l3Azg5OQzoOiGkO07oOQk8dxIL5V-Qzk_S1Gu3Ay/s1600/OSCARa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqK_aDHFn42emAR_-hPOi9XOezygnNa0fY__KQjMV9sRdTN3Hb2OWawodNvjpzI-f0ipCkBeTvlM1qDhPjeo-IM3TwVjczK7POE0n7l3Azg5OQzoOiGkO07oOQk8dxIL5V-Qzk_S1Gu3Ay/s320/OSCARa.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625137469446915362" /></a> Colleen and Oscar. I am not so fond of dogs but Oscar thinks I am.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ4mHxwc8sAvSiopdlwxjeh3eqnSuwVlEyk4-AcepSO_yBzaulLSkyKiIOT4CPNIGElDt_1BInMybLqWhFygMGoZNPARmzNZZCBIPksi2Km5NYznR_kgW4b0Vn2rwiEA32Dp-kkdaKWcl/s1600/IMG_0470a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ4mHxwc8sAvSiopdlwxjeh3eqnSuwVlEyk4-AcepSO_yBzaulLSkyKiIOT4CPNIGElDt_1BInMybLqWhFygMGoZNPARmzNZZCBIPksi2Km5NYznR_kgW4b0Vn2rwiEA32Dp-kkdaKWcl/s320/IMG_0470a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625138117912523954" /></a> Oscar will not cross a bridge. He swims the rivers every time.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-21084577700409010572011-06-21T16:39:00.006-05:002011-06-21T18:06:53.986-05:00We are exhausted...This week was pretty calm which gave us some time to catch our breath. With the day starting at 5:00 am and ending after square dancing at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., it makes for some long, long days. We look so forward to our day off during the week but it is filled with doing chores around the camper and getting more groceries. Even though this is a lot of hard work, we get our paydays in such sweet, gentle ways. This past week someone mowed our lawn for us as we hadn’t had time to get to it. Then there are the smiles and thank you from the youth. And every once in awhile, we get some special dessert handed to us or chocolate. We don’t want that to happen too often because we would just have to work harder to burn the calories. <br /> Most of the groups coming to do trek, schedule a river crossing in remembrance of the Martin Company crossing the Sweetwater to get to the cove. They are to reflect on how cold and bitter it was that day and how hungry, weak, sickly the pioneers were and yet they had to muster the strength to cross the river and pull their carts. Well, we have had to shut down the river for direct crossing as it is over six feet deep and would sweep these youngsters right off their feet with how swift it is running. The snow pack in the mountains feeding the river is still at 350% so it will be flowing full for awhile. Since it is so full, it is flooding out into a spillage area where we let them walk thru. That area is even getting about four feet deep. It is quite spiritual to watch the youth do this as they have to do it silently and by themselves. <br /> As missionaries, we find it very intriguing on how prepared most of the youth groups are to have a great spiritual experience. Each member of most groups has selected a name of one of the companies to walk the trek for. They have read about their pioneer and can pretty much tell you their story. I was speaking with an 11-yr-old young man on Thursday about his pioneer. He told me he wanted to be like his pioneer. I asked him what he meant. He said his pioneer was always prepared for situations because he prayed about it and listened to Heavenly Father and the spirit to get the right answer and then he would do it without question. Now that is truly and stalwart young man. Another group this week took it one step farther. As they finished their river crossing, the leaders pulled the youth off to the side of the trail. They called out a couple young ladies and asked them to remove their shoes as they were going to walk back to the bus barefoot just like the pioneers whose shoes wore out, then there were a couple more pulled out and blindfolded as they were going to walk back blind in remembrance of those who were handicapped and still made the journey, then there was one young lady who was to pull the cart by herself with one of the heavier leaders in it symbolizing the youth that had to take over when the parents took ill, and lastly, one was given knee pads and gloves and asked to crawl back to the bus in remembrance of those who lost limbs from freezing during the journey. The youth took these tasks without grumbling and carried on. It was heart rendering to watch this take place. <br /> Since this week was pretty calm, I will share some pictures of the homestead and Martin’s Cove.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64bfSKUCsL1LDX0JoBLk-B40I-b0FstdxV4wErOpWVGbZG-MjNfCrQolOmzgDFHf529bh4wj4xPX7gHAAHWP-Uu9nG7oGk-jicSU6vRvm_1Cwem2u7evwsqj5KfwEG4Qte1SKm79JxNiu/s1600/Visitors+Centera.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64bfSKUCsL1LDX0JoBLk-B40I-b0FstdxV4wErOpWVGbZG-MjNfCrQolOmzgDFHf529bh4wj4xPX7gHAAHWP-Uu9nG7oGk-jicSU6vRvm_1Cwem2u7evwsqj5KfwEG4Qte1SKm79JxNiu/s320/Visitors+Centera.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620791450684791538" /></a>This is the Visitor's Center. It used to be the ranch house for Tom Sun. There are seven different cabins put together to make this one house. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeMSqdqPIFF3ObVwr-kGfjzMiKybe0JIpE0ZIgqsj7lLdPZu4VOWkPV3AnexfXlw85ADcvEk0WZWQ7ij_arNvbFGzzzDcWxUij_JuStjG5KtISobr4fTpX35cnUzKqzq1fYsK6dbIB_qS/s1600/Martin%2527s+Covea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeMSqdqPIFF3ObVwr-kGfjzMiKybe0JIpE0ZIgqsj7lLdPZu4VOWkPV3AnexfXlw85ADcvEk0WZWQ7ij_arNvbFGzzzDcWxUij_JuStjG5KtISobr4fTpX35cnUzKqzq1fYsK6dbIB_qS/s320/Martin%2527s+Covea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620791445105267330" /></a>This is Martin's Cove. We love being assigned here as it is so peaceful and beautiful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe6SPjfLX0_ahKTvGlq6H7nKgIJ8SQtFx_VVGLRszwCMLM0dFYXUVZgPM2ADdzfP7lqlfdWDTesx-jBPydgkBVy-FfYXs5viVsUK6xMdO-r3ez2JjY-MeBC_XU2m9bEYXsHo3soVflwPP/s1600/Devils+Gatea.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe6SPjfLX0_ahKTvGlq6H7nKgIJ8SQtFx_VVGLRszwCMLM0dFYXUVZgPM2ADdzfP7lqlfdWDTesx-jBPydgkBVy-FfYXs5viVsUK6xMdO-r3ez2JjY-MeBC_XU2m9bEYXsHo3soVflwPP/s320/Devils+Gatea.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620791441217799042" /></a>THis is Devil's Gate. One of the landmarks the pioneers used to cross the land. Only the river goes between the rocks. The pioneers came to the river about 1/4 mile to the south of this landmark.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAOBsBBYd0_94GNXTdXfSRJuApn3Zin8nQR4K7Vl5K3n3fE6u-TejZsHmYe1Gxqnptsb4jb1QVbr1uzaMGwYPIFnaIk1lPZDEkkX-HobxX8GLt6xHOgM5a3LQ5ZvRgZ30ZfQrFIK_h7Wd/s1600/barna.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAOBsBBYd0_94GNXTdXfSRJuApn3Zin8nQR4K7Vl5K3n3fE6u-TejZsHmYe1Gxqnptsb4jb1QVbr1uzaMGwYPIFnaIk1lPZDEkkX-HobxX8GLt6xHOgM5a3LQ5ZvRgZ30ZfQrFIK_h7Wd/s320/barna.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620791438483301362" /></a>This is the barn on the ranch. It is actually our kitchen where we have our wonderful Sunday potlucks. It is quite a quaint building.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-48490792425743494812011-06-12T18:15:00.004-05:002011-06-12T18:35:01.115-05:00Look at the Blessings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUROb7Jg1emIYQTP_cUB24BL3m_za1FriYnFS56mhz-hkO5bszzHwv_e4387rDDLaCqzmOveTJBlTkZ_BCzAE3hF2vGMT6XJSjQ3PnUn1fLtUN3m1EnupfqAY3SS3Ir8Btr-VSSSz16Wc/s1600/IMG_0412a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUROb7Jg1emIYQTP_cUB24BL3m_za1FriYnFS56mhz-hkO5bszzHwv_e4387rDDLaCqzmOveTJBlTkZ_BCzAE3hF2vGMT6XJSjQ3PnUn1fLtUN3m1EnupfqAY3SS3Ir8Btr-VSSSz16Wc/s320/IMG_0412a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617477713383110690" /></a><br />Just who are these people?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ltt65u1r-e0cErwOWVyesyxhkVEqiVb1o7o2pMGtEpGjg_v7ax2wb66DklIwYnkWixaFPTSjkmxmlCQGYfmc29wrPlLnIRX61c1qq6w4GDSIiBcZac-05OthzYGHjLZJubuWz79Wcj2Q/s1600/IMG_0402a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ltt65u1r-e0cErwOWVyesyxhkVEqiVb1o7o2pMGtEpGjg_v7ax2wb66DklIwYnkWixaFPTSjkmxmlCQGYfmc29wrPlLnIRX61c1qq6w4GDSIiBcZac-05OthzYGHjLZJubuWz79Wcj2Q/s320/IMG_0402a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617477333288797442" /></a><br />A snapshot of the Sweetwater River from Veil Bridge<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA1OJHlxymDccEA4O6lrfhWH-x06UKpLVwZOb6vX5_FW8_zvcNF96q3MVJCDi9eL19YZaSIgM_6BMpRK1NuwmcS0oLdLgTDpWKYFz1D2f6RbV5cEWWMtOSFLge3f0rf_TfXJcDjWpnTNl/s1600/IMG_0391a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA1OJHlxymDccEA4O6lrfhWH-x06UKpLVwZOb6vX5_FW8_zvcNF96q3MVJCDi9eL19YZaSIgM_6BMpRK1NuwmcS0oLdLgTDpWKYFz1D2f6RbV5cEWWMtOSFLge3f0rf_TfXJcDjWpnTNl/s320/IMG_0391a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617476627587625266" /></a><br />Standing guard at the Welcome Post<br /><br />One of Randy’s assignments is to orient trek groups as to the rules of the trail, why they are here, and to give them a little spiritual boost by sharing a couple pioneer stories and small video with them. On Monday, he was starting to tell a group about the video and who it was about (Heber McBride) and this young 12-year-old man raised his hand and suddenly got antsy in his seat calling out, ohhhh, oohhhh, ooohhhh. Randy acknowledged him and the young man blurted out, “I know him, he is my genealogy dude.” He then pulled out some index cards and started reading from them. Come to find out he was directly related to Heber’s brother, Peter (which you will have a couple stories about in my emails). Randy said he was so excited to make the connection and know his “genealogy dude” used to be right here. These youth sure are teaching us to love the small stuff!!<br /><br /><br />Tuesday was our day off so we went to Casper to spend the day with Kathryn, our oldest granddaughter, as it was her birthday. I was so excited for this day as I knew we would have fun. When we got to the house, she had a friend there whom had spent the night so we took her with us and doubled the fun. Of course, Randy and I had errands to run and the girls were very obliging to let us get them done and then we went to lunch at a quaint little Italian restaurant. Kathryn’s and my best Italian meal is Chicken Alfredo and that’s what we had. Kathryn’s friend surprised her with a big dish of ice cream with a candle for dessert. The look on her face was priceless!! The girls were so cute because they saw my pioneer dresses in the back of the truck when they first climbed in and asked if they could put them on for the day. We had a great day together just laughing and talking.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWyjF8brXOW1N1gTg21mZImx2opK9Cr2OEuIZy9u0dYfDAM51Jjlx-ICIcOn0Hlk665rzR6yVzE3xec6hOoNmvgLBltizEFYBfDTS-2pUbBHRCgoHTCOma3330UTd3o56R-eKXvpVgXJX/s1600/IMG_0394a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWyjF8brXOW1N1gTg21mZImx2opK9Cr2OEuIZy9u0dYfDAM51Jjlx-ICIcOn0Hlk665rzR6yVzE3xec6hOoNmvgLBltizEFYBfDTS-2pUbBHRCgoHTCOma3330UTd3o56R-eKXvpVgXJX/s320/IMG_0394a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617476630899019906" /></a>Kathryn and Sidney -- a couple of sporting young pioneers. Not so sure the shoes are the right ones though.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Fo2iKybvJ1URiWCdCuLOt1lP5UaAgTcLcT4-0Z0ZDoiGm7cf5FCKD87uLeTsSZaV65y3bZkwzfh_hPzhXckokCtrRCuzgvM0xV9mo0xNlzcRoVW8iP0fluHAt7ivCFjY0ZbYgc0u_hZm/s1600/IMG_0400a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Fo2iKybvJ1URiWCdCuLOt1lP5UaAgTcLcT4-0Z0ZDoiGm7cf5FCKD87uLeTsSZaV65y3bZkwzfh_hPzhXckokCtrRCuzgvM0xV9mo0xNlzcRoVW8iP0fluHAt7ivCFjY0ZbYgc0u_hZm/s320/IMG_0400a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617476633540596338" /></a><br />The Pony Express Rider handing out the letters--it was very cold that night<br /><br />We had another week of evening activities for the trekkers. Thursday and Friday night Randy was the local Pony Express Rider and delivered letters from home to the trekkers. We can’t ride in on a real horse but the rovers are mules so we improvise. That’s what you do when you don’t have the real thing. Watching the faces of those youth as they are awaiting their letter is so precious as they just light up when their name is called. One young man got three letters so he was the talk of the prairie. We square danced Monday, Wednesday, and Friday night with different groups. Randy was suppose to call for the second hour of Monday night but the group had arrived so late they cancelled their square dancing. Wednesday night really touched our hearts and has buoyed us up the entire rest of the week. There are several couples that help with the square dancing as there are anywhere from 50 to 450 youth in a group. Each couple takes a set of eight boys and eight girls to be their small group to work with. On Wednesday, I was given our group to take over to the area and line them up for the Virginia Reel. No big deal, just waved my arms for them to follow and started walking that way. When I got to our spot I turned around and started talking to them about dancing and all I got in response was big, bright eyes starring back at me. Ummm….not a very excited group, I’m thinking. After a few minutes, one of their leaders walks over and tells me they are deaf. Okay comes out of my mouth while my heart is busy with prayer because how am I going to do this. So, I begin to teach them using the little signing I know and physically guiding them. Oh, I did develop my own signs too just hoping it would help. After only going through the moves about four times, they caught on and were ready to give it a spin when everyone else was done being instructed. By giving them the pre-instruction we were able to work on how I could tell them by signal when to start each movement. It was so fun to work with them as Randy and I would take each couple and physically show them how. Their eyes would just beam when they caught on. We had a great time and a very successful time. Lots of hugs were given at the end of dancing. Then the sweetest confirmation of how much they appreciated the time and effort happened on Friday. Randy and I were walking out to the truck after our shift and the youth from our square dance group saw us and ran up to us shaking hands and giving big, big hugs. They were signing over and over, thank you for teaching me square dancing, with big gigantic smiles on their faces. It brought tears to my eyes. <br /><br />Of course when you have over 3000 youth wandering around there will be incidents occur and hopefully not too drastic of ones. This week was no exception. One of the young men of a group wandered, probably sleep walking, out of his tent and disappeared. When his group noticed he didn’t come back (as they thought he was going to the restroom), they alerted the leaders. The leaders looked around for awhile and couldn’t find him and soon notified our director of the situation. So a couple Elders and the leaders looked through all the camp, other group camps, the entire other campground, all the roads in the area, even 10 miles away at Muddy Gap. They looked for over three hours and then found him in the wrong tent fast asleep. Next time, I am sure the entire camp will be woken up and searched right at the beginning. <br /><br />For several years, a very special visitor joins up with the trekkers. We have all be awaiting this visitor and were afraid he wasn’t going to come this year. His name is Oscar and he is a Great Pyrenees dog that lives on a ranch about 10 miles away from the cove. Oscar finally showed up on Saturday and came into the homestead off the trail with the Hobble Creek Stake of over 485 youth. Oscar carefully picks his groups he travels with and it is usually with someone he senses is having a hard time either physically or emotionally. He is known to protect the youth also. A few years ago, Oscar followed a group of boys back to their tent and began to bark. Oscar had discovered a rattlesnake inside. He even protects some of the youth while they were doing the river crossing. He will now stay at the homestead until fall and then he will walk back home and rest for the next year. I was at the Veil Bridge yesterday and was able to watch Oscar in action coming in with his handcart family he had chosen which had a young lady which had to be hauled out in the handcart. It was amazing!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi9j2gTmBD_gAflWIG8qB62YBSMWMCrGpV_EtAUfCWUFnTNtPLtA40ytA81xpOSskrANHs21i6mM5rTzDWogflIrp-PMOMNJBKYSfACdAPIcSUNbjVPu1w_kMg4pFzWDA-oqlzSp4qdUq/s1600/IMG_0407a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghi9j2gTmBD_gAflWIG8qB62YBSMWMCrGpV_EtAUfCWUFnTNtPLtA40ytA81xpOSskrANHs21i6mM5rTzDWogflIrp-PMOMNJBKYSfACdAPIcSUNbjVPu1w_kMg4pFzWDA-oqlzSp4qdUq/s320/IMG_0407a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617477340172087106" /></a><br />Oscar, the Trek Dog<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl03_4v6W_U6mApUNmhjHACu7i-qS7ECdBO8PBYRfGv1jtbMrXXAxyuHOTdRu_Diwl2BRzZRwG2HQz-951M7SpMT4y3vIzjvjmxZktNE539PgCt0Zf8QtK1ocV0kbMpaX29oq8jyRxvlRo/s1600/IMG_0409a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl03_4v6W_U6mApUNmhjHACu7i-qS7ECdBO8PBYRfGv1jtbMrXXAxyuHOTdRu_Diwl2BRzZRwG2HQz-951M7SpMT4y3vIzjvjmxZktNE539PgCt0Zf8QtK1ocV0kbMpaX29oq8jyRxvlRo/s320/IMG_0409a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617477341304315554" /></a><br />The handcart family he was escorting<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqtqpOb3t1LVfdtyT7wuNVOeIA_VEyKsA-ZhmbF8oxHZo_Byn5EH3kUCoZIEjty2tX4Uk0ZPk9_-Zagl2pYqjM15jAMVi1kPHhvfmT_UCHimUJuMMotrs1IJN5o-Vzm5ezQvhy3DZ-t_I/s1600/IMG_1861a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqtqpOb3t1LVfdtyT7wuNVOeIA_VEyKsA-ZhmbF8oxHZo_Byn5EH3kUCoZIEjty2tX4Uk0ZPk9_-Zagl2pYqjM15jAMVi1kPHhvfmT_UCHimUJuMMotrs1IJN5o-Vzm5ezQvhy3DZ-t_I/s320/IMG_1861a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617477714245289618" /></a><br />Our little friend outside the camper--isn't he adorable!! Oh, maybe it is a she.<br /><br />Just wanted all of you to know that the wind is still blowing in Wyoming. I am sure glad I liked to be rocked!!Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-21354175710342204462011-06-05T19:04:00.003-05:002011-06-05T19:10:43.526-05:00Split Shifts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyYwBACYX4-LRw4UuYxtk3MB4iSdcrW5vtQHzbsUNRWZWlsaEGnsxqeBvTdFtY666MZqSzInukxfsH-giNEw2N2JP4HHDrV4UlqK3CJ1OR-KPepmV7E8h27bvf9iQpHhmXcdrmZ2_DP6u/s1600/IMG_0352a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyYwBACYX4-LRw4UuYxtk3MB4iSdcrW5vtQHzbsUNRWZWlsaEGnsxqeBvTdFtY666MZqSzInukxfsH-giNEw2N2JP4HHDrV4UlqK3CJ1OR-KPepmV7E8h27bvf9iQpHhmXcdrmZ2_DP6u/s320/IMG_0352a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614891614548633170" /></a><br />One of our beautiful sunsets we enjoy in the evening<br /><br />This week was the first week of scheduled split shifts due to the longer summer hours. One shift works from 7:30 a.m. to around 1:30 p.m. and the other works from 1:00 p.m. to around 7:00 p.m. The missionaries were divided into two teams and each team will alternate working morning one week and then afternoon the next week. We are on Team B and had afternoon duty this week except for my office duty days which I work in the morning on Monday and all day until 5 on Thursday. The blessing of this type of schedule is we have half days which we can do laundry, clean the house, and other small things around the camper and some valued down time. <br /><br />Okay, so I thought our days would slow down and not be such marathon events. It somehow slipped my mind that we are here also because of the thousands of youth trekkers whom come to experience the pioneer trail. Our first group of 284 from Cody arrived on Thursday morning and then two more groups of around 50 each arrived in the afternoon. The big group spent the day pulling handcarts along our six mile trail and then departed in the evening while the two littler groups pulled handcarts to their campground six miles away to spend the next two days trekking along the trail. Each group begins their trek with an orientation which Randy had the opportunity to do for a group Thursday afternoon. Then, we as missionaries stay at certain posts during their trek to share stories with them and to give them certain experiences like a river crossing and the men’s callout/women’s pull. To end their days, we either do square dancing with them or reader’s theater with Ephraim Hanks and Thisbe Reed. Thursday night we had our first big square dance event and what a blast it was. I was able to help a group of 20 youth learn the dances and Randy was pleased to dance with a young girl from a family trek that was about 10. She was so cute and so were her sisters. So, our days are now starting with prayer meeting at 7:30 a.m. and ending at 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. with dancing and a whole lot of activity in between with visitors and trekkers.<br /><br />This week our posts were at Martin’s Cove, the Visitior’s Center and the Welcome Post. It is so surreal to have duty at Martin’s Cove and to be up there in the beautiful scenery and just reflect on why we are here. While we were on post, a family group of about 20 came up. They walked the trail along the cove which is quite an adventure in itself but to top it off they pulled their grandma and grandpa in rickshaws as they were unable to walk the entire way. We were able to share all the pioneer stories we learned for that post with the family and they were so interested in them. It was a great first post assignment. While we were there we had the company of a snake, baby rabbit, chipmunk and lots of birds. Nature at its best. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVY5qEeWaY9zbdgTPtg0h8efy5JcUfYqpXH4vpiErX-F3Y2A_PunFdMn5b_JabzIY4r12H0OqOXyN5TXEMvdan6qOXc3qnRVHIgZ3NFH8m00lNd-CVLK5q8LXUP4uV0xZ37jBoQ0jRM6HK/s1600/IMG_0358a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVY5qEeWaY9zbdgTPtg0h8efy5JcUfYqpXH4vpiErX-F3Y2A_PunFdMn5b_JabzIY4r12H0OqOXyN5TXEMvdan6qOXc3qnRVHIgZ3NFH8m00lNd-CVLK5q8LXUP4uV0xZ37jBoQ0jRM6HK/s320/IMG_0358a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614891610665824914" /></a><br />Randy watching for visitors<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVPr7lGdYkmUqN8YpgGlOhmuN9PUQGLeRaM8W9qi6D6nxftjc8KmhaPDKz0Z82k_zJrT2e7IVVqXXKCwaKPGUVirvBO3CSGdsvmy0Dismdiyd0MJVhpCqJ-GCEK0GqIP3iUCrnn2ldkIk/s1600/IMG_0359a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVPr7lGdYkmUqN8YpgGlOhmuN9PUQGLeRaM8W9qi6D6nxftjc8KmhaPDKz0Z82k_zJrT2e7IVVqXXKCwaKPGUVirvBO3CSGdsvmy0Dismdiyd0MJVhpCqJ-GCEK0GqIP3iUCrnn2ldkIk/s320/IMG_0359a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614891431612036402" /></a><br />More of a perspective of how high up he really was<br /><br />When we were at the cove, the ranch hand’s wife and two children, her parents and sister with her six children (ranging from 1 to 10) came up. It was great to see her as she just moved here this past week. The ranch hand just started the job earlier this spring so they are new to the area. (Oh, have I mentioned in any of my writings that this is also a working ranch with 1200 cattle.) Randy was with another couple so I started sharing with this family. Well, it was fruitless as the children were just pinging off everything. The boys were climbing the rocks up the mountain and the girls were walking the rails around the seating area, oh and the baby, was trying to go down the steps after just walking for less than a month. I was a nervous wreck and tried to do my best to explain this was a reverent place and should be treated with respect. The grandma was trying to calm them down along with ask questions as she was thrilled to be there. It was quite chaotic. Well, then when we were at the visitor’s center on Tuesday, guess who came to visit and it was yours truly time to meet the next visitors. Inside my head, I kept saying that I needed to rush this through and get them well on their way especially for my own sanity. But then in my heart, I was impressed to do something which became the coolest experience of the week. I gathered the entire family on a grassy spot near the handcarts and then asked them to pretend with me. So, we pretended we were a family from England that had heard the gospel and wanted to follow the prophet and go to Zion with all the Saints. I shared with them all the events of preparing to go from selling all our personal belongings (even had them name something it would hurt them to sell), to getting to the ship, riding on the ship and getting sick, then getting on the rail cars and being crowded so had them squeeze closer together, to finally getting to where our handcarts were. Oh, but we had to wait for them to be built, so the ladies and girls had to sew tents and the men and boys had to build the cart. Then we were able to start off and I had them get three carts and we walked thru Prairie Park, a small trail that has bronze reliefs in it telling the story of the Martin Company. As we were going thru Prairie Park, we were still our family trying to make it thru the bad weather, little food, our clothes wearing out and I would tell them about a lady in our company that lost her husband because of illness, about being scared to cross the river and getting help, about losing one of the boys as he got to playing too far from the trail. All eight children were totaling intent on what was happening and I feel really gained a great experience from presenting the history like this. Grandma and the mom’s had tears in their eyes watching their children really grasping the significance of it all along with learning themselves. I am so grateful I was an instrument in the Lord’s hands for this family and them for me. <br /><br />Our day off was Friday this week and we spent the entire day at the camper. After taking it easy for an entire day, the next morning we went for a small walk, worked in our little 10’ x 12’ yard by fertilizing, cutting and watering it. We also moved some rocks which were a tripping hazard. Saturday afternoon we were welcome post attendees greeting all the cars as they came into the site. It was really slow with only about six vehicles but I was able to get some office work completed as I took our computer with us to the post. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqR5iYQTcEG9-YYEUx3y6C03AuBOOL2A-qrHgt_2kCOMOd5Nrsj9vGNzRraWzwV02Ifs301Vspl65acFpVW1uQC9Z9BV_AkEgZ74yygg9NwZwi9Ytwz9hA8PyjlMN2FSX0kGCOqwP0uGh/s1600/IMG_0362a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqR5iYQTcEG9-YYEUx3y6C03AuBOOL2A-qrHgt_2kCOMOd5Nrsj9vGNzRraWzwV02Ifs301Vspl65acFpVW1uQC9Z9BV_AkEgZ74yygg9NwZwi9Ytwz9hA8PyjlMN2FSX0kGCOqwP0uGh/s320/IMG_0362a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614891424942725938" /></a><br />Our little friend at Martin's Cove<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqJSpXriM-XrUrcWffkbudrtPWULd4w5N6EnAMerMQg6lT3Jlsx2JiJnNF_sw13sNQPbJDfmtBZB2jZeynFWL4QfvD4jsGA82LZupQKjJ5NbzbYfS0vyhEG3szrl9nxn9a4mEBpzgNJwj/s1600/IMG_0368a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEqJSpXriM-XrUrcWffkbudrtPWULd4w5N6EnAMerMQg6lT3Jlsx2JiJnNF_sw13sNQPbJDfmtBZB2jZeynFWL4QfvD4jsGA82LZupQKjJ5NbzbYfS0vyhEG3szrl9nxn9a4mEBpzgNJwj/s320/IMG_0368a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614891419901457602" /></a><br />Our bigger friend at the Visitor CenterRandy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-39861107404213077262011-06-03T14:23:00.004-05:002011-06-03T14:42:16.813-05:00Climbing to Higher PlacesI know this update is a little late. This past weekend just seemed to fly past me. In fact, I think it got caught up in this prevalent wind and blew straight to Nebraska. Plus, I was physically drained (which you will understand in just a few) and took a good Sunday nap. Every Monday and Thursday, I will be working in the office and Randy will be on work crew. This has been quite challenging for me as there is so much I want to do to help organize all that happens in the office and two days a week just won’t be enough. I like to tackle a project and stick to it until it is done; not so sure it will happen in this case. <br /><br />Randy was called upon for his electrical skills again this week. A couple of the missionaries were using the small backhoe to dig up a clogged pipe and ripped a major electrical line in half. Then a few days later someone else was using the backhoe again and did almost the same thing in a different location. I think it is time to check for the backhoe driver’s licenses. So, grateful I have such a knowledgeable husband who can help out at times like this and get things up and running again in just a short time. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFPwvxX_h8tCeBW3gnCCEY9Hw887pHPLd2jkIE1pbsvUOQKlZUKAd225OzGE2xIlMQqjbdCYvNioN73CIJ_f1ZMC04QRsP9tiIB3oNLujZMN16e_Jr7J8lFdo7J9LKSHwrFINxgl2LXRx/s1600/IMG_0281a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFPwvxX_h8tCeBW3gnCCEY9Hw887pHPLd2jkIE1pbsvUOQKlZUKAd225OzGE2xIlMQqjbdCYvNioN73CIJ_f1ZMC04QRsP9tiIB3oNLujZMN16e_Jr7J8lFdo7J9LKSHwrFINxgl2LXRx/s320/IMG_0281a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614077330821560642" /></a><br />Randy teaching Elder Swope how to fix electrical lines that have been sliced.<br /><br />Tuesday we were scheduled for the visitor’s center where our responsibility is to welcome the visitors and be their guide around the homestead. We were able to become acquainted with a future Ma and Pa that will be accompanying a trek youth group in June. They were traveling through from a visit in Texas and wanted to get a visual of the area. The highlight of our day was getting to know a pair of elderly sisters which were descendants from three families in the Willie Company. What a delightful time we had with them. In the visitor’s center, we have a display which lists all the names of the company and it was so special to watch these sisters point to the names and tell us stories about their ancestors. They shared a story of how their great great grandmother had a hand woven sheet from Denmark with her when she was coming across the plains (her prized possession) and when the 13 died in Rock Creek Hollow after crossing Rocky Ridge, she used her sheet to cover the bodies when they were buried. And one of them buried was the 10 year old son of their great great grandfather thru another line. It really emphasized how the links of life are so inter-connected. When we took them to the cove, we all just stood there and wept as we talked about how much suffering yet strength was displayed by the strong handcart pioneers of the two companies.<br /><br />Wednesday was our day off and we decided to make a real quick trip into Casper to get a few groceries and return some items before our evening activities. To our surprise, we ran into Sylvia and Patrick, our daughter and grandson, at Walmart. For most of you, it is common to be shopping and run into one of your relatives but for us, this just isn’t the case as we have never lived in the same town as family. It was the coolest experience and placed a big smile on my face for several hours.<br /><br />Friday was another marathon adventure day for the missionaries. The weather was finally clear enough for us to travel to Rocky Ridge (about an hour and half from here) and Rock Creek Hollow (yet another two hours from there). Rocky Ridge is the highest point of the four trails (California, Oregon, Pony Express and Mormon) with a 700 ft elevation gain in about two miles. All I can say is it was upward. There are no vehicles allowed on this part of the historic trails so we walked it. We took two handcarts as there were some young family members who joined us and the leaders were not so sure they could make it all the way. It was a very cold and VERY windy day. We bucked a strong headwind the whole way up. The carts were suppose to allow everyone the opportunity to pull them but the trail was tough enough for our older missionary friends so two other younger couples along with Randy and I ended up pulling them half way up and all the way back and yes, they had children in them. Coming down we had a young girl about 15 which had just gotten out of a leg cast on Wednesday and was now in a walking boot. By the time we got to the top we could understand why it is called Rocky Ridge. The trail was solid layered rock and very rough to pull the carts over. It definitely gave us an appreciation of what the Willie Company went through and we had a lot more comforts of life (like coats, good hiking boots, food, strong bodies, etc) then they did. Once we reached the top, an Elder played “Come, Come Ye Saints” on his harmonica. It was heart touching and then we all sang the last verse to celebrate our success. This adventure did me in physically and kept me down a couple days but I am grateful for the experience. After we returned to the vehicles, we then continued to Rock Creek Hollow. It snowed on us as we traveled there. In fact, right at Rock Creek Hollow is still five foot drifts of snow. I think we all would have enjoyed a good snowball fight if we weren’t so tired from the climb and cold from the weather. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd9MI_eBL7GCLNBtvC-cZl841DmOFKnXszBjtb2MzXgx2G-qIasQJQJxW05MvMvCFvvizgHC3tesM3AfULaXGrwouc9X6wGSpXIS7JCnUEJQ8d_T7sF7_Ur-v12KaUt6tpkYRX_4Z6GDs/s1600/IMG_0304a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYd9MI_eBL7GCLNBtvC-cZl841DmOFKnXszBjtb2MzXgx2G-qIasQJQJxW05MvMvCFvvizgHC3tesM3AfULaXGrwouc9X6wGSpXIS7JCnUEJQ8d_T7sF7_Ur-v12KaUt6tpkYRX_4Z6GDs/s320/IMG_0304a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614077334470939538" /></a><br />The caravan of 23 vehicles traveling along parts of the actual trail on our way to climb Rocky Ridge. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10ldZJg4ZjgaC3LlDsfGE6FD7w8fVEPe7u9h54EFEdNa9orFfs2U2aiZtsJvicoVB4pNlVV5Mbms-gt2qlA9vPqteCJ2Z8r7JqOkSb7lD616wCZZZMa_DlWUoxcKnS2V912NP4VZrnebq/s1600/IMG_0305a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10ldZJg4ZjgaC3LlDsfGE6FD7w8fVEPe7u9h54EFEdNa9orFfs2U2aiZtsJvicoVB4pNlVV5Mbms-gt2qlA9vPqteCJ2Z8r7JqOkSb7lD616wCZZZMa_DlWUoxcKnS2V912NP4VZrnebq/s320/IMG_0305a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614077343676625474" /></a><br />Driving along the Sweetwater River. Notice how much water there is and the snow from the mountains hasn't started melting yet. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU877GLoqpI7hlrT4ABXJVQOFEJaVRKPx6jqA2Q4zHUJcBCkW092D835XAa6_pQ2pDyQu3AchCWDwn7Ff7z8i-nW-vTkTA6hmt89xrKM40ctVGCCEFyNiYLJm2ltpQn2dtzg4W0TmoKm_M/s1600/IMG_0314a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU877GLoqpI7hlrT4ABXJVQOFEJaVRKPx6jqA2Q4zHUJcBCkW092D835XAa6_pQ2pDyQu3AchCWDwn7Ff7z8i-nW-vTkTA6hmt89xrKM40ctVGCCEFyNiYLJm2ltpQn2dtzg4W0TmoKm_M/s320/IMG_0314a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614077665138190546" /></a><br />All of us starting up the trail. See the vehicles below and we were at least able to park halfway up from the river. Yeah!! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlTf4c55I3aPvbUzRFFhFQ8VEgMGzoXKHpzIazPkAVp7W7pGCOTVOvcOE-hhyrGOw3iLugC3Kfh4dudXjD1gCYUhYIPXRhe1H6VNSbC8L7oHjGy5KsO2aChfQXEmunal0s6s-VVV1XIqV/s1600/IMG_0317a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlTf4c55I3aPvbUzRFFhFQ8VEgMGzoXKHpzIazPkAVp7W7pGCOTVOvcOE-hhyrGOw3iLugC3Kfh4dudXjD1gCYUhYIPXRhe1H6VNSbC8L7oHjGy5KsO2aChfQXEmunal0s6s-VVV1XIqV/s320/IMG_0317a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614077671170593266" /></a><br />Then I turned around and snapped this picture of Randy at the beginning of the trail.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_16Xd4UHneDiQl9m3AiZpavbInFJbBGpzfNGoGRKBGFqxv8iSHHP-1SjQg10mmmy2L0VCat2nwDOG8vPNyeyXSBc-0KicB0jLwGGGWtQCkOfoGjwEUsFTztudnUDTgXWP_29m4IbOiqo/s1600/IMG_0321.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_16Xd4UHneDiQl9m3AiZpavbInFJbBGpzfNGoGRKBGFqxv8iSHHP-1SjQg10mmmy2L0VCat2nwDOG8vPNyeyXSBc-0KicB0jLwGGGWtQCkOfoGjwEUsFTztudnUDTgXWP_29m4IbOiqo/s320/IMG_0321.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614077668776296802" /></a><br />Sister Turek and me struggling against the wind to pull the cart up the ridge.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2OUGk6aHIkqBzGiBlUYQj9GC3cuGQ-cECcvU33rS_lQcOPe8z1ffKe8hnFANyRswj4A0maKxYoUoFZG4WmVz233c9CmELQuiN1sFP7keOVynVPuXUnMfPYVScqHgy5ko04D3oUj8Qe_l/s1600/IMG_0327.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2OUGk6aHIkqBzGiBlUYQj9GC3cuGQ-cECcvU33rS_lQcOPe8z1ffKe8hnFANyRswj4A0maKxYoUoFZG4WmVz233c9CmELQuiN1sFP7keOVynVPuXUnMfPYVScqHgy5ko04D3oUj8Qe_l/s320/IMG_0327.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614078021321735730" /></a><br />Elder Erwin...he is 83 years old and was so tired when we reached the top that he just laid down. We used his walking sticks and made the cross. Of course, I tried to explain to him that we weren't allowed to bury anyone along the trail anymore.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNj1XMrF8fdWLclzcbBjCxfjRSMh_3_VPx-Dvp7dd9iK8TOeiPhy9_JUOFLRl7fGqnuWlH_KrJ7ouKSiHDO6oTMY74qljOsvOVAUmscCec8YEdQngH5j9xcmLe0nl2AqJlxySdWRIVFE2/s1600/IMG_0331a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNj1XMrF8fdWLclzcbBjCxfjRSMh_3_VPx-Dvp7dd9iK8TOeiPhy9_JUOFLRl7fGqnuWlH_KrJ7ouKSiHDO6oTMY74qljOsvOVAUmscCec8YEdQngH5j9xcmLe0nl2AqJlxySdWRIVFE2/s320/IMG_0331a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614078024419146018" /></a><br />Randy on Rocky Ridge studying the rocks<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21ZO5Cmvj20tipXIIdAXSfZKf-GOTyqOsHum4cGYb0sIz5m87J9pdG_O5SOPrujLLo2IJ97QOjVT9DLzjQbr4fL7VqDs1llUxCXW_1R4qx4320zvFLfcFmyaUM6gSjmMEE5MOGkn5b0RY/s1600/IMG_0332a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21ZO5Cmvj20tipXIIdAXSfZKf-GOTyqOsHum4cGYb0sIz5m87J9pdG_O5SOPrujLLo2IJ97QOjVT9DLzjQbr4fL7VqDs1llUxCXW_1R4qx4320zvFLfcFmyaUM6gSjmMEE5MOGkn5b0RY/s320/IMG_0332a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614078026464051346" /></a><br />See the rocky trail? It was this way for about a half mile or more.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZBQnT02BPUvXVhHlPUbAubemcMUuV3cALhOFmoOON4tZ8ZDhLiYmeiEQJgp4YMVfBOWbIGFoFCkEqqiLHhbJgHFQ8NG13zXerTH0MNl35HNohxmpzoz_aUSB4Ch7MxPU-xBSbKgAj0I3/s1600/IMG_0350a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCZBQnT02BPUvXVhHlPUbAubemcMUuV3cALhOFmoOON4tZ8ZDhLiYmeiEQJgp4YMVfBOWbIGFoFCkEqqiLHhbJgHFQ8NG13zXerTH0MNl35HNohxmpzoz_aUSB4Ch7MxPU-xBSbKgAj0I3/s320/IMG_0350a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614078027962841810" /></a><br />Snow drift<br /><br />Well, not all jobs are fun and games around here. Saturday, Elder Smith and I had the pleasure of restroom assistance duty. Yep, we were glorified sanitary engineers cleaning restrooms, common areas, and collecting trash. My worst housekeeping task is cleaning the toilet and I was blessed with the opportunity to clean 22 toilets which is only half of what there is to do because the others weren’t open for business yet. The schedulers were nice to me and broke me in easy. Again, it was another windy day in Wyoming so we had to chase down the trash we were collecting a time or two. What a sight! I must say though, I have the best partner for my assigned duties.<br /><br />Saturday evening we were blessed to attend a fireside with Julie Rogers. She paints scenes of the handcart pioneers and other church history. Walking into the trek center that evening was like walking into an art gallery. She brought several of her paintings to display and it instantly brought faces to the stories we have been hearing and studying. Listening to her spiritual experiences during painting a certain picture is so amazing. She loves using descendants of the pioneers as her models which in turn connects the models with their ancestors. She always has red, orange and yellow highlights in the snow she paints with the pioneers and she explained to us that this represents the fire in the hearts of the people to live the gospel and the covenants they had towards the gospel. I will always remember that when I look at her paintings now. It was a calm and refreshing end to a very busy week.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-37556486141001858482011-05-23T21:58:00.003-05:002011-05-23T22:08:45.853-05:00Interviews and AssignmentsNot a day went by this week without an exceptional spiritual experience. Monday started off with a bus tour of the trail from Casper to Split Rock. Yep, we got to ride on the big tour buses but Randy and I got the back of the bus. Might have had something to do with my wanting to sing songs and play bus games. We started at Renshaw’s Bridge in Casper, went to the Interpretative Museum which we spent several hours at last year with our grandchildren, Kathryn and Patrick. We then drove past Ft Casper and then took the buses out on the back dirt roads which follow the trail all the way to Independence Rock. We were allowed to walk about a half mile right on the historical trail at Prospect Hill and imagine the number of wagons and handcarts that walked those very places. Several accounts from the pioneers were shared while riding the bus or at the different sites. These stories just make me cry. After Independence Rock, we continued on to Split Rock where the story of Ephraim Hanks was shared as we looked over the area where it occurred. In my mind’s eye, I was able to see the thin black line of handcart pioneers in the snow along the base of the mountains. History is coming to life as I learn and feel more and more.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8ZCvNZKaqeuv7XzP41hz8aFfHUoz6xFqhMXP8Dv8rpo6XDQFn3gE5-HWnxR9yaWxCS5Pm6LKkQ9PJ8KHh_cxIfRKpoIR2VGn3ON496P11BdMTB3wDCV-EVg_hmFkW6E-Qtv1wuNO9Act/s1600/IMG_0238a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV8ZCvNZKaqeuv7XzP41hz8aFfHUoz6xFqhMXP8Dv8rpo6XDQFn3gE5-HWnxR9yaWxCS5Pm6LKkQ9PJ8KHh_cxIfRKpoIR2VGn3ON496P11BdMTB3wDCV-EVg_hmFkW6E-Qtv1wuNO9Act/s320/IMG_0238a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610112052754997826" /></a><br />A landmark for the pioneers. It is called Avenue of Rocks or Devil's Backbone. Can you find the devil?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8nYNz_yypKekxtL3JNHRT4DduAz7vGaqxoVLal-jioCg_bMlHYs-Hce01knokcCPVI35NHornnPTNH8ej8q5CiXxKxsANsr8krdgerOOAd1DayxqlkeEQ9ZxjyUnDHMbA4B1KA2p6HTQ/s1600/IMG_1763.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8nYNz_yypKekxtL3JNHRT4DduAz7vGaqxoVLal-jioCg_bMlHYs-Hce01knokcCPVI35NHornnPTNH8ej8q5CiXxKxsANsr8krdgerOOAd1DayxqlkeEQ9ZxjyUnDHMbA4B1KA2p6HTQ/s320/IMG_1763.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610112284316547602" /></a><br />Walking the historical trail on Prospect Hill.<br /><br />The next couple of days our assignments consisted of helping with the school groups. Every year about this time most of the fourth grade classes from Rawlins and Casper come to Martin’s Cove for a field trip. This year we had a school group from Loveland, CO so we are getting groups from even further away. There are several of us ladies which are asked to take eight or nine of the children and tour them around. I love this duty because I can be a kid myself again. Randy played Mr. Blacksmith one day for the school groups. He did a great job and kept the groups on their toes by asking them questions. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NVhyGRpDhuq0oAVVcPfmQPFUB-IgUX3G5g6IUNsCxewmTTmjnTVd60lcc-qWV7Gx3gQpSk9uhLnDkUWLxYTjqc8kCraxrw66wZKQr6n1mp6L9EKzQu8rZod-6o0iBvBATX6LwdEThuhx/s1600/IMG_0249a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NVhyGRpDhuq0oAVVcPfmQPFUB-IgUX3G5g6IUNsCxewmTTmjnTVd60lcc-qWV7Gx3gQpSk9uhLnDkUWLxYTjqc8kCraxrw66wZKQr6n1mp6L9EKzQu8rZod-6o0iBvBATX6LwdEThuhx/s320/IMG_0249a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610112057374103490" /></a><br />Ms School Marm with some fun loving girls.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4yCeBEowtc701Q8iMoFLgU5fRza9MZy2lnCvEIRmtXHoA3LVHVarlyfvTdQKa1_apLTEfncjhAj4OzQO4H4jmwUetYaYPlc9bQV4ywFjnSXQq8ZOuGj3TzTSXwI6qRcerrfP7FL1JK3r/s1600/IMG_0253a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4yCeBEowtc701Q8iMoFLgU5fRza9MZy2lnCvEIRmtXHoA3LVHVarlyfvTdQKa1_apLTEfncjhAj4OzQO4H4jmwUetYaYPlc9bQV4ywFjnSXQq8ZOuGj3TzTSXwI6qRcerrfP7FL1JK3r/s320/IMG_0253a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610112072723104338" /></a><br />Mr Blacksmith making a prairie ring for his gal.<br /><br />Last week we had interviews with the director and were asked several questions as to what our interests were and what experience we have. I wanted to be selective as to my information but my husband helped make sure Elder Fenn knew what I excel in. So, the results of the interviews were additional assignments while we are serving. Elder Smith will be conducting orientation to the trek groups that start coming the first of June and Sister Smith is asked to be the personal assistant to the director and his wife. Oh my, of all things, nothing like pressure. So, I will be spending at least two days a week in the office.<br /><br />It has been discovered that Elder Smith knows about electrical work. He started out by being asked to move a light switch in one of the bathrooms from one wall to another. Not too bad of task but now he is in charge of running the wiring in a new part of the mechanics shop and not just 110 wiring but 220 wiring and through conduit. He has to dig deep in the memory banks of skills to get this project done. He loves every minute of keeping his hands busy on projects though. I am so proud of my jack of all trades!!<br /><br />We had the opportunity for two great firesides this week. The first was the church education instructors sharing more facts in regard to the history of the Martin Company and Willie Company. They used a missionary with a sign as either different landmarks along the trail, the different companies, and the individual rescue groups. It was like a live timeline while telling the story. So fun and cool!! Our second fireside was with Jolene Allphin, whom wrote “Tell My Story, Too” shared a fireside with us regarding the hope which sustained the pioneers as they crossed and some of the things they had hope in, like; friends, temple covenants, resurrection, family connection and the second coming. It was a very inspiring fireside. <br /><br />Everything is not always work around here either which makes for a fun and busy week. We have family home evening every Monday night which we were supposed to do last Monday but returned from our field trip too late. Drats…not!! Then we had a big birthday party on Saturday night. What a blast having a party with a bunch of seniors playing birthday games. Our kids would be so embarrassed.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKC25esNfzg-bTH3Y52lnKh4ku1zjw1CKezHkdjKAs_Yr5WCspRULtFcOP-FqOs5W2jEP56-jtb3nRgeu79EF9KLdcOQvRBsi04OM8eCt0bmgi8PDDHx33tvGqt1ftX5g4ok8esELFxFd/s1600/IMG_0273.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKC25esNfzg-bTH3Y52lnKh4ku1zjw1CKezHkdjKAs_Yr5WCspRULtFcOP-FqOs5W2jEP56-jtb3nRgeu79EF9KLdcOQvRBsi04OM8eCt0bmgi8PDDHx33tvGqt1ftX5g4ok8esELFxFd/s320/IMG_0273.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610112283329632738" /></a><br />Split Rock, another landmark for the pioneers. This is taken from our camper door.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-32003505286511070612011-05-16T21:14:00.005-05:002011-05-16T21:35:36.244-05:00Training is OverAnother great week has passed. This was our first week of actually doing some of the duties we will be doing for the next six months. It was great to get down to business as most would say. <br /><br />Monday started with Randy on work crew and I serving in the Humanitarian Center. Randy was able to go up into the actual cove and start painting the railings and benches that are placed there for people to sit and listen to the stories of those who endured those five long days of hard winter… or to just ponder the numerous blessings in their lives today. As for me, I learned to use the embroidery machine and sewed logos onto several work shirts for the missionaries. I only had to pick out (remove the mistakes) two (which was no fun) but my stats on mistakes were pretty good. No, I don’t want an embroidery machine as most of the ladies thought I would after using one. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvCykxUgMLSOGF5Ohky488NWiu-ffTlpJZcl59vK79SCqWpv5V-_tKv2WP8hoKI_AHr4AR18K08YSTfaAWGNAizwFm5is6cbx6UvY0Ziy9HdIO4b8d3_tEDwQBxNdWIyAGGNoS0yQ1tTw/s1600/IMG_0168a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvCykxUgMLSOGF5Ohky488NWiu-ffTlpJZcl59vK79SCqWpv5V-_tKv2WP8hoKI_AHr4AR18K08YSTfaAWGNAizwFm5is6cbx6UvY0Ziy9HdIO4b8d3_tEDwQBxNdWIyAGGNoS0yQ1tTw/s320/IMG_0168a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607503341538890354" /></a><br />Tieing Quilts in the Humanitarian Center<br /><br />Then Tuesday, Randy and I were on work crew together and were able to go back up to the cove to paint some more along with set posts for a hand rail. Now we didn’t do this alone, there were two other couples with us and it was a great day visiting and getting to know each other, oh and, painting. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeOKKPH-3FqsXxApucFge8bJwjT_8SdWByPb14BGLTRPIAApeAcDgCQ6OPLhUSqPm1AbueY0emTFcnhC6Vkv4EOuUjmG2BQ7-y-T_LTsNI8nCYHL6-8xyvZea9iFBVZX6i3SncLVHbTkV/s1600/IMG_0175a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeOKKPH-3FqsXxApucFge8bJwjT_8SdWByPb14BGLTRPIAApeAcDgCQ6OPLhUSqPm1AbueY0emTFcnhC6Vkv4EOuUjmG2BQ7-y-T_LTsNI8nCYHL6-8xyvZea9iFBVZX6i3SncLVHbTkV/s320/IMG_0175a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607503344927759826" /></a><br />Randy painting the railings...look out for rattlesnakes!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt38th18YvnwmOroSD4_5vgTEPNGynH8ek0I8b3cJcFWFYdLsZVeHZbvp0TwS-JjnclEEGtgoOLA_mVt9cDYEMW9fHhroXjb_xq_n4zVljkkXZEN684kqZ7P3DZIEHkp7RHtWxLOUES6Jn/s1600/IMG_0177a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt38th18YvnwmOroSD4_5vgTEPNGynH8ek0I8b3cJcFWFYdLsZVeHZbvp0TwS-JjnclEEGtgoOLA_mVt9cDYEMW9fHhroXjb_xq_n4zVljkkXZEN684kqZ7P3DZIEHkp7RHtWxLOUES6Jn/s320/IMG_0177a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607503353120849714" /></a><br />Look how much work we did...benches, railings, and ourselves!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZH9j3ejiHHsSB9pIWa3mTR1Mjo0GVtLVYfG1jd4p56xYIjgN-kP5nZC-zkquQ-u-x06900GZ4PTCpt9G0tH-lfht8fGKUTQm8FCQQb1Wd5z_ax45xPnoRS2V5bUgIWPtuwUIS2TYQhFqH/s1600/IMG_0178a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZH9j3ejiHHsSB9pIWa3mTR1Mjo0GVtLVYfG1jd4p56xYIjgN-kP5nZC-zkquQ-u-x06900GZ4PTCpt9G0tH-lfht8fGKUTQm8FCQQb1Wd5z_ax45xPnoRS2V5bUgIWPtuwUIS2TYQhFqH/s320/IMG_0178a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607503692602160786" /></a><br />I was on parole long enough to paint.<br /><br />On Wednesday, Randy was in the woodshop and I was involved with the school groups and escorted a group of 10 around the grounds. What a wonderful bunch of 4th graders. It was snowing pretty steady while the school children were here so they didn’t stay long to prevent them from getting too wet and cold. Next week I get two days of escorting school kids around and I am really excited!! I love the children. One young man wanted to know if I had a prairie diamond. He was really concerned that I didn’t. The story of the prairie diamond will be shared in a later email so stayed tuned.<br /><br />Thursday we were in the visitor’s center with three other couples. I was so looking forward to a gentle day of possibly just sitting and doing some reading. Guess that is what I get for doing the planning, uh?? When assigned to the visitor’s center the day begins with cleaning it up…lots of dusting, cleaning displays, and one additional larger task. Ours was to remove all the dead bodies of multiple bugs from the ceiling lights and clean them. It was okay until I found a big live spider. That’s okay though as I got him with the vacuum cleaner and helped him/her cross the veil into another sphere of life!! Randy and I were able to talk to a couple about the Martin Cove story and show them the visitor center and museum. This couple winters at Lake Havasu and summers in Kalispell (RV). They also have a daughter whom lives in Casper and works at the same bank as my cousin. Such tender mercies to meet up with people and find an instant bond between us. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs98WNomgW6GhdXoaHk1p5u4aa7No8zU3HWsHFXgK9sojhJx90kUnUJj15G4v38_6pHZGUarN1G6TCpNCuvqbeCZm3sgm6b68L1pT4iNmlAWlEIR51NrP2ScqWQzcfgpNYoUSVtaz06kq_/s1600/IMG_0199a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs98WNomgW6GhdXoaHk1p5u4aa7No8zU3HWsHFXgK9sojhJx90kUnUJj15G4v38_6pHZGUarN1G6TCpNCuvqbeCZm3sgm6b68L1pT4iNmlAWlEIR51NrP2ScqWQzcfgpNYoUSVtaz06kq_/s320/IMG_0199a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607503697200588882" /></a><br />Part of the light crew hard at work! I was doing the hard part...picture taking!<br /><br />Friday was another great day of learning. All the first-year missionaries were taken over to the Willie Site (about 45 miles away) to learn more about the events of the James Willie Company. We were able to visit the sixth crossing site and the willows where they hunkered down from the winter storm and see more of the historical trail. It is such a wonderful thing to actually stand in the old trail and imagine what it must have been like. Again, we had the opportunity to do another woman’s pull up a long hill this time but not as steep as the one we did last week. It is amazing how these simple reenactments help each of us really reflect on our blessings and give us strength to continue on for one reason or another. One of the ladies on our cart is serving this mission for her grandson that is fighting cancer. She could hardly pull the cart as she was crying so hard. I am honored to serve beside such charitable women.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd8Ly9V8WaP3qbGAON7PE6w_GLfAenWLT79RR19jZ9IENJHPsTPBG5WPAtpQsmhJZXx8lFWdZu4PY1z9OTLPGm1rnYvtE5YsleBgkDqjGYKjedQgZtgrJYWkBq4Fv2fXc1lhgVVtyEVQt/s1600/IMG_1718a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd8Ly9V8WaP3qbGAON7PE6w_GLfAenWLT79RR19jZ9IENJHPsTPBG5WPAtpQsmhJZXx8lFWdZu4PY1z9OTLPGm1rnYvtE5YsleBgkDqjGYKjedQgZtgrJYWkBq4Fv2fXc1lhgVVtyEVQt/s320/IMG_1718a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607504058103600130" /></a><br />The school marm pumping water.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OeqQeMqe-5yMy4gw0KaQz7Dn611a7ORqE0I7vuakkKiceuRWDonKAXeUKzACaE4gHYndb6RsFpX1Sgm3gDbQGLZ2IIX1gMgiWDNepIY9dWdhoaen7SdXcRftFfpORsn96xHCFcEarXqw/s1600/IMG_0213a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OeqQeMqe-5yMy4gw0KaQz7Dn611a7ORqE0I7vuakkKiceuRWDonKAXeUKzACaE4gHYndb6RsFpX1Sgm3gDbQGLZ2IIX1gMgiWDNepIY9dWdhoaen7SdXcRftFfpORsn96xHCFcEarXqw/s320/IMG_0213a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607503704461709762" /></a><br />The story of Levi Savage shared by his great great granddaughter. She read from his actual journal...so very cool.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-D4yZX7hXkHBl8O5VZOVeaV6cXH6sENRilasmxPt-_nhAWqJMM6lOiC-l3a-Q1b_Hw4kyozZyYvawYQe_iwkh58INpmzbeE2Km2EpbHCL2dXqLFiSPek-l2EY7n0TDHr7E5WMSUtR9h-/s1600/IMG_1731a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-D4yZX7hXkHBl8O5VZOVeaV6cXH6sENRilasmxPt-_nhAWqJMM6lOiC-l3a-Q1b_Hw4kyozZyYvawYQe_iwkh58INpmzbeE2Km2EpbHCL2dXqLFiSPek-l2EY7n0TDHr7E5WMSUtR9h-/s320/IMG_1731a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607504064482221666" /></a><br />That's me in the middle pulling up yet another hill. Randy says several sisters love being on my cart because I can just tackle those hills. Wish I could do so well with problems life throws me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBozBd_J0UDZZ2Y9RRoActf4-w6v448nb3x5pOsdCgQR6MvbrcMlw4AoTShAZAGsEeGTJ2_i-YmRwok83xpj3Gx7j0L-hHVigiBdwkaHipgnorlAga7K5F9Bw1CWDZ64YrICuFHmN0o5x/s1600/IMG_0227a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBozBd_J0UDZZ2Y9RRoActf4-w6v448nb3x5pOsdCgQR6MvbrcMlw4AoTShAZAGsEeGTJ2_i-YmRwok83xpj3Gx7j0L-hHVigiBdwkaHipgnorlAga7K5F9Bw1CWDZ64YrICuFHmN0o5x/s320/IMG_0227a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607504060751273010" /></a><br />Getting ready for Sunday potluck.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWCSkHKswnvs_VsoCd9WdDAbR2sNMtlkxxwCDrpV9LCuDNv2hID4Vy7JZBZKn2ZJd8HQFZplVKFnbYvDpWNwDjeBf7NmWlr4L8r3TcIhkhl9T7nzjMYH2WmU6kpSKJrQk_mfM3Ubv-Hng/s1600/IMG_0223a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgWCSkHKswnvs_VsoCd9WdDAbR2sNMtlkxxwCDrpV9LCuDNv2hID4Vy7JZBZKn2ZJd8HQFZplVKFnbYvDpWNwDjeBf7NmWlr4L8r3TcIhkhl9T7nzjMYH2WmU6kpSKJrQk_mfM3Ubv-Hng/s320/IMG_0223a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607504055650320402" /></a><br />Look at that spread for Sunday potluck and that was just one of the two tables.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-24662842356148005332011-05-08T22:44:00.006-05:002011-05-08T23:04:31.730-05:00And they walked, and walked, and walked<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS10aR2ICQNXg4mLq8Y8bs6is15swOgipoOUhKj3Luf9E2sNElCFk4rnKjuKgBhqdCfSPqfGvRXNCUmWxdAsNwmEd7KdS3Micx9bozAu9Lbq0JjFeLUe1lvGMxNFroOERF464Jk-5X7ubt/s1600/IMG_0050a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS10aR2ICQNXg4mLq8Y8bs6is15swOgipoOUhKj3Luf9E2sNElCFk4rnKjuKgBhqdCfSPqfGvRXNCUmWxdAsNwmEd7KdS3Micx9bozAu9Lbq0JjFeLUe1lvGMxNFroOERF464Jk-5X7ubt/s320/IMG_0050a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604557546212366098" /></a><br />I forgot this last post. Pinning on our missionary badges.<br /><br />Another great week has passed and we are really enjoying all that we are learning and doing. Of course, one of the sisters here said it is like we have been in the Missionary Training School (and she is right just a short version of it) and now beginning this week we get down in the trenches to work. To tell you the truth, I am excited to start on with my responsibilities. <br /><br />The week started with learning the duties around the grounds. Our first lesson was driving the rovers (mules, ATVs, whatever you want to call them). Throughout our training, several have gained appropriate nicknames. Yep, we now have a Sister Andretti in our midst and it ain’t me. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYufjxYY6f5-RQ1UZXhyXMeCr3bj6Vv7kP6eFQmntYiC77pMTS3aIe0zd4RFQJUzXk6UnjPMFOo8Zeb_kU5xbZocmgklOZKi1AiE_jLfmSRzlCby-hizy_Dz2rT0XnUj1zC0X5jTKfmFH1/s1600/IMG_0075a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYufjxYY6f5-RQ1UZXhyXMeCr3bj6Vv7kP6eFQmntYiC77pMTS3aIe0zd4RFQJUzXk6UnjPMFOo8Zeb_kU5xbZocmgklOZKi1AiE_jLfmSRzlCby-hizy_Dz2rT0XnUj1zC0X5jTKfmFH1/s320/IMG_0075a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604557853437614450" /></a><br />This isn't actually training. This is our practice day but I wanted you to see what our rovers look like.<br /><br />On the grounds is a woodshop, metal shop, and lots of landscaping to take care of. The Elders (men) will primarily being busy in the wood shop and metal shop but they have granted the Sisters (women) permission to invade their territory once in awhile if we desire. Thank goodness as I want to learn how to repair a handcart, build benches and the such. And I promise I won’t paint flowers on them either!! We will have two-way radios with some of our duties and we learned how to communicate with base station. The emphasis was placed on being professional on the radios…drats, they must have known I was coming and had to set the ground rules right away. No calling my honey on the radio and sweet talking him, uh??? <br /><br />Tuesday was filled with so much information; I think my brain is having to kick into overdrive. We were blessed to have guest speakers from the Church History Department and learn so much about their research program and how they validate the accounts of the pioneers and determine the location of the actual events. What a very intriguing area of church work. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBga0sLiZHehojPOv6CifDPr-5KcTqQyX_FYxi7Jr2K3fYnZMmGcz_v3BPGN9gPg2zN9hWNm1mL4-GkkKK9BuJKIPc5SUGLFAKl-8lS45IsixJMxSWuFc2iEEzHVbKYWh12MSeUjpnawWQ/s1600/IMG_0068a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBga0sLiZHehojPOv6CifDPr-5KcTqQyX_FYxi7Jr2K3fYnZMmGcz_v3BPGN9gPg2zN9hWNm1mL4-GkkKK9BuJKIPc5SUGLFAKl-8lS45IsixJMxSWuFc2iEEzHVbKYWh12MSeUjpnawWQ/s320/IMG_0068a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604557851982031506" /></a><br />She is holding a sacrament pitcher. Isn't it cool!! This was before the individual cups.<br /><br />So many times in my recent life, I wish I would have been aware of all the opportunities out there for a career, pastime, or just know what is happening. Okay, maybe not as I would have wanted to do it all. After the briefings, we then went to the different posts (assignment areas) and practiced sharing our scripts regarding the history and stories. We have such talented people here with us that did a great job sharing the information for the first time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTRG5qhXx0hOCsP49fU_n1_KS966AgL_q4BeV3eJihRrxeZis8VitJU_uzt85yXmYj-vRMXr6vKBiJ1QcExoFmAO8rrKzS6QakKvh-VrSaKQysO23INLroWPzKYP7PUrEGfYuslVGcoYs/s1600/IMG_0566a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTRG5qhXx0hOCsP49fU_n1_KS966AgL_q4BeV3eJihRrxeZis8VitJU_uzt85yXmYj-vRMXr6vKBiJ1QcExoFmAO8rrKzS6QakKvh-VrSaKQysO23INLroWPzKYP7PUrEGfYuslVGcoYs/s320/IMG_0566a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558110133924562" /></a><br />Me sharing my pioneer account of Jane Bailey.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rje9uSsT14_XDGKVIRSwiRUNFcuDSIFtHZ40EVWKIAUzcr71gnYl1mAeKq-hRpI1y3Ev3sM4pe0k_crjLwh2H7Sl84psCR_11_cytOIgtBWbbRSg3EdfNAEEzUOepo72p66KldmUJbSD/s1600/IMG_0597a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rje9uSsT14_XDGKVIRSwiRUNFcuDSIFtHZ40EVWKIAUzcr71gnYl1mAeKq-hRpI1y3Ev3sM4pe0k_crjLwh2H7Sl84psCR_11_cytOIgtBWbbRSg3EdfNAEEzUOepo72p66KldmUJbSD/s320/IMG_0597a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558393032475346" /></a><br />Randy and I standing in the depression of the trail made by the pioneers over 150 yrs ago.<br /><br />On Friday, we did one of the actual treks; a 6-mile walk pulling a handcart with our belongings in it. What a truly wonderful experience!! Memories of the trek we did in Arkansas with the 14 to 18 year olds came flooding back and now I have memories of doing it with people ranging from 52 (me) to 87 years of age. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pbDNh7b0RTW-FpoLVBTQrnz6aFUMZ_Uc-w4ndDqcsx2V2GLP0RoOdAbEEcn4d3fxfjpH2xkOYCtatHGphOARgnpJNuYILRZKQ1ZdE65EM0TKgkBDl5fCgjjMHDUWIFsL1gPT3g0J8H24/s1600/IMG_0106a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pbDNh7b0RTW-FpoLVBTQrnz6aFUMZ_Uc-w4ndDqcsx2V2GLP0RoOdAbEEcn4d3fxfjpH2xkOYCtatHGphOARgnpJNuYILRZKQ1ZdE65EM0TKgkBDl5fCgjjMHDUWIFsL1gPT3g0J8H24/s320/IMG_0106a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604557859248944722" /></a><br />Our handcart family.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0TXUbyMEwG3a9Vn9XTJhmInPfoXqlkpxIw99FSo-4tBaosYvKLoUS8-T9cwWyjz2hA3x65-SWvUV2VzpiaVAbfDeV_CeUKq7zRsSeKMCyCUJzVFAzlm0LUGzKcCPXppkDNmQs_ASr7Cu/s1600/IMG_0109a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0TXUbyMEwG3a9Vn9XTJhmInPfoXqlkpxIw99FSo-4tBaosYvKLoUS8-T9cwWyjz2hA3x65-SWvUV2VzpiaVAbfDeV_CeUKq7zRsSeKMCyCUJzVFAzlm0LUGzKcCPXppkDNmQs_ASr7Cu/s320/IMG_0109a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558107637611410" /></a><br />There was only one more cart behind us.<br /><br />Each of us was blessed with gaining more knowledge and individual strength which we really didn’t think we possessed. Two of the most touching moments on this trek were the crossing of the Sweetwater River and the women’s pull up a sandy hill about 3/4 of a mile. As many as wanted to were invited to cross the Sweetwater which is very cold right now with the snow run off, approximately 2 ½ feet deep, and somewhere around 30 feet across. I proudly took off my boots and crossed. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FGTT_oIbD0231bebJ2w3cyfk59eUe-PvNzp5DUpO382yc4aKuK3thmM3PBiQ4aV98X-jrkhPoJGTs3FFEO8we9FyO3z82jfLbV3VYzX02koGDQT1sm1y7zDG0rJQS2KPrjVKdb8ZC4Xs/s1600/IMG_0136a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FGTT_oIbD0231bebJ2w3cyfk59eUe-PvNzp5DUpO382yc4aKuK3thmM3PBiQ4aV98X-jrkhPoJGTs3FFEO8we9FyO3z82jfLbV3VYzX02koGDQT1sm1y7zDG0rJQS2KPrjVKdb8ZC4Xs/s320/IMG_0136a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558106803806386" /></a><br />Me in the turquoise sweater; crossing the Sweetwater River.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aqQunVPjqqeJiAVdPcJMC5OpeIIgLcnQwVFQCKS98mNfFEhyrmOcOUpNWAINUjfhCeA6HN_r8HqKbiUJhoPGHaTgdTr2Rly8_WxRbkbZsd1lMlEvLL5d_S80w6vdg7VFuvqA_ut7HVFc/s1600/IMG_0858a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8aqQunVPjqqeJiAVdPcJMC5OpeIIgLcnQwVFQCKS98mNfFEhyrmOcOUpNWAINUjfhCeA6HN_r8HqKbiUJhoPGHaTgdTr2Rly8_WxRbkbZsd1lMlEvLL5d_S80w6vdg7VFuvqA_ut7HVFc/s320/IMG_0858a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558397595484290" /></a><br />Struggling to get out of the boggy mud at the bottom of the river after walking over rocks barefooted.<br /><br />I feel so totally blessed to be able to do this after all the struggles I have had health wise the past three years. I know there is an extra pair of hands holding me up at this time and I am so grateful I can serve Him in such a small way. After crossing the river, we then proceeded to a hill where the men were taken to the top of it and they talked about the strength and value of their wives while the ladies stayed at the bottom and talked about how virtuous it is to be a woman. We then, as women, got with our carts and pushed and pulled it up the sand trap hill. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiCupLVNznA_TjT0kLNTI7i2jQxCbNsLC3zBO0rkpxUf1pK34bzKoAmjBMfkUlaLgZf1XAbP2qmbTK-QiYIBLFF3u8QMzookrEGM1jochAEUYkFf99E20qa1Y_jv9iNfNwjYHimUZLnM2/s1600/IMG_0947a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiCupLVNznA_TjT0kLNTI7i2jQxCbNsLC3zBO0rkpxUf1pK34bzKoAmjBMfkUlaLgZf1XAbP2qmbTK-QiYIBLFF3u8QMzookrEGM1jochAEUYkFf99E20qa1Y_jv9iNfNwjYHimUZLnM2/s320/IMG_0947a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558404336099906" /></a><br />Me and my sisters pulling the cart up the hill.<br /><br />Now remember, these ladies are not the 14 to 18 years old. Of course, they weren’t only 14 to 18 when they crossed the plains either. Oh, the men were pulled out to signify either dying or being called to a mission to help others somewhere else while the women continued the journey to Salt Lake City. Those pioneers were some sturdy stock. The pull up the hill was grueling but well worth it. After our long walk, we gathered for dinner and then square danced. It was amazing that once the music started up, all of us gleaned energy of the excitement and got on our feet and danced for an hour. We will be able to enjoy this activity with the youth when they come. What a fulfilling day even if I had to use a tube of Bengay the next day to be able to stand. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOzi2xIgTOsBiIEt9tH5eXCuqsGUOtPoaqGlZh74L9a0mXRBH2L34ePQXXibeY-eB0Rpo9VwzZZycOfRMBqSIk5E0aMKfWVDJ_EFLfsfu_O1RvOUpAHH1tFbPpQ1a9fKnQI2BEsRth6SV/s1600/IMG_0988a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOzi2xIgTOsBiIEt9tH5eXCuqsGUOtPoaqGlZh74L9a0mXRBH2L34ePQXXibeY-eB0Rpo9VwzZZycOfRMBqSIk5E0aMKfWVDJ_EFLfsfu_O1RvOUpAHH1tFbPpQ1a9fKnQI2BEsRth6SV/s320/IMG_0988a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604558401966073666" /></a><br />Towards the end of our long pull. My shoulder was hurting so I could only use one hand.<br /><br />Now for the rest of the story: On the trek we saw a hognose snake and were able to get pretty close to him or her. They are still moving pretty slow as it is not warm enough for them but none the less they are out already. Then, when Randy showered after our trek, guess what he found on him...a big black tick!!! Definitely not what I wanted or needed. How fortunate for us that we were the first to report a tick. We have been told that when we get ready to leave for the day, watch our doors as we may bump an antelope when opening them, then check the ground as there may be a snake and then when we come home, check for ticks. What a day of activity.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFsVaeXkWIpLZfcfRAiZx6WQ7l8_RkDsGniYl-VDu5AHdtPn1__SpoDfahaPB-DsGFnkjlU6_vE8s8PT3BrhY08vI1eb6wZRScDjTLqgVRhkVQRXrMPevDKi-JpJc_7RhZ9AqXwr4RUsp/s1600/IMG_0066a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFsVaeXkWIpLZfcfRAiZx6WQ7l8_RkDsGniYl-VDu5AHdtPn1__SpoDfahaPB-DsGFnkjlU6_vE8s8PT3BrhY08vI1eb6wZRScDjTLqgVRhkVQRXrMPevDKi-JpJc_7RhZ9AqXwr4RUsp/s320/IMG_0066a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604557548495483490" /></a><br />Yep, we found a bit of a bog to 4-wheel in with the truck. Traveling around the ranch is so much fun.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfr3gGgDYpVl6Hh-a-WtI-U1DXSS7iMr55yXK_3Oq16V4ABUHaNNdTPNqt00GWznKDpoDcufy3UjDvduK3VbJjR5-EreNEqIMdP8G5eNDxcHA7hX8HHbuRxry4w42UnnzNoF48275PwPe/s1600/IMG_0053a.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfr3gGgDYpVl6Hh-a-WtI-U1DXSS7iMr55yXK_3Oq16V4ABUHaNNdTPNqt00GWznKDpoDcufy3UjDvduK3VbJjR5-EreNEqIMdP8G5eNDxcHA7hX8HHbuRxry4w42UnnzNoF48275PwPe/s320/IMG_0053a.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604557549902465090" /></a><br />We went driving around the ranch and just thought this was beautiful.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-90750009446083599842011-05-01T18:55:00.003-05:002011-05-01T19:11:34.813-05:00And we begin our mission....We have been at the Mormon Handcart Historic Site for almost a week and experienced so many great and wonderful things. Like….three snowstorms (not too drastic), lots of strong wind (rocks us to sleep in the RV), and new friends. To serve this mission, you must have access to an RV (or box as it is commonly referred to here). While setting up, we decided there won’t be much placed outside as we would have to go retrieve it in Nebraska next fall. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIYt0biXUA2mVc7zBfIJl4_nfvJ3G2kPidKPO8WVmtkcaC27N9UXoOs1JBRj4qYaj5BlbThhLNxx5c5G7uPXQrsRQ7ZyvJoxDh0XaXL54ULcQ_mo3BaB_wFVBuxiM_ESYARyfMzKekdJD/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIYt0biXUA2mVc7zBfIJl4_nfvJ3G2kPidKPO8WVmtkcaC27N9UXoOs1JBRj4qYaj5BlbThhLNxx5c5G7uPXQrsRQ7ZyvJoxDh0XaXL54ULcQ_mo3BaB_wFVBuxiM_ESYARyfMzKekdJD/s320/IMG_0036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601901296530526578" /></a><br />Here we sit. Yep, that is snow. Just a skiff though!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGjV-GrGQPrjUZ5jvvftcmaFPir4DDN5rzZEi1VvA11zaj7UHltCs0CRr3MypZ4eLNuE2F66vbkq-Mv53RljwGE-dL6FVMh28uy0-4u2lBFE7SEuzNmPJXexW02mpni4W_YOxgqiHrroh/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGjV-GrGQPrjUZ5jvvftcmaFPir4DDN5rzZEi1VvA11zaj7UHltCs0CRr3MypZ4eLNuE2F66vbkq-Mv53RljwGE-dL6FVMh28uy0-4u2lBFE7SEuzNmPJXexW02mpni4W_YOxgqiHrroh/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601900801940539250" /></a><br />The view towards the back of the Bighorn.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1vZh5nYQzcRzmDLwke2kFaX4hVz65ePajUYmHLxyYRfqRMDLgHIIC4MGk6_fpLAkwEmPG0-o9bsSMj5CDGxdTuFxUn2AwVfNlnMPG8q8XEV_chGV0QqVCUFduDQLlWWCWP65XhKrodw5/s1600/IMG_1692.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1vZh5nYQzcRzmDLwke2kFaX4hVz65ePajUYmHLxyYRfqRMDLgHIIC4MGk6_fpLAkwEmPG0-o9bsSMj5CDGxdTuFxUn2AwVfNlnMPG8q8XEV_chGV0QqVCUFduDQLlWWCWP65XhKrodw5/s320/IMG_1692.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601901299250024770" /></a><br />The view out the window by the table during a storm rolling in.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EcRrW_hzyEWMJJu3RK0QJZYllsk76hV6nM1lh3NXpwFreQMe-etkFVg6YlfR-vxA-XbJ_mKCDhqnTmJ7H8YujxFhjNOEgNYI_m9qQ3XwSsX_uxBTuUuXinwXZwSs6nHeFQooaarX3hAI/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EcRrW_hzyEWMJJu3RK0QJZYllsk76hV6nM1lh3NXpwFreQMe-etkFVg6YlfR-vxA-XbJ_mKCDhqnTmJ7H8YujxFhjNOEgNYI_m9qQ3XwSsX_uxBTuUuXinwXZwSs6nHeFQooaarX3hAI/s320/IMG_0034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601901060002456610" /></a><br />Looking out the back at our four-legged neighbor.<br /><br />Our week has been full of activities to get oriented with our responsibilities around here. And from what I hear so will the next couple of weeks. There are 45 couples serving in this area and they come from as far as North Carolina to Washington, oops, mustn’t forget Canada. It is so fun to make new friends with so much to offer in advice and spiritually to our whole experience. <br /><br />Thursday started with our first work crew assignment: To get to know the beauty of Wyoming up close. We picked up trash along the highway for five hours. Three miles later, we all had stories to share of what we found, who we met, and how hard the wind blows in Wyoming. Randy’s and my biggest treasure was an antelope skull with antlers. Cool, uh???<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawCqjb_pU5jA-fsQqX-VqUQnmWaOMNdAuJVaSbj8LfuZkMmEwLhaWBJBszRvM3TSawWP2DunMzUtA2HDw_NTW-ea9V3dfI5Zsvf2p0XUr3Ua3VjMvCzX_llfFdRS0UnhzymyrdHbtgrsh/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawCqjb_pU5jA-fsQqX-VqUQnmWaOMNdAuJVaSbj8LfuZkMmEwLhaWBJBszRvM3TSawWP2DunMzUtA2HDw_NTW-ea9V3dfI5Zsvf2p0XUr3Ua3VjMvCzX_llfFdRS0UnhzymyrdHbtgrsh/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601900801437176146" /></a><br />Randy picking up trash while I take pictures. Who has the better job???<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqOqYjeVLdf-K-NTk-dUb1StNIWZ5WAWRwewJRNhmNROZgK5z9lpD2cWRQqEYUMbUF-AOZFJc_tC9DGAXsU5PjDUAlxX0uzsAIcgTBVRTQsbFCnvTZNC_0FkgNn3sZ0glSF6hc3zdELGq/s1600/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqOqYjeVLdf-K-NTk-dUb1StNIWZ5WAWRwewJRNhmNROZgK5z9lpD2cWRQqEYUMbUF-AOZFJc_tC9DGAXsU5PjDUAlxX0uzsAIcgTBVRTQsbFCnvTZNC_0FkgNn3sZ0glSF6hc3zdELGq/s320/IMG_0028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601901049672614290" /></a><br />Our treasure during trash pick up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RcQz9TmXI6Mi-w6XIshzeCuwOJ9WcPXzgYoxE4P_DdtgVRvAo6pYn8XivXzRL8Nirn6APMVVs60sK4GmNlqd1NXm9ESIJV1SQQymwqs7djv6uTBAVy4fWlFltE_QAHC5_AZLaq9mrA3F/s1600/IMG_0033.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RcQz9TmXI6Mi-w6XIshzeCuwOJ9WcPXzgYoxE4P_DdtgVRvAo6pYn8XivXzRL8Nirn6APMVVs60sK4GmNlqd1NXm9ESIJV1SQQymwqs7djv6uTBAVy4fWlFltE_QAHC5_AZLaq9mrA3F/s320/IMG_0033.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601901054342773202" /></a><br />Standing underneath the entrance to our office for the next six months.<br /><br />Saturday, we attended trek leaders training; which we will be part of our duties next fall. The training was so spiritual. Several great stories were shared about the pioneers that passed thru this area. Our key words for 2011 are Faith, Obedience, Sacrifice and Charity. Each story is an example of these great attributes. We also heard stories of past treks and it sure brought back the memories of the trek we did in Arkansas. Trek is a life altering experience for all who participate!!Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-50400465529724307612011-04-21T22:19:00.001-05:002011-04-21T22:21:04.722-05:00On Our Way to WyomingWritten on April 21, 2011 between Cheyenne and Casper, Wyoming.<br />Sure grateful there are Plan Bs to every great plan. This past year has been filled with activating several Plan Bs. Our original plan was to leave Texas on March 14 and head for South Carolina to spend a few weeks with Randy’s parents and Paul and family. We did pull out March 14 after saying good-bye to several good friends and headed to South Carolina. We stayed a couple days in Warner Robbins with our good friends, the Hocketts. It was a great time together along with time to travel over the old stomping grounds. One of our highlights was lunch at the Boarding House, a restaurant that has been in existence since 1968 and serves its meals just like it did years ago when it really was a boarding house for young people. Come in, sit down, and start dishing up the home cooked dishes; absolutely so quaint. While we were in South Carolina, my dad went into renal failure and wasn’t pulling out of it. So, we decided we needed to return to Texas after just a short but good week. Karl and Angela came out to South Carolina the first week as it was their spring break. We were able to enjoying the company of friends and family along with go to Charleston for an afternoon and the next day. While in Charleston, we did a walking tour led by the great tour guide, Cousin Aurelia and then we went on a horse carriage tour. It was really quite interesting and I sure did learn a lot. We crammed as much as we could into a short week. We left March 26 heading back to Texas. Once in Texas, we again started helping mom and dad by getting dad settled into the nursing home and cleaning dad’s truck and their small camper to sell and whatever else needed done to relieve mom of stress during a difficult time. Dad is stable at this time which gives us the comfort that it is okay to head off for our mission. So, once again, we shared some tearful goodbyes and headed out towards Wyoming on April 19. Lo and behold, our trip has been one of interest. We had to travel through several grassland fires in the panhandle of Texas; lots of smoke and air activity with the helicopters and planes dumping slurry and stuff. The next day in Cheyenne, Wyoming, we woke up to a few inches of snow and the warning of severe high winds on the highways. Sure glad we aren’t leading a boring life!!Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-78666008363308385832011-04-21T22:18:00.000-05:002011-04-21T22:19:08.492-05:00"Smithizing" the BighornThis winter has given us some time to “Smithize” our new little home. My organized little brain (okay maybe not the brain but the thoughts that work their way out) is always trying to think of ways to make things more convenient, able to fit in a smaller area, or is there space that can be better used and yet stay with like items together. You know the cleaning products do not belong in the bedroom. So, I have dreamed up a few “honey do” projects along with reorganized the outside storage several times when I discover new totes and such. We now have some new shelves in my makeup cabinet, a 19” TV (thanks Karl and Angela) mounted in our bedroom, and, hopefully, a file cabinet built into one of our cabinets. We should probably share this with the manufacturers as all full-timers would benefit from a file cabinet. No the list is not done yet and as with a stick built home…it never will be done!! <br />Randy has also participated in the “Smithize” project. I am so very fortunate to have such a knowledgeable, talented man in my life. We are benefiting from a digital thermostat (not standard in RVs) which keeps the temperature during the awful cold spells quite comfy and I am sure we will experience the same benefits when it gets a little warmer. Then I am spoiled rotten, as I now have an automatic igniter for the oven instead of getting down on my hands and knees, turning upside down and trying to light the pilot light (not a good thing when you suffer from vertigo). Even though doing the projects didn’t come easy, it was great to learn from each one of them. <br />P.S. This was written a couple months ago but silly me, never got posted. Anyway, all has been done except the file cabinet..which kept being put on the back burner. I just hope the back burner gets taken care of this summer. More to follow.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-71096205277787321592011-04-21T22:17:00.000-05:002011-04-21T22:18:22.565-05:00Activities of the WinterWe have really, really enjoyed being in the same RV part as my parents these past months. We have shared great ideas/information, learned things together, discussed several past memories, and lots of opportunities to help each other. Plus, I am also grateful we were together during the transition period for grandma as it really helped being able to hold each other up during a difficult time. One of the things we did for my parents was to “pimp” their home. There camper is six years old and didn’t have the new digital TV. So, with some encouragement (didn’t take much) we talked them into getting a new TV and we bought them a home theater system for Christmas with surround sound. The TV was first for a few weeks and they really enjoyed the new HD view. But once we (well, I should say Randy as I am only the assistant) got the theater system hooked up and pumping through the camper, they were like kids with a new toy. Now, I am not so sure their neighbors feel the same as the volume was not quite as low as previously. It really rocks their camper!Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-67283301370095089722011-04-21T17:28:00.003-05:002011-04-21T22:16:02.289-05:00Music in the CampOne of Randy’s goals for quite some time has been to learn to play the guitar and what better time to start then now. So, after a few weeks here, he contacted a local guitar teacher and took lessons. I must say he has progressed quite well. Just a tidbit of interest; his lessons were held in a Model A garage which was converted to the music room. The building was so very narrow and quaint. It was part of the teacher’s family homestead and I am so glad they didn’t demolish the garage. With hearing Randy strum along, I wanted to be able to do something and a piano just isn’t a good idea for the Bighorn. We located a dulcimer at a thrift store and I have always enjoyed the sound of a dulcimer. We purchased the dulcimer hoping to be able to find a teacher and to my blessing, one of the fellow RVers offers to teach dulcimer to several who are interested. So, my teacher, Maurine Augustine, has graciously taken on the task of lessons with hopes to be capable of strumming a few songs other than Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Mary Had a Little Lamb before departing. While I recovered from surgery, I had to take a bit of a break and Maurine broke her wrist but it hasn’t slowed us down…just a slight vacation. Along with myself, another fellow RVer, Donna Brown, strums the dulcimer and has taken lessons for a couple years from Maurine. Several afternoons were spent during the last couple of months with the girls getting together to strum a tune or two. These two ladies have become super good friends and I can hardly wait until we can continue our jam sessions next fall. Look out, there may be a new group arising from the Hill Country!! P.S. Randy didn’t continue with his lessons but hopefully will pick up his guitar a time or two this summer with the Martin’s Cove jam sessions. <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtagHJejdO3jlkfs8gGUP-upK__4XwBoRcyDkrqUMWm7oH4bTWhSDmB_mxB4BWoRQOIAWZhogQvD8ssglShMeWESk1Xyd7b88lE9o2pOmlgvoaVNDiiWD7fBGC37ZcrbyxxRJfNRbfJ4-/s1600/IMG_0060.JPG"><IMG style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598167918642426290 border=0 alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtagHJejdO3jlkfs8gGUP-upK__4XwBoRcyDkrqUMWm7oH4bTWhSDmB_mxB4BWoRQOIAWZhogQvD8ssglShMeWESk1Xyd7b88lE9o2pOmlgvoaVNDiiWD7fBGC37ZcrbyxxRJfNRbfJ4-/s320/IMG_0060.JPG"></A>My teacher, Maurine and I during a lesson. Look how she is watching my fingering. <A href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MZLSAfZK7ybp7lxsrsJOTjW9fyxBL0DBuC1wyYYN9IrWBlwd5v7cQyEhsIYWT-Y-1TUJQkBQJVUc_IdzoclkKLW6XUpES3a59QOkkVuQi5pypOmLLUX1tlwPrzE70OI3DjKdXQVGjTAV/s1600/2+Maurine+Augustine%252C+Donna+Brown+and+Colleen+playing+dulcimer.jpg"><IMG style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598167922372718946 border=0 alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MZLSAfZK7ybp7lxsrsJOTjW9fyxBL0DBuC1wyYYN9IrWBlwd5v7cQyEhsIYWT-Y-1TUJQkBQJVUc_IdzoclkKLW6XUpES3a59QOkkVuQi5pypOmLLUX1tlwPrzE70OI3DjKdXQVGjTAV/s320/2+Maurine+Augustine%252C+Donna+Brown+and+Colleen+playing+dulcimer.jpg"></A>The girls during one of their beginner jam sessions.Randy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-26511578279532455192011-02-03T18:24:00.003-06:002011-02-03T18:37:48.082-06:00ChristmasWhat a wonderful time we had celebrating Christmas with our new RV family. I was a little distraught thinking I wasn’t going to be able to attend a Christmas party but the campground came through for me. The campground sponsored a secret stocking Santa activity. Randy and I both signed up to be a secret santa for separate people and I had a blast shopping for them. We stuffed their stockings so full we had to leave the extra items next to the stockings. On Christmas Eve, we had our Christmas get together in the rec hall along with finding out the identity of our secret santa. The get together consisted of sharing favorite snack foods and activities. Guess who was in charge of the activities?? Yep, yours truly. There was lots of laughter during the activities and many compliments afterwards so I’m sure a good time was had by all. Then we did our stocking exchange and Randy got a perfect rice cooker for us. We have used it several times and hope not to wear it out before we leave here. On Christmas day, my mom went and got Grandma so all of us could be together. We had a small gift exchange between the families and then went to the big dinner at the rec hall. You wouldn’t believe the spread of food. Absolutely delightful!! I volunteered to help serve which gave me a very special opportunity to ensure each of our friends received a Christmas greeting. We have made some wonderful friends over the last four months. These friends even helped us celebrate our 24th anniversary with another great potluck dinner on New Year’s Day. I know – a little odd as we have this great opportunity to go and do anything for our anniversary and we choose to just stay in our new little abode and enjoy!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8wSmbBpZ7l2Y8wogUdqYfz9x_PMUUULRX4dtjxY67n_WaI6XIusHLdepsihqdb1NA5-9dJrnrGLOMDrt9DX-IiaEUGZZmMOtiU9vOId3X8gzLNbJH_cW4ez7lSQpvacJN42U14bdV252/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8wSmbBpZ7l2Y8wogUdqYfz9x_PMUUULRX4dtjxY67n_WaI6XIusHLdepsihqdb1NA5-9dJrnrGLOMDrt9DX-IiaEUGZZmMOtiU9vOId3X8gzLNbJH_cW4ez7lSQpvacJN42U14bdV252/s320/IMG_0017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569625774739118370" /></a>Encouraging group involvement with the activity<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiQWMizhteko3ianT-3AUPt01FrmfbO240kGs7dScHma6f5ZLIrHEosrFqdOJ4p3XJLasWZGXIDojgXVrpgd0AkQwPPl_-Y1BSh8BJuOhWHUjVCYbphxWCf9gx5lgfv5MvjT5Z2v7nlzB/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiQWMizhteko3ianT-3AUPt01FrmfbO240kGs7dScHma6f5ZLIrHEosrFqdOJ4p3XJLasWZGXIDojgXVrpgd0AkQwPPl_-Y1BSh8BJuOhWHUjVCYbphxWCf9gx5lgfv5MvjT5Z2v7nlzB/s320/IMG_0020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569625761925112658" /></a>What?? Absolutely no cheating.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuVj-Yjw0aGN17m6G7sQrnjNiZ2y2w0bdAidodlssXMtbFlJS45Yqp-gz642hiIZvrsbae7zmJL0SiLxDosZKskFCnK1dPPwsmboj5XwpZPwKVrKQ22gCJQzLiohoVGB6ClR_Ps9tgNkf/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuVj-Yjw0aGN17m6G7sQrnjNiZ2y2w0bdAidodlssXMtbFlJS45Yqp-gz642hiIZvrsbae7zmJL0SiLxDosZKskFCnK1dPPwsmboj5XwpZPwKVrKQ22gCJQzLiohoVGB6ClR_Ps9tgNkf/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569625760543172210" /></a>My dad, mom and grandma waiting for the big dinner to startRandy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444166280629020959.post-53082640127025888242011-02-03T17:37:00.007-06:002011-02-03T18:24:33.452-06:00ThanksgivingHere are some pictures from Thanksgiving. We were so blessed to have had so many family members with us. Many great memories were made and relationships strengthen during our time together. Of course, the weekend couldn’t end without the annual picture taking day. This year we were able to enjoy the time with grandma and she made sure she was in each group for a few shots which made it that more entertaining.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIPckq1yaJKA-j-acjtAowj2Za0WXbZ2yiBWaATmiqdvY6VeRaCYz2FIYZUBwG5escQ-tMQWA3APjaA1LnhTPr2xDyRTNIDqWVODR080MA_SUo9xuynwwk57XnqQ2TqjzuCLXpAImGYrK/s1600/IMG_0043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIPckq1yaJKA-j-acjtAowj2Za0WXbZ2yiBWaATmiqdvY6VeRaCYz2FIYZUBwG5escQ-tMQWA3APjaA1LnhTPr2xDyRTNIDqWVODR080MA_SUo9xuynwwk57XnqQ2TqjzuCLXpAImGYrK/s320/IMG_0043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569622319678553266" /></a> A camperful ... Paul is getting his foot wrapped by the future athelic trainer<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-_2MC3cLb5ugCVmhpOQmx6YUU7iDgwxysUN4N4lhN0iQE3ZjpVkcYrWf5_QJehMl3xbx43PNGGKzQfKvq4ieTzeHN8N82LmG-fmPgR6n4X2vzv1JqCoiJlO4hkQjpTE45dzyIqQkNm4i/s1600/IMG_1420.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-_2MC3cLb5ugCVmhpOQmx6YUU7iDgwxysUN4N4lhN0iQE3ZjpVkcYrWf5_QJehMl3xbx43PNGGKzQfKvq4ieTzeHN8N82LmG-fmPgR6n4X2vzv1JqCoiJlO4hkQjpTE45dzyIqQkNm4i/s320/IMG_1420.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569622315879606242" /></a>Karl and Angela eating the pie<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolGB58tjrl8_bk8NDXUqU0OChDzXZGZMnhKz71GL2aWm_ryMu2lQjAZOMEfN3C0p5Jl8mO2YiV2wNMzQpK0bEclK4P-g60O2pXk_jPHf0OScxDQZViOcwP_d1Fb6bV1HJ3mnpv2eR3-bR/s1600/IMG_1421.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolGB58tjrl8_bk8NDXUqU0OChDzXZGZMnhKz71GL2aWm_ryMu2lQjAZOMEfN3C0p5Jl8mO2YiV2wNMzQpK0bEclK4P-g60O2pXk_jPHf0OScxDQZViOcwP_d1Fb6bV1HJ3mnpv2eR3-bR/s320/IMG_1421.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569620590450213394" /></a>Paul and Linda eating the pie<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACh-I-TEbXeRs64uncrxSPMAGgJR5btceel06S3OESoEnil0Y4rjkrf2QWMcBKeyBJ77YQ54CBa2Z3y9jSFV3niIfP9xCcjOtdxuri_YxOHRj__2vmHkrDfrXP5vuwrNPGGPuKzD_W6_2/s1600/IMG_1428.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACh-I-TEbXeRs64uncrxSPMAGgJR5btceel06S3OESoEnil0Y4rjkrf2QWMcBKeyBJ77YQ54CBa2Z3y9jSFV3niIfP9xCcjOtdxuri_YxOHRj__2vmHkrDfrXP5vuwrNPGGPuKzD_W6_2/s320/IMG_1428.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569620583347429666" /></a>Pedicure time<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VCC4_uFChSXz1P6c45FpopneBjY6Z2vuqcpQJQOi79LsmzjkMW22wvgiAoprK5TIgOmVMWJyRK_J31zJKh9tTtz5GIdGOk9OJNP8iHABwF0Izq5TBF6bielnmCDDq5TPAmJzn-2x1YL9/s1600/IMG_1438.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VCC4_uFChSXz1P6c45FpopneBjY6Z2vuqcpQJQOi79LsmzjkMW22wvgiAoprK5TIgOmVMWJyRK_J31zJKh9tTtz5GIdGOk9OJNP8iHABwF0Izq5TBF6bielnmCDDq5TPAmJzn-2x1YL9/s320/IMG_1438.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569618772803605906" /></a>Getting ready for family pictures<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheo39NOSuVSFtXZj6pxuoVFq9VxQFguqeXJ_4WOUkCuhJh7wV1FV77bO4R_vUJqxZ4H6koLYfhEWisvBI7QUWzEfWuj1O06wF1iHfTOvhjV3n60wLLlrRWo10Mh8rYSe2MpYjf0fgL9BuP/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheo39NOSuVSFtXZj6pxuoVFq9VxQFguqeXJ_4WOUkCuhJh7wV1FV77bO4R_vUJqxZ4H6koLYfhEWisvBI7QUWzEfWuj1O06wF1iHfTOvhjV3n60wLLlrRWo10Mh8rYSe2MpYjf0fgL9BuP/s320/IMG_1547.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569617124425721122" /></a>Roni and Collin with eagle my dad carved<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v7X2GSyeTPF3lHQVyZvtjwtHjzuRhd3hx9XQadvoGC7KwoHvl2g0RbtIS50iINL0M_AVlBwgZpxZ65Tc9bkx32Ef4vRtjzWSs3I4VWZPlmjaMvC6ImKIysJLjwkNizrsgxmqTxYdceCB/s1600/IMG_1492.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7v7X2GSyeTPF3lHQVyZvtjwtHjzuRhd3hx9XQadvoGC7KwoHvl2g0RbtIS50iINL0M_AVlBwgZpxZ65Tc9bkx32Ef4vRtjzWSs3I4VWZPlmjaMvC6ImKIysJLjwkNizrsgxmqTxYdceCB/s320/IMG_1492.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569614398523897442" /></a>The Smiths with grandmaRandy and Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10097627364814791477noreply@blogger.com0