Trek

How do I sum up an experience that defies description?  How do I define an event that has consumed my life for years?  All I can do is tell their story and my story. 

In 1856, a new project was started.  It enabled the poorer members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to come to Utah.  A perpetual emigration fund was set up where money was donated by wealthier members of the church and then was loaned out to help finance a handcart with the supplies needed to walk to Zion.

This plan was hugely successful and the Saints arrived in Salt Lake City healthy and vigorous from the experience.  Near the end of the season, two companies got a late start due to miscommunication.  They were the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies.  They traveled from Europe on the ships, "Horizon" and "Thornton."  They then continued on to Iowa City where they prepared for the overland journey.  They had only green wood available to build their carts.

Things became even more difficult after the trip began when their cattle were stampeded.  They were planning on using them for milk and meat and to pull the supply wagons.  They searched for several days but only found a handful of them.  Nonetheless they continued on.

Their troubles continued when they reached a station where they anticipated restocking their food supplies.  There was no food to be found, but they still voted to continue on.  Winter came early.  Snow arrived in early October.  When they reached Wyoming their food had run out, and they were facing freezing temperatures.

Around this time the Prophet Brigham Young learned of the handcart companies that were heading to Utah, and he cancelled a scheduled conference with the Saints in Salt Lake, to use the time in calling out for a rescue.  This would be no ordinary rescue.  It would require the sacrifice of families who had suffered successive crop failures.  They gathered all the necessary food, clothing and supplies needed and went into the winter storms in a matter of days.  It would be months before they would return.

They Willie Handcart Company was two weeks ahead, and they ran out of food just as they miraculously stumbled upon the rescuers.  They had to hike the notorious Rocky Ridge to get to where help was available.  They went on a 27 hour forced march that took all of October 25th and part of the 26th.  At their destination, Rock Creek Hollow, 13 perished in exhaustion, and the two who dug their grave died the next day.

The rescuers brought them food, warm clothes and hope.  They gave help to them as the pulled the remaining miles into Utah, and carried those who had no strength left.  They also continued on, looking for the Martin Handcart Company who was much worse off.

After the final crossing of the Platte River, Martin's Company suffered many deaths.  They staggered their way past Independence Rock and Devil's Gate  and finally stopped at a sheltered Cove.  They were done traveling.  They food was gone, and they would either perish or be rescued.  Many were close to giving up, but aid finally came.  They were given food, clothing and waited as enough wagons arrived to carry them through the final journey.  They had enough to eat, but still suffered from the cold the rest of the trip.

Between the two companies of 980 people, over 213 people perished.  Miraculously the remaining number survived.

The following year, five more handcart companies traveled using handcarts, with few losses.  The final company had no deaths. 

We trekked with the Alamosa Stake Youth and Leaders in remembrance of all those among the Willie and Martin Handcart companies as well as the Rescuers.

It was a privilege and a humbling experience.  There was a Spirit we felt in Rock Creek Hollow that approached that of the Temple.  It was wonderful to be there with our older boys.  Nathan and I were a Ma and Pa, and we had our boys in our family group.  We also had several other "children" who were a pleasure to trek, work, camp and eat with.

We had our own trek miracles.  On the 11 hour drive to Wyoming one of the three buses had the air conditioner go out.  They dropped us off at the Rocky Ridge trail and that night Ramblin sent a new bus up.  The next day, on the way to Martin's Cove, the third bus hit a huge rock on the dirt road that tore open the oil pan.  They would have been delayed by at least 6-7 hours and entirely missed the experience, but the bus without an air conditioner was still close by, and they were only 2 hours behind us as a result. 

We were all able to go to Martin's Cove together.  It was a blessing to see the Lord's hand in our experience.

We had music all along the trail that added a richness to the experience.  I was able to play my flute with a Young Woman as everyone went on a silent walk through Martin's Cove.  The music echoed off the rock walls and had an almost haunting beauty.  The veil was very thin.

We were able to hear the story of the rescuers who carried the company across the Sweetwater River.  Four young men crossed the icy river 75 times to help the group on their final river crossing.

Then we had our own silent river crossing as a Young Women played a beautiful hymn on the violin.

It was very powerful.

For me, the most personally touching moment was during the women's pull, to memorialize all the women who pulled on their own.  I had flash through my mind the stories of the widows, orphans, and single women who pulled their handcarts for the entire journey.

Trek was a triumph.  I don't know how it could have gone better, and it was a life-changing experience for all of us who participated.  We could feel the spirits of those who made this journey and will forever learn from their sacrifice and example.

I feel gratitude and reverence for the experience.

I'm glad I could share it with my close friends and loved ones.

We all have our own personal treks, and burdens to carry.  It's up to us to choose what our story will be.

This picture was taken the last night in Wyoming by a friend of mine of a friend of mine.  It takes us back in time, and we see that we really are the same.  We have the same desire of eternal families, prophets, and most importantly guidance from God.

I hope that I will never forget this lesson.

Eagle Project

 

Brandon did his eagle project in June.  He built a trail in the Blanca Vista Park right along the pond.  I didn't go out there until the day we met the trucks that were dumping the rock for the trail.  It is really a beautiful spot, and it will make such a nice place for people to walk.

He raised $850 to pay for the rock, but when he met with Rocky from Southway Construction, he found out that they wanted to donate all the materials.  It was incredible!  So.....he is using the money to put benches along the trail instead.

 

Brandon was so good about organizing the day.  He worked really hard to get things ready.  He looks good out there and is a natural leader.

The city crews were kind enough to use their equipment to dump rock along the trail, so they didn't have to move it all in wheelbarrows.  That helped a lot to speed up the day.

The scouts still had plenty of work moving, raking and finishing the trail. 

We ended up having some extra rock.  They used that to put in the picnic/barbeque areas.  It made the two picnic spots look much better.  There were people waiting to use it as soon as we were finished.

The boys all worked so hard, and we made sure they were well-fed with pizza, and rootbeer.

There are lots of nice trees along the trail.  It is a pretty spot.  We also had perfect weather that day.  It wasn't too hot, and there was a nice breeze.

Now more people in the community can enjoy the gorgeous view of the pond and Mt. Blanca.  I am proud of my Brandon boy!  He is growing up so fast into an amazing  young man!  Today he finished typing up the application to become an eagle scout.  Job well done!

A Cluttered Mind

 One of my favorite artists is James Christensen.  The name of my blog came from one of his paintings.  We recently learned that one of his prints was for sale.  The print entitled, "Balancing Act" is similar to the themes of The Burden of the Responsible Man and The Responsible Woman.  Nathan and I both fell in love with it and the price of a print was pretty good, so we now own our first real piece of art.  I had it opened up in our room and was staring at the different images.  I really liked what Christensen said about the piece, "This is a very autobiographical piece.  I just didn't know how I could balance another thing in my life, and then, bingo, this idea came into my head.  Life is a balance between fun and work, spiritual qualities, education, nutrition....our lives are continuous balancing acts.  Of course, some of us make it a little more complex by putting our only balancing foot on the back of a moving turtle.  why are there three clocks in the image?  Because we're always balancing time."  After I stared at it for a while, I went around the house taking pictures of images in my house that I found very symbolic of the balance I am working toward achieving.

My white board was maxed out, and I needed to redo it every day just to stay on top of everything.

This was Brandon's pile by the back door.  This was not posed, but it fit his summer perfectly.  There is a paint can for the rest of the deck that he needed to finish painting.  His eagle form is there along with his basketball bag, and his trek cowboy hat.  Also, his book that he was trying to squeeze in was balanced on top of everything else.  That boy has had a BUSY summer.  I'm sure it's just the beginning.

This piano was used for piano lessons, piano practice, and my organ music is on top of it, as I had to get ready for another Sunday of playing.  There were wipes sitting on the piano, and my group counseling textbook that I had to read in 3 weeks and then take a test on was in process of being read.  Somehow it all got done.

We got Danielle a cool bike, and I'm afraid it is still sitting mostly unused.  We will get there hopefully.

The boys have been writing a book together.  Connor is the author, and Andrew is the editor.  They have also discovered computer programming. 

I wish that was the explanation to the unmade bed and the trashed room, but I don't think it honestly is.

My pile of trek clothes, church bag and books take up one corner of the room.

My school books and laptop take another.  I should have taken a picture of our main computer, since it died for about a month, before we got a new motherboard. 

A pile of laundry was sitting in my bathroom waiting to be brought to the laundry room for three days, before I finally got it there.

Our Family Home Evening lesson was sitting where we left it when we finished it, but it was a good lesson.

I read in one of my textbooks this summer that our environment is a reflection of where we are currently in our life.  If that is true then my life is close to chaos.  Someday we will get our picture framed, and I will enjoy looking at it and continue to ponder the idea of balance, but it may be in two years.  Still, I have no regrets, and though the balance is precarious it is working for the time being.

One Year Down

This adventure of Graduate School is already one year down, only two to go.  This past year I have struggled and been blessed through the struggle.  I started in the summer last year, and so I was able to get my feet wet while the kids were out of school.  Online school was flexible enough to allow me to still pull off a girl's camp and a youth conference as well as take Connor on a surprise 9th birthday trip.

The fall came and I saw the fruition of the Priesthood blessing that Nathan gave me, where he helped me to be reassured that I am doing the Lord's work and that He will help me to accomplish this task.  I saw the ability to get by on less sleep that was promised me fulfilled.  What a busy fall it was.  I knew that because I had my Practicum in the Spring semester I had to fit all of the children's activities in the fall.  They had soccer, ballet, swim lessons, football, speech and debate and all our other activities on top of school and my classes.  Nathans' parents were gracious enough to watch our kids while Nathan and I went to Washington D.C. for our anniversary.

The spring semester nearly killed me off with my practicum.  I needed 100 hours over the semester on top of my hardest class so far.  I also knew that we were going to Hawaii, so I had one less week to accumulate hours.  The experience was incredibly rewarding though, and I absolutely know that I am going into the right field for me.  My parents came out with the kids for our trip, but Danielle was an absolute mess from me being gone so much already and then leaving her for over a week.  She is just now starting to like her Grandpa Frey.  I ended up with 140 hours. 

Somehow we made it through that semester.  I am loving my summer classes and have enough down time with the kids that I am feeling very rested and the kids are enjoying sleeping in.   I have learned so much already, and I still have more to go.  I am in no hurry to graduate, but I am glad that I decided to do this.   I have learned more about myself than I ever knew before.  I am highly social, which isn't surprising, but I can see that I have more social needs than most people.  I have a hard time digesting theory and putting it into practice, but I am starting to learn ways to work with people beyond just my gut instinct.  I have a lot of biases that I wasn't aware of before, and I have discovered that there are a lot of questions that I will have to shelve, because the answers won't be immediate.

I am nervous about my internship, but I figure that like every other part of this process, I just have to take things one step at a time.

Hawaii Part 2: A Jawdropping Experience

 

The second half of our trip seemed to speed up.  We spent Thurday at BYU-Hawaii and the temple in the morning, and then the rest of the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  We had lunch at a Shrimp Shack that was amazing.

The temple grounds were beautiful, and you could see the ocean from the temple.  There were beautiful murals on the walls of the inside of the temple as well and you could see a rich heritage of temple service.

Wild flower grew everywhere.  You know you are in paradise when orchids grow in the wild.

 I know that next time I will definitely plan two days for the Cultural Center.  I loved it there!  We took a boat ride past all the Islands and then found a good spot to watch the parade.

 
It was a good overview of all the countries represented:  Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Fiji.  They work at the center as a way to provide scholarships and preserve their unique cultures and music and dancing.  

Our boatman told a ton of corny jokes just like they have on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.

The pictures I took of the boat parade can't do justice to the amazing costumes, dancing and music they had.  It was so enthralling.

 

 

Each island also had shows that you could go to where they had demonstrations and entertainment.  We only saw half of what was there.

  That night we watched the show Ha-The Breath of Life that was absolutely amazing.  It was one of my favorite things on the trip.

 On Friday I finally got to try out snorkeling at Haunauma Bay.  It looked just like ordinary water, but as soon as I stuck my head in the water I was surrounded by a huge variety of fish.  It took me a little while to get used to the snorkel gear, but once I adjusted I loved it.

On Saturday we went to the Dole Plantation and tried out a Dole Whip....Delicious!  We also took a train tour of the plantation which was fascinating.

I didn't realize that pineapples grow on bushes and not trees.  We also saw Mango, Banana, Macadamia and many other trees.

The soil is a very dark red from the iron.

The only damper on our trip came at the end.  The last day we checked out of our hotel and then went to lunch at a fish place from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.  The food was amazing and delicious but as we got back into the car we noticed a suitcase and backpack in the back seat were missing.  It turned out the car had been robbed and our friends, the Tolleys, lost all their souvenirs and her backpack which had an i-pad and her wallet.  We waited for the police report to be filled out and then drove around a while before heading to the airport. 

Our flight was supposed to be at 11 pm, but it was delayed several hours.  It was a long sleepless night and then just as we were close to landing the Denver runways were all closed due to snow.  We were nearly out of fuel, so they re-routed us to Colorado Springs, delaying us another two hours.  We finally landed in Denver, hours later than anticipated, exhausted and starving.  We got off the plane, ordered some food and then as Nathan was taking a bite of his wrap, he started to yawn and his jaw suddenly dislocated and his mouth was stuck open.  He couldn't get it back in place and couldn't talk.  It became more and more painful as the muscles tightened up.

We got to end this adventure on an ambulance ride to the hospital where they were able to give him muscle relaxants and finally pop it back into place.  The Tolleys got our luggage and met us at the hospital, and we finally got on the road for the four hour drive back home.

All I can say is that Hawaii truly was a jaw-dropping experience.