living like a Pioneer

coming in after 4 days of pulling a handcart

Natalie's family in a huddle saying "goodbye"

Natalie hugging one of her brothers I'm sure it didn't smell good for either one!

In the beginning of summer vacation Natalie went on the pioneer trek that our stake puts on once every 4 years. This is a pretty big occasion and requires a year or more of planning for it all to go smoothly. There are ma's and pa's asked months in advance to go on the trek and people asked to be adult "children" to help out in each family as these young kids ages 14-18 wear traditional pioneer clothing and are not allowed any of the comforts we enjoy today. They must live like a pioneer for 4 days and are even given a name of a real pioneer. They find out at the end if their person made it to Salt Lake City or if they died from disease or other circumstances. I have great admiration for ANYONE who completes this activity and I can imagine how difficult it is to go more than 15 miles the first day pulling handcarts loaded with their families gear and food. I am so proud of Natalie for going on the trek and experiencing this. I know it helped her appreciate the things which she takes for granted, shelter, food, clothing, hot showers, vehicles, etc... Brian, the kids, and I were camping with Lundells and family near Payson and left extra early so we could go meet Natalie at the end of the trail and it was such a sweet and emotional thing to see her come in with her family and hug her and see the tears in her eyes as we embraced. I felt just a twinkling of what the real pioneers must have felt as they were reunited after such a long and hard journey. Everyone says what a great experience it was and say "you and Brian should go as a ma and pa on the next one" but that won't be for 4 more years. If ever I do go I want to wait till Trenton and Zane will be 17 and 14 and who knows by then I might be in a wheelchair!