Hand Cart Trek

I wanted to post this summer experience seperate from the rest of our summer. This adventure was the highlight of my summer. It wasn't fun (well, it was - but in a different way than what we traditionally define fun as being), it wasn't a vacation, it wasn't even restful. It was quite the opposite of any of those. But what it definently was, was humbling, faith building, and memorable. For a few short days, I became my Great, Great, Great Grandmother - Eliza Hurren, and Ira was my husband (naturally), James Hurren. Brayden was my brother, Robert Reeder. We learned about these ancestors, and their experiences with the Willie or Martin Handcart companies who came across the planes to Utah, with very few personal belongings, and a lot of faith. Eliza was pregnant when the trek started, and she gave birth the first day to little Selena. She continued on in the journey the next day. (Really, you moms - can you even imagine giving birth in a tent or wagon, and then walking for miles every day afterwards?). Two weeks later, little Selena breathed no more. She was buried in a shallow grave along the way. That baby, along with her father, and little sister died along the way. They suffered from freezing temperatures and near starvation. But they never faltered in their faith, and never regretted their journey across the plains.

When they were later asked about their handcart ordeal, James and Eliza were quick to reply: "With all our trials, our weary traveling, burying our dear ones, piling our clothing and bedding by the wayside and setting fire to them, we have never once felt to murmur or complain or regret the steps we have taken."

In my life, I have loved my grandmothers dearly. I have mourned as they have passed through this life into the next. I haven't thought too much about my (great, great...) grandparents that I haven't had the opportunity to meet. Now I think of Eliza often. During this experience, I felt like I got to know Eliza. I walked where she walked, I believe I felt some of the emotions she must have felt. I have grown to love her and admire her for her courage and her faith. I am honored to call her my Grandmother.

We went with a bus load of youth to Wyoming to Martins Cove, where the handcart companies met an early snow storm in the year 1856. As a result, they were stranded in what is now called Martins Cove, where many died from freezing and starvation, until the rescue groups could get to them.

Our journey was a lot different than theirs - it was hot and dusty instead of freezing and ice. Brayden helping his "trek family" pull the cart. Notice their baby. We were given different "trials" along the way - trials that the pioneers really faced, and this family had their baby. Some of the babies didn't make it to the SLC valley, and were buried in shallow graves along the way. Mine and Ira's trek family ate our shoes, because we were so hungry (so we went shoeless for awhile.) It was all fun and games in the soft sand - but in the icy snow, it would have been a much different story.


We crossed the Sweet Water River. It was a small river, and really refreshing for our hot bodies. Again, it would have been a much different story with ice chunks floating through the icy waters, beating against the already half-frozen people.

This is "Martins Cove", where so many of the Martin company waited in the snow for help to arrive. Many of them died here.

My cute husband posing for me (oh the things he must endure for me to get my pictures!)

Brayden taking a break in one of the now empty handcarts. We were allowed to bring 17 lbs per person on the trek. Try fitting 4 days worth of "necessities" in a 5 gallon bucket under 17 lbs. The pioneers did it for a lot more than 4 days. And we think life is rough...

We did have lots of fun on our journey. I know the early pioneers also had fun, with songs and dancing. This is with Me and a couple of my friends, Mary and Julie - showing off our bloomers before we jump into the Sweet Water River.

This is mine and Ira's "trek family". We shared many good times together, walking the trails - pulling our handcarts. Another one of our trials was that some in our family became blind from the snow. So all of the kids in our family became blind for awhile, which made things interesting when they were pulling a handcart.

Eliza and James' turn pulling the cart.

Emilie wasn't old enough yet to get the opportunity to participate in this activity. But we had a ward pioneer party where she had the opportunity to wear my pioneer clothes.

"Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?

Tis not so; all is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward

If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.

Our God will never us forsake;

And soon we'll have this tale to tell -

All is well! All is well!"

"And should we die before our journey's through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

But if our lives are spared again

To see the Saints their rest obtain,

Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell -

All is well! All is well!"

Song written by William Clayton, which the pioneers sang along their journey.

For my peeps who never give up on checking my blog...this ones for you!

I am finally finding a spare moment to update my blog. No guarantee when this will happen again - so I better make this one BIG! I am covering the entire summer, and most of the fall in one swoop.



Following is the number one reason why I haven't been blogging lately...Ira's new office building. It has been quite the adventure. I became an interior designer/decorator. Who knows the difference between facia and soffit, and if you do know the difference - did you know they come in like 50 colors???? And then the problem of shingles - who cares???? Just put some up! As it turned out, I did care. I thought the shingles we got (which weren't the ones we thought we were getting) were hideous at first. But I've grown to like them. I had no idea what we were getting into when we started this project, but once it was all said and done - I actually had fun with it. However, I also gained a stronger understanding and conviction of why I need to be home with my kids, and not on another job.

See all the curved, dropped ceilings? That was a midnight drawing Ira and I came up with. If we were drinkers, I'd say we would have been drunk when we did it. No worries, we're not drinkers...and we WEREN'T drunk!!! :) But you know...I really love it!




The finished product. If you want the grand tour - then I guess you'll have to come for a visit and we'll give you the grand tour!

waiting room
reception area (we were just moving in, so ignore the boxes and lack of decorations).

still working on the landscaping, but this is the outside. I think I need to retake this picture on a better day - but I think the building turned out nicely. Ira and the other Chiropractor use half of the building, and we have a physical therapist and nurse practitioner who rent out the other half. We couldn't have asked for a better situation.

This has been our other big project which we started within a matter of weeks after the building was complete. You know what they say...no rest for the weary.

Brayden and his cousin, Nathan, both did eagle projects that is a humanitarian efort to help the people on the Marshall Islands where their grandparents are serving a mission. Brayden had a garage sale to collect money to help with shipping and purchasing needed items, and they took donations of fabric (to make clothing), white shirts, spices, and flashlights. When he started this project, we weren't sure how this would all turn out. But with the Lords help - it has been a greater success than we had dared hope. I will post a blog later to tell details of how this all turned out. Ira and I are going on a trip to see my parents, and we are bringing the stuff with us. So I will take lots of pictures, and tell you how it all turned out in the end.

This has also taken a lot of time this summer - training for our 1/2 marathon.

And of course...these guys take lots of time too (good time of course)!

We are at my parents farm here. We've been helping take care of their yard while they are away, and the kids love to get the farm boots on and go see the cows.

We've spent a little time doing this - but not nearly as much time as I think is necessary to keep my sanity. I love, love, love 4-wheeling with my family!

A little time was spent at Bear Lake - but again, not nearly enough time doing the things we love. I love it here almost as much as 4-wheeling.

I took my first airplane trip alone. I went to California to my nieces wedding. I met up with two of my brothers when I got there - so I was only alone on the flight. But it was still a bit scary for me. I'm venturing out!! We spent a couple hours at the beach at my request. Another one of my favorite places to be.

The few in my family who were able to make it.

5 of the 8 kids in my parents family.

We had 3 of these this summer (birthdays). Jarin turned 5, Kamden 2, and Emilie 10. Braydens is next week - guess I better go shopping.

Poor Emilie - yes, that's icecream, and no cake! I got sick that day, without having made her a cake. So Ira grabbed a pie at the store (cuz she wanted peach pie). By the time the thing cooked, it was really late, and we were all really tired. So we had icecream with candles in it. Good thing Emilie is so laid back and flexible!

This is Kamdens and his "friends". He loves his friends, and wants them to be with him all the time. When we get him out of his crib, he hands me his friends first. When my arms are full, then he wants me to hold him too. Kinda tricky, but there is a technique to it - and when you've got it down, you really can hold ALL of them at the same time!

You think I'm exaggerating about his friends. Check out the next two pictures.

We did a little bit of camping this year too - but again...not as much as we'd like! This camp was with my side of the family. These three boys all have birthdays within a couple months of each other.

Ira and I both took couple hour long naps every single day of this camping trip. Kids were busy playing with cousins, and I think we had major catching up to do with our building still in the making.

Before we knew it, summer was over, and school was starting. These are the first day of school pictures.

Emilie is now in 4th grade.

Brayden is in 8th grade. Check out those "must-have" shoes. If you are my generation, you'll think they look pretty familiar. The brighter florescent, the better.

Jarin is in his 2nd year of preschool. He technically could have gone to kindergarten, but he would have been one of the youngest in his grade. So we decided to keep him back. I hope and pray it was the right decision.

Just cuz the kids went back to school, doesn't mean our fun had to end. We brought Brayden to the theatre in SLC to see Broadways "Lion King". He really likes that kind of stuff, and it was fun to spend that time with him.

We even managed to make it to the swimming pool a couple times.

My sister-in-law Mandi, yours truly, and my sister, Kelli.

Can't let our favorite time of year (fall) go without getting a few more 4-wheeler rides in. Especially since our building was finally done in August. In theory, we were supposed to have more time to play now, right? Not all theories are fact!

One more Bear Lake trip.

Those same three cousins that are all the same age (Des, Ryan, and Kam)

What would we have done without Brayden and Emilie who took over the parenting this summer? Not that that's a good thing, but they were troopers. Emilie even taught Jarin how to ride his bike without training wheels.

Now it doesn't get any sweeter than this! I wish they were always this peaceful with each other, there's usually quite a lot of arguing. But once in awhile, I will come across something that is just so sweet - and this is one of those times. (no - don't take up donations to get our kids their own beds - they do have their own beds. They just all fell asleep together this night).

Our last big adventure before the snow flies. We went camping and 4-wheeling for a long weekend. This is a special place for my dads family. It is the "Moser rock" where they have gone hunting for years and years. I can't give away the secret of where it is at - but we had to go here to "kiss the rock" (don't ask, cuz I really don't know - except that there is a certain spot on the rock that we have to kiss when we go there. Whatever goes on when men go hunting - I'm not sure, but somehow kissing the rock became part of it!)

I LOVE FALL!!!!

Ira and I with our helmet heads. We rode to Bloomington Lake.

So there you have it. Sure, this was a lot of pictures. But think if I had been keeping up on my blog all year, all the pictures you'd have had to endure, not mention my attempt at trying to explain what was going on in our lives. So really, I did you all a favor. (you can thank me with taking me to lunch! ;) ).

Now if you'll excuse me...I think I'll go sleep for a couple months. I think they call that hybernating, or a vacation. I think I'll take the vacation - to the Marshall Islands! (less than 3 weeks away...woot woot!)

Humanitarian Eagle Project

Brayden is doing his Eagle project to help the people of the Marshall Islands. Please check out his blog with more information.

www.humanitarianeagleproject.blogspot.com

THANKS!