This past week Adam and Emily and I had the opportunity to participate in a re-enactment of a pioneer trek. We spent 4 days pretending we were pioneers and experiencing the hardships that come with that. One day we walked 15 miles. We walked the Rocky Ridge, went through mud bogs, crossed the Sweetwater River, and the boys called out for the Mormon Batallion which left the girls to push and pull the handcarts up a sandy hill. We camped 3 nights, played pioneer games, and had our lives changed forever. I have to say that this experience ranks in the top 10 of spiritual experiences in my life. I learned that I love Wyoming more that ever. To live in place where so many sacred things happened and where so much sacrafice took place is a real priviledge.
This was a wet and muddy moment. We were all wet and sandy. Real life for the pioneers.
Adam is helping a young lady across the Sweetwater River. This was a very sweet experience. Before crossing the river we were told the story of the young men who helped the Martin's Company people across the river.
Emily is being carried across the Sweetwater River at the place where the young men helped the Martin's Company across when it was icy and cold. This was a very sacred moment in our trek thinking about those pioneers who were cold and distraught just thinking about crossing the river. The youth were very reverent and respectful of this moment.
Emily was such a trooper! She is a strong and sturdy girl! We crossed seven mud bogs, some easier than others.

CRAFT IF FORWARD

Here are the rules: The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

This offer does have some limitations:

1. You will not know what it's going to be, and there are no guarantees that you will like what I make! It may be something simple and small or I may go crazy and do something amazing.

2. It’ll be done this year. Translation: you may be waiting a little while.

3. Most importantly, you must offer the same deal on your blog - the first 5 people to comment on your blog (or Facebook or whatever, if you don't have a blog) get something made by YOU!

The Seven Wonders of Casper

#1 The next Wonder of Casper is the "Seeing Eye House" Weird.

#2 This Wonder of Casper is found at the Public Library. If you stand in the middle of this you talk to that round thing on the wall and your voice echos back to you loud and clear.

#3
This Wonder of Casper is "Gravity Hill" You put your car in Neutral and face uphill. Your car will begin to roll up the hill. Interesting.

#4 This Wonder of Casper is downtown. It is the "Spiral Staircase"

#5

This wonder of Casper is called "The Clock that no one Sees" To see it you have to go to the top of the parking structure on Center Street and look on the back side of the Lou Talbert Building.

#6
This Wonder of Casper is called the "Egg Beater" This is downtown at the Wells Fargo Bank Building. You stand underneath it and spin around and you are supposed to feel like you are in an egg beater. I think it just makes you dizzy!

#7 The Seventh Wonder of Casper you have to drive up to Look Out Point on the Mountain at night. You look at the the shape of the lights and they look like a steam boat. I-25 going north is lighted and that is the smoke stack. No picture of that. It was a very windy day and nearly got blown off the mountain. Grandpa lost his hat!

Japanese Cuisine

I thought it would be fun to post some of Ben's recent mission pictures. He sure is enjoying the people and culture of Japan. :) He has a happy face and says he enjoying his mission.

Ben's Mission pictures