Idaho, Betsy, Bennion's Red Scarfs

Sunday July 23, Bob and I spoke in the Evanston 2nd Ward on Faith through Trials.  This was a difficult topic as we were waiting news on Betsy, our Snowflake granddaughter, who was life flighted to Phoenix Children's Hospital.  She really started her improvement on Friday after a visit from a support dog, a golden retriever.  Prayers, a dog, and modern medicine has pulled her through.  Our daughter Heidi really stepped in and took great care of both Valerie and Betsy in our absence.  She is truly an angel!

Betsy with the retriever support dog.  Notice the smile.  She is such a sweet brave girl.

Sunday after church we headed for a planned visit to my sister, Linda Perkins, in Idaho Falls and lunch with Joshua, our grandson who is working in Rigby, Idaho for the summer.  It is close to the seventh anniversary of Jon Perkins death from brain cancer, so it was an emotional time, especially with Betsy's issues. It was a very short visit, but a good one.  Josh is happy and looks good.  He took us to one of his favorite eating places in Rigby, Bambinos, It was good but not as good as just being with family.  We came back to the ranch on Monday.  I didn't take any pictures, I guess my mind was elsewhere.

We drove through, Lava Hot Springs, Soda Springs, by Bancroft, Chesterfield, and Montpelier on our way back to the ranch.  Soda Springs is where our good friends the Larsens are from.

Tuesday was a cold and rainy day.  The weather here is crazy, but we loved the rain to settle the dust.  It made cleaning the port a johns much nicer than on a hot day.  Wednesday our trekkers from the Bennion Stake came in.  We were on trail 29, which has become one of my favorite trails.  There were 118 with 9 handcarts.  It was so fun having a small group.  They were so organized but not so scheduled that we had a lot of pressure to keep on schedule.  It was a good thing, as for the first couple of days I wanted to pack up and go home to be with Valerie and Betsy.  They joined their prayers with ours and our prayers were answered.  We served with Elder David and Sister Linda Ekins from Hinckley, Utah.  Trail 29 has lots of challenging hills both up and down and they did great.  These kids came in great and left even greater!

Elder David and Sister Ekins with us on trail 29

The Bennion Stake at the top of their first real big hill coming out of Prarie Dog.  It was cloudy and a bit rainy.

One of several steep hills.

Thursday night Bob did his pony express and I called their hoe down.  This was my last hoe down and it was a good one.  The kids and support people seemed to enjoy it.  It was tough for both of us as that was Betsy's worst day and our hearts and minds were not 100% in, but thankfully the Lord stepped in and helped us both.

A stylish hairdo done only with grass and weeds!

Friday was their women's pull and this one is a great one.  Kevin McDougal, the trail boss, told the story of the Arthur family in the Ellsworth Handcart company that lost their little boy along the trail.  The company stopped for two days and went out searching for him but then had to move on.  The mom gave the dad a red scarf and told him if he found him dead to bury him in the scarf and if he found him alive to come in waving the scarf as a sign that he had been found.  The company moved on with the mother and two children pulling their handcart.  The Mas in the group then gave red scarves to the Pas and all the boys left for the girls to pull the hancarts up the hill. (about 1 mile)  As the girls came around the last curve all the men and boys were up on top waving red scarves that they gave to all the girls!  It was amazing and very effective.  He then finished the story on top of how a farmer had found the young boy and taken him in to care for him until his father found him.  It was several days as the mom watched every night for her husband to return.

The men and boys lining the trail with their red scarves

The first cart up the hill on the women's pull

Love this view at the top of the women's pull on 29.  They pull from the valley below!

One of the Pas was Reed Arnold who they kept calling the Guatemalan.  I asked him why and found out that his Father was my sister, Rosemary's, mission president in  Guatemala in 1975-76.  Reed was 4-6 years old at the time.  I called Rosemary and the two talked and cried for about 10 minutes.  It was high on a mountain top as our phone service is pretty shaky on the trail or in the missionary village, but they were able to share lots of good memories of Guatemala and time with President Arnold who has since passed on.   It is always fun to make connections on the trail and usually there is one to be made.

Going down "graveyard" hill.  One of the steepest downhills.  You can see the port a johns to the right,  their destination.

They left Saturday morning leaving a part of them in my heart forever.  They were a great group of kids and people and I am always so grateful to have the memories they leave with us.  This was also a great day in Betsy's recovery so we felt really good about life and so grateful for answered prayers.

Beautiful sunset with the "dance hall of the dead" in the background

Nothing beats these skies, I will love them forever!

Deb and Jeff Cowan, our directors from last year, came on Saturday from their home in Cedar City. What a sweet treat that was to visit with them again.  They had left their missionary badges around the ranch for us to find and it was fun to find just a piece of them in paint supplies, port a johns, buckets, tools, and anywhere else they were found.  They attended church with us today and had lunch with all the missionaries.

Deb and Jeff Cowan with the many found name tags!

Got good news today!  Betsy is being moved out of the ICU onto the regular floor!  It was so hard to stay on our mission through the ups and downs of this week, but the news is great and she will be home in a couple of days if her progress continues.  Our prayers have certainly been answered but it was not without a lot of ups and downs.

The smiles continue.  Our sweet Betsy!

Dust, A Gust, Sad News

We started our week out with a fireside Sunday night when Elder and Sister Moretti shared their experiences of serving in Russia and the Baltic States Mission.  They shared miraculous stories of how the church was able to open those missions and the part they played in doing so.

Elder an Sister Moretti with their Russia display

Monday the Dennis Family came for FHE and talked to us about the Riverton Wyoming Stake and their part of the Second Rescue.  That was in 1992 when they started researching those who had died in the Willie and Martin handcart companies and did their temple work for them.  They also had a big part in getting the Martin's Cove, Rocky Ridge, Sixth Crossing, and Rock Creek Hollow available or owned by the church.  They came last year too but it was good to hear them again.  During their talks we had a lot of noise outside (that Wyoming wind) and a most welcome rainstorm.  We went out to discover two port a johns tipped over and a handcart blown down the hill, but what a beautiful rainbow!

Bob  with the tipped over port a john and rainbow

Tuesday was normal toilet, moving johns and handcarts and getting ready for Wednesday.  368 trekkers from the Lehi Utah Stake came in cars and 7 school buses all eager to be pioneers.  This was our largest group for the year, but not the largest to come.  Next week there is a trek with 700 scheduled to come.  I am so glad we will not be on that one.  This was a great group they had amazing music, vignettes, firesides, and lots of spirit.  They had a lot of pick ups at the gate as they ran out of some food, propane, and people coming and going!  That really makes it hard on us missionaries.  We served with Elder and Sister Theler, thankfully they were in charge and did an amazing job.  They are from Draper Utah.  We did trail 23 which is 25 miles long.

Us with Lynn Hansen (trail boss) President Whitehead (second councilor) and the Theler's

They built a Nauvoo Temple as one of their activities and had the companies broken into groups identified by different countries.  They did a cultural night where they told about the churches beginnings in the different countries and then they did a dance from that country. It was very neat.

One of the cultural dances with the temple behind

Night shot of their lighted temple

Bartons' and Thelers' by the Nauvoo Temple

They had a "mob" drive them out Thursday morning and they walked off leaving all their handcarts, tents and belongings and walked about 1/2 mile to a trail of tears vignette.  It was amazing, but unlike the real pioneers they were able to go back, have breakfast, and get their things and handcarts.  That was the dustiest day as we had to walk Shortcut road, the dustiest place on the Ranch!

Lehi youth being run out of camp by the mob!

Friday we did our Women's Pull.  That is where the men leave the women to pull by themselves up a pretty long and steep hill.  It shows both men and women that they can do hard things.  It really is a highlight of all the treks.  They had a pioneer band with guitars, banjos, fiddles, keyboard and singing that was out of this world.  They have been doing this for 10 years and are called the Hardman family pioneer band.  They played and sang old pioneer songs and one that was written for their trek.

The Hardman Family Pioneer Band.  They did the hoe down and we were sorry to miss it.  The food people ran out of propane and had to go into Evanston.  We have to take them out the locked gates.

We did the "Brinkerhoff drop off" and the kids really loved it.  It is the steepest downhill for trail 23.  That night we had a great fireside with musical numbers and a large picture of the Salt Lake Temple.  Their Stake President President Boyd talked and then they had rootbeer floats.

Friday night fireside with Pres. Boyd

Saturday we took the last 3 miles and had a morningside before going into camp.  It was so good. Daniel Beck from their stake sang Gentle Savior and there was not a dry eye in the place.  I thought he should be on American Idol.  Little did I know until I talked to him that he has recordings out there.  Look him up on you tube he is very good  He was one of the Pa's in a family.

Morningside on Saturday just before staging.  Notice the shade tarps it was hot!

We got to staging and they thought they had cancelled their pizza order and had made lunch for everyone when in came 100 pizzas for them.  They did not go home hungry.

Late Saturday night we got a text message from Valerie, our daughter in Snowflake, telling us they were life flighting our grand daughter Betsy to Phoenix Children Hospital with Asthma and Pneumonia.  We spent a sleepless night with lots of prayers and tears. She is in the ICU there but we are hoping and praying that eventually all will be well. The interesting thing is Bob and I are talking in the Evanston 2nd ward Sunday on faith through trials.  This is truly a test of our faith.

Our sweet Betsy and Valerie at Phoenix Children's Hospital ICU

Cokeville,Cowboys, and United Nations

We started our week by watching the movie the 'Cokeville Miracle' in preparation for our Family Home Evening on Monday.  We had three of the survivors of the bomb blast come and share their experiences and memories with us.  They were 6-10 years old when the bombing took place and it was very interesting to hear how it had affected their lives.  Some good and some not so good.  It was very neat to talk with them as Debra's first cousin, Janel Dayton, was the first grade teacher at the school and all of them had had her for their teacher, and might I add, loved her.  Cindy Hartley was the sheriffs daughter who the movie was about.  Jolene and Jenny Buckley were with her and they enjoyed being reunited.  It was interesting to learn that most of the kids and teachers involved do not talk much about it.  It is hard for them to relive the events.

Cindy Hartley, Jolene and Jenny Buckley Cokeville survivors

Debra had an x-ray of her wrist and thankfully nothing is broken but it continues to be quite sore.
Tuesday the cows were back along with the cowboys who were branding and "fixing" the calves that had been missed in the spring.  It is so interesting to see them at work. One of the cowboys had his 12 year old son with him.  I have concluded that "cowboying" is something you grow up doing and not something you decide to become in your 20's.  He was moving those cows around like a pro!  Of course it was also toilet Tuesday so we did that and got ready for our trek Wednesday

Cowboys unloading their horses

Off to herd the cows

12 year old cowboy in training

We served with Elder and Sister Moretti from Lyman, WY.  They are so fun and we had a good time together.  The Rose Park North Stake from the Salt Lake area with their 210 people arrived on 4 buses.  We got a bit of a late start as two of their buses broke down on the way and had to be changed out.  We usually average 2 1/2 miles per hour, but this group averaged about 1 mile per hour, so it was slow and hot going.  We did trail 28 for the first time this year because it has been too wet to try until now. We still had 6 "water" crossings (muddy with water) and lots of very tall grass that hid the badger holes way too well.

Butch and Barbara Moretti

Elder Moretti eating breakfast on a borrowed "plate"

Elder Moretti in a borrowed "China" hat.

As the support vehicles arrived I was greeting them on the road and finding water buffalo drivers, port-a-jon drivers, medical vehicle and main medical person.  He was introduced to me as he sat in the back seat and I thought, "he will be able to be spotted"  He is black and from Ghana.  To my surprise, I have never seen such a diversified group of people in my life.  I later learned that they have 15 nationalities represented in their stake!  There were lots of accents from all over the world and it was very fun to get to know some of them.  Ben, the main medical, was one of my favorite.  He came to the US after his mission and is now a Physicians Assistant.  He was great with the kids. They have a Samoan ward and a Spanish Branch in their stake.  Many carried umbrellas to keep out of the sun.  I find it so interesting that we want darker skin and they want lighter skin.  Why are we not content with the way we are.

Ben our main medical from Ghana

Ben with his daughter and son on trek

Whenever they got tired they would just lay down and take a siesta. That  was why we covered 1 mile per hour!

This trek had many hair braiders

Rose Park North Stake just before loading the buses for home

One of the group meetings of Rose Park  North Stake

Debra called the Hoe Down.  She was a bit concerned about the different languages but put on the music and start dancing and all language barriers faded away.

Debra Calling the Hoe Down July 13

Bob dancing the Virginia Reel

We got them on their way about 2:00 PM on Saturday, washed vehicles and cleaned the water buffalo and then as usual on Saturday, we crashed!

Fireworks,the Bulls the Bees and the Wind

The Fourth of July kind of changed our schedule around, so Monday we did port a jons and Tuesday we took for our preparation day.  Some of the missionaries took a handcart to Woodruff to march in their small town parade.  Bob and I played our harmonicas "Come, Come Ye Saints"  as we covered the three block route down their main street (which is also the main highway through town).  We missed our third harmonica as my brother, Steve, was not there this year.  We then turned around in the church parking lot and walked back the same way dodging horse apples (as Daddy would say) The Call's grand kids threw out candy and the little ones rode in the handcart.  That night we went up on the hills over Evanston to watch fireworks.  They start before dark and go for 3 hours, 360 degrees all around the city.  Fireworks are legal in Wyoming and you can tell by the show.  A fun memory for sure!

Woodruff Fourth of July Parade 2017

With Elder and Sister McDowell in front of "Mater"  from the movie Cars

We trekked with Elder and Sister Anderson from the Heber Valley with the Somerset Ward from Farmington, Utah on trail 7.  It was way fun with only 55 people and 5 handcarts.  Small treks are so fun because you get to now the kids and leaders better.  I only wish my mind could remember all of them, but I know that one day we will be able to recall those names.  More important, however, is that we will always remember the people and the experiences we had together even if the names slip our minds.

The lead handcart of the Somerset Ward

They fed us so well!  One of their three doctors loves to cook and we ate like you would in a five star restaurant!  We had smoked brisket with yummy baked beans and real macaroni and cheese.  The next night we had garlic crusted pork loin with raspberry chipolte sauce, dutch oven potatoes, and real green beans.  The last night we had teriyaki chicken, rice, and green salad.  He also made the best biscuits and gravy I have ever tasted.......YUMMMMMM!  As you can tell we enjoyed the food.

On Thursday night we brought in Richard Benedict to do a fireside for them.  He played the part of the older Ephraim Hanks in the movies, 17 Miracles and Ephraim's Rescue.  He has also done lots of work for the church in their productions.  He did a great job and the kids were hanging on his every word.

Richard Benedict aka Ephraim Hanks

Friday we had one of the scariest things that I can remember when a freaky wind, micro burst, tornado, whatever you want to call it, hit our camp.  There are no trees on this part of the ranch so wards and stakes bring EZ up shade canopies to sit under .  We do get lots of wind bursts but this was like no other.  We know to grab the legs when one hits but this was unbelievable.  They had 7 or 8 set up and were fixing dinner and just visiting and sitting in the makeshift shade.  When it hit I yelled "grab a leg"......well I, Debra, did.  I know what Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz felt like.  It literally picked me up out of my chair, and poles, broken and intact, kitchen knives and utensils, chairs, hats, everything tied down or not went flying.  I landed on my back some 5-6 feet after flying through the air hanging onto the EZ ups.  There was so much destruction in a matter of seconds it was unbelievable.  It was so focused on just that one spot.  There was no dust, and most of the tents did not even move.  My first thought was to see who had been hit with all the flying debris.  When I got up there was one of the young ladies crying with blood all over her face.  She had been hit in the mouth and required 8 stitches to close it up.  Another young lady was hit by a flying pole on the leg and had ice on it all night.  One of the Ma's also got hit by a flying pole but was OK.  I have quite a few bruises on my right arm and elbow but the amazing thing was I didn't feel them too much till things settled down a bit.  I did feel the jars and sore muscles the next day and still do, but it is getting better.  This is the miracle!  It is unbelievable that more people were not injured badly and very fortunate that their main Doctor, not the cook, was able to take care of every thing right there in camp..  Debra called the hoedown and the kids had a great time.  Their testimony meeting was amazing that night.

left is Sophie our injured leg and right is Hannah with her sore swollen face.

The Bulls are now out with the cows and we had to walk right through one of the herds.  The bulls were doing what bulls do and I overheard one of the "Pa's" say to their trek family, "if any of you have questions, talk to your real Ma and Pa"  I just had to giggle.

full moon rising in Wyoming sky

We have been watching a Killdeer nest just behind our trailer.  Their nests are on the ground and if you get too close they really set up a fuss.  Well the eggs hatched this week so we got to see the little ones running around.  One egg took a few more days to hatch, but hatch it did and now they are gone. I don't know if it is a mother-father thing but two birds took turns sitting on the nest and watching over the little ones as they ran around the ground before they took off.

Our two killdeer birds guarding their nest

the last egg, it is black spotted and looks just like a rock

one of the four baby killdeer birds.  It's easy to loose them in the rocks!

A bluebird built her nest on one of the trailer hitches and the little one was so fun to watch as he learned to fly.  The blue is just beginning to show on the ends of his feathers.

our bluebird checking out his wings

We are now under burn restrictions on the ranch and it has really dried out.  I can't believe what a few weeks without rain does!  There is still a lot of water and mud around that was never there till this year.  We will experience that next week as we take to trail 28.