Okay, for those of you who don't know, I am a glutton for punishment. I always seem to find myself signing up to take continuing education courses at work. You may be thinking to yourself, how is that a bad thing? Well, if you think normal continuing ed classes are okay, then you haven't met one for insurance yet! The books alone are enough to put you to sleep.
Well, I just got news that I passed the exam I took earlier this month. It was an essay test on the Legal Environment of Insurance, and I am so glad to have that nightmare of a class behind me. This puts me half way through the designation I am working on, so now I only have four more (equally torturous) classes to go. I will be so happy when they are all done!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Trek - Part 3
After completing the women's pull we ate lunch, and were told that after much prayer and contemplation we would move forward on the trek with the reenactment of the events of Rocky Ridge. Before us lay a hill that at this point in the journey seemed almost insurmountable. I knew that the women in our family were fatigued from the women's pull, and that it would require all the strength we could muster to make it to the top. What a rush it was to finally arrive at the top, and to feel the rush of wind coming up and over the hill. This gave us all a great perspective on the beautiful landscape we were trekking through.
In short order we were on our way back down the hill, which I am not almost convinced was worse than climbing up the other side! We turned our carts around and lowered it down the mountain. There were more than a few times when I wondered whether or not we would lose our footing, and be drug down the hill,or worse, if we would lose control of the cart and send it careening down the hill onto the unsuspecting family in front of us that would have no means of escaping. [There was a safe distance between us, but I am pretty sure the cart would have made up that distance in pretty short order.] We were blessed to make it all the way down in one piece.
We quickly set up camp, and made preparations to make our dutch oven dinner of beef stew, biscuits, and peach cobbler. We all worked together as family to prepare and cook dinner, and boy was it delicious! After dinner we had a short fireside with the stake, and a dance later that night. What a welcome sight our beds were that night!
Friday was spent in pioneer workshops were we learned leather working, black powder riflery, pie making, played pioneer games, washed our hair, and participating in the "chicken chop". As I have grown up in a very outdoorsy, hunting family I have always had a respect for where my food has come from, but it was neat to watch as the youth of my family learned first hand how a cute little chicken in a pen goes from that to the dinner table. I know it is an experience they will all remember!
We had another wonderful fireside, and had the opportunity to go on a wonderful thing called a Pioneer Walk. Several members of the stake had been asked to portray a pioneer, and share some of their experience as they crossed the plains. What a humbling and touching thing that was to hear the stories of sacrifice and loss as the early Saints gave all that they had to journey to Zion. After the evening's events were completed we held a family testimony meeting, it was very neat to hear how each member of the family had been touched by the events of the Trek.
Saturday morning we made our way back to the Main Camp. As we set off that morning I can remember passing another company as they waited in line to joining the train, and I was overcome with emotion as I realized that this experience truly was coming to a close. It reminded me of the end of my mission. You tell yourself that you are ready to go, ready to see your family ready to be clean again (you get really dirty on a handcart trek), but when it comes right down to it, you aren't ready to leave. You want to stay there in your little bubble and enjoy all those things that you have become accustomed to. As we pushed along we all talked about how wonderful it was to have been together on the trek, and all the great things we learned. The last about 1 1/2 miles was all down hill, and I am convinced that was done just for me since I enjoyed going down hill so much! We had finally arrived back at Main Camp, and we were an hour ahead of schedule even!
The moral of this story is, if you ever have an opportunity to participate in a handcart trek, take the chance! Is it hard, more so than you would believe. It is worth it, definitely! I will cherish this experience always, and I will always remember the people that I met, the friendships that were started there, and the Spirit I felt so strongly testifying that this Church is true, and I am eternally grateful for that!
In short order we were on our way back down the hill, which I am not almost convinced was worse than climbing up the other side! We turned our carts around and lowered it down the mountain. There were more than a few times when I wondered whether or not we would lose our footing, and be drug down the hill,or worse, if we would lose control of the cart and send it careening down the hill onto the unsuspecting family in front of us that would have no means of escaping. [There was a safe distance between us, but I am pretty sure the cart would have made up that distance in pretty short order.] We were blessed to make it all the way down in one piece.
We quickly set up camp, and made preparations to make our dutch oven dinner of beef stew, biscuits, and peach cobbler. We all worked together as family to prepare and cook dinner, and boy was it delicious! After dinner we had a short fireside with the stake, and a dance later that night. What a welcome sight our beds were that night!
Friday was spent in pioneer workshops were we learned leather working, black powder riflery, pie making, played pioneer games, washed our hair, and participating in the "chicken chop". As I have grown up in a very outdoorsy, hunting family I have always had a respect for where my food has come from, but it was neat to watch as the youth of my family learned first hand how a cute little chicken in a pen goes from that to the dinner table. I know it is an experience they will all remember!
We had another wonderful fireside, and had the opportunity to go on a wonderful thing called a Pioneer Walk. Several members of the stake had been asked to portray a pioneer, and share some of their experience as they crossed the plains. What a humbling and touching thing that was to hear the stories of sacrifice and loss as the early Saints gave all that they had to journey to Zion. After the evening's events were completed we held a family testimony meeting, it was very neat to hear how each member of the family had been touched by the events of the Trek.
Saturday morning we made our way back to the Main Camp. As we set off that morning I can remember passing another company as they waited in line to joining the train, and I was overcome with emotion as I realized that this experience truly was coming to a close. It reminded me of the end of my mission. You tell yourself that you are ready to go, ready to see your family ready to be clean again (you get really dirty on a handcart trek), but when it comes right down to it, you aren't ready to leave. You want to stay there in your little bubble and enjoy all those things that you have become accustomed to. As we pushed along we all talked about how wonderful it was to have been together on the trek, and all the great things we learned. The last about 1 1/2 miles was all down hill, and I am convinced that was done just for me since I enjoyed going down hill so much! We had finally arrived back at Main Camp, and we were an hour ahead of schedule even!
The moral of this story is, if you ever have an opportunity to participate in a handcart trek, take the chance! Is it hard, more so than you would believe. It is worth it, definitely! I will cherish this experience always, and I will always remember the people that I met, the friendships that were started there, and the Spirit I felt so strongly testifying that this Church is true, and I am eternally grateful for that!
The Trek - Part 2
Thursday truly was our trial by fire. Two in our family were sick, so there were left with only 10 of us to pull our cart that day under the close supervison of our Ma & Pa. The trail again was a rough road, but it was much easier to navigate the path now that we had sunlight on our side. We forged onward, ever onward toward Base Camp which we knew would be our destination for the day.
I should interject here that while I was called to fill and "adult" role on this trek, I would describe myself more as a youth with benefits. I had some idea of the events that we would face on the Trek, but I did not know how or when we would face them, and had to experience them as they came. That truly was a blessing in disguise as well because I was able to totally immerse myself in the moment, and roll with the punches. Back to the pushing and pulling.
After taking a short break we continued on the trail until were asked to stop, and were approached by several military officers requesting to speak to our company captains. As with the pioneers of 1846, the US government was requesting our assistance with the war they were waging with Mexico. All young men and men on the trek were asked to join what has since become known as the Mormon Battallion and leave their wives and children behind to continue on the journey without them.
I knew in advance that this was going to happen, but I was not prepared for the emotions I felt as I watched my new Pa & six brothers get sworn in and march off into and uncertain future knowing that challenging times were ahead for the six girls left in the family. I knew pulling our wagon on even the flatest of ground would be a challenge let alone the hill that lay in front of us.
The women's pull was one of the hardest things we did. I was amazed as I how many of the young women made that journey over and over and over again. I know that thre were some girls that climbed to the summit 8 or 9 times. What a welcomed sight it was to have the Pa's and brothers at the top of that hill siging hymns and encouraging us as we made our way up the steep, and sometimes muddy path. How grateful I was when we had pulled our cart far enough up the hill that the men and young men could come to our aid. What a blessing the Priesthood is in our lives!
Stay tuned for more Trek adventures...
I should interject here that while I was called to fill and "adult" role on this trek, I would describe myself more as a youth with benefits. I had some idea of the events that we would face on the Trek, but I did not know how or when we would face them, and had to experience them as they came. That truly was a blessing in disguise as well because I was able to totally immerse myself in the moment, and roll with the punches. Back to the pushing and pulling.
After taking a short break we continued on the trail until were asked to stop, and were approached by several military officers requesting to speak to our company captains. As with the pioneers of 1846, the US government was requesting our assistance with the war they were waging with Mexico. All young men and men on the trek were asked to join what has since become known as the Mormon Battallion and leave their wives and children behind to continue on the journey without them.
I knew in advance that this was going to happen, but I was not prepared for the emotions I felt as I watched my new Pa & six brothers get sworn in and march off into and uncertain future knowing that challenging times were ahead for the six girls left in the family. I knew pulling our wagon on even the flatest of ground would be a challenge let alone the hill that lay in front of us.
The women's pull was one of the hardest things we did. I was amazed as I how many of the young women made that journey over and over and over again. I know that thre were some girls that climbed to the summit 8 or 9 times. What a welcomed sight it was to have the Pa's and brothers at the top of that hill siging hymns and encouraging us as we made our way up the steep, and sometimes muddy path. How grateful I was when we had pulled our cart far enough up the hill that the men and young men could come to our aid. What a blessing the Priesthood is in our lives!
Stay tuned for more Trek adventures...
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Trek
So, what do you get when you take 14 complete strangers (ages 14 and older), throw them into a "family" together and send them out on a 17 mile hand cart adventure in Northern Arizona?
Answer: A truly wonderful, spiritual, humbling, bonding, amazing (the list could go on for days) experience that will be cherished forever!
I know that it will sound totally crazy (and believe me, I should be an expert on crazy), but it truly was one of the most memorable experiences in my life, and something I will cherish always!
We started our trek on Wednesday afternoon as complete strangers with a Ma & Pa, a Big Brother, a Big Sister, 5 teenage brothers and 5 teenage sisters, and by the end we truly were a little pioneer family! We bonded almost instantly, and I am so grateful for that. In the months leading up to the Trek I often found myself worrying about the family that I would be placed with and whether or not I would know anyone in it. I don't know how many times I prayed to be placed in a family where I knew at least one other adult in the family, but at the same time I trusted in the Lord and knew that the leaders would be inspired to place me in the just the right family. Looking back I am so grateful to have not had that safety net of familiarity to fall back on, it truly was a blessing in disguise!
That first day we walked about 7 miles, and most of that walking was done in the dark. We learned a lot that night about what it takes to move a pioneer family from one place to the other. We learned how important it was to work as a team if we were ever going to make it to our destination. Without the contribution of every member of the family we would have been stranded there as the other families and companies pressed on to the campsite. We also learned that we won't always see the obstacles before us, but by trusting in the Lord and doing our best we could succeed at anything. The glow of the campfires were a welcome sight that night as we started approaching camp. We were all so hungry and tired that we ate a very quick meal and went to bed. It didn't really even matter all that much that we were in a very rocky meadow, it was almost midnight, and we were tired!
Stay tuned for more Trek adventures...
Answer: A truly wonderful, spiritual, humbling, bonding, amazing (the list could go on for days) experience that will be cherished forever!
I know that it will sound totally crazy (and believe me, I should be an expert on crazy), but it truly was one of the most memorable experiences in my life, and something I will cherish always!
We started our trek on Wednesday afternoon as complete strangers with a Ma & Pa, a Big Brother, a Big Sister, 5 teenage brothers and 5 teenage sisters, and by the end we truly were a little pioneer family! We bonded almost instantly, and I am so grateful for that. In the months leading up to the Trek I often found myself worrying about the family that I would be placed with and whether or not I would know anyone in it. I don't know how many times I prayed to be placed in a family where I knew at least one other adult in the family, but at the same time I trusted in the Lord and knew that the leaders would be inspired to place me in the just the right family. Looking back I am so grateful to have not had that safety net of familiarity to fall back on, it truly was a blessing in disguise!
That first day we walked about 7 miles, and most of that walking was done in the dark. We learned a lot that night about what it takes to move a pioneer family from one place to the other. We learned how important it was to work as a team if we were ever going to make it to our destination. Without the contribution of every member of the family we would have been stranded there as the other families and companies pressed on to the campsite. We also learned that we won't always see the obstacles before us, but by trusting in the Lord and doing our best we could succeed at anything. The glow of the campfires were a welcome sight that night as we started approaching camp. We were all so hungry and tired that we ate a very quick meal and went to bed. It didn't really even matter all that much that we were in a very rocky meadow, it was almost midnight, and we were tired!
Stay tuned for more Trek adventures...
The Trek - A Disclaimer
Ever since I got home from the Trek a little over a week ago I have been chomping at the bit to write a post about it. I have to admit though that I have been struggling to find just the right words to encapsulate the majesty of the event. It truly was a remarkable experience, and I want to do it justice. So, if by chance you stumble upon several Trek themed posts on this site you will have to forgive me and realize that it is just my feeble attempt at expressing just how great it was!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Behind the times...
Okay, so it seems as though it has been forever since I posted a entry on my humble little blog. I guess there is no time like the present to correct that little problem, right? Let's see, what have I been up to for the last 2 months that I haven't been blogging...
Let's see, work has been crazy, but getting a little better everyday. Man this promotion has taking some getting used to, but I think I am almost at cruising altitude finally! I love learning new things everyday, but I have my limits of how much my poor little brain can take in at once!
The Relay for Life out at Williams Gateway Airport Back in April was amazing! I haven't stayed up that late in years! I think I had two main shifts that I walked in and they were from midnight to 1 AM, and then again from 3 to 4 AM. By the time the second shift started I was so cold I was happy to be up and moving and not trying fruitlessly to get some shut eye in my very uncomfortable chair. I was so wiped out after all was said and done that I slept through several important events that Saturday. Just goes to show you that I am not as young and spry as I think I am! Oh, one moment of real excitement was when I realized a strange puff of smoke was coming from me, and not the fire pit we had set up. Unbeknownst to me a coal from the fire had popped out of the fire pit and landed on my just under my folded arms. By the time I noticed something was amiss, it had already burned through my favorite mission fleece jacket, brand new Relay shirt, and was still making it's way through my other layers of clothing! Boy was I glad I caught it when I did!
During my first shift of the Relay I can remember thinking that this walking was really just getting me prepared for the Pioneer Trek that I have been called to go on. [That is a whole other post in and of itself now that I am back from it (how time flies). I am still looking for just the right words to encapsulate those 4 blessed days of hard work and feeling the Spirit, but when they come to me I will post them for all to read!]
What else, my oldest niece graduated from my al ma mater about two weeks ago, and I am so proud of her! She is now a second generation Toro graduate! I would liked to have frozen to death though as it rained the entire time we were watching the graduation ceremony! She is totally worth it though! It was so much fun running into so many other people from my old neighborhood that had children or grandchildren graduating that night too.
Other than that I have just been busy studying to retake an exam at work (only 9 more days to cram), and preparing for the afore mentioned Pioneer Trek. Oh, did I did go on a fun "Girl's Night" with a bunch of wonderful ladies from my ward back when "Made of Honor" came out. That was a lot of fun, and I hope we do it again soon!
Stay tuned for my Trek post...
Let's see, work has been crazy, but getting a little better everyday. Man this promotion has taking some getting used to, but I think I am almost at cruising altitude finally! I love learning new things everyday, but I have my limits of how much my poor little brain can take in at once!
The Relay for Life out at Williams Gateway Airport Back in April was amazing! I haven't stayed up that late in years! I think I had two main shifts that I walked in and they were from midnight to 1 AM, and then again from 3 to 4 AM. By the time the second shift started I was so cold I was happy to be up and moving and not trying fruitlessly to get some shut eye in my very uncomfortable chair. I was so wiped out after all was said and done that I slept through several important events that Saturday. Just goes to show you that I am not as young and spry as I think I am! Oh, one moment of real excitement was when I realized a strange puff of smoke was coming from me, and not the fire pit we had set up. Unbeknownst to me a coal from the fire had popped out of the fire pit and landed on my just under my folded arms. By the time I noticed something was amiss, it had already burned through my favorite mission fleece jacket, brand new Relay shirt, and was still making it's way through my other layers of clothing! Boy was I glad I caught it when I did!
During my first shift of the Relay I can remember thinking that this walking was really just getting me prepared for the Pioneer Trek that I have been called to go on. [That is a whole other post in and of itself now that I am back from it (how time flies). I am still looking for just the right words to encapsulate those 4 blessed days of hard work and feeling the Spirit, but when they come to me I will post them for all to read!]
What else, my oldest niece graduated from my al ma mater about two weeks ago, and I am so proud of her! She is now a second generation Toro graduate! I would liked to have frozen to death though as it rained the entire time we were watching the graduation ceremony! She is totally worth it though! It was so much fun running into so many other people from my old neighborhood that had children or grandchildren graduating that night too.
Other than that I have just been busy studying to retake an exam at work (only 9 more days to cram), and preparing for the afore mentioned Pioneer Trek. Oh, did I did go on a fun "Girl's Night" with a bunch of wonderful ladies from my ward back when "Made of Honor" came out. That was a lot of fun, and I hope we do it again soon!
Stay tuned for my Trek post...
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