We are alive!

We were a little M.I.A. in the blogging world. I just

didn't have the motivation to actually blog. But hopefully 

we are back. We've been super busy with our sweet not so

baby anymore. She is moving and grooving all the day long. 

She gets on her hands and knees to crawl but chooses to 

scoot because it is faster. She is always wanting to stand 

and walk. If she is grumpy all you have to do is stand

her next to something and she is good for at least 20 min.

She walks around the coffee table, loves to hold onto the couch

and has figured out how to go from one to the other. Yikes!

She is always sooo happy! We are soo blessed 

to have her as our constant ray of sunshine. 

We are always finding her in crazy positions at night and 

during nap times. 

Also, other great news is that my little sister Cassie,

is getting married! Whahooo, to a great guy named John!

We love him, they are so great together. 

They are getting married in the Logan Temple,

on Aug. 14, 2009.

Hooorraaaayyyyyy!

Scott and I had the great privilege of going on our 

Stakes Youth Pioneer Trek. We were the Ma n' Pa

of our little family group. We were put into families, and then

into companies. It was soooo amazing. Neither of us had

ever had the opportunity to go on a pioneer trek. It was so

worth it! Our little family was unbelievably AMAZING!

We bonded together so quickly, honestly we had no choice.

The trek was quite difficult. The first day we went up some

very treacherous steep rocky hills. Just when we thought

that we couldn't make it to the top, we would, and then we

would see that there was an even higher hill to climb.

But the youth of Zion do not faulter. They never complained,

they never gave up, and the whole while, even when out of breath,

they sang. It down poured the next day for several hours, making

 very thick sticky mud. But we all persevered. With rain ponchos 

and muddy shoes and clothes we pushed onward and upward.

Two girls in our family sang and we joined them, and soon

so did the rest of our company. And although, we could have

been miserable, we were joyful, singing the songs of Zion we pressed

forward. It was a life changing experience for all of them. They

quickly appreciated the trials of our pioneer ancestors. They

also realized the easiness of our trail, we had water, food waiting

for us all day long, we were strong and healthy, and the trek was

only 3 days. But it was just difficult enough to help them realize 

that they too, can make it through their own trails and the

trek of life that they have been given. The Spirit of the Lord

was so strong, the experience humbling to say the least. 

It was beautiful to see the youth realize their testimonies, to 

realize that they can be pioneers in our day. 

One of the life changing experiences for me was when another,

Ma from our ward shared her favorite line of 

"Come, Come Ye Saints." 

It says: "Tis, better far for us to strive, our useless cares 

from us to drive."

I reflected on that over and over on the trek and the

days since.  What are the useless cares in my life, that I

need to drive away. On the trek, we were all the same. It 

didn't matter what you looked like, what color your dress was,

how much money you or your parents made, what your tent 

looked like, what your favorite show was, what car you drive.

We all had to push up the hills together, unified in a purpose.

Do we not today hear the words of a prophet, do we not

all share the same purpose, to make is back to our Heavenly

Father and Savior.  Our trek today is physically different, but

we have the same faith that led them onward daily. We

too are pioneers. In the words of a primary song:

"You don't have to push a handcart, leave your family dear,

or walk a thousand miles or more to be a pioneer.

You do have to have great courage, faith to concur fear,

and work with might for a cause that's right to be a pioneer."