Keep on Trekkin'!

I sure suck at blogging lately. Anyway...

Our Stake is going on the Pioneer Trek this summer and I am SO JEALOUS! The church didn't start doing trek until after I was married, and I've always wanted to go. When we found out that Tim was going on trek this year, we decided to help him get ready as a family. He didn't seem very excited to be hiking out in the heat, so I knew we had to get him excited and change his point of view.

Since May, we have spent one night each week reading pioneer stories. The youth are encouraged to find a pioneer name and "trek for them". I've been asking Tim almost daily, "Did you decide who you are trekking for?" and always the answer was no.

Last Saturday, the Stake had a truly awesome activity. The set up a mock Iowa City for the youth to learn pioneer activities, have pioneer food, etc. When I dropped Tim off at the activity, I had this overwhelming feeling of reverence. "Iowa City" was filled with youth and leaders all dressed as pioneers. It was amazing! I almost felt like I had a tiny glimpse of what things were like before they headed out to come west. I heard music, laughter, and felt the excited energy of everyone there.

Tim came home really excited about trek and said, "Mom, I've got my name." He chose the name Robert Loader, who was 10 years old when he came west. I immediately started researching him online, but I found very little about him. Some information said he died on the plains, some said he lived. So I pressed on.

I came across information his sister wrote. Her name was Patience Loader, and she is actually quite well known. She had written a very long and detailed story of her families experience coming to Utah, so I decided we would learn from what she wrote. However, that wasn't enough. Did he live, or didn't he? And if he lived, where did he end up?

My last effort on finding information proved successful. There was an article submitted to the Pleasant Grove Cemetary from Robert Loader's GREAT GRANDSON. He had lived! He had a family! He was buried in Utah...only 20 minutes away from us!

So....

On Monday, for FHE, we went to find where Robert Loader was buried. On our way to the cemetary, I read some of Patience Loader's journal entry. I read of how they suffered, of how they were hungry, of how they pulled their dying father in handcart, of how they ate soup made from sagebrush, of how their tent was so frozen they couldn't put it up, of how they crossed the Sweetwater River and almost got swept away due to the current, of how their sister gave birth to a baby boy on the trail, of how they were certain Heavenly Father was aware of them and was blessing them. The kids were silent as they listened.


We were all eager to find where Robert was buried. We searched for quite a while and were starting to get discouraged, when Granty found his headstone. We were pleased to see that he was buried next to his wife, Eliza Driggs and two of his sons, James & Monroe. I wanted to see if by chance any other members of his family were buried there as well, and when I checked the register, I found his mother's name. When we found her plot, we were amazed to see that Amy Loader (his mother) was there, along with a memorial for his father, James Loader. Next to them was buried his older brother John and his wife as well as his sister Annie.

We stood for a while contemplating who these people were, and when I looked back for Tim, I saw he was still at Robert Loader's grave. He later told me that he was having a conversation with Robert, letting him know we was trekking for him. Tim said it was just like talking to a friend. I believe Robert Loader and Tim WILL be great friends one day.

I have such a deep, deep love for the pioneers. I always have. If there is any group of people who are an example to me of pure, perfect faith, it is the pioneers. I am so grateful to them. Grateful for their courage, their endurance, their love of God and their determination to never, never give up. But most of all I am grateful for their example.

"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!"

We are family :)

You know, I've never been one of those people who has grand spiritual experiences. The kind that shake you up and make you say, "Hallelujah!" I guess things happen to me on a smaller scale. The Lord knows I am not always teachable, and has to take His time with me.

Last time I posted, I was in search of how to handle the situation with Tim. It was a very long weekend for me. I don't think I have ever really, REALLY fasted and prayed for an answer like this. I've prayed before. I've fasted before. But never quite this intensely.

I was sitting in Sunday School, still hoping for an answer, when all of the sudden ideas came flooding into my head. They were coming so rapidly I almost became short of breath. I started writing and writing and writing as fast as I could, trying to keep up with my racing thoughts. When I was finshed, I read what I had written and was amazed at the simplicity of what my words said. Basically it said, pull together as a family. Do this as a team. Make things right as a whole.

I came home from church and told Granty about what happened. I told him we need to start reading the scriptures as a family, saying family prayer, having FHE, spending LOTS of time together as a family--we had to become a united front because Satan was pulling us apart.

Granty just smiled at me and said, "Let's do it."

I asked him if he wanted to pray about it and he said no. He said he knew I had gotten an answer before I even told him and he was certain what I was saying was right.

It seems so simple--scriptures, prayer, fhe. We've always tried to do those things, but we've never been very dedicated. Granty wasn't interested and the kids didn't want to, so it easily got pushed aside. Not anymore. Our whole family is completely immersed in this and everyone WANTS to do it. No objections. No arguments.

It has made a difference.

There is a new spirit in our home. Things feel different. Sure the kids still argue. Of course we still disagree. But something has changed.

Yes, things are still tough with Tim, but what I have learned is this: we are strengthening our family bond. We are linking together and holding onto one another so that nobody will be left behind. That day in Sunday School, I had this vision of a sinking ship. I was watching as Tim was drowing and all of us, ALL OF US, were pulling him aboard the life boat. We were doing it together. Nobody was willing to let him go.

Nothing miraculous has happened in my home. Nothing earth shattering has occurred. The only thing that has changed is that were are truly including our Heavenly Father in keeping our family strong. Yes, bad things will happen. Yes, one of my children may let go for a time, but we will not give up in our rescue. We are a family, and for the first time, I think I know exactly WHY families are forever.

I love you Sutton family. We're in this forever!