TAG

My sister-in-law just posted this tag, and I thought it'd be fun to do too! So, here goes:

Rules Once Tagged:
1) Link to the person who tagged you
2) Post the rules on your blog.
3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

1) I want to own a pig someday. (Slowly, through the course of my life, I have come to realize that I LOVE pigs. When I see them in movies or pictures, I squeal with delight at just how cute they are--their wiggly noses, floppy ears, little snorts, and the funny way they run...they just get me! So, when our kids are old enough, we're going to own a pot-bellied pig and a basset hound, and let them run around, squealing and barking, in our back yard.)

2) When I was younger (after the age of six when I thought it would be cool to work at McDonald's, and the age of 9 when I wanted to be either a professional ice skater or gymnast), I had a dream of being a National Geographic's photographer. I remember pinning an article about women photographers on my wall and thinking "Someday, that's going to be me."

3) I've had my ears pierced three times. (My mom had my ears pierced first when I was in elementary school, and not being completely responsible then, I let them close in--twice. The third and final time I got my ears pierced, I did it to support a friend who was getting it done for the first time (who I lied to and said it didn't hurt that bad). At the shop, the piercer? asked me if I would like them to put a new hole in my right ear, as the current hole was too far to the outside; I said sure. So, I now have 2 holes in my right ear, including the old one, which, to my dismay, hasn't closed since.)

4) My junior year, I won my school district's JV track and field championships in both shot put and discus--the only time I've ever won a blue ribbon in a sporting event.

5) I'm obsessed with Jane Austen novels. I own almost all of her books, 4 versions of the movie Pride and Prejudice (P&P), a BBC collection of movies based on her books, 2 copies of the movie Emma, and have read a spin-off series of her book P&P. I even once corrected one of my college professors who misquoted P&P in class. My latest obsession with it is visiting Austen-era grand homes in England (which I have been recently researching), and the city Bath (which was mentioned in several of her novels).

6) I'm a sucker for Scottish accents. Ever since I was a kid I've liked them (which led to my initial fascination with Sean Connery, and later crush on Gerard Butler). I don't know what to tell ya; they just do it for me.

Who's tagged now?
Mindi
McKenna
Kylee
Chelsea (cuz I want her to blog)
Travis
Brandon (because I'm curious to hear what these would be)

Have fun!

Lorraine Richardson Manderscheid--Our Beloved Mootie

Early this afternoon, Mootie passed away. My mom called me shortly after we returned home from our Stake Conference to tell me the news, sobbing. It had been a call I had known and feared would come from her for some time now. Thus, the news didn't take me too much by surprise, as I also knew (as my grandma herself had expressed) how very much she wanted to pass on, to be with her husband and to serve others and her Heavenly Father to her fullest capacity again. But still, I feel as if it hasn't sunk in yet. After getting off the phone with my mom, Travis held me for several minutes as I shed a few tears and thought about the conversation. Hours later, I feel kind of numb inside, and wish to think about anything but what happened this afternoon (as if thinking about it will let the flood out), though I know that won't help with my grieving.
Mootie was the heart and glue of my mom's family. She was always the one with advice or spiritual guidance for anyone in trouble; a veritable rock of faith for everyone in our family. She was always there for me with a smile, a hug and kiss, and an offer to help me in any way. I have felt and appreciated her deep love and support for me my entire life, and will be forever grateful to her for that. I hope she knows that, and how very very much I love her too.
I miss her dearly. Yet, I find comfort in the knowledge that I will see her again someday; also, that she is now reunited with her loved ones, is busy in God's work, and is truly happy.
"God be with [both you and I] until we meet again."

A Fun Quiz

Every once in a while, I see a quiz that tickles my fancy, and want to share it. So: What kind of ice cream are you? I'm vanilla (a calming influence, who seeks peace and quiet). Want to find out what you are? Just go to:
http://www.the-n.com/quizzes/quiz_main.php?id=3243
Take the quiz, and then leave us a comment telling us what you found out!

Some New Hobbies

Travis and I recently discovered a new hobby--tossing things around at the Nature Park! Being out of school, and with little else to do, we needed some reason to get out of the house and be active. =) It started with us just throwing around my football (which had rarely been used til this point), and has now expanded to tossing around our newly acquired (25 cent) frisbee. Also, we recently learned how to throw it from the outside, so now we can practice this new skill while we're at the park too! (I forgot to bring my camera; otherwise I'd post a picture.)

And I've picked up a new hobby of my own--cross stitching. I had never done a full-size cross stitch before, and was intimidated at the prospect. But, after some encouragement from Travis, I started the pattern, and...I love it! It's very rhythmic and repetitive, and is something I can do while watching a movie or listening to music as it doesn't take my entire concentration. I've already completed about 1/4 of it! =) It is, however, time consuming, so I'll work on finishing the rest of it from time to time throughout the fall.

This is it's current state:

And this is what it will look like when its done (hopefully):

I'm really excited about this pattern. I think it will fit well with our decor since we already have several things that are Japanese, and plus, it talks about family! I'll post a picture again when its all done.

Hope you all are finding new and fun things to do this summer! And let us know if you have any ideas of things for the two of us to do in the Rexburg outdoors! We'd love to expand our options!

Church History Sites--Day 2 at Rock Creek Hollow

The last Church History site stop on our Wyoming trip was at Rock Creek Hollow. This is where the Willie Handcart Company met the rescue wagons and rested after their 27 mile "forced march" (thus called because if the rescuers hadn't pushed them on, many would not have survived) through the night over Rocky Ridge.

The entrance to Rock Creek Hollow:


A monument in honor of the Willie Handcart Pioneers:


A grave marker for the 13 pioneers who didn't survive the night. Two others, who helped dig the graves, also died and were buried nearby.


The burial site of the 13 who passed away. President Hinkley, who had once been here for a family reunion, said that he felt it was one of the most sacred sites on earth.


The Remember Rock--dedicated to the people of the second rescue (those of the Riverton, WY Stake who did temple work for the members of the Willie Handcart Company), including dates when the former members of the First Presidency made promises to these rescuers.


The man who carved this monument was walking by when we were here and actually took this picture for us:


This is where the Willie Handcart Company came over Rocky Ridge and into the Rock Creek Hollow. You can still see the marks of the handcart and wagon wheels on the ground, it being a part of the route West, and well used at the time.


Walking up to look over Rocky Ridge:


One of the main reasons we went to Rock Creek Hollow was to recieve Mark's Handcart Company as they ended their trek. Here they are coming into the Hollow (and what a sight to see!):


Gavin ran to his dad when he saw him coming in, and Mark picked him up and carried him the rest of the way. (It was a neat scene--reminiscent of a scene that might of occured when the men from the Mormon Battalion returned back to their families.) Cassie, Gavin, and Megan were of course happy to have Mark come back!


With their return was a large potluck dinner, which we were all happy to partake of! Gavin got a huge brat and did a great job eating it!


Then he hopped in a handcart with some other boys and got a ride! (Look how happy he is!)


After dinner, the stake put on a program where those who were in the trek sang a song, some shared their thoughts on the trek experience, and others read breif biographies of the 13 pioneers who died in the hike over Rocky Ridge. It was a neat program--really giving us an opportunity to see these individuals as people, and to learn more about their lives and their stories. I was touched by their faith in the prophet, and in his call to come West, and by their strength.


We enjoyed a beautiful evening:


I am so grateful for the experience we had to visit these Church History sites. I feel I came away with a greater understanding of the pioneer's lives, their fight to survive, their love of the gospel and the Lord, and their willingness to sacrifice to do what is right. I have been strengthened by the experience. I am grateful for these pioneer forefather's--who have left a legacy of faith and strength, and who built up the Kingdom of God in their day.

Church History Sites--Independence Rock

After leaving Martin's Cove, we swung on over to Independence Rock. Independence Rock was a major landmark for all pioneers heading West. It was so named because if you reached it before Independence Day, you were making good time (and would avoid any harsh winter weather). Several pioneers who passed by it left their mark by carving their names and the date they passed through; some of these carvings even date back to the 1850's when the Mormon pioneers first came through. It was neat to see and be in a place that our forefather's had been.

Signs for Independence Rock:




Here is an example of one of the early carvings (notice the date--July 4, 1850):


Tyler and Travis were among the first of our group to climb the rock, making a quick scale of it.


Seeing his uncles go before him, Gavin started climbing up right after them. When they came down some to help him up (all of us being a little concerned), he said "No. I do it myself." What a trooper!


Daddy Dave taking Megan up:


Tyler and Cassie climbing the rock. (This picture gives you an idea of how steep the rock was.)


When we neared the top, it suddenly got VERY windy (you can kind of tell from this picture.) So, our stay on top of the rock was not very long. =) We did get the chance to see several of the carvings though, which was neat.


Queen of the rock!


Monuments on the rock for those who had passed it on their migration West. (The second one from the right on top was for the Mormon pioneers.)


I'm glad we got the opportunity to climb Independence Rock.

Job Update

I thought I'd write and let you all know that I've started my job at Great Harvest, and it is going well. I'm still kind of in that stressful, training stage (which has been multiplied since I'm being trained in every single shift but baking), but I'm learning quickly, I think, and doing pretty well. Some other pluses are that the boss likes me, I get to eat tons of goodies, and I get my first paycheck very soon! In addition, I've been able to pick up several shifts for the rest of the summer break, and will be assigned a regular part-time schedule when school starts, which will be nice as well. Overall, I feel very blessed by my Heavenly Father to have been given a job that I felt would be so good for me, and I think it will be. Remember--y'all are welcome to stop by and visit me there anytime!

Church History Sites--Day 1

It's been a long time coming, but here it finally is. On our recent vacation in Wyoming, we had the opportunity to visit several Church History Sites. Our first stop was Sixth Crossing (so named because it was where the Willie Handcart Company crossed the Sweetwater River for the sixth time), where we said goodbye to our brother-in-law Mark and his company (stake) as they started on their 3-day trek. There, we browsed through the visitor's center, where we listened to some pioneer stories told by the senior missionaries and learned a little more about the lives of the handcart pioneers.

The Sixth Crossing visitor's center:


An example of food rations during the worst of times:

An example of what a pioneer woman might have brought with her across the plains:


Our experience at the Visitor's Center was very humbling.

Later that day, we drove to Martin's Cove, where members of the Martin Handcart Company found some refuge from a terrible, days long, winter storm during their trek west.

Starting off! We were lent a covered handcart (a much nicer one than anyone in the Martin Handcart Company would have had) at the visitor's center there, loaded up our lunch and water bottles, and were on our way!

I was the photographer for the day, and had a interesting time running ahead of everyone from time to time to get some pictures!

Pull! Pull! (This handcart was harder to pull than you would think--especially when you're trying to keep it level for the two small children sitting inside!)

Gavin loved riding in the handcart!

We stopped at "handcart parking" for a lunch break, before heading up the Cove.

Here we are hiking up to the cove:

Everyone at the Lower Cove. Gavin had fun climbing all over the rocks here--so much so that he wasn't too keen to move on!


This is a view of the whole Cove from a distance. (The Cove was located around the grassy hill in the far end of the picture).

This is likely where the members of the Martin Handcart Company would have camped during their refuge from the storm. Members of a rescue company from SLC had met them just before the storm hit, and led them into the Cove in hopes of finding further protection there.

One man in the company was asked to go cut down 3 trees for firewood by one of the rescuers. He was reluctant to do the task at the time, being nearly starved and exhausted, but later explained that completing the task surely saved his life. These trunks may have been those from the trees he cut down:

On the other side of the Cove from where they camped, the pioneers buried their dead (approximately 60) who hadn't survived the storm, in the fallen snow. This grassy patch is about where they would have buried them:

As we were in touring the Cove, some very strong winds hit. It gave us a glimpse of the terrible weather that the pioneers must have endured.

After touring the Cove, we picked our handcart back up and headed for the Sweetwater River Crossing. This is where members of the Handcart Company had to cross the River amidst the harsh winter weather. Some felt that this was the last straw--they couldn't do it; it was just too much. So, several teenage boys from the SLC rescue party helped carry those across who could not make it by themselves. This bridge was built to commemorate those brave young men:


There were also 3 statues located nearby that depicted these young men carrying their fellow pioneers across:

A sign right by the River Crossing:

The boys, just before they cross the River. (I love the way Travis is looking ahead--as if he is readying himself for the task.)

The river crossing. (I thought this picture well depicted what it might have been like--minus the chunks of ice, of course.)


After crossing, Travis decided to go back in the water for a little bit. (I like this picture because it makes me think of one of those young men coming back across the river to help someone else across.)

Gavin, ever Travis' sidekick in adventure, decided to go back in the water too. (This picture is so sweet to me. Travis is such a good uncle.)

Heading back to the main camp, feeling refreshed from our stint in the river:

"Pioneer children sang as they walked, and walked..." (I like how this picture shows everyone being involved in the Handcart pull.)

These guys were fast little trekkers! We had to keep begging them to slow down a little, and stop dragging us along! If they were part of one of the original handcart companies, they would have gotten us all across the country in 2 months flat!


The strong men:

The fierce women...

...pulling the handcart.

The kids taking a nap in the handcart =)


When we got back to the Martin's Cove Visitor's Center, we toured a replica of what used to be a trading post. When the Martin Handcart pioneers reached it, it had already been abandoned. However, many were able to find some kind of shelter here. (Nearby the replica was were the original post was, and where people had recently excavated it in order to make a replica.) It was a neat place--interesting to look about.

Taking a picture in the wagon/car (shown in the above picture). It was pretty cool to be inside an oldtime vehicle like this.

The end of our handcart journey!


It was such a neat experience to tour these two Church History sites. Niether of us had been to them before, and the tour gave us a much greater appreciation for the trials and triumphs of the Mormon pioneers, including a real glimpse into who these people were and what they really went through. Like I said before, it was a very humbling and rewarding experience--something we hope to do with our kids someday. Thanks Cassie, mom, and dad for taking us on the tour. You made the experience so much more meaningful!