For the last five years we have enjoyed taking our family and four wheelers to Bryce Canyon to do some riding and camping. We haven't been able to do this for the last couple of years because of
Ammon but this year, on the spur of the moment decided over the memorial day weekend to take the kids to Bryce to do some camping. I was anxious to build those family memories together again. Ironic that it was over memorial day because it
definitely will be a trip that we will never forget.
It started in our bedroom when I got all teary eyed as I was talking to Rob. "We only have three years left with our family before Brandon leaves and then the dynamics of our family is going to change so quickly." One right after the other our kids will leave and it almost leaves me in panic mode. So we decided to pack up and go.
I'm not much of a camper. Growing up, being the youngest, my family trips were to Newport Beach staying in a beach house. That's more my style anyway. However after camping with the kids I realized how much I hate the camping but love, love, love the time we spend together. No phones, no doorbell, no T.V. or electronics of any kind, just us. I love hearing the kids laughter in the tents, stories around the campfire (we won't ever forget The Canoe Man!), brushing our teeth together at night, and looking at the stars together. I love riding four wheelers with my kids and stopping for lunch or a snack and taking in our beautiful surroundings. I always want to ride at the back of the pack because even though that's the worst spot( because you eat everyone's dust), I think it's the best because I get to watch all of my kids having fun. It's fun to see how their confidence has improved over the years. I love roasting smores and eating chicken fajitas prepared deliciously by Rob. I love how the kids pitch in and everyone helps out. Some of my best memories will be these trips we take together. This last trip however, may just possibly go down as the worst in history.
Megan threw up first in the tent all over. She seemed to improve quickly so we thought after a day we would escape anyone else getting sick. We were so wrong. The last night we were there it started with Matt. Then in the middle of the night I hear the moans of three other boys and something to the fact that James got it all over. I hear James say something like "it just came out of nowhere!" Our night was just beginning with Brandon, Emily, and finally Riley all puking several times a night. Zip went the tent and it became a game to decipher which kid was throwing up. It was a big barf party if I ever did see or hear one. There was a lot of moaning and groaning going on. After two sleepless nights because not only were we camping and that spells no sleep anyway, but Ammon was in the middle of Rob and I which made me feel like I couldn't move. Bless my good husband's heart because he was the one that got up with the kids. I was trapped by Ammon (darn it) and couldn't move. That third night did us in. At five in the morning, Rob and I decided to pack up and head home. It was freezing. I couldn't feel my fingers as I did my best to help pack up. All I could think of was how badly I wanted to get home. Then Rob got sick and Jacob started in just as we were ready to leave. It took us five hours to pack up to leave. Ammon and I were the only ones that didn't get it. It was the land of the living dead around camp and I started to do a little math. Let's see...if each kid threw up five times (Megan counted and told me it was seven for her) that is thirty five piles of barf for the next campers to enjoy. We tried to bury it the best we could but there was land mines of it everywhere. The whole way home no one made a sound except for the occasional throwing up and moaning and Ammon saying "Mom, Mom! OUT!" I came home to mounds of laundry and I seriously was wondering if we should just burn it all. It was miserable but I kept telling the kids, "think of the fun we had BEFORE you got sick." Then I got the sickness, however, I feel extremely blessed because I got to be home in bed. I was the lucky one.
I think my camping days are over. When you go through an experience such as this, one can't help but think of those amazing pioneers that crossed the plains. They camped everyday in some of the worst conditions. Not only did they get sick but they had to bury their loved ones along the way. They didn't have a nice home to return to with hot running water and soft comfy beds. They had the love of the Lord and a great amount of faith that kept them going. They are my heroes and it is hard to complain when you put things in perspective. One of my favorite pioneer quotes is that of Francis Webster who came with the Martin/Willie handcart company. He said in a Sunday School class one day "I ask you to stop this criticism. you are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the Handcart Company out so late in the season? Yes! But I was in that company and my wife was in it...we suffered beyond anything you can imagine and many died of exposure and starvation...Every one of us came through with the absolute knowledge that God lives for we became acquainted with Him in our extremities. I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me! I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the Angels of God were there. Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No! Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin Handcart Company."
Each of us has our rocky ridge to climb (and I'm not talking about a little thing like a camp full of sick kids.) There are times when we think we just can't make it another day but I do know from experience that our burdens will be made lighter if we have faith and rely on the Lord. We will have angels that will attend us and we will be strengthened through trial and adversity.
Yes! My favorite season is finally here! I wish I could say that life has slowed down but I have been busier than ever! It is hard to catch up on anything. I just keep telling myself to take it a day at a time and to enjoy...because summer doesn't last for long.
Here's my little chicken boy. He loves to chase the chickens around the yard and I'm amazed that he can catch them because they are pretty fast.
This sunset was so amazing out our bedroom window (the power pole not so amazing...grrr)
Eating popsicles and creamies is an hourly event at my house. Ammon is constantly asking for a "sickle or ju ju" I'm not sure where he came up with that last name but it's stuck with the rest of us.
