Old Times

Last night we went to a get together of the families that went on the Handcart Trek



Taylor asked, "How come we have to sit together as families?"-- how soon they forget.


deluxe sleeping and eating accommodations















plus Family fun time !!

Pioneer Trek! Head 'em up, Move 'em Out!

The Cutler Family!

Andrew, Matt, Dustin, Bailey, Ma, Pa, Amber, Derrick, Melissa, Rockford,Lindsay,Taylor, Nathan.





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Around 250 youth, 70 or so Ma's and Pa' s and another 90? adult support.



We hiked 11 hours /15.5 miles, steep hills and in the dark til about 11:00pm the first day.

I now view these kids as young adults. They can do anything.








These are shots of the easy parts of the trail. During anything hard or busy we didn't take pictures of course.

We built new handcarts for our stake to keep as our service project /eagle project.

Pa, walked for George Laub.

David Cutler /Alonzo Knight

My favorite Trail Boss ever!! He's even ahead of

"Gil Favor"! (does any one else know who that is?)

Ma Marple a happy Pioneer !

Sister Jones in charge of the whole thing and still smiling!

The leather braclet on my wrist holds the name of a family pioneer

Some of David's Family ready to load up and return to reality.














Back to the Future.

Home

We are home from the pioneer trek. What a powerful changing time it was. More to follow.

Sewing, Walking

Sewing, walking, sewing , walking, that is what I have been doing this past week. Sewing Pioneer clothes for three. David is impressed that I can sew. He somehow has missed the fact that I have sewn before. I guess I always did it at night or in Nada's basement or both. This picture is of one of the prom dresses sewn before ,with help. We call it the Flamenco dress(it's exactly what she wanted- I think).

It was 110 degrees today.

The Pioneer Handcart Trek is in a week. I can make 4 miles an hour.
If I tape my feet.
Did I mention chopping the head off that live chicken a while back? Well I did- with an hatchet, then we cooked it in a dutch oven and ate it. Kind of gruesome but I had rather kill it than clean it , scald it, or pluck it. It's all a part of the Ma and Pa training Keith and I are in. Ma s and Pas are dropping out right and left. I live in the city! with city folk. Strange huh?

Mom

My Mom has been feeling poorly. We have been getting some tests done and have and appointment with the doctor again on monday to discuss results. Mom says it is just getting old yet she really wanted to get the tests done.
We made reservatons for her to fly to Idaho for Memorial Day. She will fly home thru SLC on June 1. Keith, David, and I will be on a Pioneer Trek while she is gone.

History in the Making

Our Stake has challenged each Ward to come up with 250 names to take to the Temple for ordinance work by May something. Keith, and others, is taking the youth this Wed. to the temple to do the baptizims for said 250 names.

I would have liked to contribute one! I can't seem to find one that is not a duplicate (there are billions and billions of duplicate works), or one that is questionable for some reason (John and Mary and 'benjamin for instance). No really, any one at all, I can't find.

(Plus a personal family story of a pioneer is wanted for Dave to take and study for the youth Handcart Trek!)

Okay, Okay, I'll calm down, but that is what I have been working on.

David achieved his Life Scout award yesterday at a really nice Court of Honor. He even did a great job of conducting the ceremony too. We are all very proud of him. Notice the difference/growth in the posted pics today and the old time photo at the top of this blog taken only 3 months ago. His turning 14 has really pushed a lot of buttons, like growth and maturity and hairiness and deep voice stuff etc. For example, He is thrilled that people on the phone are now mistaking his voice for Keith instead of his Mom!
I did not have all his merit badges sewn on his sash, much to his chagrin, (insert appropriate quote here about "badges") I made him wear it any way. He is happy! Can ya tell?

DAVID SAYS," I am hunkered down to be the same height as Rae, I am really at least 3 inches taller than she is. Change it or say something, Mom".

no pronouns on Saturday

Uhmm.....more rock band, yard work, laundry, dishes.
Agreed to do just the tables for one of the Wedding receptions. Am okay with that, good actually.
Ordered new glasses for Mom at Costco.
Discovered defective ligaments in feet from extra bones at the podiatrist.
Am trying to train for the youth hand cart trek! Bad feet make it tough to do so..
Sewing pioneer clothes this week.
Try not to copy sister in everything, was gonna skip the bad feet part.
Rachel is on a roadtrip with friends to tour some of AZ.
Haven't heard a word from Dan in days.

Freestone

Well, I broke down and joined Freestone Recreation Center for a month.

They have a cushioned indoor track, and Shauna and Shelley go there to walk and I need the added motivation to exercise. Two miles a day, plus whatever else we throw in like warm up laps and weight machines.

We are preparing to go on a Handcart Trek with the youth in a couple of months.

I'm an old out of shape "Ma" to my never changing "Pa" Keith. It will be great as long as I don't collapse.

An old nemisis rears it's ugly head.