Summer of 2011

This summer we successfully grew some beautiful flowers.  Ann planted over 100 bulbs and everyone of them grew.  It was really a lot of fun to have Humming Birds at our place for the first time ever.  It is a lot of fun to grow things with my children.  We grew a garden too but, it didn't do very well.  We were able to harvest cucumbers, zucini, tomatoes, green beans and butternut squash. We made lots of butternut pies, soup and even canned some of the butternuts.  I updated my Web Site about Food Storage and Canning Projects with some new recipes.  Check it out and see if it has any information that might help you with preparridness.  Here is the link: https://sites.google.com/site/michellesfoodstorageprojects/ hope it's helpful I'll try to put the Butternut pie recipe on it soon.

We were very busy this summer as usual.  The boys were in weight training and speed training all summer.  It really helped them to be ready for football this year.  Michael, Ben and Robert were in the 24th of July parade and the corn festival parade.

 We had some really strainge weather this summer.  We actually had several Tornado warnings for our area this summer.  We also had huge hail storms.  It was a very different and busy summer.

Being a Big Sister at the Taylor Handcart Trek 2011

Our Stake did a Handcart reenactment this year. Michael was old enough to go on the Trek. I helped him get some pioneer cloths and we began walking to get in shape. He didn't want to walk alone so I walked with him. Because they told us that the Trek would walk 16 miles a day. Ouch!

Ok, it all started with sewing. Ya, sewing. I was really having a good time sewing bonnets for the Young Women, I just wanted them to have cute bonnets. Some of the girls did not have someone they knew that could sew. So I volunteered. That is where it started. Robert say me sewing and that I was really enjoying creating bonnets. Well, in one of his meetings they were asking for Big Sisters and Big Brothers to go on the Trek from our ward. So he thought I should go. He volunteered me! I don't think Robert has ever volunteered me for something with out talking to me first.

I got the call in the first week of May. I was shocked. I wasn't sure I could walk 16 miles a day. Plus they said that I would be doing all of the things that the kids were going to be doing. I wasn't sure I was up to all that. But, I accepted because I was really curious about the Trek. See they didn't do Treks when I was a kid. I had heard a lot about them. But, I really wondered what it would be like. So I began walking. At first all I could do was one mile and I was exhausted. Then I worked it up to two miles, then four miles a day. I thought I was doing pretty good. I began sewing a pioneer outfit for myself. I needed two dresses, two bonnets, two aprons etc. Plus I was still sewing young women bonnets.

It was the week before the Trek and the Stake called Robert to be a big Brother on the Trek. We would be both going but in different families. So Michael, Robert and I were all going on the Trek. Robert was going to be my babysitter for Ann and Rebecca. So it was a change up. We went to the Valley and picked up Grandma Johnson to come and stay with Ben, Rebecca, and Ann. So that Robert could go on the Trek.

Finally the day came when we left on the Trek. The morning before we left we read the story of Robert's ancestor that was in the Willy Handcart company that had so many trials. It was a humbling story. We then left for 3 1/2 days.

The first day we did walk over 14 miles it was long and dusty. I lost my voice on the first day from the dust and wasn't able to talk. So I had to be quite. I was doing good until the sun went down and we were walking in the Dark! It was so hard to walk in the Dark! My legs were tired, my feet hurt, my hands hurt, and I was falling asleep walking. They told us the carts weighted at least 1 ton or maybe 2 tons. I think that they were very, very heavy. We had 18 people in our family. All of us pulled the handcart except the Ma and Pa, because they were not allowed to touch the handcart. It was hard for them to not help.

We came to a point on the trail where the Calvary came and took all the men. It was so hard to watch the boys and men leave. We knew that we would have to pull the cart. I thought of how the women must have felt being homeless on the prairie with little children and watching their men leave. It was a heart breaking thought. I was walking with the women and girls with tears streaming down my face. I know they thought that I was crying because we were the only ones pulling the cart, but, I was crying at the thought of my Husband and Son leaving with the Calvary and the thought of being in the wilderness alone with just women and old folks.

We made it through the woman's pull it was really hard but, we all pulled together. Late in the night we came into what we thought was camp but, it was a Mob reenactment. They took our leader and told us to get out of there. I again thought of all the places the Mormons were ran out of and how tired they were. How hungry they were. People just sent them on their way with out help. Sometimes causing them harm. I thought about how hungry I was and how tired I was knowing it was nothing to what they went through.

When we finally made it into base camp we were given a biscuit and broth. It was after 2:00 a.m in the morning and all I wanted to do was go to sleep. So that is what I did get in my sleeping bag and go to sleep.

The next morning we went a few miles down the road and that was where we stayed for a couple of days. It was fun to learn how the pioneers cooked and all of the other things we did like killing a chicken and eating chicken for dinner. The games were great, the hoedown was fun, the black powder guns reminded me of my father. I really enjoyed the next few days.

I was so amazed at all of the service from all of the people in the Stake. I saw many people that I knew and was also amazed at all of the Youth. How they acted and participated in all of the things. It was an amazing event. I really enjoyed the solo time on the side of the mountain. It was wonderful to be in the wilderness all alone for a few hours. It really helped my testimony to grow.

The most fun was seeing Robert a little here and a little there each day. It was like dating again. I so enjoyed the moments that we held hands and walked together. I realized what a special man he is and what his love means to me. I also enjoyed seeing Michael here and there. It was amazing to see you young man growing up and being on his own. I am so proud of him. He is an amazing young man. I am just so thankful for this wonderful experience.

I thought about my pioneer ancestors and how they knew that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints was true because they were willing to risk their lives getting to ZION. The wanted the blessings of the Temple in Utah and the risk their lives to obtain those blessings. I have Zion here in my own community at the Snowflake Temple. I don't have to risk my life to attend the Temple, I don't even have to travel very far. It has helped me to understand how important the Temple is and how much my ancestors loved the Lord. I am so thankful for their testimonies. Their Testimonies have helped mine to grow so much. I am thankful for the ability to go on the Trek and even all the walking.

As we were coming back into town we could see the plum of smoke towards Round Valley, AZ. I had no idea that a fire was raging in the forest while we were on the Trek. It later became the largest fire in Arizona history. I am so sad to see the forest burned but, we haven't taken care of our forest for a long time. There is to much undergrowth and to many dead trees in the forest. Our forest have been on the down hill decline since the 1980's. Most of my life.

April 2011

I love April because it is usually when we have General Conference. I so love the spiritual charge that is given from General Conference. This year Easter was at the end of the month. Very unusual because it is usually at the beginning of the month. I loved it when President Monson said in a few weeks the whole world will be celebrating Easter the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. I loved this because he said that all over the world there would be people celebrating the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It gave me a warm feeling. Also during April Michael and Ben did track together. That was a lot of fun for them. They learned a lot of things. Michael and Ben also went on a trek qualifier where they had to walk 4 miles in one hour because the trek will travel 16 miles in a day. That's a lot of walking. We also attended Robert's parents 50th anniversary party yesterday the 30th. It was a nice party and it is nice to see someone married for 50 years. Marriage seems to be under such a attack theses days. It is nice to see it last for years. Easter was special and we enjoyed our Easter Sunday services. They were very spiritual.

March 2011

This was a very busy month as usual. It's still cold, but warming up a little. We are very excited about spring. We had a lot of fun celebrating my sisters birthday because it is on the first day of Spring. We planted some bulbs in celebration of her birthday. Ann loves to plant flowers and all types of other things. She is a very active little girl. Benjamin was able to go to the Temple for the baptism for the dead. Robert, Michael, Ben and I were able to all be in the Temple together. Ann and Rebecca stayed with Aunt Amy, she's such a blessing. It was such a spiritual night. I am so looking forward to the day when all of my children can be in the Temple with me and my Sweetheart. What a nice day that will be. We began plans to build a fence to keep our horses in because they are breaking the panels that they are in. So we started making the fencing plans. Digging the holes are the worst. The land is so hard and rocky. But, we just keep chisling away at it. I will be glad when it is all finished. We were also able to go to the Treck fireside with Michael it sounded so exciting. He is going in the first of June on the handcart treck. What a awesome experience that will be. We have relatives that came across in the handcart treck. It is really humbling to think about it.

Feb. 2011

It's cold still! I know it is winter but, it has been a very cold winter. We are so glad that we cut wood this summer. We did a experiment on types of wood. We cut aspen, pine, pinon, oak, and alligator juniper. Well the hard wood does burn hotter and longer. We are glad that we cut some hard wood for this winter. The aspen really does keep the flue clean. I am so glad that my boys are finally big enough to split wood and they actually like it. Benjamin turned 12 years old at the end of Feb. We went to Robert's nephew's homecoming from New Zealand it was awesome. Then the next weekend we had family that came to our ward to be involved with Benjamin receiving the priesthood. It was a very humbling experience especially to have Grandpa, Grandma Spurlock and his Uncle Jerry and Aunt Nancy. It was a very special day. The first day that he passed the sacrament he passed with his Brother Michael. I was very emotional to see both of my boys passing the sacrament.

January 2011

Wow, I can't believe that January is over! The first month of the New Year, it started out with a great freeze. -17 degrees on New Years Eve! I've never experienced that type of cold. I couldn't believe how bad my fingers and toes felt even though I had them in thermal boots and gloves. I was only out in the cold for 10 minutes to get my dog and Wow, the cold had a bite to it. January was very busy. Ben and Robert went to the Klondike camp out. It was cold but, they were prepared and did well. We enjoyed the day off in the middle of the month for Martin Luther King day. It was nice to have a break. We had some really nice snow storms and a lot of fun sledding. Ann really enjoyed the sledding. Our animals are doing well even though it has been the coldest winter since we moved here. I learned what it was like to fall down the stairs, when I tried to walk on ice. It hurt real bad, but I am better now. I always check for Ice now! We are excited about February, hoping Michael will finish his Eagle project soon!