Family & Cooler Weather

Dear Family and Friends,

The wind, rain and cooler weather has been a nice change for all of us this week. It is so much easier to trek five to seven miles with temperatures in the 60's 70's and even low 80's rather than the high 90's. Jim and Jenni arrived Sunday evening and seemed to bring the cooler weather with them. We had dinner and then watched the movie McFarland which we loved. We highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

On Monday morning after breakfast and packing a picnic lunch we headed into the Homestead to start our tour and trek. After touring the Wash House and Bunkhouse we toured the Visitors' Center then got our handcart and hit the trail. Since we have a scheduled trek later in the week Elder Lindsey saved his back and waited for us at Handcart Parking. The boys loved the wildlife, trying to catch lizards along the trail and we all saw a good sized rattlesnake just as we entered Martin's Cove. I told them the Cyrus Wheelock story at the top of the Cove and we all enjoyed the peace and beauty found there.

The Ford family at the top of Martin's Cove...we missed Kati!

Grandma and her boys...sure do love these kiddos!

After lunch back at Handcart Parking we headed to the Statues and then to the River Crossing.

The whole family had the experience!

We then headed back the Sand Trail and when we got to Veil Bridge Grandpa and Grandma decided to sit in a nice comfy chair while everyone else went out to Devil's Gate. After Devil's Gate Jenny rode with us back to Missionary Village while Jim and the boys (who never get tired) went to Independence Rock so they could climb to the top. After dinner we went to FHE for a rousing game of Bingo in which Parker got the best prize...a bowl full of chocolate kisses! By 9:30pm Elder and Sister Lindsey were worn out so we all headed to bed.

Tuesday morning after breakfast the family got back on the road to head for Michigan and home and Elder Lindsey and I did our laundry, went to Rawlins for groceries and gas and worked the late shift at the Visitors' Center which made for a very full day!

Wednesday we were on Work Crew with three other couples. We spent the morning weed eating and raking the fields behind the Visitors' Center. We took two trailer loads out to the dump and were finished by lunch. Elder Mellor gave us all a rare treat...the afternoon off. We used our time to rest and do some chores around the house.

Thursday we were the Trek Hosts for the Logan Central Stake. We had a great day with perfect weather...temperatures in the 60's and 70's. The Stake came well prepared to teach their youth and the youth were prepared to feel the spirit  and those two things make for a wonderful trek for all involved. 

The Stake President gave one of the best talks I've heard in the Dan Jones Amphitheatre before the trek into the Cove. He told them three things to remember 1st the secret which is their Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement, 2nd the pearl which is marrying the right person in the right place and the 3rd was the  prize which is your eternal family. After his talk he  prayed and gave his youth a wonderful blessing. I was asked to speak at the top of the Cove so I told the story of Cyrus Wheelock and related it to the Atonement. 

This was the first trek we had this summer where the water was low enough to pull the handcarts through.

We said goodby at the Veil Bridge

On Friday we were at Welcome Post greeting all visitors as they arrived. Saturday we had the first shift in the Visitors' Center. We were very busy and enjoyed all of the people we were able to visit with. After dinner we went to the Stimpson's and watched a movie. We all love a good action film! 

 Lindsey and Sister Lindsey!

President Bushman placed this handcart on the island across from the baptistry. It makes for a lovely back drop.

Sunday was especially good because we had four missionary couples from last year that came to visit. They had all gone to the missionary reunion the Moench's  had at their ranch in Utah and then traveled here to spend Sunday with us. It felt so good to see some of the couple we served with and grew to love last year. 

We have another busy week ahead. We send our love and prayers to each of you,

Elder and Sister Lindsey