House O' Sullivans

Five years ago, when I was serving in the stake YW presidency, we planned a pioneer trek for the youth. Casey was dubbed the Trail Boss (he was a stake high counsellor at the time), and I organized a group of fiddlers to play hymns and old-school fiddle tunes during our journey. (We practiced for a whole year, leading up to trek!) At the last minute, Casey and I also assumed the duties of Ma and Pa to a "family" of youth, since the assigned couple couldn't come. I honestly thought that dressing up and pulling a handcart across Wyoming would be a little hokey, but it ended up being a very spiritual journey, partly due to the land that we travelled across. We trekked on a part of the actual Mormon Trail just outside of Fort Bridger that is privately owned by several ranchers. There are literally dozens of pioneer graves along the trail and it is truly sacred ground. I felt that the first time that we were there.  Casey has gone on pioneer trek 3 times with our stak...

We've had a loaded week.  Sunday we had our dear friends over--Bethany and Andy and their 3 girls.  We usually only see them once a year, since they live in Virginia right now, but it is always magical.  An amazing dinner and conversation punctuated by a wind storm and wild rain ended with a sun-shower (the term I give to rain when it's sunny overhead) and a triple rainbow.  We migrated onto the garage roof for a better look at the magic. Monday we celebrated Izzy's birthday with all the cousins at Liberty Park with a picnic, splashing in the water feature, and an evening concert (Indian dancing and Afghani music).  Tuesday we spent the afternoon and evening up Millcreek Canyon with the amazing ladies from my book club (an education discussion group) and their families. Wednesday the kids and I dressed up in our pioneer get-ups, picked up Grandma White, and drove up Emigration Canyon, retracing the path the pioneers took entering the valley.  We...