It's off to the west we go...

Family home evening (typically occurs ever Monday evening) at our house it is an event that our church encourages it's members to participate in to unite us as a family, to discuss the needs we have and challenges we face. It typically consists of a prayer, lesson on the topic of our choosing, an activity and a treat. This month, our family was focusing on the Pioneers. We talked about how hard it must have been for them to carry all of their belongings in a cart. Then we had a little activity outside....

The handcart- the rocks represent the stuff

OH NO! A broken handcart wheel!

UH-OH MJ had the same problemDee came to MJ's rescue with a larger more sturdy wagon! Can you imagine traveling 1000 miles with conditions like these-only worse?Great Scott! Rebs broke her leg! (not really but for our purposes she did!) Her big sister must carry her on her back!These things really happened to those early pioneers- on top of starvation, persecution, illness, and death of family members. Not to mention, day after day after day for 3 months they went through these things. Our girls slept like babies after this activity- imagine what it was like to really be there. People gave up so much for freedom in this country and some people when they got here didn't receive it. This lesson was a reminder of the sacrifice of the pioneers and to me it was an acknowledgement of the damage caused by ignorance. I hope my kids will choose acceptance over judgement, understanding over bigotry, peace over war, and service over indulgence.