Pioneer Children, Start Singing!

Just call me, "Ma"

Yup, that's right, I said Ma! As in "Ma and Pa". (Charles is Pa.)

We were just called to be a "Ma and Pa" for the Youth Pioneer Trek, in August 2011. Oh Boy!

As many of you know, I am kind of an "indoor girl". (I get that from my father.) Camping is in a cabin, with lovely beds, running water, and a continental breakfast. :-) Well, beds and running water there will NOT be!

(I was crying during the whole video!)

Here is the low-down:

• We have to be trained, with detailed instruction of our roles
• We have to be physically capable of walking 10 miles in extreme heat (possibly pulling handcarts.)
• We have to wear pioneer clothing (Help! Does anyone sew??)
• We will have 8-10 children assigned to our "family" and we do EVERYTHING as families, including being sent out on our journey as families.
• We are not just along for the ride, we ARE the Ma and Pa. Meaning, we get our kids ready, washed, fed, packed and leaving on time. We are responsible for their spiritual/emotional/physical well-being. We have to keep track of our children at all times and we have to quote, "control our kids".
• There will be a lot of family time. It needs to be structured. We need to have activities planned. We also need scripture/prayer/devotional time.

OH BOY! I am still rather giddy at the moment, a million question are running through my head about every detail. We were told to write down and be seeking out inspiration regarding our roles as Trek Parents. I better get a binder!

• We will be "sorted" into families (Harry Potter style). (I wonder if we get a different last name?? That would be awesome.)
• We have to "gather" our family together many times before the trek for activities and getting-to-know-you time. (Youth are from Stake, not just ward.)
• We attend service projects and square dances before Trek

Right now, it seems daunting. But I know it is only because Christmas is a day away and I have partaken of too many sugary-goodies. The new year will provide opportunity for new goals, including physical goals, and now I have a very worthy event to focus on. I am not too worried about the physical requirement, but it would be nice to do it without breaking a sweat. ;-) Thank goodness I can wear my Asics! Apparently, duct tape for blisters is a must.

Preparation:

Have you ever seen Fiddler on the Roof? Well, Tevye's horse is lame from near the beginning, as a result, he has to pull his own milk cart. He asks God, who would it hurt, "If I were a rich man"? Throughout the movie his horse is lame, he pulls the cart (he gains strength). He asks, "why?" But then at the end, when they are driven from their village, and they must put all their belongings in the cart, and walk far away from their home . . . Tevye had the strength to pull the cart. He had been prepared, by God. And, yes, it would have spoiled some "vast eternal plan" if he had been a wealthy man. :-) God knew what was coming, and what he needed to be prepared for . . .

I mention that because I have spent many days (pushing not pulling) my own "handcart" in all sorts of weather, and sometimes I find myself asking, "why?" When I run, the kids have always been in tow. Just the other day I put all three kids in the double jogger, with William sitting on top of the sun shades, and I ran. It was ridiculous, really. Crazy. But I did it anyway, it was the only way I could run that day. (The kids were too cold to ride scooters next to me.) It was SO heavy (Sammi is 9, Daniel 7, William 3). The stroller was WAY past capacity! But I had to . . . that is just how I am. Needs must, you know. I actually thought of handcarts when I was pushing the monstrosity. Little did I know there was a reason for that thought!

Picture taken 3 years ago . . . :-) Much heavier now!

I am actually excited. I am afraid, naturally -- but excited, too. It will be an adventure preparing for this journey with the Youth (whom I LOVE!) I am excited to get to know more of the rising generation. I love the youth in our ward, so much. I only hope that the youth of the Stake are just as lovely!

A few months ago, I had a blessing. During the blessing I was told, "Soon, your life will be full of people." And so it begins . . . :-)

P.S. I will NEED help . . . sewing, activity planning, ideas, etc. So watch out! Jenny, (yes you Miss Arnold) . . . did you go on the last one? If so, FILL ME IN!!!! Love you!

Born to be Wild

Who would have thought that this Johnny Depp wanna-be boy . . .

and this Miss-Molly-Mormon girl . . .

Would find each other out of the billions of people in the world . . .

and fall madly in love, forever.

Happy 11th anniversary to us!

I used to wish upon a star, thinking of my future love, singing:

"Somewhere out there, beneath the pale moonlight . . . "

I just KNEW Charles was out there, somewhere, wishing for me, too. :-)

A Brief Recap:

Charles and I dated from April-September of 1999. I had known him since January of 1999, but he had a different girlfriend when I met him. ;-) We met in an Institute class while attending U.A.A. I highly recommend Institute!

We taught lessons on the same day, he caught my eye, and I caught his (though we had been in class together for 4 months!) I called him that night, we chatted, and we met at a dance, no, THE dance, the next day. He took my hand, and gently led me to the dance floor. At which time, electricity flew threw my body, a light beamed down from Heaven, and everyone else disappeared. I knew, it was HIM. Looking back, I can really see that the Spirit was very strong, leading us, guiding us, encouraging us to move forward, together, despite any fears.

One of the things we did that sort of "sealed the deal" (no pun intended) was taking a trip to Arizona. He stayed with his mom, and I stayed with my brother's family. We then decided to go visit my Grandma's in Utah, so Charles borrowed his mom's truck and we traveled together, with my sister Bethanie as a chaperone. ;-) (Thanks Beppy!) We all squeezed into the front of the little bench-seated truck . . . and we had amazing time traveling together. I felt like I was "home" with Charles. No fear, no worry.

This picture was taken at a grocery store right before we left on our trip from Arizona to Utah. (Ignore the shirt, I had fried my shoulders into blisters and could not wear a real shirt -- it was totally nasty and it hurt SO bad!) When my Grandma Lindquist met Charles for the first time he was pealing dead skin off of my shoulders -- she loved Charles. ;-)

The reason I love that picture (above) is because it shows "the truck". 11 years later, it is the SAME truck that Charles drives to work today. (His mother gave it to him for $10.00 a few years ago.) Though some may not think much of it, to me it means everything. It creates my favorite sound in the whole world . . . the truck engine . . . it means my honey is HOME! ;-) How I love that loud VROOOOOMMMM sound. Nothing better.

Over 11 years ago (September 4th, 1999) Charles took me up a mountain in Denali, Alaska, and he asked me to marry him. This picture was taken as we were coming down. ;-) (Don't ask me what he is doing??)

There were many church dances and dates before we made it official . . . but we knew, from the very first night together -- that there was something special between us . . .

Magic, real magic.

Picture from a Halloween dance??

This picture was taken the same day we climbed the mountain of engagement. I love this picture because it shows the special love between us. And also, it shows that Charles has always held me on a pedestal. And I love him deeply for it.

Picture also taken in Denali at the cabins my family stayed in. We were just smooching all the time. I am sure it was grossing people out.

Decemeber 4th 1999 the morning before the big moment.

My sister's, Kary and Beppy were helping me get ready to go.

I am, of course, talking to Charles. ;-)

Married in the Anchorage, Alaska Temple December 4th, 1999

The very beginning of the new van Ormer family

(It was SO COLD outside, getting married in December in Alaska is a crazy thing to do!)

Charles is ready to start shoveling our way through life

We had the reception later that same day. My mother put together a beautiful party, as always.

Our cake had a couple on a motorcycle, symbolizing that we were "Born to be Wild"(However, in real life, I have never been on a motorcycle and I now have NO desire!)

Yeah, I am SO wild and crazy!

My niece just got married at 19 (I was 19, too) and it made me think on our own experience. She had her invitation pictures taken on a motorcycle, and she wore blue converse shoes under her wedding dress. My tennis shoes were white. ;-)

We had a little reception line . . . pictured here were two of my old Bishops from the 6th ward, Bishop and Linda Novakovich (Hilary Week's parents) and President and Pat Wadsworth. (Who we ended up working for, as apartment managers in Alaska.) Love them both so much. I have such fond memories of them. Bishop Novakovich was my Sunday school teacher for a long time, and President Wadsworth did my temple interview, right before I got married.

It was a beautiful evening, but I was so tired. Little did I know it was only a matter of time until mono would take over my body, and knock me off my feet! Instructions from the doctor a week after getting married: No Kissing, etc. HA!

Pictured: Emily, Beppy, Me, Kary

Best friend and lovely sisters. ;-)

Me and Johnny (my little brother) . . . one of my other favorite men. ;-)

He is to me, as Daniel is to Sammi. Buddies.

Me and my Daddy, whom I adore.

My favorite picture: These are my Young Women leaders performing the song "Born to be Wild" at my reception . . . Wow. How great is that?

(For those of you who may not know . . . I was voted in high school:

Most likely to join Hell's Angels.) Yeah. Me. Very Funny.

11 years have come and gone so quickly. I feel the same as I did then, that is what is so strange. I am the same girl, just older. I feel so blessed to have found Charles. He makes my heart flutter just thinking about him. He has proven to me that anything is possible, if you work hard for it. He has taught me how to really love people. He has such a good heart, a charitable heart.

We sang our song, Unchained Melody, at Katie's reception, and as we performed I felt a great surge of love for him.

Oh, my love, my darling

I've hungered for your touch

A long lonely time

And time can move so slowly

And time can do so much

Are you still mine?

Lonely rivers flow, to the sea, to the sea

To the open arms of the sea

Lonely rivers cry

Wait for me, wait for me

I'll be coming home

Wait for me

I need your love

I need your love

God speed your love to me . . .

I am so grateful that Charles was sent to me, at the right place, at the right time. I know we are meant to be together. I knew it the first time we danced. We have been through so much together, and we have learned so much together. Things we could have never learned apart. Over the years we have grown closer and closer together . . . and closer still.

I admire and adore Charles more now, than ever. As Julie Andrews sings in The Sound of Music, "I must have done something good." (for God to send Charles to me.)

To the future, my friend, my love . . . to infinity and beyond.

Born to be Wild . . . Wildly in LOVE . . . Forever.