Pioneer Day

We went and checked out the Days of '47 parade floats at the preview at the South Towne Expo Center. We went with my nephew and sister-in-law. The floats were pretty neat, but the kids didn't really enjoy being there. And traffic was awful, so we spent more time in the truck than we did looking at the floats. So I'm not sure if we'll do this one again. But P1 did like looking for the floats when we watched the parade on TV.

P1 liked this whale float with the dolphins:

And he was scared of the dragon float. Basically any of the moving/smoking floats made him nervous.

There was definitely an underwater theme in abundance this year.

P1 liked the train on this float, and thought the airplane was a giant hummingbird (can't really see it in the picture).

For Pioneer Day we went to the Handcart Days at the city park. We spent $10 on tickets, thinking we would blow through them quickly. But P1 didn't want to do any of the rides. He loves bouncy houses, so we tried to get him to go on that one, but as soon as it was his turn, he would start crying and clinging to us. And that happened with about everything. Even with the fish pond, he wouldn't hold onto the pole, and I had to do it for him. But once he realized he got a toy out of it, he was willing to do that one again. We did find one ride that I could do with him, the teacups.

So we blew the rest of our tickets on yummy food that I couldn't eat. But the kids sure enjoyed it!

I've been doing a little research on my pioneer ancestors. I have a lot of them, at least 32 according to this pioneer ancestor website. And I've already discovered a couple that aren't listed there.

My 5th great-grandma on my dad's side, Polly Barber Child, was baptized in New York with her husband. On their way to Kirtland, they had a neat experience with one of the three Nephites. They endured persecution in Caldwell County, Missouri. They crossed the plains in 1852 and settle in Ogden, Utah. Her husband died 2 months after arriving in the valley. She was a midwife for 50 years, bringing hundreds of children into the world.

I love these words that she wrote in a letter to her family back East:

"Yes, there has never been the smallest moment or thought flit across my mind like wishing I had never had embraced the gospel and come here. No, my friends, there is peace and comfort to the true believer of the gospel."

I am grateful for the faith and testimony of my ancestors. They endured hard things and they pressed forward with hope and faith. What great examples for us!