A Fun Filled Week #56

This week was full.   One of the big  things that happened was that the pump in our well had to be replaced. The old pump was removed. We went without water for 24 hours and then the pump was replaced.  The water was very brown when we turned the faucet on.  They put a filter in and with in minutes the water stopped.  The filter was so full of sand that no water made it through,  They took it out and will be putting a new one in after a few days of the well water settling.

We use the water for everything but drinking.  Hopefully it will settle soon.

More Working in Our Well

Working on Our Well

Can They Actually Do This Right?
















We had school groups from Casper come 4 days this week.  Wednesday was Sister Smart's turn to show one of the groups from an Elementary School in Casper around.

Sister Smart with Her School Group

The biggest thing that happened this week was a visit from Aaron [Stagg] and his sons.  The ladies of this family were all involved in activities this week and stayed home.  We had lots of fun with the men.

A Visit From the Men in the Family

Walking Down From Martin's Cove

At Handcart Parking

At Devil's Gate

"I Can Do It!"

Wishing and Dreaming

Our Limousine and Chauffeur

We think of all our family each day.  We love you all and are proud of who you have become and are becoming.  We are so grateful for the plan of salvation and Christ's willing role in this plan.  We are blessed.

Love ya,

Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom,  Elder and Sister Smart, Annie and Paul

We All Love this Goof Off

Not So Calm Before the Storm #55

We have had rain, hail, cold, warm, thunder, lightening, clouds and sun this week  Guess you can say we experienced all seasons in one week.  Most of all we enjoyed this rainbow.

Rainbow at Ranch 66

We had the opportunity, again, to train new missionaries how to do everything in the Visitors' Center.  It is always fun to see their excitement and enthusiasm as new missionaries.  The Visitors' Center is probably the most exciting thing for new missionaries.

Elder Smart had another check up with his Casper Doctor.  The decision was made to wait for about 6 months before deciding if another carpel tunnel surgery would be a good idea or not.  He did get a cortisone shot in his left wrist    Since there was some improvement to his right wrist from the cortisone shot, he is optimistic about his left wrist now.

We are  gearing up for the start of the summer treks and traffic.  Our first trek of the season will begin this week.   The "storm" will begin!

Below is a picture of  Elder Smart taking his turn in the Visitors' Center.  Traffic is slow sometimes and he is taking advantage of his free time waiting.

Challenging Himself to Free Cell.

We enjoyed visiting Rock Creek Hollow last week.  A lot of memories of last year climbing Rocky Ridge and being at Rock Creek Hollow for a week.  This means so much to Sister Smart as she remembers her ancestors that struggled and died there.

Monument at Rock Creek Hollow

Lower Monument below the Climb to Rocky Ridge

Top of Rocky Ridge

Happy Birthday! this week to Madalyn, Brinley and Bryton.

We want to share our love and testimony that Jesus Christ lives and loves each of us.   He knows us all by name and cares  about us.  He is ready and willing to help us with whatever we need.  We must only ask.

Love, 

Grandpa and Grandma, Mom and Dad, Paul and Annie, Elder and Sister Smart

#54 -- Busy, Busy, Once Again & Mothers' Day as Well

First we would like to pay our respect to all the wonderful mothers we have known including those we now know.

Monday started out with our office duties.  For our home evening we traveled to Sixth Crossing where we enjoyed dinner and skits from both sites.  They even grabbed Sister Smart to help with the Sixth Crossing skit.

Sister Smart Next to the Post

Elder Smart ended up back in the office on Tuesday while Sister Smart went back to Sixth Crossing to experience the trails that her ancestors experienced to the tune of about 6 miles.

The Six Mile Trekker

We kept busy for the next couple days and on Thursday had the assignment to be at Handcart Parking, the place on the trail to Martin's Cove where trekkers are required to leave their handcarts.  This day the trekkers were missionaries from the two sites of Martin's Cove and those from Sixth Crossing.

Handcart Parking - Back to Trek Center

Friday came and Sister Smart was like a kid in a candy shop -- family was on their way and would be arriving at Rock Creek Hollow about mid-morning.  We met Andrew and Jessilyn and their kids at Rock Creek Hollow.  We visited the grave site of William James, toured the site, and headed to Lander for lunch.

Monument at Rock Creek Hollow

Lunch at Oxbow in Lander

After lunch we visited the Visitors' Center at Sixth Crossing and then had a tour of some of the trails.  Then it was home to Martin's Cove.

Saturday was another P-day and we used it to continue to show the family around.  We spent the morning at the the Cove and the afternoon at Alcova and Fremont Canyon.

Martin's Cove near Visitors' Center

Stop at Alcova for Great Ice Cream

Sunday was Mother's Day and our church services.  It was special having Andrew and Jessilyn and the kids.  The other missionaries made such a fuss over them.  Following church, we were privileged to have them join us for pot luck.  After pot luck we finally managed to get Andrew and Jessilyn up to the Cove.  We had a great time having them here.  Then came the time to say goodbye.

Pot Luck

Goodbye, 'til We Meet Again

We love you all.  We love our mission.  We love the Lord and our family.

Grandma & Grandpa, Mom & Dad, Sister & Elder Smart, Annie & Paul

It is Time for Treks and Summer Heat #53

A very full week. Monday started as a Prep day for us.  We had to fill in for someone at the Visitors' Center in the morning and then there was office work that had to be done.  It was after lunch when we could get away and so we just went home and vegged all afternoon.

The mission had a farewell toast to Elder and Sister Crist.  We are going to miss them immensely.  Sister Smart has now lost her Casper travel companion and Elder Smart will have to make the trips into Casper with Sister Smart.  He is saddest of all.

Sister Smart Roasting the Crist's

 Crist's saying goodbye at the FHE

Friday was one busy day.  We held trek leader training.  This is when wards and stakes send their trek leaders here for two days to learn the ins and outs needed for a successful trek.  We manned the welcome post Friday morning as the cars came from all over to participate in this training.  We sent them in the right direction and gave them instructions to get them started.

Checked out the Toilets. Now back to Welcome Post

One of the trek leaders was nursing a baby. Her mother came along to stay with the little baby while her daughter went on the trek.  We were asked to take this grandmother and baby up to the lunch site at handcart parking.  We had to time it just right to get her there so that none of the trekkers saw nor heard the rover.  We were glad to oblige.  When we picked the grandmother up, the baby looked a little older than we expected.  Sister Smart asked how old he was and she said, "two years old".  We were really thrown back, wondering why this 2 year old could not go 5 hours without nursing.  We just smiled and did as we were asked.
Saturday we took our prep day.  Elder Smart got a hair cut and Sister Smart bought groceries.  We enjoyed lunch at Texas Road House.  We sure enjoy our meals there. 

Elder Smart Filling Our Rover With Gas

We then set out to find Reshaw's Bridge.  This is where the pioneer groups were ferried over the North Platte River from 1853 to 1858.  Looking at the location of the part of the bridge that was still standing, it is obvious that the river is much smaller now than then.

Part of Reshaw's Bridge

Sister Smart on Reshaw's Bridge

Plaque at Reshaw's Bridge

We knew that Brigham had seen to it that a ferry was built to carry the member pioneers and others across this river.  We wanted to find where this took place.  We found that about 6 miles down the river from Reshaw's Bridge the ferry transported people across the North Platte River from 1847-1852.  This is located at a national historic site called Fort Caspar.  There is a replica of this ferry on site.

Plaque at Fort Caspar

We feel The Spirit of the Lord here all the time.  We will not know what to do when we are not living here.  We will have to find this spirit in the love of our families.  Please keep us in your prayers and come and see us!!!  We are so looking forward to spending a few days with Andrew and Jessilyn and family this next weekend.

We want to share our testimonies of the truthfulness of God's plan and the love and blessings of the atoning sacrifice that we receive from Jesus Christ

Love, 

Grandparents Smart, Elder and Sister Smart, Mom and Dad, Paul and Flora Ann or Annie 

We are Becoming Acquainted With These 4 Legged Friends
This One is Obviously Trying to Tell Us Something