Blessed, Honored Pioneers

Pete and I had the opportunity of going on a Pioneer Trek with our ward right before we moved out. We were called as members of the medical committee and I got to do a lot of the planning beforehand to prepare to make it a safe and spiritual experience for all the youth going.

When it got time to go, we had just begun telling people that I was pregnant and we got a lot of advice and cautions about me attending trek. I began to worry that perhaps going was unsafe for the baby, although I had felt all along that I would be fine. After much deliberation, prayer and worry, I felt a lot of peace about going and so I decided to stick with my plan.

That ward has the most incredible youth and the most inspiring people. Pete and I thoroughly enjoyed being on the trek and getting to interact with our ward members. It made leaving even harder, but we know it was the right thing to do. We will always look back at our time in that ward and the people we learned so much from. Pete and I both look up to so many of the awesome individuals in that ward and I think it was the perfect situation for us to learn from those people how to be better servants of the Lord. Their examples will always stick with me, no matter where life takes us.

Alright, enough with the serious stuff. Here are some fun pics from the trek:

Starting out at Independence Rock

Pete trekkin' it with Sister Cummings and the Bishop. The Bishop is one knowledgeable guy. He told us some amazing stories about different pioneers--some of them Pete's ancestors!

This character needed a lot of treatment since he came on trek already having infected blisters from basketball. Needless to say, Pete spent quite a bit of time with Benji.

One of my favorite parts of trek was watching the silent river crossing. It was a small reminder of the trials the pioneers faced before making it to Zion.

 

I told Pete when I took this picture that I was going to show everyone and tell them this is all he did on trek. In reality, however, Pete spent nearly every moment doctoring people up and encouraging the kids to keep going.

The last day was pretty windy, so after having trekked in the hot sun all day himself, Pete went around administering saline solution as people arrived in camp.

I could not stop laughing at Pete's hair on the last day. I am not sure how it got that way.

Despite our worries about going, I am so glad that I went. I got sick on the last day, but all in all it was a wonderful experience and we took so much away from the powerful spiritual experiences that we were able to have by attending the trek and reflecting more on our pioneer ancestors and all they sacrificed for their beliefs.

Oh Happy Day

Zach is Back!

Last week Pete's brother returned from serving his mission in San Diego, California.

Pete and him got to spend a couple of weeks together after Pete returned from his mission and before Zach left two years ago. But a couple of weeks just wasn't a lot so Pete was quite excited to see him.

Pete, Zach & Uncle Mike

 

We have had a fun week spending time with him and the Sundwall family.

Rafting with the family in American Fork Canyon

My little sister Maggie also got married this last week. It was a beautiful and splendid day.

Sisters Pic!

She wouldn't let me give a speech at her wedding dinner so I will just say here on this blog that I look up to my little sister so much. She has so much strength and I admire the beautiful lady she has become.

Sorry-this was the only time we snapped pictures duringthe whole day



Her husband is awesome as well. I love the way he naturally fits into our family--and if you know the Millar family, that is hard to do! He is fun-loving and so fun to be around.

Photo courtesty of Facebook--Thanks Jazz!

Welcome to the family Joe and well done Maggie!



When 2 becomes 3

 



I have really popped out in the last couple of weeks! I try to be consistent with taking pictures every week, so perhaps there will be more to come.

Baby Sundwall to come February 2013

Peter. The Hub.

This is a picture of Pete scuba diving in Honduras! We have had a pretty good year in terms of getting to do some fun things.

This guy also had a birthday in July. We celebrated by going to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Salt Lake City.

I had been there once on a business trip and about died at the steak. Except I don't even really like steak all that much. So I knew the second I tried it that some day Pete had to experience it. I told him about my visit to Ruth's Chris multiple times since my visit last September and I decided that his birthday would be the perfect excuse to spend way more money than we ever would for a steak.

Pete was skeptical because he has had some pretty good steaks in his life and he wasn't sure it would live up to all the hype. But at Pete's first bite I knew there was no turning back.

From the salad to dessert we enjoyed every last bite of our meal. Pete still talks about that steak he had--at least 3 times a week.

I enjoyed watching him savor every bite of that steak and still think about how much fun it was to spend a fancy evening celebrating my man and his love of steak.

Here's to another year.