The end of May-first of June, our Aagard family took a family vacation up to Martin's Cove in Wyoming. We were slightly nervous about the long drive for Kayson, but he traveled so well the entire trip. I think Coby and I were a little bit more restless about the 7+ hr drive from Delta!
Kayson started of the day just being pulled/held in the handcarts, but by around noon, he was running around and hiking! He was having so much fun.
Going to Martin's Cove was something my dad has always wanted to do, and so we decided to make a family trip out of it. For those who may not know, my dad is a stage 4 cancer survivor, of which there are not many, and just in December finished his 4th very very tough and grueling round of chemo therapy! The whole trek was very spiritual and emotional for me, but seeing my dad make this trip was one of the greatest moments!! He is still in pain quite frequently, gets headaches, and has numbness and tingling in his legs and feet (neuropathy-side effect from chemo), but this was something he always wanted to do. I felt stupid just holding Kayson in the cart cause I wanted to walk and help pull, and getting my dad to sit was out of the question. He literally sat, only out of persuasion to give me a break from holding Kayson, for maybe 2 minutes, but insisted on walking the entire day's trek. This was not a easy task for many, but seeing my dad who is 59 and who has had a rough and tough last few years.... it was so inspirational and touching. My dad truly is a miracle!
Kays just relaxing on the trek!
"For some must push and some must pull"
Going to Martin's cove was such a neat experience for our entire family! This was Coby's first time going, and although there was a little apprehension about the "fun-ness" of this trip, he thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. I had been on this trip before when I was in Young Women's, but this trip was a completely different experience. Having my own child along put things into such a different perspective. I couldn't imagine not being able to keep him warm at night, or be able to make sure he had a full belly at every meal. Hearing stories about the children crying themselves to sleep every night due to starvation and freezing temperatures, broke my heart!! There was one story in particular about a boy, who prayed every night that he could die in his sleep, as to not have to face another day with no food and freezing temperatures. I practically cry every time I think about this story. I am asked to do so little and have never had to face hard times such as these, and yet I still find time and room to complain about little tedious things in my life. With Kayson being sick the first day, I could not imagine having to press on treking with a sick child and not be able to take care of him, feed him, rest, and provide the comfort needed. [On the way home from Wyoming a few days later, a few of us caught the same similar sick bug that Kayson had, and were so so sick. I couldn't imagine, once again, having to press forward with the trek and the conditions they had, when I felt so miserable at home with my heating pad, throw up bucket, sprite and crackers, and a bathroom]
I truly am grateful for our forefathers and their faith, perseverance, and examples they have left for us!
Before leaving the area, we also stopped by Independence Rock
Jenny, Amanda, and I hiked clear to the top! It was so neat to see some of the names carved in the rock from the 1800's 
On the drive home, we stopped to picnic at Flamming Gorge and decided to take a "dam" tour!
Our "dam" family
Amanda already stole a lot of my "dam" jokes, but I'll throw a few in here just for kicks! :)
Kayson loved feeding the fish! There were tons of them
What a fun fun trip we had and great memories made!
Can't wait for our next big family vacation!! :)
Can't wait for our next big family vacation!! :)
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