Getting Out

Monday, May 25, 2009

Getting Out

Continued from Our Hike

There we were up on some rocks watching the rain pour down around us and seeing what was dry land just moments ago suddenly swell with flowing water. Rebecca, Isaiah and Jeremiah were the last ones to make it out of the slots we had just exited and by the time they got out they were literally running through waterfalls crashing down on them.

Everyone was freezing cold and most of us were pretty scared. Jeremiah pulled out his back back and distributed trash bags that we used as rain coats. We all said a prayer as a group (offered by my mom) but the children continued to pray on their own as well. We wondered where the best shelter was, where we were most likely to be hit by lightning, and whether or not we would possibly be able to build a fire. In the midst of all the discussion, I would occassionaly hear Ammon saying, "in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." I am so proud of our kids for the faith they demonstrated during this frightening time.

After about 5 minutes of being terrified up on the rock, the rain stopped. It occurred to us that we would need to make a run for it to get out. Obviously when it wasn't raining, was the time to go. But we also needed to let some of the water flow through so we sat and waited, hoping that the rain wouldn't start again causing us to miss our chance for escape or that we weren't wasting precious minutes causing us to not get far enough out when the rain began again.

The flow of the water began to lessen and we decided we had to go. Katy and I were both literally sick to our stomaches and wanted to just throw up. Katy didn't want to go through the water, which, in some places was still thigh deep, so I was surprised when all of the sudden she and Kylie were gone. Apparently she had reconciled to the fact that we would have to do this, and, once decided, she wasn't wasting any time. Jeremiah was assigned to get Carolyn out, Rebecca had Isaiah. My mom held up the rear helping anyone who needed it. Normally I would have taken Peter and Andrew would have taken Ammon. But with my back out, I was worthless. Peter was already snuggled up under Andrew's shirt so we decided to keep them together. My Dad offered to help with Ammon.

When we were ready to go, I told Andrew to just run and get Peter out as fast as he could. I knew he would want to stay back to help us, but I just wanted to know that Peter was safe. He took off and stayed just behind Katy the whole way out.

For most of the way out, I went back and forth between keeping up with Andrew and checking back on Ammon and my dad. Rebecca and Isaiah were with us most of the way, and Carolyn, Jeremiah and my mom were behind (obviously not too far behind, because Jeremiah is the one who had the camera and was taking all the pictures).

We were blessed and although the fear and threat of rain loomed over us, we never experienced any additional rainfall. We had seen how quickly that would change our situation, and so I was just driven to move move move as fast as I could to get myself and my family out of there.

Eventually we all made it safely, offered another prayer - this time of gratitude, took a victory picture of our group.
Then we went back to our site and tore down camp.

1 comment:

AndrewMay 25, 2009 at 9:37 PM
The pictures and description do not do the situatin justice.
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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.