miracles.

so i'm typing up this post, sitting on my bed, with the air conditioner blowing from the ceiling down on me and i think to myself "brrrrr i'm cold!!"

with almost a slap in the face, i instantly think back to about 3 hours ago while i was sitting in a movie called "17 miracles". i should be grateful i have plenty of warm blankets to snuggle under in my climate controlled home. "cold"? let's be honest here...the house is a cool 69 degrees. i bet the pioneers would have been thrilled to pull handcarts in that temperature.

17 miracles is a movie about the james g. willie handcart company, who suffered so much heartache, pain, devastation and loss.

we had seen previews and heard great things about it, so mom, dad, krista, jason, and i decided to go check it out. so glad we did.

if you get the chance, watch it! it tells the stories of 17 different miracles that happened to people in the handcart company, both in their homelands as well as on the trail. it was such a strong reminder to me of everything those early saints went through just to get to the salt lake valley.

ironically enough, here in utah it's pioneer day weekend. what a great weekend to watch a movie about the pioneers! but be forewarned-it is not a movie for anyone who doesn't like to cry :)

sure, i was expecting maybe two glistening tears to roll down my cheek. but i wasn't prepared for the niagra falls that happened. i literally had tears in my eyes for 95% of the movie. there's something to be said of the spirit of the pioneers, that's for sure.

so today...i'm thankful. thankful for the foresight that the prophet joseph smith had to send saints to utah. thankful for those who sacrificed EVERYTHING to follow the prophet. thankful for my great-great grandmother, ellen showell and her sister harriet who made the trek across the plains with the willie handcart company. thankful for the opportunity i had to pull a handcart through wyoming and camp at independance rock and rock creek hollow, where the willie company took cover during a blizzard. thankful for the faith of those who came before me. thankful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.