I rode up to Hume, VA with Deb F. on Saturday to pick up our "pioneers" who had been on a three day pioneer trek with their handcart. This took place at the Marriott Ranch, an unbelievably beautiful spot on this earth. It's rather close to DC, but if you ignore a telephone pole here and there, you could almost believe it was the mid 1800's. There were quite a few families that came to "welcome them into Zion". As far as those of us waiting for them, many of the children were dressed as pioneers as well as quite a few of the adults. We waited for almost an hour... the children playing pioneer games and the adults renewing friendships. Then we saw them coming over the hill. They were in their "family" groups. We cheered them on. When they came in, Josh's family was the first to arrive. If you look closely at the family coming in, Josh is right behind the boy on the left, although you can't see Josh's face in this picture. (you can always click on the picture to make them bigger)
They were tired, hot, and glad to be back. We began hearing stories right away of challenges and blessings they encountered on the trek. I really thought about this.... how they were welcomed home by loved ones, and so glad to be back, but grateful for their journey and what they had learned. They felt a kinship to those pioneers who traveled west by way of handcart in a way they never had before. But.... it was much more. Blessings and challenges along the way... the importance of the family unit... the thrill of "coming home", and the knowledge gained along the way. Kind of makes my "trek" through his part of my life make a little more sense. There IS a bigger picture. I can handle a blister or two.
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