Beth, Ben, and Cheyenne went on Trek this week! They got to dress up in pioneer clothing, be driven to Martin's Cove in Wyoming, and walk--pulling a handcart--for six miles a day for two days. During that time they listened to devotionals and learned more about the significance of Martin's Cove in our church history and about the faith, devotion, and sacrifice of the early church pioneers. They also got to line dance--both modern and pioneer style! They put the teens in pretend families with a Ma and Pa (a married couple) and older sisters and brothers (young single adult leaders). Cheyenne was an older sister in Ben's family. Beth had her own great family. They all had a really good time. They returned dusty, sunburned, and with a new appreciation and understanding of how God can work in their lives.

We were so glad that Beth was able to do trek! She wanted to be able to do all the walking and SHE DID! It's a good step in learning to trust her body again. We are especially glad though, because on the drive home she started getting a familiar pain in her chest--the kind that got diagnosed as esophageal spasms last time we went to the emergency room for it. It's very painful. It's always gone away in an hour or two before, but this time, while the pain would decrease for a time, it wouldn't go completely away. She was also nauseaus and threw up. Saturday morning, for the first time, she woke up without pain. We even went through with our plans to go see Daddy Long Legs at the local theatre that morning with Cali and Richmond (which was great, by the way!). But during the play, her pain came back.

At Cheyenne's urging, we went to the hospital Saturday afternoon. After running tests, they diagnosed her with gallstones that were blocking her bile duct and admitted her to the hospital with plans to operate in the morning. Crazy! but guess what? Cheyenne was her CNA as she was already there on shift last night. Also, the doctor on call was the same one that we saw about a year ago when we were first worried about the gallstones so we had already met him and liked him. Doesn't it just look like God scheduled that surgery? It was in His hands the whole time. Trek first. Surgery and healing with loved ones next. Perfect.

Last night as we were just waiting for time to pass, we realized we should call the Bishop to let him know Beth couldn't speak in church the next day. It just so happened that he was on his way home from the Payson temple and he offered to stop at the hospital and help Kevin give Beth a blessing. Again--how perfect.

This morning Beth had the surgery and everything went great! As Dr. Allen removed the gall bladder, he was also able to flush out the stuck stones which removed the need for an additional procedure. Very cool! As I talked to him afterward, he told me that Beth won't have to experience these painful attacks ever again. Yay! That is the outcome we have been wishing for. Perfect!