It’s that time again….the Pulsipher Family Reunion at the Heaton Ranch!! I love this place, I’ve been going here since I was a little girl. So many memories, it was fun to make some new ones with my little family there.
We were going to drive down early Saturday morning, but Joe decided to take Friday off. After getting the house clean, we decided to go down a day early. We packed up the car and got on the road at about 4:30. The longest part of our drive was Utah County…I am so ready for that construction to be done!! It added a whole hour to our travels and we pulled up to the ranch at 9:30. At first, I wasn’t sure we were in the right place because there were so many cars! But, sure enough, we were there. In the fading sunlight, Joe set up the tent with the help of some family. We got everything set up and went to bed, all of us, in the tent.
Even though we were in Southern Utah, it got COLD that night! We had a few crying spells (sorry to everyone in the other tents), but eventually the kids fell asleep and we got through the cold night. The next morning was beautiful!
We ate breakfast, I went for a walk with my mom, my sisters, and my niece and we talked about life. The kids found new cousin-friends, and were happy to see some familiar faces too. They played in the pond, on the boat, on the paddle-boats, on the swings, there was something for everyone.
Camri and Jilly…
J’Nell was a good sport and took my kids on the boat about a gazillion times. Thanks J’Nell!
But we did more than that, there were horseshoes, more boats, volleyball, and eating. Eric and Joe vs. Dad and Chad. We’re all winners here, right?
I even got to play on the paddle boats for a minute while George snapped some photos.
My nephew Chad with his nephew Rexon.
Charlene brought a pinata for Karli’s birthday…fun!
Annie always loves being with Grandpa!
Koko and Grandma, just chillin’.
Trish and Spunky. In addition to the hundred people there, we also had about 5 dogs. It was a big party!
Cheese!
Eric was trying to firm up his “favorite uncle” status.
See?
When Saturday evening rolls around, we all know what that means….dutch oven dinner!!
Elwin and his team did all the cooking. Chicken, potatoes, and cobbler…with salad and rolls on the side. Yum! They even made a pot of gluten-free chicken for Emma. I love my family!
and cute!!
There was a little bird’s nest full of babies in the corner of the cabin. They were very noisy and very cute!
Annie made some new friends and showed them the birds. Twila, Kathleen, Jeannie, and Janet.
Guy talk…
Saturday night, we tweaked our sleeping arrangements. Joe moved our car across the field and set up a bed for me and Annie. That way, if she woke up crying, she wouldn’t wake up the whole camp again. It worked well….Annie and I in the car, Joe in the tent with the other five kids…
Sunday morning, bright and early, we all met in front of the main cabin for a family meeting. Dakota told a little bit about Mary Ann Brown Pulsipher, wife to Zera Pulsipher. She had done a report about her for school, so she shared some of that information.
“Hello, my name is Mary Ann Brown Pulsipher. I joined the Methodist church when I was 13 years old. I lived in Pennsylvania until I was married in 1815 to Zerah Pulsipher. my oldest child was born in 1816, she lived less than a year. We lived in Pennsylvania for seven years. We worked hard there than left and moved to New York state.
We heard preaching from the Latter-Day Saints and were baptized in 1832 by Jared Carter. We stayed for 20 years then moved to Kirtland, Ohio. We only stayed for four years, then Zerah was called to an important calling in the church. We went in May with a large camp to Missouri, and arrived in Davies County in the Fall. We stayed for one month before we were driven away by a mob. We moved to Far West, Missouri and stayed during the winter. We left again in March and went to Illinois. We stopped near Nauvoo in a place called Bear Creek Woods. In the winter, I had to part with my good old Mother Pulsipher.
She was sick one week and died the next. The day before she died, she lay looking up. I said, “Mother, what do you see?” She said, “Oh, don’t you see that light?” “That light is a light to light me through the dark valley of death.” Then she fell asleep without any groan or struggle. She was 85 years old.
We stayed in Bear Creek nearly 2 years. The saints began to settle in Nauvoo, so we moved there. We stayed 5 years and my youngest child Fidelia was born there. She was smart and promising, but only lived four years and was buried there. We moved to find a place with peace. It took us 2 years to get to Salt Lake. We helped cultivate the bare desert and settled Hebron, Utah. We had many blessing and were very happy until my husband was called away by death in January 1872. I fell blessed with my children. My parents taught me to be honest, industrious, and keep the Sabbath Day. I was buried in the Hebron Cemetery. I have 56 grandchildren and 75 great-grandchildren.”
Then my dad had gathered some information about his Grandma Kate Bowler that my sisters and I read out loud. My dad, his brothers, and sister talked a little bit about Kate and their own mom, Lillian. It was a wonderful way to get to know more about our heritage.
Camri wasn’t feeling well, so we left as soon as the meeting ended. Poor little thing threw up right after we left and drove home most of the way with some of it in her hair. Yet she still smiles.
Smokin’ hot hottie.
I’d say this reunion was a success. And I’d say it was a little glimpse of what heaven will be like someday…surrounded by the ones we love. There will probably even be dutch oven chicken.
