A stronger mother

I know I am a wimp when it comes to pain/challenges. I stand in awe of pioneer women who left behind comforts of home and family to travel to new places and start building lives from basically nothing. No home ready for them to move into - they often had to sleep in or under their covered wagon for months after arriving in their new area. Only food to eat was what you grew yourself - or if you were lucky, traded for. No multiple changes of clothing, running water into your home, nice stove to cook on, or medical help readily available. It is absolutely amazing to think of what pioneer women were able to accomplish.

I am blessed to have many amazing pioneer women as my ancestors. One I was thinking about recently is my great-great-great-grandmother, Henrietta Carolina Williams Call. She was born in 1826 in New York. She and her husband were married in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1846 when she was 19 years old. They left Nauvoo in July 1849 and traveled with the Allen Taylor company on their way to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah Territory. A great website I used to learn more about her and her journey across the country is the Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel 1847-1868 database, which lists information about many of the Mormon emigrants who traveled to Utah during those years.

One thing I noticed as I researched more about my grandmother, is that she gave birth to a boy on July 4, 1849. The company they traveled with left the NEXT DAY - July 5, 1849. I just recently had a baby, and there is no way I would have felt like traveling in a hot, dusty, bumpy wagon the day after giving birth. I have driven across the country more than once - in a nice, air-conditioned, comfortable car and made the journey relatively quickly. She gave birth and then spent the next 3 months riding or walking over 1000 miles - all while caring for a brand-new infant. Family records show that she had a 3 year old daughter to care for as well, although she isn't listed on the database. I can't even imagine trying to manage all of that. I can definitely learn to be a stronger mother from her example.

How grateful I am for the men and women who worked so hard and sacrificed their blood, sweat, and tears to help make this great nation what it is today. How grateful I am on this national day of remembrance for all those who sacrifice to keep our country safe and free. Thank you.