Pioneer Day in Cokeville

They say you learn something new every day. Well, if you aren't a member of the Dayton Family (I was in your shoes not long ago), get ready to fill your daily learning quota. If you are a member of the Dayton Family... well, I guess there are plenty of places to learn new things. Try Wikipedia. But not until after reading about our fun trip to the town where Becky was born.

Every year, the week of July 24th, there's a Pioneer Day celebration in the town of Cokeville, Wyoming (population: 535, according to the 2010 census). So Becky and I made the three-hour trip from Provo that Friday to stay overnight on the Dayton Family ranch, enjoy the celebration, and visit some of the places from the first 14 months of Becky's life.

We arrived in Cokeville at the Dayton Family Ranch on Friday evening. After a delicious barbecue with some of the family, we had a family fireside with Becky's uncle, Elder L. Tom Perry. We were asked to prepare a special musical number, so we sang an arrangement of "They, the Builders of the Nation." Afterward, we set up a tent on the ranch and fell right asleep.

Another shot of the Dayton Family ranch. Isn't it beautiful? I had never been to Wyoming, and I was fascinated with the miles of pure, open land. Wait til you see the sky on Saturday!

We woke up bright and early on Saturday morning to run the annual David Dayton Memorial 5K. The race is named after Becky's dad (he originally organized the race every year), who worked on the ranch until he died in a ranching accident just over a year after Becky was born. This is us after the race. I gotta say, running is so much more fun with a wife by my side.

After the race, we visited some special places in Cokeville. First, we went to visit the cemetery and Becky's dad's grave. Of course I had never met him during his mortal life, but I felt a special reverence and love for him as we knelt there together. I'm so grateful for eternal families, and I can't wait to meet him someday. Everyone who knew him tells of how he was just a pure, genuine, good man. His headstone says, "A man without guile." I was so happy to finally get to know him a little better that day.

Okay, just look at that sky. Isn't that incredible?

This is Cokeville Elementary School. Becky wan't old enough to have attended school here, but it's a cool place. Years ago, there was a hostage crisis here involving all of the students and teachers and a man with a bomb. The story ends miraculously, with the bomb going off but killing none of the hostages. They're making a movie out of it. It's a really neat story.

This is the house where Becky lived! Such a neat little place right next to Cokeville High School. It was so cool to see this part of her life! I could imagine their fast-growing family having such fun times together here. By the way, it's for sale... maybe we'll buy it. For old times' sake.

The Cokeville Pioneer Day Parade! There were some awesome floats, like this gem: "Many things change, but love and service stay the same."

The local cub scouts were on horse-poop-scoop duty. The little champs.

Not pictured: tons of candy thrown from the floats.

After the parade, there was another devotional with Elder Perry, but this time with the whole Cokeville community. It was a great meeting, and there was an awesome lunch afterward.

This was our last stop in Cokeville before returning home to Provo. Pine Creek, at the very spot where Becky was baptized 16 years ago. I had seen pictures, like the one below, but actually being there was such a neat experience. What a beautiful and peaceful place.

And this is Becky, at 8 years old, in the exact same place. Isn't she so cute?!

I'm so glad we went to Cokeville. It's a neat little place. I really felt a special reverence for this place as we visited such special parts of Becky's life, and now it'll have a special significance for me as well.