Pioneer Day--Safford style...

So it turns out that Pioneer Day in the Gila Valley is a BIG deal. I didn't realize how big a deal until I saw crowds and crowds of people standing out in the pouring rain just to attend the annual Gila Valley Pioneer day celebration. I've been told that it almost always rains on Pioneer Day here. It is smack dab in the middle of monsoon season after all. Yet they save the biggest party of the year, bigger that the 4th of July, for that day. And rain it did. A lot.

Despite the rain, the kids enjoyed being on our ward's float in the parade. After days of eager anticipation I don't think we could have persuaded them to miss it even it meant getting soaked to the skin. Afterward, they ate their hot dogs (standing up because it was too wet to sit) in the rain. And then we hung out for awhile because Matt and I were singing "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" as part of the night's entertainment. Ironically enough, the theme for this year's celebration was "We thank Thee", specifically for the new temple and the ample amount of rain this valley has received in the past year. One float even had the primary sitting on it with colorful umbrellas and the words "It's raining blessings!" Whatever primary president came up with that was a genius I say.

Anyway, it did stop raining eventually, Matt and I got to sing and the night ended with fireworks. It turned out to be an okay night even with all the sogginess. And that was Pioneer day--Safford style.