Welcome Home!

I remember thinking that 2 years was FOREVER! Well strangely enough time keeps ticking away and days turn into months which turn into years.

Welcome home Cory and Alex! The first of the my brothers to come home.

When I was in high school I was dubbed "one of the guys" by my peeps and it stayed that way. I had a few girl friends but for the most part I had a group of boys that were like my brother's and watched over me, making sure that the guys I dated were worthy and reminding me to always be better.

The problem with having mostly guy friends is that they all left at once for their missions and I was mostly alone. I did make a few new friends while they were gone but no one can take their place in my heart and now some of them are starting to return from their service.

Cory was the first and about a month later Alex joined us. I have only 9 more months until Nick, my real brother (twin), gets home... for some reason his mission seems to be taking an extra long time. :)

Now that some of the boys are returning the nights of movies, games, food, laughter and not going to bed until incredibly late are back in full force.

The Book Garden

I LOVE used book stores. Where else can you find 10 childhood classics in leather bound, hard back for $3.50 a piece? I'm like a fat kid in a candy store!

There is a small store in Bountiful called The Book Garden where I spend hours on the weekends. The ladies who run the store are so nice and always remember me and my sisters when we go in to shop.

Last visit I bought a book about the Beatles, Heidi, Treasure Island, Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderland, Charlotte's Webb, Stuart Little, A Little Princess, Robin Hood, The Swiss Family Robinson, and many others.

I'm starting a collection of children's books for when I have kids of my own, plus who doesn't love reading the books that remind them of childhood?

The first time I was there I found the Complete works of Winnie the Pooh with all of the classic illustrations as well as The Jungle Books which I was very excited to read. I've only ever read two or three of the stories and have always wanted to get the complete collection.

The whole place smells like old pages and leather spines. The shelves are filled with magical stories that I loved my whole life and books I haven't seen since I was a child. They also carry old books like the 2nd edition Peter Pan I wanted so badly. It was several thousand dollars so I held myself back.

The only thing I don't love about going to that store is that I have to beat my sisters off of the books I want. There was a debate about who would take home the complete collection of the Havard Classics hardcover for only $100. Linsay was the winner. :)

If you get the chance, go in and see what you can find. Shoppers beware, though. The store and it's contents are highly addictive.

"Some books are meant to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested;" -Francis Bacon

A waste?

Is love a waste if it's not appreciated or reciprocated?

I occasionally get discouraged when faced with the same brick walls over and over and over again. Who wouldn't? Why waste your heart on those who don't appreciate how you feel or those who don't feel the same way? Because love is still love.

Think of the greatest act of love in the whole history of the world. Suffered for all mankind in a garden by the Son. Was that a waste just because there are those who don't appreciate it? Of course not.

Is a mother always appreciated by her children? No but she loves them unconditionally and learns to savor the moments when appreciation is shown.

Love is still love and is never a waste. Even when those we love don't love us back, or in the way that we would wish them to. If we steel our hearts away then eventually the heart will forget what kindness tastes like and the warmth that compassion brings.

The cuts and bruises that come from love only serve to keep our hearts tender and teach us to love even greater the next time around. If you let them...

Open your heart. Without reservation. Without fear. Don't let pass burns fester and grow. Air out the wound and let it heal. Then start over and fall in love again. There is somebody for everybody...

If you ain't where you are, you're no place...

I was sitting at my desk thinking about how much I would love to be any where other than at my desk and it occurred to me that I was being ungrateful.

This life is the only one we have and so why not take every moment to find the beauty that it offers even if your just sitting at your desk. "If you ain't where you are, you're no place."

It occurred to me that I was just making myself miserable thinking about where I wanted to be, what I wish I had, and what I wanted to be doing instead of being grateful for the things I do have.

I am surrounded by family who watches out for me and make me smile. Sisters that I can call for advice and brother's who poke holes in my food and throw things in my water glass. That alone is a reason to be filled with gratitude, not to mention friends who know me better than I know myself and who are always there for me. I may not have the job I want but I'm rich in love and encompassed by beauty and I've decided to appreciate that more.

Life is awe inspiring and there are breath taking moments to be had every hour of everyday. Take time to stop and look around. Notice the small things and you'll be suprised (as I was) at how fast the small things add up until you are filled with wonder at how blessed you really are.

This morning, just before the sun came up, the clouds where tipped in pink like upside-down cupcakes. I saw birds flying around a pond. How can they fly so fast and close together without hitting into one another? The air this morning smelled like Spring and there is something magical about being the only one awake.

At 7am the mountains are a deep royal blue and the snow is a brilliant white. The breeze is just waking up and the moon is on it's way to bed. What a enchanting way to start the day. Stop long enough to notice.

Slow down. Take a deep breath. Look around. Listen.