magic time

There is something to be said for Utah in the summertime. I'm back from Italy and Paris and getting over the loss of that upcoming excitement in my life, but tonight I was reminded of how beautiful my own home is.

FHE tonight was ice blocking at Rock Canyon Park and, aside from one of the boys in my ward asking my name for the five hundredth time (despite several one-on-one conversations and overlapping life connections), it was really great. Our place on the hill gave us a perfect view of the lake reflecting the sun, as it slowly relinquished it's place overhead. There couldn't have been more ideal lighting for prime pictures. If only I had my camera.

It gave me a chance to soak in this extra magical magic time.

We all sat there, our own breakfast club mix of people, as tends to be the case with FHE. Each one of us in turn pointed out something that made the night even better. The delicious popsicles. The green on the mountains (which, someone pointed out, doesn't last long but right now looks almost as green as the Pacific Northwest). The grove of trees below us. The perfect temperature of the breeze. I had been a bit grouchy and tired before but sitting there in that moment, I was so happy and peaceful and calm.

The thought before we left for the park was given by a boy that has only just moved into our ward. He is a unique boy, and one that you might easily misjudge when you first meet him. He rode with Jess and I to the park, and he not only told us the Sparknotes history of the Rastafarian religion, but he also told us about his plans to sell his beautiful locks of long curly hair to earn money to go on a mission. I loved what he said before we left, though. He talked about how he has made it his goal to say yes to life. He wants to be willing to accept his flaws and accept opportunities. He said that as we accept our flaws, we are better able to recognize them and deal with them.

So often I'm unwilling to accept where I am or who I am. When really, if I can come to accept that I am who I am, I can then begin to recognize what I can improve and also ask for help. And in the meantime, I can recognize how beautiful things are actually right here, right now.