It's that time of year, when I can't help but feel happy and blessed. Happy about new beginnings, about the familiar cozy weather ahead, about the vibrant colors of fall, about schedules, the smell of my childrens' hair when they come inside and upcoming family traditions!
I've been trying to replace the word "busy" with "full". Sometimes I ask myself, did I choose this? How do I always have something to do? What happened to sitting for hours reading a book, going for long walks, spending hours playing with my kids and lazily paddling a canoe down the river in the sunshine with fairies flying by and Unicorns grazing on the shoreline.... but yes, I choose to look at my life as "full" because it's full of things I have chosen. I am blessed with a wonderful family, many lovely friends, means to put my kids in activities (and drive them), a love for exercise, a home to live in (and clean), food to eat (and prepare), a church that uplifts and blesses my life but also asks me to serve. I'm blessed with so many, many good things and those are what my life is full of.
My new favorite mantra in life comes from our most recent General Conference when President Uchdorf gave a talk called The Hope of God's Light. In it he used the phrase "dwell in the light", the light being hope, I think, in the Savior. This phrase repeats itself in my mind. I hope it becomes something I naturally do in my life.
(Aaaand a photo update on life in general)
Speaking of fairies and unicorns I think this is about as close as it gets in reality. Brad and I spent our 10th anniversary in Waterton. We biked up to a back country trail and hiked up to Twin Lakes. I always like to imagine the Indians (sorry for the non pc term) on a hunt for bears and where they would stop to rest and take a drink and the landmarks they would use as navigation. We were alone up there, making it quite romantic and the bike ride down was one of the funnest things I've ever done!
Did I mention I got to go on a little holiday? It was really nice, but to be totally honest my favorite part was flying on the plane and being in the airport...reading a lovely book...by myself. I'm a true introvert I guess. I also loved sitting by the pool talking and getting really hot, then jumping in to cool off. I was always the first one awake and always took a nap in the afternoon in true Sarah style. Yes those are palm trees reflected in my glasses! I got to come home to colorful leaves sprinkling the ground and love notes all over the house. I was happy walking home and that happiness pretty much overflowed when I saw the notes.
We said goodbye to summer with bike rides and the best summer send-off of all: Cornfest!
Now we're back at everything, after a lazy but wonderful summer: piano for both kids, ballet for Breanna, sports for Jesse, Mandarin homework every night and school lunches every morning. I also go to the gym every morning now, which I love. Life is very full, and very good.
