“Hiking is a bit like life: The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other…again and again and again. And if you allow yourself opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not just at the summit” -Unknown
I am grateful to live in this beautiful city and be surrounded by gorgeous mountains that we get to enjoy just outside our backdoor. We are so lucky to have so many beautiful hiking trails just a few minutes away. I feel closer to our Heavenly Father when I get to spend time in the mountains. I am grateful for the tender mercies and little pieces of beauty our Heavenly Father gives us amidst the storms of life.
I am reminded of a talk that was given in the October 2008 General Conference by President Monson “Finding Joy in the Journey”. He reminds us how stresses come in our lives regardless of our circumstances but we must deal with them the best we can. We should not let them get in the way of what is most important – and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Don’t assume that they know how much you love them. Send that note or text to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only”.
My dad recently spent 5 nights in the hospital (3 of them in the ICU) for a bleeding ulcer. It was a very emotional and scary time for me as I went a couple of times each day to give him a hug and let him know how much I loved him. There was a point we thought this was it and he wasn’t going to make it. This experience made me really stop and think have I spent enough time with him, served him, hugged him and said I love him enough? I am so beyond grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that gives us life experiences and people to surround us with and love. I love my family so much and am so grateful for each one of them and their amazing examples of love and service. I absolutely love serving as the young women’s president at this time. Each one of those darling girls and amazing leaders hold a special place in my heart!
“Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family.” President Thomas S. Monson
Cecret Lake – Little Cottonwood Canyon
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