Here + Now

^^Visiting Grandpa's Grave on Christmas Eve

So much has happened. I don't even know where to start. It has been a time of significant personal growth and learning. A time of perspectives and deeper love...it has also been a time where I just dropped off of the blogging world, and really soaked it in. I have made a goal to really live in the NOW. It is so easy to get caught up in what is to be...but we will never get this time back. Each day is a gift. 

 I will post more of the experiences but today..I am grateful for blue skies, the ones I love, and the simple moments to just breathe in the goodness of God! 

“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” 
― Maya Angelou

IT'S LIKE MAGIC

C is in the Junior Core of the IS program at BYU...aka...he's BUSY. I seem to be adding more and more to my teaching/mentoring/coaching life. Being a perfectionist, doesn't make it any easier. Between our two schedules, we are all over the place. we go and go and go. So.... as soon as we had a FREE Saturday, we dashed for the mountains to our favorite place. The place where we go and I feel a little closer to God and closer to Cars. 

We packed a picnic and spent the entire afternoon together. no service. no to-do lists. Just us. We talk about our dreams, our worries, our goals, our sorrows, and our joys. we talk about anything and everything. It is our safe place, a place of peace. I find it so beautiful that God allows us to know and love a soul so deeply through marriage.

Not to mention, His world is a masterpiece. --> the colors are simply brilliant. so refreshing.

In a world of high expectations, constant connections, and endless responsibilities, our mental, emotional, and physical bodies will thank us if we can just take a moment to breathe. to charge our batteries. The lasting effect is golden (no pun-intedend!). It's like magic. 

Girls, Squirrels, and Hurls...

^^this is one of my fav. pictures of Dre covering her ears after being startled by their squeaks.

they were so determined to catch them. Believe it or not, they caught 3 or 4! So funny!

The Camp Director (top right). Not that she didn't have enough stress, but after painfully walking around not finding the "rock" in her shoe, she found this nail....

 ^^The first night, there was a lot of "moth" drama-->walk into the cabin + dozens of moths would fly into your face, hair, and body. You turn on your flashlight and they immediately swarm you. I laughed so hard as we were getting ready for bed. Some girls went on a rampage stomping fest--others squealed helplessly. To calm the first years down, I turned my flashlight to the corner of the room for the night.

Somehow I was roped into singing as one of the two-man"barbershop narrators" for the stake skit night. :)

I remember the first day in our new ward, I turned to Cars and whispered to him that I secretly would die if I could work w/ the young women. (It has been years since we were in a family ward.) Not even two weeks later...I was called in. And of course, I agreed to help at Girls Camp for some of the week. We went to beautiful, Camp Shalom.

Aside from dodging + cleaning puke ALL night the first night....yeah, things got real..fast.....everything rocked. The stories, the songs, the canoe rides, the games, the jokes, the food, the devotionals, the stars, etc. I just love youth! Even though I look like a yw, it was interesting to be on the other side, as a leader. I have come to know + love these girls so much more in just a few days! I want more than anything for them to see their true value, to avoid the dangers that are so easily accessible for teens, to stay resilient to the troubles they face every day! and... HOLY COW, our Camp Directors were champions for putting so much thought + work into this. I whole-heartedly commend all people who sacrifice to help the youth, to cultivate this next generation!

THREE CHEERS FOR GIRLS CAMP!!!

 How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. 
-Anne Frank

it's your life.

List of 10 things that make me happy lately:

1.  nature. even if it just the yellow flowers on our kitchen table. 

(pics ^^ of hikes/adventures from the past year)

2. strangers smiling

3. sunshine peeking through our windows in the morning 

4. this song + this song. both are on repeat @ this house since their concert last week! 

if I am lucky, when I close my eyes--it feels like I am back at the concert, dancing under the blanket of stars. for a moment, all worries just...disappear. 

5. early morning runs with the xc team

6. being an aunt! 

Gavin: "Rwatchel, how come you and Cwars have to go home? Why can't you juss live wis us?"

7. reuniting with dear ones--rodeos, catching up over breakfast, card games, etc.

8. undeniably cheesy chick-flics. (thx sarah) 

9. homemade waffle love! (we made it 3x in the last week. nbd.)

10. dancing w/ C to one of our top 4 fav. songs. + I look over to see C closing his eyes while dancing + (inconspicuously) looking to see if I am watching. i laugh hard every time.

He is one of those people that heals my soul. he's "something I need."

"Be happy for this moment. 

This moment is your life."

xoxo -Rach

What makes you happy? I would love to hear!