Random thoughts whilst bounding through the forest....

 Mike and I had such a fun Saturday night date.  Sophie has come to the conclusion that we are - in fact - nerds and sees no need for our presence in her Saturday night plans...(Yay! ...I mean boo hoo...)  Anyway- after dumping her at the pre-planned and very exciting birthday party of the hour we headed up Millcreek Canyon to our usual 5 mile Pipeline Trail.  
The clouds were covering the sun and it looked like it would be dark in about an hour so we started our run. I can't do justice to how beautiful and peaceful it was.  The leaves were falling like snow and crunching under our feet.  There were these incredible areas where it would  go dark because of the denseness of the trees- like a little colorful tunnel and then we'd emerge into this beautiful vista with the sun just pummeling down, making everything even more red and yellow.
As I was running I felt like Pocohantas dashing through the forest in my bare feet, with a well fitted deer skin outfit tightly cinched around my 16 inch waist.  I'm singing "Colors of the Wind" and of course  your basic gentle little cartoon forest    

creatures were following at my heels... Sure I may have a few decades on Pocohantas, -some baggage and I'm sputtering a lot more than she seems to do... and I have put away the alluring deer skin dress forever...But I truly LOVE my life.  I'm up there in the mountains with the love of my life and best friend of 32 years, I can run and feel the earth beneath my feet, feel my heart quicken, feel the wonder of this beautiful earth and say a  prayer of gratitude with each step. How could a mother not feel overwhelmingly grateful for her children, for their spouses and for the little angels that they are bringing to our family???.   With each sputtering breath I am grateful for a healthy body, and with each step I wonder why I am so blessed to be here and now, with the people I love so much.
Maybe the "Colors of the Wind" are more vivid as you put more years behind you and more life experiences bring your vision into sharper focus.  Maybe as we begin to realize how fleeting this life is as the years seem to blurr by-maybe we want to hold it all a little closer and look at it with better eyes.

 I came away from this beautiful night with such a depth of gratitude for the blessings of my life.  I live for my children and their families and their happiness. I love my husband and stand in awe of all he does and the amazingly good man that he is.  I miss my parents deeply but not as painfully any more- as I realize they have moved on and our reunion will be sweet.  I love the gospel and the light that illuminates everything I do and believe in.  In a world of such darkness it is only that light that will lead us all to see clearly...Thank you Heavenly Father for my beautiful life...