Provo to Parker

I never thought I would say this but . . . I miss Provo.  Gosh, those three words together just don't look right.  I guess what I miss is the charming old houses in the old neighborhoods around campus, the bike and running routes I found myself on everyday, the mountains that were always so close, all the people walking everywhere, finding myself on campus inappropriately dressed for the sudden changes in weather, spending 3 hours just to do 2 baptisms because the temple is so crowded, spending hours in the BFA studios painting and listening to Harry Potter, waking up when it's still dark to swim at the field house, heading to Gold's Gym for spin class at 5 in the morning, walking through campus completely absorbed in what class was next or what homework I had. . .

I think often times we find ourself in one place and are dissatisfied.  We think only of the next step in life, and wish to be there already.  But what I'm learning is that you will miss it. Every stage of life has something wonderful about it that you will miss. So, while I miss all those things, I realize in a few years I'll miss where I'm at now.  Our small 1 bedroom apartment. Our first year of marriage. Girl's night with the med school wives. Teaching little kiddies to swim each evening. Sunday dinners with Ben and Dena and the girls. Mutual with the young women. The bike & running trail behind our apartment. Skiing at Copper Mountain. Grocery shopping at Sprouts. Taking Sam to school. Yoga at the rec center.  A quiet, child-less house with mornings all to myself. Sam's soccer games. I can't compare parker life to provo life because they are different.  Provo life was good and Parker life is good.  So rather than wishing one were more like the other, it's time to be grateful for the good here.

I'm learning and re-learning this concept.  And  I hope I can apply that learning by loving where I'm at;  By looking forward to the future, appreciating the past, and really involving myself in the present.

Ahead of me today: painting, work, and mutual.  And you better believe, I'm gonna enjoy it.