Yesterday morning at 6:45 AM, I took Natalie to Bountiful, Utah where the bus was that would drive her to Southern Utah University, in Cedar City, Utah, where she would attend Girl's State for this week. We had a nice visit but it didn't seem real that Becky and I were sending her away for the week. I also rehearsed in my mind the fact that she will be a Senior in High School. We visited and when it was time for her to board the bus, I hugged and kissed her and told her how much I loved her. I watched her walk toward the bus with steps of confidence in her stride. I got into the truck and waited until the bus drove away before I headed to work. I couldn't help but cry as a flood of memories flashed through my mind. Nata was a little girl just the other day. I used to love to get down on the floor and play with her. She was the most enthusiastic kid you would ever know. The day we moved into our home in Magna, Utah, Nat was a year and a half. Now she is a beautiful grown woman. She is delightful and full of life. She has a sincere desire to choose the right. She thinks methodically about the decisions she makes in her life. She has done that her whole life. As I drove to work, I could feel a huge lump in my throat. My emotions were clearly at the surface. I wondered if I would feel better if I would just stop the truck and have a good hard cry. Instead, my heart ached for a few minutes and then I began thinking about the great opportunity she had to learn and grow.
I am thankful for our family. It brings me peace to be surrounded by Becky and each of our children. We love to work hard together. Laughter is a constant in our home. We laugh together in a spirit of love and harmony. We work really hard to guard each other's heart. There is safety inside our home. We don't laugh at someone else's expense. We do laugh at ourselves, however. It one of the many reasons I love to go home.
The time of life speeds onward. The future is bright and we look forward to the adventures that await us on any given day. I will see Natalie in a week and be grateful to hear about the fun she has had. I continue to hang on tight and enjoy the bounty that life so kindly offers me.
