Stars

Every time my family gets ready to move I try and take everything in. I will be driving and I try to remember all the beautiful trees on the two lane rd. into town. I try and remember how the trees begin to change color. I roll down the windows on my way to the gym, so that I can smell the clean fresh crisp smell of the breeze as the sun begins to rise. I try and remember how excited we were to move up to cottonwood. When I went to church on Sunday I try to imprint permanently the faces of all the little ones I have been teaching for the last year. I look at the teachers and go one by one, and try to make sure to remember what I have learned from each and every one of them. Driving back home today I noticed that the sound of the locusts were getting louder. My friend Cindy who happens to be the best Primary President ever told me that when the locusts come out it is a sign that cooler weather is on its way. And sure enough it has been cooler, and I noticed that the tree by my house is looking a little less leafy. So many things to take in.

And then tonight I stepped outside looked up at the sky and was left in awe as I always am, when I looked at the vast array of stars. What I love about where I live is that the city is so small that not a lot of light is reflected into the sky and in my neighborhood there are hardly any street lamps, and people don't bother to turn on their outside home lights. This allows one to truly appreciate the brilliance of the stars. I don't have to go camping to really see the stars shine. I just have to step outside. But tonight was different. As I looked up, I realized I have been living here for about a year and a half, and there have been countless nights when I have ignored their beauty which is just a few steps out my door. Every night I am presented with their beauty yet, somehow I fail to recognize them most nights. Just like I am now trying to take everything in, right before I leave. This just made me realize how important it is to live in the present. I believe we should have goals, and be excited about the future, but to live in the present is like no other experience. It has made me realize that I don't want to take in and appreciate every second of my kids, right before they take off for college, mission, or get married. And the same with family, and my husband. You never know what is in store tomorrow, but today..... we know that we have today and we should make the most of it. So here is to not only living in the present, but learning to recognize and appreciate the present that presents itself to us each and everyday.