each day is a gift

as i drove out of logan canyon into cache valley on friday i was overcome with emotions of peace. i come from such a beautiful place. the snow covered mountains, the horses poised next to a windmill, the log fences, the flocked trees, the hazy fog that february always brings - it was breathtaking. i was reminded of so many of the good things of my life during that instant of peace. it was almost like i was breathing in comfort and breathing out the stress.

the past couple of days, in so many ways, i was reminded that each day is a gift. my reason in going to logan was to attend a funeral of a good family friend. troy nielsen, my dad's old high school crony, passed away this week. he was diagnosed about a year and half ago with skin cancer. the funeral was filled with good friends and family remembering who troy was and reminiscing about the laughter and goodness he brought to those around him each day. life is fragile. each day is a gift.

friday night i couldn't think of anything more enjoyable than spending time with my mom and dad. we went to dinner at cafe rio and ran into some people we knew. one of the guys i ran into was shane johnson. when we ran into him i was reminded of a time he helped me out of what could have been a frustating situation. about a year and a half ago, katie white and i were biking. i got a flat tire. we were near shane's house. i didn't know shane well, but katie did. we would have been stranded, but katie immediately thought of shane and his biking abilities and kind heart. we walked our bikes to his house, he changed the tire and sent us on our way. he was so kind and giving. it left an impression on me. asking for service and being willing to serve strengthens both parties. there is good to be done in the world. make each day a gift for yourself and those around you.


when katie and i were at shane's house getting our bikes fixed, we met a girl he had just started dating. they are now married. they were there at cafe rio with her two boys from a prior marriage and their brand new three month old baby. shane looked so content with that little guy. it took him awhile to find what he wanted, but the Lord guided him and he is living the dream. miracles happen each day. each day is a gift.

my dad, my mom, and i went home and just hung out after dinner on friday night. mom and i changed the sheets on my bed and talked about all the latest happenings of cache valley. dad turned on "rooster cogburn" and was watching it. mom and i joined dad and just enjoyed each other's company. spending time with my parents and sleeping in my bed at home felt like a dream. each day is a gift. allow for simplicity and relish in it.

on saturday morning, lisa lloyd and i went cross country skiing up green canyon. it was so wonderful. lisa had great stories to tell. the canyon was snow covered. we were both a lot better at skiing that we had been the year prior. it felt great to get our hearts pumping. a wonderful start to the gift of that day.

lisa and i rushed from skiing to the temple. we were meeting her friend there. as i rushed into the house of the Lord, i ran into steve miller and jill whittaker. i can go most anywhere in logan and run into people i know. i love that logan is filled with good people who bless my life. although lisa and i were still defrosting from our skiing adventure, it felt so good to be in the temple. the Lord has blessed my life with amazing people all around. i have also been blessed with the understanding that our relationships can go beyond death into eternity as i follow God's plan. relationships are crucial. developing them can bless my life. each day is a gift full of good people to learn from.

after the temple i decided to go for a little run. it was just too nice outside not to. i feel so blessed with the opportunity to be able to run and enjoy the way it makes my body feel and the time it allows me to work things out in my mind. i ended up stopping at lance's house and chatting with him for awhile. as i sat at his house, i was reminded of the car accident he was in while i was on my mission. he was watched over and protected and my family felt the hand of God in their lives through other people. God was and is in the details of our lives. my heart was grateful that lance is here to bless our family with his thoughfulness and with laughter. each day is a gift. be thankful for the time you have to share with the people you love.

before i headed back to salt lake i made a pit stop at the stowers' house. i was friend's with one of the stowers' boys in high school. i fell in love with their family. they are the kind of people that make everyone feel so important and loved. they radiate nothing but goodness. i just found out that steve stowers was in a horrible accident on new year's day. so many things could have gone wrong, but they didn't. steve had a lot of internal damage and numerous broken bones, along with head injuries. i got there, not knowing what to expect. steve, carol, and amy were all there. they were all in good spirits. steve shared with me countless miracles that have taken place in the last month and a half. it is amazing that he is doing so well. life is fragile. each day is a gift.

in the words of job, "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." i was reminded again and again this weekend, that things don't always go how we want or how we plan...and sometimes they do go how we want and how we plan. regardless of it all, the Lord has His hand in all things. if we open our hearts to learning and understanding in all these experiences and treat each day as a gift we will live lives full of joy.