Wander Girl

Gosh, what a time it’s been Utah. I came out to BYU in 2005 with big dreams. I dreamed of building friendships, romance, a career, a life. My “life got flipped turned upside down” in my sophomore year with a Lupus diagnosis, followed by a number of other diagnoses that changed my course of education and career. I also dated a bit and thought I found love, and maybe for a time I did. However, the best love I found in Utah was a love of the mountains and a love of myself.  The people I have surrounded myself with have proven to be the biggest blessings and lessons rolled together.  From relationships that have turned sour that taught me grace, forgiveness, and humility to accept when I am wrong. To relationships that have been steady and taught me about the power of finding your people and what a difference it can make in your life. Here’s to the board gamers, the kickball players, the ultimate frisbee freaks, and the face painted football fans.

The mountains, especially these last few years, have been a steady friend as I deal with new challenges and trials. They are steady and sure and always challenging. To my hiking buddies, my walking buddies, and my farmer’s market friends. To those who hike next to me and those who encourage me to be and do better.

I’ve watched those I love fall in love and get married and have children, and others have gracefully accepted the hard circumstances of possibly not realizing some of their most sought-after dreams.

So here is to all of you who have taught me, blessed me, and helped me through. Here’s to the new and old friends to the pushers and the pullers. To the girls who challenge me and grow with me and the ones who are light-years ahead of me, but choose to include me in their circles.

To the guys who helped me recognize what I need and want and what each of us women should be seeking. To the ones who respect the times when we have to be alone and the ones who taught me to never underestimate my ability to be strong.

To the teachers, the leaders, the bishops, the counselors, the co-chairs, the servers, and the temple- goers. To those who share their faith out loud and the ones who quietly share it through their actions. Each of you have blessed my life in very specific ways, and while this may not be the most personal way to do this, I would be afraid that I’d miss someone if I did it individually.  So, I hope you’ll continue exhibiting and extending grace and that I can keep in close contact with those who have become my people. I recognize this is a two-way journey, and I promise to send dog pictures, if there are any, fall pictures of which there will be many and continue to post as many nature experiences as I can, to remind us all to explore the world around us and find joy in the journey and adventure in both the old and new.

Utah. Here’s to you!