Tonight I had my first drive of the year up Provo Canyon. I like to go on Sunday nights in the Spring. It's nice to get away and ponder as I'm driving up the beautiful canyon. I can actually think because no one is in the car with me. I often envision what it would be like to have a significant other driving with me. It would be so nice to just talk, hold hands, and be together. For now though, I go alone which is rejuvenating to my soul. I usually contemplate how blessed I am. Tonight I also thought about how much growth and learning has taken place these past 8 years as a single parent. I wouldn't trade any of this learning for anything. I see things so differently now. I have so much more compassion for myself, my children, and others. I feel the Lord so near, almost daily. He is helping me carry this "load". It is a beautiful thing. Of course, I hope that the time is drawing nigh for this single parenthood season to end. However, if it's a few more years...I am OK with that because that just means more learning, more growth, and more of an abundance of the Holy Ghost and the Savior's Love in my life.
I also thought about the seasons changing and how wonderful it is to have seasons end...especially hard seasons of life. Praise be to God for the seasons as stated in Ecclesiastes. "A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing (I'm still in this season :-]), a time to weep, and a time to laugh;...". He sees the wisdom in all the seasons. He give and He takes, but "He hath made every thing beautiful in His time". I have a beautiful, wonderful life(not a perfect or ideal one and that's ok), and so do YOU! If you look hard enough and are patient you will see the beauty in it!
