Antelope Island

It seems ironic, but sometimes I forget that Salt Lake City is a "lake" city.

But there it is, sitting pretty by a lake.  And not just any lake, but a Great lake.

And since my heart is always longing to be by a lake, I think that's why I love going to Antelope Island.  

Because it's there my heart is reminded, "Hey dummy, you are by a lake."

I always feel at peace on Antelope Island.  Maybe it's because of the views, maybe it's because of the roads, maybe it's because of the buffalo.

Or maybe it's the farm. Who doesn't feel at peace on a picturesque farm (as long as it requires no actual farm work)?

I can tell you one thing. The peace certainly did not come from the millions of gnats swarming about and nibbling at your skin.

If you look close in this picture of the lake, you can see a gray haze above the surface of the water.  Those are just some of the millions of gnats.

You can see the gnats attacking Adrienne here:

I had red bumps all over my face for the rest of the day from those little buggers.

But despite the bugs, the trip was definitely worth it.  It always is.

Happy Spring!

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. 

Believest thou this?" 

-John 11:25-26

 

"Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.” 

-Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

“She turned to the sunlight
    And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
    "Winter is dead.” 

-A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

"It's a beautiful day.  Don't let it get away."

-U2, Beautiful Day

sweet spring is your

time is my time is our

time for springtime is lovetime

and viva sweet love” 

-e.e. cummings

"Spring is the perfect time to fix cars, try to get bugs off of you that have gone down your shirt, and do dramatic photo shoots."

-Ashley Kitchen

Pinecones

On my last day of student teaching, I cried twice.

Once was when one of the other first grade classes that I taught music to called me into their room.  The lights were out and no one was in sight.  Right on cue, they all jumped out yelling surprise and ran to me.  I'm not sure if you've ever felt what it's like to be hugged by 27 little people at the same time while they all shout "We love you!" but I would like to see you try not to cry when it happens.

The second time I cried was at the end of the day.  My class, my precious little ones, presented me with their "surprises" that they had been whispering and hinting about all day.  They had each written me a note and together they gave me a tiny cactus plant.  Because, they breathlessly explained, I had taught them about the desert.

You might think this is when I cried.  But it wasn't.  It was when they all lined up at the door to leave and four little girls separately stepped out of line as they filed out to each present me with a tiny pinecone they had found at recess.

I had watched these girls for twelve weeks give pinecone after pinecone to my teacher after coming back from recess.  At first, I thought she had asked them to collect them for some sort of project.  "No," she said, "they just strangely like to give them to me as presents."

Over these same twelve weeks, I'd been given various recess presents: rocks, snowballs, handfuls of leaves and grass, old bandaids - but never a pinecone. Each of those girls shyly smiled and silently placed the pinecones in my hand and turned and walked out the door.

And I knew I was officially a teacher.  And I cried.

The Glorious Hunt

I hope you had some time this weekend to reflect on that peculiar tradition that is known as an Easter Egg Hunt.

Perhaps you reflected on the various nature of those who participate in the Hunt.  

Such as the men who fear the anxiety of the battle, but put on their brave faces anyway because they know the rewards outweigh the risks.

Or perhaps you reflected on those who suddenly gain warrior strength and speed as they rush from egg to egg.

Or perhaps you found yourself admiring those who remain calm and collected during the general pandemonium in order to use their ingenuity to achieve victory.

Or perhaps you were amazed by those who become so confused in that very same pandemonium that they forget what it was exactly they are supposed to be gathering.

Or perhaps you pondered those who are content to simply find one egg, delicately place it in their basket, and guard it fiercely.

Or maybe you found enjoyment by pondering those who frequently stop to make sure their spoils are worth the effort.

Or maybe you like to think about those who are just happy to be there.

However, the people we should really be reflecting on are those who pilfer goods from innocent children in the name of "They could use less sugar anyway."

Something should really be done about those people.

Happy Easter, Everyone!