Heaven On Earth

I live in a visually stunning place now, completely opposite from the large city I left back in November. Here, there are mountains, curving roads, tiny towns spotting here and there, scattered ten miles from one another, countless pines and icy cold rivers joining and churning as they head for the pacific ocean. Wild live is prominent; turkeys, deer, coyotes, wolves, elk, fish, eagles. The weather fluctuates constantly; one minute raining, the next 80+ degrees, the next it's snowing. The spring has brought brilliant pink and white blossoms, bees, meadowlarks and sunburns.

In this place my family and I thrive. The people are kind (if slightly eccentric), the religious fervor is a pleasant (if startling) change from the apathy of my former home, and the drive is always adventurous--even when one is driving down to the local store to buy a loaf of bread. And you can always count on something going on, somewhere. There's hardly a moment to breath, yet I've never felt so relaxed in my life. How is that for a change? In my city-life I was going nowhere, and getting there too fast to know what hit me.

My 13-year-old sister, sick since January '07 is making a rapid, miraculous recovery from her illness. Though she still suffers from arthritis, she insists on making her own meals, walking around, and she laughs on a constant basis. It's a big change from Christmas time, when she couldn't get out of her wheelchair without help, and hoarded her food like it was always her last meal. We were sometimes afraid it might be. However, with faith, prayer and many, many priesthood blessings, Jennilyn is gaining her strength and energy faster than we ever imagined. It's been a tough road, but with all the family working together, and the support of people we know, and even some we don't, my sister will recovery wholly.

I've also taken a new job since moving. Formerly I worked at a service deli (as you may recall), but now I am a care provider, assisting an autistic, blind woman around my own age. Together we perform service in the communities, and we cook and clean. I've learned valuable lessons in patience and love since meeting her in February. Her simple faith, in both life and her Savior, has made a profound impact on my own spiritual feelings. How can a blind woman see more clearly than I the plan of this life, and hereafter? Yet she can; it's humbling. She has no doubt in her Savior's love for her, no doubt that one day she will see through her eyes; see all the colors that she always asks me so eagerly about.

Life is different here. It's...spiritual. Like God touched this spot on the Earth and said, "Let the trials here bring more strength, more love, more compassion. Let these people learn of my hand in all things." This is a tough place to live. People struggle; they live in humbler circumstances than many people can fathom existing in the United States. Jobs are scarce, but everyone comes together to help put up homes for those without, everyone gives of the storage when a family is hungry. It's...beautiful. Amazing.

I love this place. Despite having moved twenty-one times in my 20 years of life, this is home.