Decisions

I have been dwelling a great deal on how decisions play a role in our lives; how they have played a part in the lives of my children and my husband and how that has affected me and others.  It's like a pebble thrown into a pond.  It makes a small splash, and then, it ripples out slowly reaching all areas of a pond.

Over twenty years ago, we moved to the state of Utah from Montana.  At the time, I wasn't happy.  I'd lived in the state since I was about four.  To me, it was home.  I knew it backwards and forwards.  My husband and I met there; my daughter was born there; I had many happy memories there.  My husband likes to joke he dragged me from the state kicking and screaming, and my claw marks are still on I-15 to this very day.

St. Mary's Lake-Glacier Nat'l Park

My all-time favorite park to visit each year

One of the many falls in Glacier National Park

We came here for Rick to finish up his schooling.  Here, again, was another decision that was to change our lives.  At the time, he was taking physical therapy at the University of Montana.  It is a very competitive program.  He worked hard for four years and applied around to be accepted for the remaining years of the PT program.  It was something like 400 applicants at the time to most schools (U of M being one) and only 125 were being accepted.  He was not excepted that year.

So we had to decide.  Wait another year, continue with various schooling and try again; or move on.  We moved on to start almost all the way over with something he totally loved doing-computers.

That decision and coming to UT has been one that has blessed our lives immensely.

  Arches National Park- 

Yes I have been here when I could still walk well

Bryce's Canyon

 Spectacular! But also freezing cold in March

Zion's National Park-The Narrows

Watch for flash floods and do not go in the summer!

Best times to go with no crowds is Mar or Oct

Some of the great benefits: our son was born here in UT; Utah has great medical centers to help with my MS; the job opportunities have been great for Rick, enabling him to travel internationally and make great contacts he may not have been able to with a PT job; my kids were able to attend a Spanish Immersion program from the first grade on and are now fluent in Spanish.  This has helped them both get jobs and converse with our Latino neighbors where others have not. Jess was able to get college credits and graduate with a different degree because of her Spanish knowledge.

It's here that I've learned my horticulture knowledge and been given an opportunity to attend seminars with great guest speakers on the subject.  Back in MT, I did love gardening, but the season was short and that wasn't the avenue I was pursuing.  

I guess what I am trying to say with my rambling is no matter where you're at or what life throws at you, you can make something of it.  You can scrap the asphalt out of your fingernails and move on.  You just need to stop feeling sorry for yourself.  You need to see where those ripples spread and what can be done with them.

I am sure if we had never left MT, I would still have found something to do with my life. Rick would have finished up school doing something.  Whether it was something he really loved, I don't know.  But we were at a crossroads and needed to do something.  It's when you don't decide, your life goes no where.  You become stagnant.  And a lot of times, you wither up and die.

My husband chose not to do that.  I chose not to do that.  I'm living each day to the fullest and, am hoping with the pebbles I throw into my pond, the ripples I cause will not affect others in a negative way.