It's not typical for me to write things about general conference, for me it is what it is and I keep it to myself, but I was struck by President Monson's comments about finding joy in the journey. I am sure that is going to be the new phrase vinyled everywhere (maybe I need to start cutting today so I can be the first) I struggle with this everyday. Some days are better than others but I have been having a big struggle finding joy in the everyday. I have decided to make this post about the things I love but not in that cheesy way that I say I love my family, it's true but I'm not going there today.

I love architecture. I guess that's why my post high school education was in Architectural design (after the political science). When I was in high school I used to drive around neighborhoods with my friend Greg. We'd look at the houses and what we liked. When I went on vacations I would visit old historical houses. I take pictures of houses on vacation, perhaps that is weird. Houses are like the people that inhabit them. They have their own unique personalities. Some have peeling paint revealing the years of wear, adding to their personality and charm. Some have a unique history. Some were built by someone amazing. It's sad that we have lost that workmanship and have started building cookie cutter houses. That is a metaphor I can explore more another day.

I like nature. I am not a big camper because I like amenities, but I always enjoy the peaceful quiet of the canyon. The roar of water crashing over rocks in a hurry to get down stream.

I love people. I have always enjoyed visiting with people. When I was a little girl I lived in an older neighborhood. All of my neighbors were as old as my grandparents. I also had a paper route. Every month I would go collect for the paper and visit the older folks in town. Usually I was accompanied by my grandma. I would have to wait while they found checkbooks and wrote out the check and while I was waiting we'd visit. I got to know a lot of the older generation in my town this way. I came to love many of them. Brother Edis Taggart was one of my favorites along with his wife. Some others were the Lane's next door, Buzz & Gwen, Alma & Dorthy, Mr. Rogers, George Williams, Luella & the Durrants. Most of them I could count on for a treat. The lane's lived next door and we all knew we could visit for awhile and be sent home with a bag of red vines and that mix that was like boston baked beans, I have never really liked either of those much so I am not sure why I thought that was the place to go for treats but I enjoyed visiting. Some of them had health problems and were hard of hearing but I enjoyed their company.

I love creating. I don't think I am that good at it but I like doing it. I make something and years later somebody always does a better job than I did. But I enjoy doing it most days. i like the feeling of accomplishment when I have made something. This is why I want to build things.

I have always wanted to try a bunch of different things. I took a stained glass class once. I have always wanted to try pottery, in depth photography, learn to play the guitar, become an electrician. I'll do another post about this one.

I like to travel and see other places. I sometimes pretend I live somewhere else.

This is the start. I hope if I focus on positive things I can find joy in the journey. But more than joy I hope life becomes a journey. I hope I take the time to make the most of it and truly learn from life rather than getting caught up in the mundane tasks here in this life that seem to never end and draw me in. A journey begins with a single step, or something like that.