Mountain Drive

We drove up to Mt. Baker on Saturday. It is still very cold up there! We enjoyed the scenic views and the fog. It was refreshing to get up in the quiet, mountain atmosphere. Jen introduced me to this quote book called Golden Nuggets of Thought. Since her passing, I've been inspired to look for uplifting quotes and make an effort to remember them. It has really been a fun thing I've been doing on my own and I feel like it is something Jen and I can share together, even through the veil. Apparently, there's a book with a similar idea called Live and Learn and Pass It On. I thought this quote was appropriate for our drive up in the mountains:

“I've learned that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it." ~Anonymous

This quote reminds me of a conversation I had with my dad, Robert G. Mouritsen. He said something like (and I paraphrase): most people want marriage to be a 'happily ever after' and find themselves disappointed when faced with challenges; they don't realize that the struggles we work through and endure together along our path will bring us closer together if we'll choose to let them and that is what makes for us our 'happily ever after.' Love is not love unless it is tested and proved. Charity 'suffering long and is not easily provoked.' And that making a 'happily ever after' for oneself is a choice we make by how we respond to the cues others give us in the split second that we have to decide to either show charity or the natural man in response. As a perfectionist who is trying to overcome it and learn to relax and enjoy the day-to-day blessings more, I really appreciated this insight. As Father's Day approaches, I wanted to thank him for his help through all the challenges I've ever faced. He's always been there to help and I feel truly thankful to call him my Dad. Brandon is celebrating a birthday this week, as well as his first Father's Day being a dad himself. I want him to know how very much I am in love with him. He makes me feel like he's still the boyfriend of my dreams, even though throughout this first year of our marriage, he has seen me at my worst possible self many times. He still offers to get my door and carry my books (or car seat with baby inside) and he remembers to ask me out for the weekend and think of something we might enjoy doing together even if it's as simple as going for a walk or on a drive. He is very patient with me as I try not to be a back-seat driver, and a critic about everything else. Everyday since we have been married, he's asked me if I've had a good day. As I reflect on this, I realize that he has generally received an undesirable response as I have usually complained of my body aches and how hard I worked and how little sleep I got. How embarrassing for me! I rarely hear Brandon say anything like that and only hear him talk about how it was a good day and how lucky he is. I really appreciate how much I learn from him by how he acts. I always worried as a younger girl if I would ever find a man I could love as much as my own dad and I can hardly believe that I've found him. I am so lucky to have such a great dad and also a wonderful husband. Happy Father's Day to you both. Did I have a good day? Brandon, I can hardly believe how good it was and how lucky I am that I got to share some part of it with you.