Natalie Norton Photography

Redeye. Check.

Meet Richie at the airport. Check.

Drive to the Cause For Hope offices and have a REMARKABLY inspiring (and exciting) consult. Check. And PS, check these people out; they’re making real waves.

Dash off to the Triad Building in downtown Salt Lake City for an interview with KSL. Double check.

Change clothes in the parking lot. Try not to look like a wet mutt. Check… Ish. When you see the footage, remind yourself, redeye. Mahalo.

Manage said interview and all the tears that come along with it. Sniff, sniff. Check.

Jet up to Deer Valley to get our presenter packs for the LDSBC and check in to wonderfully charming Chateaux at Silver Lake. Check.

Feed Natalie’s face (for the first time in over 48 hours, truth). CHECK.

Aaaaaaaand break! What a glorious day! Mostly it was magical just being with my boyfriend sans kids. Wow, I truly think I forgot what silence sounds like. . .

I love Utah. If The Great Salt Lake had waves (and the winters weren’t so horrendous) we’d actually consider living here. Though Park City would likely be the only option for us, because I’m somewhat obsessed with this place. It feels like the skier’s version of Haleiwa. Down to Earth, relaxed, a great creative community, and of course, the landscape is amazing! Right up my alley. Again, minus the Siberian temperatures and the 97 billion feet of snow a year.

Tonight Richie and I had dinner at Zoom. Goodness gracious folks. Goodness gracious. I’d eaten there a couple of times before with my family when I was a kid, but I mustn’t have grown into my tongue yet, because I don’t remember it being anything like what we experienced tonight. Wow.

Zoom is owned by Sundance, and the walls are adorned with the most AMAZING Sundance Film Festival promotional posters! Like, seriously, some of the designs will blow your mind. I spent a good 10 minutes just standing there staring at them (Jane, you would have been drooling). I tried to find some examples of my personal favorites online, but this one was the only one I could find. If you ever find yourself in Park City, I highly recommend stopping by Zoom, if for no other reason than to enjoy these designs. . . Though visiting Zoom without also enjoying dinner, would literally be sinful.

And now, goodnight. Finally.

xx,
Me

It is officially 2011. It wasn’t official until this very moment when I started blogging, from an airplane, on my iPad. What in the world!!? The lives we lead…

This post will be short, because let’s face it, typing on your iPad gets old, fast. But hey, I could be making parchment and writing with coal … or something. It’s all a matter of perspective. (Did “they” even do that? Write with coal? I have no idea.)

I’m off to Utah for a couple of meetings, an interview, and then to speak at the LDS Business Conference on Friday. Life is BIG; can I just say that out loud? LIFE IS HUGE, and it makes me feel so small in comparison.

As I was waiting the security line this evening, I saw a young man, dressed in a suit and tie, saying a tear-filled goodbye to friends and family. He’s off to serve a 2 year, non paid, mission for his (our) church. This 19 year old boy is off to Madagascar. MADAGASCAR! He was so brave. They all were. Tears yes, but also pride, courage and more conviction than I can articulate. After we’d gone through security, he and I had a moment to chat. All I could think to say was, “It’s going to be big, it’s going to be HUGE, but God is soooooooo much bigger.” But he obviously already knew that.

Its true. God IS bigger than all of it, and the beautiful reality is that when we’re engaged in the right things, His hand is IN all of it as well. I’ll be reminding myself of this truth all week as I battle all my insecurities and a million feelings of inadequacy. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that battles like these are best won on your knees.

xx,
Me