The Real Vistas in Life

Sometimes date night pictures look like this: 

But most of the time, at least for us, they look something more like this: 

This used to bother me. I wanted to be the cute couple going on cute fun dates and showing the world that we were In Love too. I felt cheated and upset. And that just hurt things more. 

Slowly over time I came to realize that I was hurting our relationship by being upset that we weren't the cute and showy couple. I've learned that our brand of love and our unique relationship doesn't have to be cutesy and flamboyant to be strong and to be exactly what we need it to be. 

These "date nights" that are spent organizing Cameron's student's work and grading it together are memories I love. We get to visit. We get to work together. We get to bond. We've learned that there's so much to love and enjoy about life beyond the big exciting moments. 

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey–delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Don't get caught up in being upset at the lack of vistas, thrills, or bliss in your life. That only grows bitterness. Look at your life. Your normal life. Your life right now. There is beauty in it! There are good things! Take a moment to find just one small and simple thing to be grateful for right here and now, because those really are the beautiful vistas. Most people are usually just looking out the wrong window and miss them.