I've had a revelation!

Today was just one of those perfect days.

Today we went to visit some old friends and it was so great. Mike Siddoway was Nels' roommate in college and we have been good friends ever since. Mike married his lovely wife, Hayley, a few years ago and have a BEAUTIFUL little girl named Paige.

This past week Mike's little brother, Tom, got home from a mission to Arkansas - so Mike and Hayley were up from Corpus Cristi, TX to visit. Today there was a party at Mike's parents' house in Mud Lake and it was SO great to see all those Siddoways! They are such a fabulous family!

The first time I met Mike's family was when Nels and I were in the early stages of dating. We went out to Mud Lake for a little break from college life. We shot shotguns, watched "Bill Cosby - Himself", and met Mike's three youngest siblings and his parents. The triplets were only 15 at the time - Frank (Mike's dad) was sitting on the couch, spread eagle in his long johns - and Joan was so welcoming that it was like coming home - without being at home. :) Over more than 6 years Nels and I have had many wonderful days spent in the Siddoway home. Often with some form of service being rendered and being stuffed to the gills with really GOOD, old farm food (i.e. - lamb, steak, eggs, potatoes . . .). It's been fun to get to be a part of such a wonderful family! They've acted as a hotel at times and often a surrogate family - even inviting us to Thanksgiving dinner one year! :) We've since gotten to meet Wade (who was on a mission for the first two years of our knowing Mike) and his wonderful wife, Brianna.

Today we were fed and then got to spend the rest of the day surrounded by good friends - playing games, laughing, lighting fireworks, jumping on the trampoline, playing in the dirt, and watching caterpillars! :) As Nels and I were driving home tonight, we talked about this wonderful family. I have never been any other place in the world where I have felt more at home - other than actually being with our own families. I love these people! Thank you all SO much!

Okay, so here's the part of this post that actually has to do with my post title. :)


We were driving home tonight - a little after sunset. The weather had cooled to a nice comfortable temperature. The windows were down. As we drove through all the little farming communities on the way the smell of Russian Olives and fresh cut hay wafted around us. The wide, sprawling fields are still covered in beautiful green wheat. The kids were in the back - all sleeping - and we were listening to Coldplay



As we sped along, through the beautiful smells and beautiful sunset, we could feel the air cool as we passed each field with its center pivots watering away. The wild grasses are still green, thanks to all the rain this Spring, and the sage brush is still pretty this early in the year. It was a BEAUTIFUL evening!

In this moment it occurred to me, I LOVE IDAHO. Amazing, isn't it? Weird. Utah, with it majestic mountains, will ALWAYS feel like home. But I have come to truly love Idaho with its large, rolling farms, gorgeous sunsets, and down to earth people. I feel so thankful that the Lord has put us here at this time in our lives! What a blessing.