Life is Beautiful

Remember this movie?

Do you ever feel like your life is this movie trailer? Things are going great, and then something changes it drastically? Do you feel like day by day you're making it up as you go, and hoping that your kids...or nobody for that matter...catches on? Does your story "prove that love, family, and imagination conquer all"? I'm not sure if I'm doing it, but that's what I want our story to be. I don't think about it like this, like I'm out to prove something to the world, but when I think about it, I do want to prove that love, family...and yes, perhaps even a little imagination...conquers all. The only other thing I'd add is faith, hope, and charity conquer all, but that's a different topic for a different day.

Recently, I've been reminded of how beautiful life is. It really really is. I have felt so many hands reach out toward our family in the past few months, so many people approach us with huge open hearts, and I have felt beauty. It can be felt. Beauty. Inner-beauty of those around me. Beauty of creation -- even those things that seem imperfect are full of beauty (if not more) than the average perfect model. Beauty of creativity -- all that can be accomplished with a little creativity/imagination and energy! Beauty of love, sheer joy, the warm-heart-effect. Beauty of family. There is a scripture that I think of often that talks about having hearts knit together. There are few things more beautiful than to see a small, or large, group of people whose hearts have been knit together in one purpose and to be able to go forward and fulfill that purpose. It is a beautiful thing.

I have been reminded that life isn't just beautiful, but my life is beautiful. Sure, sometimes I have to fake it to make it. I have to pretend to know what I'm doing. I have to dry my eyes when my kids are around. But it's all things I choose to do. I choose it all, and I'd choose it again. I think I really would. Because my life is beautiful -- despite the heartache and pain, when this movie is over, I think I'll be glad I lived it.

Just for good measure you can watch this clip. Such a great movie!