We live here.

Did the entire state of Utah collectively groan this morning when we looked out our windows? A beautiful white wonderland in April. Uhg.

When people find out that I am from Texas, and that Evan is from California, we always get the same question:

"How did you end up here??"

I love Texas. I love blue bonnets, I love line dancing and country music, I love 70 degree days in January. I can recite a pretty great synopsis of Texas history by heart including all six flags we've flown. I know where to find the best barbeque, I miss the friendly drivers, and I still crave football on Friday nights. 

But we don't live there.

Evan loves California. He thinks Rainbows are the only appropriate form of footwear, bleeds Orange and Black for his Giants, and downloads every song in every genre that even mentions his state's name. He defends the produce like he's a farmer himself and wept when he lost his CA driver's license.

But we don't live there either.

We live here.

Evan pointed out to me the other day that I have lived in Utah for a quarter of my life. I gasped, but after thinking about it I realized I moved here in 2007, on purpose I might add, and haven't left since. Six years is my entire adult life. We have jobs here, we bought a home here, we are starting our family here. So when someone asks me where I'm from, is it weird that I'm still confused at what to say?

If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Utah.
If vacation means going anywhere south of Salt Lake City for the weekend, you live in Utah.
If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Utah.
If you have switched from heat to A/C and back again in the same day, you live in Utah.
If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in Utah.
If the speed limit on the highway is 65 mph–you’re going 75 and everyone is still passing you–you live in Utah.
If you know all four seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Utah .
{compliments of Jeff Foxworthy}

Yeah, I live here.
But I have to be honest. 
I also love it here.
I love living seconds from a gorgeous canyon full of hikes and camping sites.
I love the view of the snow capped mountains out my window.
I love being close enough to my Alma Mater to attend games whenever I want.
I love learning about gardening...a foreign concept in the Texas heat.
I love to see the temples lit up at night on a drive home from a date downtown.
I love that my neighborhood is full of young moms who don't find it strange that I'm only 24 with a baby.
I love the colorful trees in the fall and the white Christmases.
I love living between two major universities who provide great educational and cultural opportunities.
I love having family so close by.

It's true that its a little odd here.
I grew up in a place with a pretty substantial amount of diversity so being surrounded by a ton of Mormons takes some serious getting used to. Even though I'm one of them. And while I didn't move here with the intent of staying forever, I also didn't move here with the intent of finding an escape hatch.

My favorite talk from general conference this year was The Lord's Way by Elder Ellis

He says:

"One thing we have often been taught is to bloom where we are planted. Yet sometimes we are tempted to migrate to some new area, thinking our children will have more friends and therefore better youth programs.

Brothers and sisters, do we really think the critical factor in the salvation of our children is the neighborhood where we live? The apostles and prophets have often taught that what happens inside the home is far more important than what our children encounter outside. How we raise our children is more important than where we raise them.

Certainly there are other factors involved in deciding where to live, and thankfully, the Lord will guide us if we seek His confirmation. Another question is “Where are we needed?”"

For now, Utah is where we're needed. And we need Utah.

So bring on the April snows.

Because we live here.



Comments

  1. I loved this Kamille. So many people complain about Utah it's nice to see you embrace it.

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  2. You are the stinking cutest. Thanks for realizing the good in this place and not spending your days wishing you lived elsewhere (because I'd die if you did). I love that you're a 25 min. drive from my house, that I see you almost weekly and that it can be more than weekly if we chose. :) Love you and your little family AND all your posts!

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  3. Took then words straight from my mouth...we are working on an upcoming move, one that will be surprisingly difficult, and this talk was exactly what I needed to hear. Loves!

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