Is it possible to fall in love with a place after you've seen it at it's worst? Is it possible to enjoy a place after you've experienced so much sorrow and heartache in it? I am in the process of figuring that out. Spring has arrived in eastern Kentucky, and it is beautiful. The trees are bright green and purple and pink, wildflowers grace the hillsides, and the weather is warm. As always with spring, there is that glimmer of hope, that light at the end of the dark tunnel of winter, that breath of fresh air that enables you to face another day with a little more vigor than the last. These past four months have felt like far longer and given me a beating that has brought me to my knees...but I am still here. I am still here, and on this spring evening, sitting on my porch, with the birds signing, the creek gurgling below, and storm clouds building up over the mountains, I am able to do some reflecting on what I've been through and what God might be trying to teach me. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon say that we must be meek, humble and submissive like a child in order to grow in God's grace. I have always considered myself to be humble (maybe that means I'm prideful?) and grateful for what I have, but these past few months have truly shown me how many things in this world we take for granted. I know this is something us humans hear quite often, such as "don't take clean water for granted," but here are a some things that truly never crossed my mind until I came here. - Screens in windows. - Having a laundromat less than 30 minutes away that actually has working machines that don't tear up your clothes. - Automatic car washes - Owning more than 5 shirts and 2 pairs of jeans - Nice fitting jeans - Having more than one vehicle - A toaster that actually obeys the setting you put it on - Meat to eat - Makeup - Mouthwash - Running water / clean water / water pressure - Two-lane roads - Guard rails - A world free of natural disasters - Being able to afford vitamins - Decent hair cuts - Being able to eat out (you know you're broke when you can't even afford Taco Bell) - Having enough gas to make it to your next pay check - The DMV (one place for all your car needs instead of two) - A quality coffee shop - Aldi (or any decently-priced grocery store that isn't Walmart) - TV & Music services - Affordable utilities - A high enough wage that actually allows you to pay your rent and bills. - A local government that actually cares about and invests in its community I know that I have never lived anywhere else other than here and Wisconsin, but living here has shown me that Wisconsin is an incredibly safe and affordable place to live. I do miss those qualities. But - as tough as it has been here - I am also grateful I am having this experience. This area is incredibly beautiful, and the variety of flora and fauna is astounding. Every morning I am awakened by a chorus of different birds, and every evening I am lulled to sleep by a cacophony of frogs among the babbling creek. Every hike we take uncovers new mushrooms and flowers and trees we've never seen before. I often feel like an explorer, discovering a new place for the first time. So, circling back - is it possible to fall in love with a place that has caused you so much pain? Possibly. Even if I don't, I'm going to do my best to be in the present moment, and keep my eyes and heart open to whatever it is that God is trying to teach me.