Wednesday, July 6

Quote of the Day:  “It’s not brave if your not scared.”  Gwyneth Paltrow in Bounce, 2000

Exercise Log:  Jen, Sue B., Linda Alder and I walked around the neighborhood.  We went 3.63.  Oh, how I love the mornings.

Yesterday, Joe and I went over to watch Mike and Elle get their wedding pictures taken at the Salt Lake Country Club.  Let’s face it- picture taking is hard.  It was overcast and a little windy which made for a cooler session, temperature-wise, but it’s hard work.  I was so impressed with this photographer who knew just how much to push the couple to get the best results.  I was so touched when I saw Elle walk out in her wedding dress, Mike facing forward towards us and then the photographer took their picture as he turned around.  I’m not sure if I have ever seen a more beautiful dress.  There is this yearning in each of us that makes us want life to be a fairytale and the more parts of life that are magical, the better.  Elle is this natural beauty and it’s so refreshing that she is so real.  She wears so little make-up and she has this great unique quality about her.  I remember struggling so much with my self- identity in junior-high- just trying to figure out who I really was compared to all the other girls at school.  I loved watching these girls and admired their fine qualities and tried to incorporate that into how I wanted to be.  But Elle has all these amazing qualities- she is smart, driven, knows what she wants from life and she is passing those qualities on to Mike.  I think he is so fortunate to have such a beautiful fiancee.  Anyway, they looked beautiful as they had their picture taken with all this nature around them.  At the end of the session, they were seated on a bench at the front of the club just as a swim-meet was getting out.  All of these kids were starting to play tag on the lawn and when the little girls noticed the bride and groom, they stopped playing and slowly moved towards them and then it was like they were transfixed.  They all stood there and watched.  It was so darling because somehow this picture of a bride and groom was all tied up in their own future destiny.  I think it’s why we all look at Kate and Wills and stop and watch and marvel at their beauty- they personify youth, health and vigor and come on, Kate Middleton looks stunning in any dress she puts on.

So Mike is being welcomed into this wonderful family.  Elle’s grandfather shared a sweet experience with me.  He said that when I had my surgery in February that he fasted for me.  He was on a golfing trip and his friends kept asking why he wasn’t eating.  He wanted me to know that he had a confirmation that I would get better.  I can’t tell you how much his words meant.  I had no idea that he had been fasting for me but I must tell you that I felt the prayers.  How amazing is this power of turning ourselves over to a higher power for another’s benefit?

Surgery tomorrow- Oh, my!