Home Sweet Home

I remember when Sam and I first talked about moving to Cedar City. I was NOT excited. I loved the job that I was at, I loved my home town of St. George, and I was sure that Cedar City was too small, too cold, and full of hillbillies. Needless to say, I had a pretty bad attitude.

In the nearly 6 years that Sam and I have lived in Cedar City, it has become home to us. Driving up Cedar Canyon, watching the leaves change in the fall, passing fields of cattle, the quaint, weekly farmers market, white Christmases, and brilliant late summer sunsets all make this place home to us.

Well, now it's time for a new season in our lives. We have to leave Cedar City, at least for a while, and it's bittersweet. We will be moving back to St. George, my home town, and yet, it feels kind of like we're leaving home instead of going to it. So many things that we love will be left behind here as we head towards new adventures and I feel like a little bit of our hearts will be left here too.

Don't get me wrong, we are excited too. We are moving on to new experiences that will also be meaningful and special to us. The thing is, I've never been really good with change and even though we aren't going far, life is going to change a whole lot.

Today Sam and I took Emma on a drive through Cedar Canyon. My sister-in-law posted some pictures of the changing leaves in the canyon on social media this morning and it got us itching to go. As we drove with windows down, breathing in cool mountain air, I started to think about all of the things I'm going to miss about our home in Cedar City and wanted to write about a few.

1. My job at Discovery Ranch for Girls. I have learned and grown so much in the various positions I've held in my nearly four years at the ranch. I like to think I've also helped a few people along the way. I will miss the amazing people I work with. I'll miss seeing all of the cute animals out at the barn. I'll miss looking out on the pond and watching the sunset or sunrise in the distance. I'll miss getting to know girls from all over the world who amaze me with their grit and beauty. I'll miss it all.

2. The quiet feel of the town. I love the small, quirky businesses, the friendly, neighborly people, and the long, country roads.

3. I'll miss the beauty. In any direction you go there is a river or stream, a canyon, a field of sunflowers, colorful fall leaves, and blankets of soft, white snow. I see a variety of wildflowers on my walks on the nearby bike trail and even down the street from my home. The sunsets here are nothing short of exquisite

 4. Small as Cedar City is, it offers so much. Access to rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs where many kinds of fish can be found. Hiking in a variety of landscapes can be found in any direction. Sam and I have enjoyed kayaking, snow shoeing, cross country skiing, and sledding. We are always discovering new gems and we already know that we're going to have to come visit often to get our fill of outdoor adventure. 

5. The people we've met here. I have met some of my closest friends in Cedar City. We have loved the ward we've lived in, made friends with coworkers, and have especially enjoyed living so close to Sam's sister and brother-in-law and their three boys. The people here have changed us in the best way.

I'm sure that wherever we end up in the coming years will feel like home. We're always at home when we are together as a family but, Cedar City will always feel a little bit like home to us too. We are going to miss living here and enjoying all of the wonderful things we've come to love about Cedar City.