Fall in Utah.

Last Friday evening, my family drove up a canyon near our home. . . and oh. my. gosh. the sights were breathtakingly beautiful. The fall in Utah is so pretty! I'll go ahead and add "autumn" to the list of things I'll miss when we leave. 

Being up there reminded me of all the beauty that surrounds me and how much I have to be grateful for. The last week or so has been a bit rough for me. I've been discouraged by the government shutdown in the US, overwhelmed by the unknowns of the future, crestfallen by my husband's rejection letters from P.A. schools, disheartened by all the negative, horrible things happening on the news, and feeling mostly just low-spirited in general. I sometimes get this way. I'm one who feels things deeply and, on occasion, the sadness of the world just sits heavy on my heart. That's why I need nights in the canyon :) To be reminded of the earth's beauty. To remember the joy that can be found in the little things. To feel God close to me. 

(It also helps to have a dashingly attractive man and sweet-spirited babe around to ease my troubled heart!)

Tenley fell asleep on the drive up. . . so she wasn't her animated, lively usual self in these pictures. She was sleepy and a little out of it, but still, she's pretty precious!

I grabbed some shoes on the way out the door for her to wear, but when I went to put them on her in the car, I realized they no longer fit! It's amazing and a little heartbreaking how fast she's growing.

We're getting pretty good at the tripod/timer shots, no? Also. . . this fallen tree branch is pretty much the most perfect spot for pictures ever. What a lucky find!

Grateful to have these two in my life. Also grateful JD let me buy an excessive amount of canned goods today to help calm my nerves just in case the end of the world may be coming soon ;)