On the road: To Utah & back.

Nothing says "practice patience," like taking a road trip with a pre-teen, a toddler, and two senior dogs. So we went on an adventure of shared laughter, snacks, and farts. Through a couple of days of carpool karaoke, we had the opportunity to breathe deep in some of the most beautiful landscapes on the roads of the U.S.

There is something magical about spending hours in the car with your people. There are funny moments where you've been sitting for too long and you get silly, and make walrus faces with gummy worms coming out of your mouth. There are inspirational moments where you all sing along to Frozen's "Show Yourself," and you tear up in joy and gratitude. There are moments of peace when everyone sleeps in the back seat, and the music and the engine are in sync. Roadtrips somehow always end up being a little transformational and you’re never the same person that began the journey.

As we drove south, it was sweet to see the snow disappear and the landscape change from the tall Washington evergeen landscapes to the red and rocky views of Utah.

We stayed in a cozy place with a beautiful view of the mountains, some mornings we could even see some of the neighbors walking their horses, and we could hear them in the evenings as the sun went down and we roasted marshmallows and got our fingers sticky with s’mores for dinner!

I know we are lucky we get to hug in the holidays. I appreciate the effort that everyone makes to make it happen, and I often wish I could freeze time for a little while and make these memories last forever. Thank the Universe for photography, it allows me to revisit memories, and I always remember each moment where I stood and pressed the shooter. For me, it’s a form of gratitude practice.

It was a wonderful way to bid farewell to the year, and welcome new opportunities, changes, and experiences.

Here’s to a wonderful 2023.

P.