"Norm!"

Does anyone remember the 80's show that comes from? The photo should help - it's from Cheers. And the theme song from that show was in my head yesterday, "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name . . . and they're always glad you came . . ."

I am feeling so sentimental about EVERYTHING this week. The airshow that happens every year at this time (right by our house - it's so cool!!), our yard, getting my hair cut by a close friend, Hagg Lake, the library, the Portland temple, my neighborhood, the gorgeous trees on Brookwood road, the family I did wedding pictures for yesterday that I just love, and every single friend and neighbor I've seen this week. Everything I do and everyone I see right now reminds me of what I will be missing and moving away from. It makes my heart ache. I am ultra sensitive and trying to soak up every good feeling and moment here while I can. I LOVE it here. On the other hand, the feelings I have are more humongous feelings of gratitude, not regret for our decision. I feel good about the way things are going, but I am appreciating every little thing about Oregon and know I will miss it all when we are gone.

I am grateful to have made so many close and wonderful connections out here. As we stood in the front yard yesterday talking to friends and waving to neighbors and friends walking or driving by, my friend Tina's son said, "You know everyone." Well, not really, but it seemed like a plethora of people we knew happened to walk or drive by yesterday. I think I am just more keenly aware of each and every association right now. After shooting at the Maurer's reception last night, Bill* and I were talking on the driveway when Brian and Randie walked by. We sat and talked and laughed with them for quite a while. It was so great. They have been wonderful friends and I am a better person for having known them. That's how I feel about all my wonderful friends here. I am a better person for every association I have had here in Oregon and I will be grateful FOREVER for the blessing of being here so I could have these deep friendships and life lessons from such good people.

So now we move from a place where everyone (not really) knows our name and hopefully is glad that we came. (o: That sounded TOTALLY cheesy, forgive me. Lookout - there's more coming...

In Oregon, for those of you who have seen it and know what I'm talking about, everything grows. The plentiful moisture and temperate climate make the most beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers grow. Even if you don't do anything, stuff just grows and grows here spontaneously. (Not fun when it comes to keeping up with the tons of weeds.) Like the beautiful vegetation here, I am forever grateful for the amazing growth I have experienced personally in the northwest. (Hey I'm not done being cheesy - give me my moment.) I have grown like a weed. (o: I tried to "bloom where I was planted" and in this gorgeous place it wasn't hard. I hope I can do okay in the Utah desert and not wilt too much. I know my family will be a huge source of strength and look forward to so many things about living closer to them.

Okay - that is the end of my deep thoughts for today . . . aren't you glad? (o:

Real Deep Thoughts by Da Vinci

I loved visiting the Da Vinci exhibit at OMSI and especially loved one quote about nature. I searched for it on google and found some other gems. What an amazing person - I would love to hang out with him someday in the "next life" (o: I love the way he is portrayed in Ever After. I'm not sure how accurate that is - I don't think he was that silly, but he was definitely always inventing or trying something new.

Here's the quote I loved first and a few more ones I liked from the website I linked to the title of this post. (FYI http://www.brainyquote.com/)

Human subtlety will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does nature because in her inventions nothing is lacking, and nothing is superfluous.

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.

I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.

As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death.

Art is never finished, only abandoned.

Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using his intelligence; he is just using his memory.

All our knowledge has its origins in our perceptions.

In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time.

I love this one too ...

It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.

Life is pretty simple: You do some stuff. Most fails. Some works. You do more of what works. If it works big, others quickly copy it. Then you do something else. The trick is the doing something else.

Deep Thoughts By Jack Handy

"Here's a suggestion for a new animal, if some new ones get created or evolve: something that stings you, then laughs at you."

Deep Thoughts By Jack Handy

"I think there probably should be a rule that if you're talking about how many loaves of bread a bullet will go through it's understood that you mean lengthwise loaves. Otherwise, it makes no sense."

Deep Thoughts By Jack Handy

This one is dedicated to one of the sweetest girls ever - Kaitlin! One of my cute YW that has become a big Deep Thoughts fan! Wahooo! I'm glad to pass on some spiritual wisdom that my girls can take with them for the rest of their lives. (o: Hey, laughter is the best medicine, right?

Here's to you, Kaitlin ...

"When I found the skull in the woods, the first thing I did was call the police. But then I got curious about it. I picked it up, and started wondering who this person was, and why he had deer horns."

(I tried reading this one to my sister on Christmas day and couldn't get through it because I was laughing so hard I was crying.)