Alysia Gonzalez’s Blog

Do you remember how fun it was when you were a kid to dig in the dirt, to feel the cool earth in your hands and get all dirty being a part of nature? It is funny how easy it is to forget how good that feels! I have been working for the past several days with my mom and my kids to plant a garden, and just getting the grass out of the area where we wanted to plant and getting the soil prepared has been quite a chore. But, it is amazing how good it has felt to reconnect with the earth and think about what the earth produces and how miraculous it is! I feel so blessed to be able to spend time outdoors, digging in the dirt, being a part of the natural process of life and creation. It is amazing how a little soil, water and sunshine can produce such a great variety of plants–flowers, veggies, fruits, trees, grass, even weeds! I have so much hope for what will become of my little patch of earth. I wonder if the Lord holds that kind of hope for each of us? I know that I have been very aware of my changing and becoming recently, and the hope for what the future holds is very real for me. More than anything else, I hope for happiness with my family and a solid, unshakable faith in my Savior and his plan for me. I guess that as I feel a closer connection with the earth and with nature, it naturally elevates my thoughts to the Creator of all Things. Who would have thought that digging in the dirt would strengthen my faith in those things that I know can last forever–my family and my relationship with the Lord?

Last week I went on a whirlwind vacation to Florida with my three youngest children, my sister and her three children, and my mom and dad. My sister and I have children that are all born within a few months of each other, so it was like having 3 sets of twins with us wherever we went. It was lots of fun for the cousins to play and experience Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center together, but it was by no means restful or relaxing. We packed two strollers, two diaper bags, a backpack, six car seats, and a Snuggli everywhere we went! The most exhausting part of the whole trip was trying to get the whole entourage through airport security (twice). It is so ironic that when we have time to take a break from the daily grind, we pack it so full of activity that we are worn out from our vacation and in desperate need of some rest and relaxation!