Some may view autumn as the beginning of the end. As a close to the long sunny days of summer and knowing that {realistically} the first days of snowfall aren't far off. The actual autumn season is brief. If you take even a moment of it for granted, it is gone, but that is part of the appeal. It is a time of year that I wait around for, and the fact that it only stays for a moment, keeps me wanting more. It is something to look forward to, and when it's here, I know I have to make the most of my time before its abandonment.

It's a magical time of year when nature is at its peak. The colors are vibrant, the air is crisp and even people seem to change a little bit, too. With the warm sweaters and cozy scarves, it seems that everyone softens their spirit {if just for a moment} and absorbs the excitement of change.

I'm thankful for my life in Utah which allows me to experience the happiness {and necessity} of change. I am thankful for the crisp orange leaves which remind me of how vibrant life is. Most importantly, I am thankful that autumn is short and fades before my eyes. It hasn't taught me that all good things come to an end, but rather, that all good things in life should be enjoyed while we have them here. My love for autumn is only surpassed by my love for life. My love for life is only enhanced by these months of autumn.

This photo was taken last September just as the leaves began to change. The landscape was beautiful, and my cute brothers didn't turn out too bad either.

Enjoying the beautiful scenery with my amazing brother {a man who has overcome trial after trial and still has a smile on his face}

Photo credit: the one and only Sharon

Vivian Park, Provo Canyon. Photo credit: the one and only Sharon

The happiest days are always spent in a pile of colorful leaves.

The Last Day of Summer

Living in Utah, it seems we spend 9 months out of the year waiting for summer to arrive. Before you know it, it has come and gone, and I always wonder if I made the most out of those sunny months. This year, before its arrival, Wyet and I made a few goals of the places we wanted to go and the things we wanted to do. As the close of summer rapidly approached, I knew it was time to finally cross the one activity that I had been avoiding off of our bucket list, hiking Mt. Nebo.

Wyet had already hiked Mt. Nebo once before so he knew what he was up against. I, on the other hand, had no idea what I was about to encounter. As we set our alarm clocks for five a.m. and went to bed the night before summer's end, I was excited about the adventure we were about to have. I never knew it would be one of the most taxing experiences my body has ever felt.

When we woke up the next morning, we were both excited and feeling well rested and ready for our big day. Wyet prepared us a filling breakfast, and then we were on our way. A drive up the canyon is always a picturesque experience, but with the sun just peaking over mountaintop and the green leaves changing into the beautiful colors of autumn, this drive was better than the rest. We arrived at the trailhead, put on our packs and we were off.

About twenty feet later, I already needed a bathroom break. About thirty feet after that, I needed to shed a layer of clothing because I was already warming up. Rather than walking you through every detail of this eight hour adventure, I will just say it involved a lot of burning legs, out of breath breaks, seven liters of water and the feeling of being so small against the magnitude of nature.

On the way home, after kicking off my shoes and thanking God that I was able to make it, Wyet asked me if I had fun. My response, "Fun? No, I wouldn't say 'fun',  but I am still glad that I did it." To those who hike this mountain regularly {or at least with more ease than myself} I commend you. Hiking Mt. Nebo was challenging, breathtaking {literally} and surreal. It showed me the raw beauty of Utah, and more importantly, it showed me that I could accomplish something difficult. Undeniably, this experience has been one of my greatest accomplishments.

The goal. Mt. Nebo 11,900 feet.

Here's to a guy who looks hardcore but is actually as granola as it gets. I love nature, I love this person and I love our life together.

One small human against one big world.

 The product of a lightning strike, a hallowed out tree.

A breathtaking view. At this point it finally kicked in.. I am on top of a mountain.

Resting at Wolf's Pass right before the final stretch to the North Peak {3 hours in}

In his element

And then, my legs turned to jello and I wondered "How in the hell will I ever finish?"

Accomplished! This guy tolerated my frequent breaks, tears and complaints. I wasn't the easiest person to climb a mountain with, but this guy managed and even high-fived  me after {high-fives are still cool in our book}. Next goal: that peak behind us.