Yesterday was the 5K scholarship fund raiser race in honor of Kirsten Hullinger's daughter Elle who was accidentally run over last year. What a thing that family has been through. It's been amazing to watch, from only a very fringe perspective, what that family has been through. Elle's funeral was one of the most spiritual experiences I've had in years. I still try to remember how it made me feel – how strongly the Holy Ghost witnessed that God's ways are not our ways. There are so many falsehoods perpetuated by the world and by myself that seem so real. They really seem like our reality. When in actuality, they are not reality or real. They are not the Lord's ways. It's hard to explain my feelings, but I guess mostly Elle's funeral really showed me to look at the big BIG plan in everything.

Well, yesterday's race was another eye-opening, life affecting experience. There were almost 500 racers, plus volunteers and spectators. It touched me to tears to think of how very very blessed I am that I can raise my children here in a community and a nation where there is so much respect for human life.

To think of all those people and families who gave up money and time to come to the race yesterday, just because they were touched by the loss of Elle. Touched by the pain that one family feels. Touched by her tiny short life. What incredible respect for life that shows.

I read headlines from war-torn corners of the world where children are forced into slavery, where women are abused, where men are convinced to blow themselves up for their causes, where entire communities are terrorized and forced into exile from their homes. I can't even wrap my mind around such tragedies. My heart breaks at the tiny tiny part that I can even fathom of being in such a situation with my family.

And here I am, instead, blessed beyond words to be in a community where hundreds of people join together to remember the life and to respect the family suffering of one small child of God. One simple human.

I can only think how God feels for each of his children on such a higher level. The love he must feel individually for each of us.

How I ever got so blessed as to be born into the gospel, to live in Utah and in ART CITY for petes's sake? To have children to love and care for. To have friends who care about me and my children. The blessings are above and beyond anything I ever deserve or ever really appreciate.

What a community. What a place. How I truly have and live the abundant life.