Consistency

There are a lot of endings in my life. I am a mover. There are also a lot of beginnings.

I have said goodbye so many times, leaving a camp, a ward, a state, a school, a country, and even a continent. I have made so many friends all over the world. And I've had to said goodbye to the most.

One of the greatest surprises of leaving Jerusalem as well as France was returning to a place where I had dear, close, real friends. I was disheartened at my departure from both places, but returned back to places where I re-found (retrouvé) so many quality people with whom I shared great discussion communities. I rediscovered places that I loved, programs and teachers that I had loved, and people that I loved.

and I was, in fact, loved!

This was so starkly different than the moves of my childhood when I left church, history, friends, school, landscape and country to start completely anew. Every start was filled with both excitement and a sense of dread. Hopes were fulfilled, hopes were crushed. I never knew what I would meet in the newest adventure. Loving and being loved could take a long time.

But it always was an adventure.

Every other summer growing up, my Hilton family would have a reunion in Heber, UT. Regardless what country we were living in at the time, we would meet up with our wonderful family. That little part of Heber with the family was one thing that was ... consistent.

I have come to appreciate consistency. The friends that will always be your friends, the places that will always hold comfort, the gospel of unchanging truths, the stories and myths that will always enchant, the parents who love unconditionally, the covenants that I have made--these constants bring such relief.