Where We've Been

It all started in 2008. Actually it started many years before that on a school playground, but I will fast forward to what really matters. It started the summer of 2008. I had just returned home from school and a mission trip to Costa Rica. Sitting in church one Sunday I noticed a somewhat familiar face, like I had seen him before. That face was also pretty handsome. I may have mentioned to our DCE that I found him attractive and before I knew it this handsome guy was walking up to me asking me out. We went on the typical first date, getting to know each other and enjoying the s[ark of new romance. we discovered we both had a lot in common. We come from similar backgrounds, strong families, and we had both recently gotten out of engagements. That sounds weird I know, but it was comforting knowing that we knew what each other had gone through without having to talk about it. We let the past be the past and moved forward into the future. That summer was a blur of fun, excitement, romance, and pure bliss. August came and I returned to Nebraska for my Senior year in college while my guy remained in Idaho with his job. My senior year of college consisted of A LOT of student teaching, traveling, and long distance relationship stuff (not the fun part). Long distance was hard, really hard. In November, 6 months after we began dating, he proposed, I said yes, and the wedding planning began. Long distance wedding planning I may add. My poor mother. I started the new year in AZ, student teaching of course. May came and so did graduation, moving home, and a wedding. The wedding was everything I wanted and more. Now came our happily ever after. My guy had a great job in construction making decent money and I had a teaching job lined up for the Fall while I played the part of nanny through the summer. It was a great plan. We were set.

Then life happened.

Almost a month after we were married, my hubby lost his job. The construction economy in our area tanked and there was nothing to be had. This continued on with my hubby trying to find a job, ANY job for 8 months. Meanwhile, I tried to make ends meet first on a nanny's pay and then a teacher's salary. Not easy by any means. I really don't know how we made it through. Well, I do. God's amazing grace brought us though that time and many many times since.

In the midst of joblessness, being poor newlyweds, and learning to make it on our own, I discovered I was pregnant. This wasn't supposed to happen. Doctor's had told me I would never be pregnant after medical difficulties when I was younger. I was pregnant, my hubby had no job, and we were barely making it by just the 2 of us. A baby? Oh my.

I had my moment of terror, but decided to treat it as a wonderful surprise. Our miracle. God would get us through. He did, of course. A few months later, my hubby had a job, not a great one but it was a job. We had a new house (how? I don't know!) It was wonderful. We brought our son home to a house. Our own house. Time went by. Things were tight, but good.

We then made the most difficult, but best decision we could. My hubby went back to school to get a degree. No construction job ever came by and we didn't see one coming any time in the near future. It was a good thing, but boy is it hard to get through school as an adult with a family.

School happened. We got though semester by semester. I continued teaching and loving it. Our son grew and thrived. Life was rushed, money was tight, but we got through. Our families were huge supporters. Without them and their love and support, we never would have made it.

More school happened, and surprise! I was pregnant again. More scared this time around after having been through some pretty serious medical scares recently. I was told DO NOT GET PREGNANT. Guess what, oops. We were still excited. Our babies were just destined to be surprises. This time around, my pregnancy was tough. Lots of doctors, lots of checking up on things, and lots of sickness (on my part). Our baby girl was born healthy though and we were in love. Our family was complete. We decided not to risk any more health issues and made our decision to be done having kids permanent. I have my moments of sadness that I will not carry more babies but I know it was the best decision for me, my health, and our family.

Life went on, school STILL went on. My 6 week old went to the hospital with RSV, she came out and has been healthy ever since. Going to work got harder with my second. My dream of being a stay at home mom had not come true. We were doing the best we could and I knew that. But I could never shake that desire. My job was wonderful, I love teaching, but I had two babies at home that I knew needed me more. We hurried through phase after phase of our lives. I kinda tried to remember things and milestones, but I was in too much of a rush to get to the next part, the better part.

The final year of school began and again, things got harder, I faced a pay cut and my husband's job got cut as well. We didn't know what to do next. Again, family came to the rescue. We put our house up for sale. Our wonderful "Little Brown House". Miraculously it sold right away. We closed less than a month later and we were "homeless". This next part was wonderfully helpful but hard at the same time. Life continued and my husband made it to graduation. He even did well. I have never been more proud to call someone mine. He worked hard and it was worth it. A short time later he landed a job at a huge hospital in Utah where we now reside. There are still unknowns, but life is good. I am working hard every day to see the joy. I aim to remember where we are and how far we have come. I love my life and our story. It has been hard but it has been worth it. The best is yet to be. :)