Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Salem, 2012 

Growing a family isn't always easy.  

Most days are routine:  feed, clothe, love, kiss, hug, clean, sleep. 

There are holidays & the occasional vacation, & once in a great while there are those moments that bring everything together in one sweeping instant, like yesterday, when Joseph received his bar exam results.  This was his second go around.  This was a big moment for us.  

I thought back on memories of so many years of work, sacrifice, & often just the sheer grit & tenacity, of holding on to faith & dreams.    

Joseph & I got married young.  I was 21, he was 23.  He still had 3 years of undergraduate left, I thankfully, had finished mine.

We decided from the beginning that no matter what our professional goals, they'd always be a second to our family goals & would only be worthwhile if things were as they should be at home.

In essence, we wanted our life to be about the family we would create.

On our wedding day, August 19, 2004

When we were engaged, we agreed 5-7 kids sounded about right for our family.  

Once married, we decided, hey, why wait?    

Some people may think we're crazy, but we were determined to start our family, despite the many years of schooling ahead of us.  Somehow, we knew it would all work out.  

(and how do you sum up 7 years?)  

On our 11 month anniversary, I had Hyrum.  Shortly thereafter (15 months to be exact), Asher, the younger brother followed suit.

Joseph & the boys, 2010

Asher & Hyrum, 2010

There was a period of several years where I believed that total exhaustion was a part of motherhood.  

Despite this, I loved the challenge of many tasks & nothing is as great as the challenge of being a present, engaged, mother.    

Joseph was busy working & finishing his bachelor's degree while I began teaching fitness classes & caring for the young 'uns at home all the while trying to achieve some level of domestic bliss (& making sure the bills got paid!).  

Often though, I wore no makeup, my house was not often (or ever) immaculate.  I was happy if the dishes were done!  Our lives revolved around nap times & feedings.  I felt like I had twins.

Me, holding Hyrum & Asher at the Salt Lake City Hogle Zoo, 2007

Through all the studying, the tests, the work, kids, pregnancies (& inevitable morning sickness), Joseph made me laugh.

Me & Joseph, 2005

Correction:  we make each other laugh. 

(I think this is the secret to our happy union.)

Joseph & Me (plump w/ child/Amalia), 2008

And at the end of the day, there was (& is) no other person I'd rather talk to or be with.

At Bryce Canyon.  Isn't it breathtaking?  2009

It doesn't hurt that he makes the kids laugh too. 

2009

While there were long days & times when we didn't see Joseph much, we knew, I knew, that it would all be worth every sacrifice so he could have a career that could support & sustain us.  Not just that, but a career where he could do something for which he was well suited & enjoyed.  

Hyrum, Me, & Amalia 2010

We had 3 kids by the time Joseph began law school.

The 1st year was hard.  The 2nd year was also hard.  The 3rd year, we thought, "we're almost there!"  Little did we know that he would have to take the bar exam twice, putting his career on hold.  

During law school, we scraped together $450, & for the price of a dumpy used car, we bought a triple stroller which we used (& still use!) all the time.

That triple stroller, a vehicle for walks to the park or library, will be a source of many happy memories from our law school days.

Apparently, the stroller is for climbing, like most things, when you're a boy

In the past nearly 8 years since we've been married, there have been:

thousands of diaper changes, feedings 

never ending piles of laundry

a million kisses

nursing, pregnancy, nursing, followed by more pregnancy

strollers, blocks, toys, & balls
a million hugs

books & stuffed animals

lots & lots of yoga, Pilates, & aerobics
many late date nights

history books, tests, long study sessions, & more tests

LSAT prep courses, law school applications
law school
then the bar exam (twice!)

Amalia, who is discovering the tastiness of soy yogurt for the first time

Asher (2) & Hyrum (3), 2009

Our family (minus Salem), 2010

Joseph graduates from BYU Law School, 2011

Now, after all this, I can say with pride, plenty of joy, & a few tears:  "WE are finally here!"

We've made it.

Joseph passed the bar exam.

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