When Mr. Incredible and I were just newly married of almost 2 years we had the world at our feet. WE had just moved out to Utah to enter college. WE had just entered the state of Utah and a baby was dropped into my womb. WE hadn't had jobs, registered for school or anything. WE barely found a place to live. My pregnancy was very high risk and so was his birth. We quickly found jobs and had a two bedroom apartment and all our high risk doctors and appointments were in place. Once we overcame that mountain we were faced with another mountain. More choices. Our baby was born premature but healthy. WE moved back to NY and we made very good money back in the early 80's a family of 3 making 80k without a college degree was good money. But, it came with a cost. My Mr. was away from home and his new son a lot. Another mountain of deciding can we walk away from a good life and embark on only a hope that things can be better? We made the decision to go back to school two years later and move to Texas. Mount Everest awaited us there.
This move tried our patience, our love, our testimony and our sanity. It was one of the hardest times. Emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. I don't care to recounter that time in Texas but only to say the second time we moved to Texas was drastically different. We had a different perspective. WE were prepared. We had a little boy who depended on us. He needed us to be his rock and we were determined and united that we would be that rock.
I had a husband who worked 60 hours a week, took 18 credit hours,and we had a very active healthy 3 year old son and I worked for barely above minimum wage. We were always on the verge of poverty. The stress of our bills were overwhelming and we vowed never to placed in that predicament again.
Mr. Incredible enrolled in school and it was make it or break it! There was not an option for him not to succeed! We had many great friends and ward members who helped us and looking back those were some of my fondest memories.
Another MOUNTAIN was in our way. We are on track and have 9 months to graduate! But, a baby would be arriving around graduation or finals week. I was forced to find happiness and joy in temperatures over 100 degrees at midnight while 8 months pregnant, an AC unit that barely worked, cupboards empty and tornado warnings weekly. Don't forget a rottweiler in a 800sq ft apartment, in foodstampville, TX. (mind you we didn't qualify for food stamps because my husband was a full time student and couldn't say he was available for 40 hours a week, yet, he worked 60 hrs, a week. Nice! It was disappointing and left me feeling hopeless. I qualified for wic and that helped so much! My little boy got peanut butter and eggs and milk and he frequently requested peanut butter cookies! He was such a great baby and he always would be so thankful and so excited when I was in the kitchen. He would beam, "What are you cooking me, mommy?"
Our welfare system enables and breeds laziness. Too many loop holes for dishonest people to take advantage and honest people to have the doors shut on them. They would rather help and pay for everything if Mr. Incredible would quit attending school and we could qualify for food and other assistance but a person trying to work and attend school and having limited hours doors were shut. I said, how about just our little boy and I? Nope!
The next mountain came when I was put on bed rest. I did so much better during this pregnancy I lasted longer. But, my doctor had felt that our little boy would elevate my pressures too high and he would need to stay with someone until my husband could be there. HELLO, he is taking 18 credit hours and 60+hours. He isn't home much!
Joy came from serving. Joy came from magnifying my callings in the YW's presidency and in my visiting teaching and joy came from having great life long friends.
I often look back to those times as some of my most favorite times. I wish I had enjoyed that moment or the season I was in more fully. I vowed that if faced with another trial I would search for blessings in the storm.
I see the blessings. Our family is so resilient. We are teaching our children how to handle and deal with disappointments and to be frugal by example. We are more humble. We are more prayerful. We are more thankful. These are such good lessons. I am thankful for my thorns.
Now that we are employed and the blessings seem to be pouring from above. I am mindful and almost forceful not to forget the journey we had just emerged from. As good times continue it is hard for me to not fall into old snares. Doom always looms in the back of my head but as we are abundantly blessed I look to bless others. I serve outside of myself and family, our temple attendance is tremendous.
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