Long time, sunshine...

It has been a long set of months ever since my first blog. Things really do tend to get busy once you have a child born into your home. It has been an intense first five months with our precious little Ethan, five months of intense introspection, love, and learning. He has brought so much joy into my life, as he has also for Amy.

I have recently made arrangements for me to graduate sooner than I expected. It has been a long journey, and graduation offers a great degree of solace and satisfaction to know that there truly is an end in sight. I love the time I spent here in Logan; 3 1/2 years, however, in one place where the winters are harsh does mean that I will certainly not make Cache valley my home, as beautiful as it is in more pleasant months.

Knowing that I can get a decent job with my future bachelor's degree is a very comforting feeling. The current "Great Recession" (as other have dubbed it) has made my field of work, financial counseling and advising, the kind of job that will certainly be in high demand for years to come. And graduate school, though certainly a very rewarding experience, is not one I nor this family can afford to venture into during such trying economic times as these.

My wife has been having a very difficult time in just the past few days. A good friend from months and years past has disappointed her greatly. In truth, he has hurt her to a depth that he has yet to understand. It is one of those times when you feel like the friend you have come to know for so long turns out to be very little of a friend, if ever a real friend at all. It is where it turns out that the boy that she loved in years past was, in reality, a pseudo-friend. The kind of friend that takes and rarely, if ever, gives. And to this day he continues to hurt and disrespect my wife. We are not entirely beyond forgiving this person; he is, after all, a child of god. However, in order for there to be any forgiveness and resolution, he must talk with my wife and understand the consequences his actions had upon the emotional health of my wife. Until that happens, forgiveness will be slow but sure.

*Author's Note:  January 12th, 2013

After reviewing this entry, I am happy to inform that it has been well over two years since we have thankfully forgiven her old friend.