Workin' 9 to 5...to 8..to 11...to 6...

I was sitting with our bishop the other day (and no not this, and certainly not this! More like this)... anyway, I was sitting with our bishop the other day and he asked how things were going.  I told him honestly, we were very happy, but things were kind of rough.  

Now I realize, on a daily basis, that we are very very blessed - we have a nice place to live, food to eat, wonderful family, wonderful kids, stable jobs, and Chris even recently got a promotion (lead line cook and a raise! that deserves it's own post...)  

But life, in general, is one big ball of stress these days.  

It's hard out there for a pimp. 

Seriously, though, we struggle with the same issues all families do these days:

• The economy sucks and gas and food are through the roof (especially living in Cal-expensive-fornia). 
  
• We love our children but it's hard work raising two young energetic kids. While BOTH of us work full-time jobs, and then some.  Our beautiful 5 - almost 6! - month old is not a good sleeper. So none of us ever sleep.  
• We crave quality time as a family, and as a couple, but most days Chris and I high-five each other as we head in/out the door trading home & kids/work shifts.  I stay up until 11:30p or later most nights just to see him after work (and the kids wake up at 6am...and Lumpkin gets up twice during that period...).  I want a nap just typing that.
• The majority of our sparse one-on-one time is, out of necessity, business: did you pay the car bill?  what time do you work tomorrow?  who is watching _insert child_? How was Lumpkin's teething/crawling attempts/sleep habits?  Was Pumpkin behaved?  Do you need anything from the store?  
• Did I mention I will NEVER. SLEEP. AGAIN?

It's a very glamorous life on paper.

However.

The point of this post was not to complain.  We have it no harder than most other people out there, and have it a great deal better than many.  The point is the bishop said something very poignant.  He asked, "Do you and your husband love each other?" (Of course I replied yes).  "If you love each other, than I promise you everything else will work out."

And you know what? It does.  Life is definitely hard work, but the results are worth it. I'm a lucky, lucky gal.

Who is going to bed.