Congratulations Tyler!!!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go.~Dr. Seuss

The time has come. I can hardly believe it. After many long, long years of schooling and with a sabbatical in between all of those long years, I am happy and proud to shout to the world that Tyler is graduating this month from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Economics! There might some that would say, "Big deal", or "Took you long enough. How many years did it take you to earn that FOUR year degree again?" To those people I would say: You have no idea what you are talking about. And so my shameless bragging about my really awesome, smart, kind, loving, trooper of a husband begins. All of the following is true.

Tyler started working at Washington Mutual Bank with an entry level position almost ten years ago and worked his way up to management. The past two(?) years he bravely forged ahead sometimes working 50+ hours a week all while attending the U full time. At the beginning of this last semester he decided to step down from management to a teller position so he could devote more time to his studies. The last three years especially have been a whirlwind for him (and us!). We purchased a house and remodeled almost the entire first floor (with a lot of help!), had another baby, tore several bushes out of the yard and he took care of me and the kids after I had major bowel surgery to name just a few. This all the while he has served in the Elders Quorum Presidency, worked his full time (and very demanding) job, continued his schoolwork, and been a great father and husband. We, as his family, have not seen a lot of him the past few years. We have become accustomed to his absence while he has worked to pay the bills during the day and attended his classes at night. My respect and admiration for him has grown immensely along with the gratitude I feel for having him in my life. I could not have asked for better! He does not know that I am writing all of this about him and he is probably going to be annoyed and or embarrassed. He will get over it though as you, our friends and family, congratulate him. He has earned it!!

Watch out Law School, here we come!

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. ~Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles," 1992 (commonly misattributed to Nelson Mandela, 1994 inauguration speech)