An Exercise in Contrasts

On December 31st Joshua was born to my brother Tyler and my sister-in-law Kami. He is beautiful and truly heaven sent.

Baby Joshua



We were all so excited for his big birthday - especially Kami who felt like she had been pregnant for a year and a half. Okay, save for a 2 month respite, she had been pregnant for a year and a half. That day they dropped Douglas off before heading to the hospital for the scheduled c-section. They were 20 minutes early (last time that will happen for a long time). Tyler paced and Kami sat looking exhausted and nervous. After a few pleasantries and some instruction, they headed off to have their little guy. After what seemed like forever, I got a phone call from my mom telling me that everything had gone great. Josh was here and Kami was doing well after the surgery. Hooray! Shane sent a short video of baby Josh for Douglas to watch and he took off shouting, "He's out!" as soon as he saw the baby. He's a funny little boy. After Susan picked-up Douglas for the night, I went with Kellie to the hospital to see little baby Josh. As we drove there we talked about how we were feeling a little nervous and were surprised at the emotions the birth of Josh had brought out in us. As we walked through the doors of the hospital and headed down the hall, I saw my brother appear in the corridor. He was exuberant! His anxiety had disappeared and he could not hold back his smile. He patted me on the back and started giving me the details. My mind caught and I flashed back to January 9, 2009. I stood in that same corridor, meeting that same brother under similar, but very different circumstances. That day he looked both physically and emotionally spent. His eyes were swollen and red. His daughter had just been born - 10 weeks early. She was stillborn. He patted me on the back and started giving me the details...

Angel Elizabeth




Strange how similar and very different their birthdays were. They were both days filled with family, love, joy and sorrow. Sorrow that Elizabeth didn't make it. Sorrow that they wouldn't be taking Josh home to meet his older brother AND sister. Joy because of the knowledge of a Savior, the knowledge that Elizabeth lives and that they will all be together as a family forever! Joy at the birth of a new child. Joy at the thought of the great send-off he must have received from his big sister. It is strange the overwhelming joy that can be felt at the time of unbearable sorrow. The similarities that day were as striking as the differences. After the birth of Elizabeth my mom told us what a great father and husband Tyler was. He was so loving and protective of both Kami and the baby. And Kami- she was faithful and optimistic and more than a little sad. After the birth of Josh, she again remarked on the loving father and husband Tyler is. When he came out of the operating room to tell my mom that Josh was here and well, she said that he told her, "Yeah mom, he just keeps moving all around. He's really alive!" Again, Kami was stalwart, faithful, optimistic, more than a little sad and more than a lot happy. As Tyler lead me through the doors and maze of hallways to see baby Josh, I thought of the day I met Elizabeth. The room was full of hushed whispers and was bursting with the spirit of our Savior and Elizabeth. There were a lot of tears and lots of hugs. My mind snapped back as Tyler parted the curtain and lead me to his infant son. He was beautiful, as was Kami. Again, the room was bursting with the spirit of our Savior. It was truly a blessed day! After the birth of Elizabeth, Tyler, Kami and Douglas left the hospital without their sweet girl. After the birth of Joshua, they left together with a little angel watching.

Douglas and Joshua

Douglas and Elizabeth