Page 6 - KOG Glory & Grace, Issue 8, November 2022

PAGE 6
THE PATHS OF PARENTING
Bruce and Kyla Carlson strive to be equal partners when it comes to parenting their daughters Kallista and Gracie. In this season of life, however, Bruce is the parent you'll see at Costco or school drop-off.
When you were growing up, what career caught your eye?
Kyla: Science was always my love. I think I decided on medicine sometime in high school and was on the path to becoming a physician. I never planned to end up in obstetrics, but I fell in love with delivering babies as a medical student in Missouri (Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine). I did my internship in Grand Rapids, MI and hoped one day to return to the west to be near family in WY & CO.
Bruce: I was on the path to becoming a Physician Assistant but got sidetracked by life and ended up as a Medical Device Sales Rep in the Greater Los Angeles area. It was a great job, but as a kid from rural Michigan I knew I could never raise a family there, so I moved back to Michigan and worked as a Pharmaceutical Rep.
The Carlson family enjoys the Advent Festival in 2021
How did you two find one another?
Bruce: Kyla and I met in March 2008 through E- Harmony. I was traveling with my job quite a bit and she was busy in residency so online dating made sense for us. We got engaged in the Spring of 2010 and married on 10/10/10 at 10am.
Kyla: Our paths would have never crossed, if not virtually. We both are very independent people and we didn't meet until later in life. I had wondered if maybe the "getting married" ship had sailed. We were surrounded by good friends that were fun and supportive. We were good on our own and it took an amazing relationship to convince us that we were better off together than on our own. I chose wisely for sure, and now, I can’t imagine doing life without him.
When did your paths lead to Montana?
Bruce: The first eight months of our marriage we lived 150 miles apart because of work. Moving from Michigan to Colorado was the initial plan, but Montana became our home when Kyla was offered a position with Billings OB-GYN Associates which began in September 2011.
"God, with all his angels and creatures, is smiling, not because that father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in Christian faith."
Martin Luther
The Estate of Marriage, 1522
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