At 28

During my senior year of high school, in my economics class, one of our assignments was to write a paper about where we see ourselves in 10 years. (How this relates to Economics I'm not sure. Another assignment was where the teacher, a really old ex-Olympian, paired us up and made us be "married" to our partner to make a budget together. He, obviously, paired us up with people for his own enjoyment, but, that's another story for another day.)

I wish I still had that paper, but I remember a lot of it. I would be living in a mansion on the Southern California coast, married to a wealthy CEO, working as a psychologist, and living on the same street as all of my best friends. All of our backyards would be the beach and we'd hang out every night surfing and having bonfires and watching our kids grow up together. I think I said I'd have three kids by then.

Last summer was my ten year high school reunion, so here I am ten years later. Married to a CEO of a local pool service business for over seven years, living in my hometown with two of my three high school best friends recently moved back into town, and a stay at home, homeschooling mom of four kids.

My life isn't as glamorous as I'd hoped back then. I don't live in a mansion and I don't drive a Mercedes SUV. I live in a big-enough cozy house and drive a Toyota Sienna. My life is so much richer than I ever knew existed. Ten years ago, when I thought of my life, I thought of money and possessions, but through the years I've realized that all of that stuff fades away. Sure, it's fun, but when I'm on my deathbed I won't really care about what car I drove or if my house was perfectly decorated. I have a husband who loves me and fully accepts and loves everything about me, four amazing kids who love me and bless me everyday, the best parents, inlaws, and extended family, and amazing, amazing friends.

The last ten years have brought some of the hardest, most difficult times of my life, but also the best most amazing seasons and moments. Other than a closet full of designer clothes (just kidding...kind of) I wouldn't change a thing. Life really is good.

I'm so thankful to Jesus, who has blessed me more than I could possibly have imagined. I'm thankful for everything that has happened and the life that I have lived the past 28 years. I'm looking forward to what the next 28 hold.