This is Chloe! She is my beautiful, smart, whity 11 year old! Chloe was prayed for, for many years before she was conceived! She is the result of many doctors and nurses and procedures. She is a gift. I didn’t conceive her as easily as I would have hoped, but God has the perfect plan for her life and she is perfect.
When I was a little girl, I dreamed about being married with kids. I didn’t dream about what my house would look like or the ins and outs of day to day life though. As I have gotten older, however, I realize that somewhere along the way, I did. I must have decided in those dreams exactly how my life would play out. I’ve learned over the course of about 10 years now that I have to let go of the life I once dreamed about.
My husband doesn’t look like the man I dreamed I would marry… he is SO much more. I only dreamed about a provider… my hubby is that and is also loving, kind, funny, adventurous, Godly, etc! I have FOUR kids, and not just two like I dreamed.
There are also parts of those “dreams” that I have had to let go of. I don’t live in a small town, nor do I have lots of property for the kids to run and play. I don’t have the ability to let them play outside unsupervised like I did as a child. I don’t have endless funds to play all day and be creative like I would like. But I we are (almost) debt free and have money in savings! I don’t have a lot family that lives in the same town as me and wants to do dinner on a regular basis, but I have friends who do!
I have had to learn to let go of some of these dreams. Trading in my childish wants and wishes and sometimes grieving the loss of the “perfect” life hasn’t been as difficult as I once thought it would be. It has allowed me to appreciate what I have and how blessed I am.
I have a college degree and I am not using it…and that’s totally okay! I love taking care of my four kiddos, the house, meals, and blogging! These things bring me joy and I get paid with endless snuggles and kisses!
In life, it’s super easy to look around at others and wish you had parts of their lives. Choosing to make lemonade out of lemons is way more fun. I don’t have a ton of family near by but in crisis my friends have showed up and helped out in ways I never dreamed! Look beyond your wishes and you will see that you also have a lot to be thankful for!
