10 Years

Lets talk about the #10yearschallenge.

10 years. That’s a long time. 10 years ago I was 16.

Here’s what I remember about being 16.

I filled my spare time with softball and volleyball. When I wasn’t at school or at practice, I was babysitting. I was obsessed with my dog, Luke. I think I wanted to be an author or a lawyer, but only because I was really good at arguing with my mom, and fluent in Latin. I pursued modeling for exactly 1 week before deciding that was absolutely not for me. I wanted to go to The University of Colorado, I don’t even remember why.

I don’t think I was sure about much when I was 16, but I very vividly remember, dreaming about being a mom.

Its been 10 years….

I didn’t make anything of my sports career – but my best friends from softball and volleyball are still my best friends today.

My dog Luke will be 12 this year.

I didn’t become a lawyer – but I have a masters in Tax Law, which is nerdy in its own right.

I didn’t go to Colorado, but had the best time at OU.

My dream of becoming mom – that one did come true. It is everything I could have ever hoped for. I could have never imagined the journey to get here would have been as hard as it was - but I made it and I think 16 year old me would be so excited about that.

Instead of making this about the past 10 years (because its boring, we get it, I became an adult I don’t need to recap my early 20’s…it was messy… lets move on), I want to look forward. Lets be cheesy, lets ask the question… “where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

I have never thought this through, or wrote this out, but I want to, and I’m excited to. I feel like there has been a huge shift in energy, and we are preparing for something big. I just have this feeling that the next 10 years are going to be my PRIME (this is coming from the girl that adamantly believed she peaked in 8th grade until about 6 months ago).

Here is what I am manifesting in my next 10 years.

At 36, –

• I am approaching my 13th wedding anniversary with the absolute love of my life.

• I am mom to more than 1 kid, but hopefully less than 5. (still a point of contention in my marriage, but I feel pretty confident the answer is more than 2 and less than 5, sorry reese!)

• My family is fully invested in following my kids passions. On the weekends, if we aren’t at tournaments or showing animals at a county fair, we are camping, traveling and exploring.

• I am an independent, successful business owner. (more to come on this dream in the coming months, hopefully)

• I’ve built a business so successful that it’s allowed my husband to make his hobby business a full time gig, we both get make our own schedules.

• I am an author; I have finally pursued my lifelong dream of writing a book.

• I have a hobby. Something I do just for me. (I’m working on figuring out what this one is)

• After years of creating humans and sustaining life, my body belongs to me again. I have a positive, healthy relationship with it.

• My funny farm is thriving. My brahma heifer, Doof, loves to be ridden like a horse (if you don’t know what a brahma is – it’s God’s most favored centaur – except instead of part goat its part hunchback of Notre Dame, part cow, part bunny)

• My dog, Luke, will be turning 22, he is in exceptional health, the Guinness book of world records sends him a cake. (these are my manifestations, get your negativity out of here)

So there it is, my top 10 goals for the next 10 years. Imperfect, a little vague, surely with struggles of their own… but they are mine, and I am ready.

 It felt good to write it out, therapeutic and encouraging, try it out.. (and … for the record- cheaper than therapy so its worth a shot)

Me at 16

Me at 26