Almost 20 years ago, I met a silly boy. I didn't think much about him- cute but goofy- that was it. It was the summer before I started high school, and we were both taking instrument lessons from the same lady. I didn't talk much with him over the next couple of years. He was a year older than me, so I only saw him in band. Then, we returned from summer break for his senior year, my junior. He'd grown a foot and really filled out, so I found myself all of the sudden very interested in this boy. After only a few days of hanging out with him, I knew we were soulmates.
We dated and broke up and dated again. We went to my senior prom together, and I followed him to college. We got engaged my senior year. Check out the youthful innocence.
We married on June 4th, 2000- 10 years ago. Before we married, I remember going through premarital counseling, and we were asked if we wanted kids, who would take care of them, etc. We always thought I would be the bread winner, and I remember making the statement that I would be fine if Wesley were to stay home with the kids. This all changed on March 16, 2002, the day we became a family and had our first child.
I was instantly in love and knew that my purpose in life was not to be a CFO or VP of anything. It was to be a mother. It was maybe 6 months after I had Trevor that I was ready to have another one. He was so easy, quiet, and content. Little did I know what was in store for me with number 2. By the grace of God, I didn't get pregnant with and have Victoria until Trevor was 3.
I swore that we were done having children after Victoria. She was (and still is) headstrong, defiant, and difficult. She's also beautiful, intelligent, and funny as hell. Still, I really meant it when I said we were done, but fate had other plans.
10 years ago I thought I would be a bigwig Finance executive at some big company making a ton of money and living in a huge house. I would have never thought I would be an unemployed stay at home mom going back to school to start an entirely different career. I also never imagined that I would have 3 amazingly beautiful children and be as happy as I am right now. In my twenties, I thought happiness was measured by my level of success. I now realize that my success is measured by my level of happiness, and I have achieved more than I ever thought possible.