In Ten Years

Well, today's a big one.  Where do I hope to be in 10 years?  I guess I'll start with our ages.

I'll be 45.
Joe will be 49.
Brooke will be 13.
Bradley will be 11.

Holy moly!!

I can see us living on our land in our beautiful home. We will have been there about 7/8 years, if all goes correctly.  We'll have gardens that are flourishing by that time; a pool, chickens and a big barn.

Joe seems to think the kids will have go-carts and mini bikes, because that's what kids enjoy.  I never had any, but I do like the idea of them being able to drive around the yard/woods before having to jump behind a wheel on the actual road.

We'll have a big Golden Doodle and he will be so amazing.  Holly would be 16, so it's quite possible she's still with us! Those little dogs have amazing life spans.

I see Joe retired from the car biz and working for himself.  I can see us possible working together; I just know that I will be in my home when those kids get off the bus.  They'll probably be into sports or some after school activities, and I'll need to be there to drive them and supervise.  I also want to have nightly family dinners and still be cooking up a storm in our gorgeous kitchen.

If I don't work for "us" then I'll certainly be doing something, as clearly I enjoy earning income for my family and doing something that I am passionate about.

I think I'll be in amazing shape because I'll have the time to get into a yoga studio, barre classes, or whatever the craze is in 10 years.

I'll be reading even more books, as I'll have a little more time to myself than I do now! ha

Joe will have put his Crohn's into remission.  He is pain free and healthy as can be.

We will have traveled and taken many vacations in the last 10 years.  Some with the kids, some without.

We have 15 rental properties.

Everyone is getting along and talking to one another {aka no family drama!!}

We have purchased a lake house and enjoy spending time there in the summer.

I have become a published author and written two books.

We have an amazing holiday party every year that everyone looks forward to dressing up and coming to.  (This has always been a dream of mine!)

We are officially millionaires.

I will take Brooke on a mom/daughter getaway. Just us girls! I know that the teenage years will be tricky, but I will work hard on our relationship.

I spend some time volunteering at a women's shelter, helping others get back on their feet.

In the last ten years, look how fast the internet has changed the way we live. I am nervous but excited to see where the next ten years will take us.  Clearly I have a big to-do list ahead of me, but I am willing to hustle and grind today so that we can live comfortably later in life.

Dream Big my friends; it's the only way to live!

Bob & Nancy

My husband and I have a dream.  It may sound silly to some people, but to us?  It will be our most accomplished goal in life.  It's nothing we can buy.  It's nothing we can force to happen.  But with more than anything in our being, we hope to have a close family relationship, much like our neighbors have with their children.

It's funny on one hand, I wouldn't even know Bob or Nancy if we didn't live where we do right now. We are so excited to build our dream house and be living in the country.  I don't want to see into my neighbors houses or know when they're home or see who is over.  Likewise, I don't want them all up in our business!  But since we are so close, these lovely little homes here on my street, I take note of such things.

I see the teachers across the street leave their children with their parents daily, since they live a few houses down.  I see how late on a Monday night, most families are all tucked into their homes, all together, while I drag the garbage out because my husband works late night.   I am so grateful for his job, because it provides us this opportunity for me to stay home and raise the babies.

But Bob & Nancy?  They're like our parents ages.  They have one boy and one girl, who are married and now have children of their own.  They always come over and they all live in this same area.  I'm sure there lives are not perfect, as no one's is, but the point I'm trying to make is that, we want that part of what Bob & Nancy have.

We want our kids to be close enough so they can come by for dinner; I want to be there for my daughter when she has kids and is needing a mommy moment (or two).  I want to have a solid relationship with my son's wife because I know how amazing that feels, when you have that.

I don't feel sorry for us right now, even though we feel a little isolated and like we do a lot on our own, due to our circumstances.  I know we are so blessed in so many ways. I just pray that one day when we are the grandparents, we can be close to our grandbabies, like Bob & Nancy.  I know I have mentioned it before, but our biggest dream is a full table at the holidays with all of our family and friends.  I don't want to limit it to just holidays though, I would love Sunday dinners on our homestead with all of our loved ones.


I've been working a lot on vision boards and writing down goals and dreams, so that they happen. {It's amazing how it really works!}  I know I cannot control things, but I know Joe and I will do everything in our power, everything that we possibly can, to make this happen.

I don't want to be jealous or envious that Nancy and her daughter are so close and hangout all of the time.  Instead I want to focus on and nurture my own relationship with my daughter, and continue to strengthen our bond.  I know that being grateful for what I do have will do me more good than anything, especially in the long run.

Are there people in your life that you hope to be like in some regards?