Decade in Review

When I first stumbled across this social media quote, it stopped me in my tracks. First of all, how are we actually reflecting on an entire decade? What the actual heck? Not to mention, how is it that when looking back I have monumental, life-changing memories from each year that made up an entire freaking decade? That in and of itself blew my mind. Then, the mental list started. I went back and thought of each year and all that went on. I thought of how each occurrence was handpicked to get me here. To get me to this life with this strength and this heart and this faith.

So, let’s review …

2010 - I said, “I do” and married who I thought to be the man of my dreams. 

2011 - That marital bliss welcomed a sweet baby girl into the world. Life had forever changed in all the best ways. 

2012 - New parenthood brought that family unit all the feels. Our love had created this sweet little babe. I had a husband who not only loved me well, but was also a hands-on dad loving his new daughter with everything in him. Nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. 

2013 - The very first day of that year greeted me with a third party competing for my husband. His heart had changed. And, mine crushed in pieces. I gave every last bit of me for that marriage and the family I wanted for my daughter. Strength showed up in ways I never knew possible. Gumption and courage fought for the vows I spoke. And, I ultimately learned that vows are impossible to uphold one sidedly.

2014 - Legal happenings went down. It was starting toward official finality. And, I was starting toward acceptance. Accepting a new life and new labels I didn’t sign up for. Creating a future in these new shoes. Keeping my focus on the path of healing and mourning. Did A LOT of hard work to come out of that fog. And, wrote my story down to bring hope for other women enduring such awful pain. 

2015 - Legal papers stamped with the D-word came my way. The finality met a new freedom that day. I felt whole and happy again after years of waking up each day in the saddest pain I’d ever experienced. Months later, that whole and happy self met a really cute cowboy at a dive bar. This year also launched Her Soul Repair, a beautiful place for those heartbroken by divorce. 

2016 - A new love started between myself and that cute cowboy. A beautiful love grounded in God’s love. Genuine, rooted, and unconditional. My sweet daughter also began to enter into that love. Co-parenting dynamics grew this year. I was able to look at a man who once crushed me as a man who’s a damn good father. A house I loved dearly was sold this year. The walls that saw so much now housed another family. Above all else, I said yes to forever with the best man I know. And, oh yeah, published a book (what!?). 

2017 - We started this year celebrating our covenant as man and wife with every person who saw me through the hardest of times. We were living out God’s incredible provision. Experiencing marriage with the love of this man was better than anything I could have ever imagined. A few months later came news of adding a baby boy to our little fam. This brought a new sense of beautiful unity.

2018 - Our baby boy was born, a piece of each one of us. Our first son and our daughter’s first brother. He brought us so much joy and still continues to be the sweetest little guy. This year also brought a new level of co-parenting goodness. Time helllllllps, friends. We were in our best place yet as co-parents on the same team (and we are still there). 

2019 - My story was released as an audiobook (told by me!). And, my story was told from stages (also, told by me!). Big goals accomplished. I let go of the fear that kept things small and I let this crazy story of mine help more people than I ever thought possible. I kept on swallowing my pride and co-parenting in the best ways I know how. And, of course, continued to stare at my husband with heart eyes over how the heck I got so lucky. 

2020 -  Excited to embrace simplicity. Less scrolling, less comparing, less ruminating. More community, more grace, more prayer. Let’s do this,  2020!