Where has time gone? The last 10 years have been a whirlwind. I spent the last decade graduating college back in 2013, getting a big girl job as a landscape designer, undergoing loss and heartache, traveling the world, moving multiple times, falling in love, and experiencing some of the most memorable moments of my life (ie. winning a National Championship and watching my niece being born). But in the last 10 years, 2019 has been the most life changing and challenging. This year brought laughter, tears, life long friendships, lost friendships, and a shift in life’s plan that I never imagined but am so incredibly grateful for. I have zero regrets from this last decade. Every single moment in my life has shaped me into who I am and has set me up for the future I deserve and desire. I’ve learned that the most important thing you can do in life is to love yourself, be kind to everyone, and never settle for anything less than you deserve.
I spent the start of 2019 trying to fit pieces together that were never going match up, which caused me to question my worth and left me wondering where I was going wrong. It took my life falling apart, to finally have everything come together. I threw my hands in the air and had to trust that God had a plan and I wasn’t going to be able to alter it. I’ve ended the year being confident in the path I am on and looking forward to what 2020 has to bring. Through all of these changes, I met the man of my dreams. Knowing I am loved and watching it unfold right before my eyes is a blessing. This year, I took a leap of faith and dove into a world I knew nothing about. I experienced backlash but also undying support from those around me. Boy have I learned a lot! Although I have always desired raising a family on a farm, it wasn’t until this year that my dreams were even close to being a possibility some day. Getting up at 5:15am every morning for chores and living life on the farm is nothing short of tough (as well as rewarding), but knowing I have my best friend by my side and being able to spend that time together doing what we love (little did I know!) has been the best part of 2019. I never question my worth and my days are filled with smiles and laughter no matter the circumstances or what the day throws at us.
This last year, I learned that not everything goes to plan. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a girl who has lists and plans for every minute of every day. Life throws you curve-balls. Sometimes you miss and sometimes you hit them out of the park. Every day is a chance to practice and learn for the next time. There have been days when we sit in the pasture with a sick cow until the wee hours of the night doing everything we can to get her up and walking. As exhausted as you are, it’s all worth it knowing you’ve made a huge impact in her life. Or when a milk pump goes out in the barn and we are hours behind schedule to start chores but all we can do is laugh and keep pushing through. Laughter is the best medicine! Or when I have to reschedule all of my appointments at work because I need to be on job sites all day. These curve-balls are not ideal, but it’s life and life is what you make of it. It’s in these moments that I have to take a step back and realize, I cannot control every detail of my life but I can choose how I react to it all. As my Uncle would say, “you need get comfortable with being uncomfortable” and that is the motto for this entire “what the heck just happened?!” year I have had.
Above all, I am grateful to have people in my life who have stood by my side through thick and thin this year. Those who have taken time out of their lives to move me MULTIPLE times as well as be there for me through all of life’s changes and plot twists. I am grateful to have a man by my side that lets me know every day just how grateful he is for me and who loves working with me on the farm just as much as I love working with him. I am heading into 2020 excited for what the year may bring (besides turning 30)!
We are going to ring in the New Year hanging with 62 beautiful ladies and 30 adorable calves during evening chores, laughing at the dogs playing tug-of-war in the living room, a nice home cooked meal, a puzzle or two by the fireplace, and some champagne…just because we can. We will be lucky if we make it until midnight, but hey…It’ll be 2020 somewhere!
So here’s to continued changes, unconditional love, living life to the fullest, being comfortable with being uncomfortable, and learning something new every day. I welcome 2020 with open arms and a grateful heart!
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