New Found Dreams

I have had many career dreams from my childhood till now, from architect to business owner to teacher to journalist all based on people in my life, books I've read, or my own inner desire to be the best me.

Recently, I have found a new dream that puts all my deepest desires together and is beginning to shape who I am. With quite a large milestone ahead, who knows if my life will actually head in that direction, but a girl can dream can't she?

I want to be the next Pioneer Woman. 

Yes, I am quite serious. The ranch, the husband, the kids, the home cooked meals, the homeschooling, the photography, and the gardens.

Maybe my dream began before I was born, with strong pioneer heritage. Maybe my dream began when I was 10 and all of my friends listened to Backstreet Boys and N'Sync while my parents had me listening to Shania Twain and Alan Jackson. (My first concert was Toby Keith and Rascal Flatts). Maybe it was the love of animals that my mother instilled in me. Maybe its because old pick up trucks make me smile and the smell of a barn doesn't make me cringe. Maybe its because I go to the State Fair, not for the rides and the food, but for the animals and the canned goods. Maybe its the self-reliance I've been taught all my life. Maybe its the wonder of planting a seed and watching it grow into a glorious plant or the wonder pulling a fresh loaf of homemade bread out of the oven. Maybe its because the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday and I want to believe in the American Dream.

Whatever the reason, I have finally figured out that all of my domestic desires to be a good wife and mother can finally and possibly be put into a lifestyle and a career.

I would love to own my property and live in a country style home full of kids and animals and a husband whom I adore. I would love to open our pantry to find rows and rows of hand-canned fruits, vegetables, and soups. I would love to have the love of my life walk through the door from a hard day in the fields to the smell of homemade bread. I am planning on homeschooling my children so they can learn and grow the way that young minds should be. I look forward to my hands being dirty from working in the garden and my heart growing larger after each new animal or child is brought into my life.

Perhaps, these are just dreams and may never all become reality but I have learned to make bread (well, learning) and I am working to educate myself so I can properly teach the rising generation. Some things will have to wait, the husband, the house and the property, but many things I can learn now (my library card is sure worn! - thanks Benjamin Franklin for innovating public libraries in America).

As someone who has been good at almost anything she tries for most of her life, but never excellent at one specific thing this realization is quite comforting. I challenge you to find your dream. To realize that dreams can and will change, but as long as you are following and trusting the Lord in all that you do then you will be happy.

I hope and pray that I will stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places (Mosiah 18:9) because in and through Him is where the true happiness and fulfillment of dreams comes from.