Family, Life, Marriage

In Ten Years

Kari

A few things have happened since my husband and I married in 2006.

We watched my mom beat thyroid cancer.
But we lost my grandmother in 2007 at the age of 102.

We welcomed two equally amazing humans in 2008 and 2009 — Ella and Will.
We watched as my brother and his family relocated to another state.
Then my mom and dad moved back to Illinois from Tennessee.

We’ve lost jobs.
But we’ve been given new opportunities.

 

We’ve watched our children go through puberty, dating, friendship struggles, and learning disabilities.
We’ve watched ourselves change too — aging, menopause, memory issues, and marital conflict.

Because of all of it, we’ve fought, learned to rely on each other more, and grown into a closer family.

Not every day is rainbows and unicorns, but we are healthy. We have each other. We have full bellies, a roof over our heads, and a life we’re grateful for.

Sure, we’ve had difficult times — some because of decisions we made — but looking back, I’m not sure I would change most of them.

Roller Coaster Ride

Recently, I realized just how fortunate we are while taking our oldest daughter’s prom pictures in the backyard of the home we’ve lived in for the past eleven years.

This yard has witnessed so much.
This house has held so much.

It’s the house we moved into the summer before Anna started kindergarten.
The house where we hosted a pizza dinner ten years ago, the night before our wedding.
The house where, when Ella was five days old, my mom, Anna, and I gave her her first bath in the kitchen sink.

The kitchen where we’ve done over a decade of homework, baked Christmas cookies, and had long conversations about boys, periods, and friendship.

Our backyard has watched our little girls grow — from running around in playhouses wearing Cinderella dresses to standing there in prom dresses.

We built this life here.
And we are so fortunate to have lived it.

I’ve heard the life-as-a-rollercoaster analogy before, and it finally makes sense to me.

One minute I’m cruising along, content.
The next, I’m climbing — up, up, up — slow and uneasy, not sure what’s coming.

At the top, everything looks calm. Maybe even better.
And then the drop.

I can’t breathe.

A moment ago, everything felt steady. Now I’m dizzy, unsure, trying to find my footing again.

And then — eventually — it evens out.
Until the next climb.

I used to ride in the middle row, seat belt tight, eyes closed — just trying to get through it so I could say, I did it.

But I’m learning to ride it differently now.

I’m learning to keep my eyes open.
To take it in while it’s happening.

Because the older I get, the more I see how fast it goes.
For some, the ride is cut far too short.
Others never get on at all.

So much will happen in ten more years.

In ten more years, we might be on the verge of being empty nesters when we celebrate our twentieth anniversary.
We could be grandparents. Or not.

Either way, it’s amazing to think about.

Our lives will shift again. Our relationships will change again.

I hope we are all still here — healthy, together, growing.

I hope I travel more.
I hope I say yes more.

I think, for the next ten years, I’ll move to the front row.

I’ll open my eyes.
Let go of the seat belt.
And scream as loudly as I can.

Because this time, I want to take in the view.

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9 thoughts on “In Ten Years”

  2. Well said. I like how you’ve condensed it all into a post that sums up things, while leaving possibility open for more things. It’s ongoing ride, life– isn’t it?

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Yes! I too used to want to close my eyes and just “get through” but now I am firmly in the living life to it’s fullest and I actually even enjoy actual roller coasters now too.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. The rollercoaster analogy is definitely fitting. Brian and I have been married over 35 years and have been through…well, just about everything. I won’t spill all our dirty laundry on here, but as you know, we lost our oldest son 10-1/2 years ago. I figure if we can make it through that, we can make it through anything.

    xoxo

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh friend, exactly. ❤️

      Also, you guys don’t look old enough to be married 35 years no matter how young you were when you got married. In the immortal words of Carl Reiner’s mom in When Harry Met Sally, I’ll have what you’re having. 😘

      Like

  5. I have found life to be NEVER DULL. Ten years ago I was still doing most of the kids’ stuff. . . bathing them, making all 3 meals and snacks, dressing them, consoling them, and inviting their friends over. It was all so busy and exhausting. Different stage now. Different worries. They are much more independent. But yikes- STILL EXHASTING. I am getting better at reminding myself in the stressful times: this too will pass.

    Happy almost anniversary.

    Liked by 1 person

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