My name is Lizzy and I'm 29 years old. Woah. When I see that number written down, it kind of terrifies me. I have spent the last 2.5 years as a stay at home mom, doing freelance jobs and odd jobs in between. The last two and a half years have been an emotional roller coaster: 2 moves, big family decisions that were difficult to make, my husband's return to school to become a Paramedic, 2 babies, another marathon in the books (before the 2nd child, that is), and trying to figure out what in the world I want to do with my life.

I started working full-time jobs when I was 17 years old. I was previously an Athletic Director and School Counselor/Teacher. I went to school for my MA and here I am, changing diapers, wearing vomit-covered shirts, tearing the crust off peanut butter sandwiches, cleaning animal crackers out of toddler straws, and vacuuming, sweeping and mopping up behind tiny humans every day. There is one thing I know - raising tiny humans is a dream that I never knew I had. I am absolutely head over heels in love with the journey. It's hard. Some days I cry, lose my cool, and some days I crave other professional accolades - but I know this is what I was called to do right now.

On the other hand, I also have a new dream - to write from a place of authenticity. To write about struggle - the struggles of motherhood, fighting inner demons, insecurities, and marital highs and lows.

I am learning to dream again.

I am slowly realizing that even though I have been focused on motherhood, it's okay to continue pursuing the ultimate goal of writing books, traveling, speaking, and helping women face and embrace their chaos. That MAY come one day.

I am learning to dream again.

If that day does come, the season that I am in RIGHT now is teaching me so much. I am learning to appreciate the chaos. The trying days. The life of being a first responder wife. Realizing that I am more than "mommmmmmmyyyyy." I want to show my children that you can continue dreaming or start dreaming in any phase of life. Start with the little things and work your way to the ultimate goal. That you have to put in the hard work now to get to the ultimate goal. Write those blog posts. Join that writing group. Submit that article. Take that class.

I am learning to dream again.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to be home with my children right now. I hope it continues for a while. I am also excited to continue learning, growing, reshaping my thought process, learning lessons (sometimes the hard way), and realizing that if it is in God's plan for my life - maybe I can write something that inspires someone else. Give them a glimmer of hope. Help them realize that it is ok to struggle. It's ok to go through growing periods. It's ok to go through seasons of grief, turmoil, identity crisis, loneliness, and hardships.

It's what we do through those seasons that help mold and shape us. It's how we use our stories to encourage others rather than judge them. It's waking up and building upon that dream day after day after day.

To the person reading this: it's ok if you don't know exactly what "the dream" looks like for you. It's putting all of you into the season of life you are in. It's remaining hopeful for the future. It's choosing to submit that article even though you may be rejected, again and again. It's putting your words on paper or playing the song you wrote in public even though someone WILL judge you. It's realizing that we can't base our dreams off the judgment of others.

Love fiercely. Forgive daily. Continue parenting with your whole heart, but know it's ok to continue dreaming big dreams. And then go chase them.

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