But what's really wild is to realize the different life I had TEN years ago! It doesn't seem like a long time until I realize what has filled those years.
In 2010, I was in my second semester of my freshman year of college. I was at Tri- county Tech preparing to transfer to Clemson to study nursing and ultimately become a Nurse First Assistant in the OR in pediatric cardio-thoracic surgery. I was a single girl. No boyfriend, no desire for children.I dreamed of marrying a wonderful man, traveling, and living in a 1920's charmer home in a historic district somewhere in South Carolina.
By 2012, I was graduating after 3 years of college as a Certified Surgical Technologist with my first surgical job waiting on me the next day working in ophthalmic, ENT, and general surgery at the first surgery center I fell in love with as a student. I was growing lonely as I prayed for the husband I so desired. My greatest desire in my life at 22 years old and entering the real world was to meet my husband God had prepared for me so that I could make him yummy food, go on adventures with he who would be my best friend, and show him what a fun and crazy little ticket of a wife I would be. I knew at 22 I would rather stay single for all eternity rather than to settle with just an "ok" guy. So I prayed from the time I was 19-22 that God would build a brick wall around me so that no man would pursue me or see me that was not the man God intended for me to marry. And boy did He answer. But eventually, before I turned 23, (feeling like an old maid by then! Ha!) I found my precious husband and best friend in Eric Duane Gladden. We met one night and were together forevermore. I don't believe in love at first sight; I believe in God. And God showed me the answer to the prayer I had prayed for years. And it was very clear. God gave me Eric and my life has never been better since the day I first saw him on June 2, 2013.
Eric and I fell in love quickly but had a long engagement because I wanted to share the same anniversary as my parents, who shared the same anniversary as my maternal grandparents. While I love this sentiment; I have grown older now and so wish Eric and I had just eloped within a couple months with a dress and our parents and my sister. But, I am thankful for the beautiful wedding we had. And it was beautiful. I only realize too late with a little more life under my toes that the real beauty of the wedding is not the wedding; it is the marriage, the love. We had a perfect dream luxury honeymoon.
After a year of marriage we planned to start our family. We got pregnant with Ellie. I had higher risks, and higher risk of miscarriage. Ellie had a higher risk of having a CHD than all the other 1 in 100 that have them in. I hemorrhaged for the first 11 weeks of pregnancy with Ellie. I couldnt relax, I couldn't joyfully enjoy my pregnancy or joyfully tell Eric I was pregnant because it was so unknown by myself or my doctors if Ellie (Flicker) was going to stay with us. I wasn't allowed to lift more than 10 lbs for months. I was sick, and I was scared to even walk. But after some big scares and by 14 weeks pregnant, I was finally able to start enjoying the pregnancy with more confidence that she and I would be alright. At 15 weeks we learned we were having the "Ellie" we always talked about and I cried joyous tears!! My little girl!! I started running again as I couldn't at the beginning. I had a strong, stubborn, determined, fighter of a little girl with my greatest love of my life. We became parents. We don't even know how we enjoyed life without her!
Ellie was born in 2017. In Fall 2016, We got pregnant with her. AND Eric started back to school for a degree in Chemical engineering while maintaining his status as a full time employee with his company. Then, we had Ellie. Eric was still in school and working and we had a newborn. THEN, as if this was not enough all at once....we decided to sell our house officially 2 months after Ellie was born. (We were out looking at land on my due date! We were so ready for OUR dream home). We sold in 2 weeks, then rented nearby while we built our beautiful dream home we had talked about since we met.
We moved into our new home. We have planted trees, worked the land, and have really started settling in. I can't wait for all my trees I planted to grow. We will have a vegetable and fruit garden, and orchard, a boat dock, and a patio. Ellie will even have her own garden!
I also had the privilege of serving the upstate as a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. I ran my first marathon and countless half marathons. I took my first cruise, traveled to Africa, Antigua, Seattle, and Canada.
I have changed so much in 10 years. What I like about my changes: I feel I have become far more selfless. I am more focused on my family (parents and sister) than ever before. I am realizing time really is fleeting and I can't get it back. Everything I do and say matters. I love that I learned a few years ago to release from my life people that were toxic, draining, immature, and people who generally just made me feel anxious, and immature. People who didn't push me to grow yet dragged me down. I have flourished most since then. I have learned to appreciate and respect my mama. I have learned she along with my daddy are the most amazing blessings and I am truly shown favor by God to have them as parents. I feel stronger physically and spiritually. I finally found my perfect joy is in Jesus and it is in He that my joy flourishes. My husband makes me happy. My daughter makes me happy. I am thankful to have my home, health, and family. But take all that away and my joy still resides in Jesus and my hope, too. He gave me all these things. He can take them away. I pray He won't. But, the most important thing I could ever know is that my soul rests in His hands. I am so happy with where I am stepping into 2020.
I look forward to Eric graduating in 2021. I am excited to see how his new degree serves him and serves others. I am excited to see what Ellie and I will learn and explore as we homeschool together and keep climbing mountains.
My favorite moments from 2010 to 2020:
