Decade

Dear 1999 Rachel,

So...you are a happily married mother of two. By the time this decade is over you will be a happily married mother of three and stepmother of four. I know this seems impossible but trust me.

A few years from now, you will give your life to Christ. In the big scheme of things, this is the biggest decision you will ever make. You and Ryan will start attending a church. This will be important later. You will decide to have one more baby. That was a really good decision too. A year after that, Ryan will leave you for the choir leader at his dad's church. I know this seems impossible but trust me.

Your life will completely fall apart for a while. You will have to beg for a job. You will have to leave your kids while you work. You will miss a lot of important things. You will not remember your baby's first steps. This will always make you sad. The church you joined, along with both sides of your family will sustain you in every way possible. Your faith will deepen, mature and flourish during this dark time. I know this seems impossible but trust me.

Several years after the divorce, you will reach a very lonely place. You will start looking for dates online. You will date some very strange people. Most of them only once, thank God. You will give up on internet romance. You will sit home alone for a while. You will give the eHarmony thing one more chance when they offer you three months free. You will meet Kevin. He will actually call you back after the first date. I know this seems impossible but trust me.

You and Kevin will date for a couple of years. He has kids. You have kids. Dating will be a pain because you live in different cities. In 2008, you will get married...again. You will move, quit your job and start doing a lot of laundry. You will get a dog. It will smell bad and destroy your house. You will love it anyway. You will get two step-teens. They will smell bad and destroy your house. You will love them anyway.

You will look back on this decade and be absolutely amazed at what God has done in your life. You will be happy. I know this seems impossible but trust me.

Love,
2009 Rachel