I Love to Dream

Today I love to dream.  But that was not always the case. I was not a day dreamer as a child.  I paid attention in class, was very diligent in getting my homework done, and got very good grades.  I was never one to be caught daydreaming in class, lost in another world.  My dreams as a child were probably not really “dreams” in the ethereal or emotional sense, but simply life goals to get good grades, go to college, and be successful in life.  However, as an adult I have become a serious dreamer.  I love dreaming up ideas for my future businesses, my future home, my future career, my future travels, my future service as a missionary, and my future growing family of grandchildren.  I love to ponder and envision what that dream may look like. Sometimes, I may be guilty of spending too much time dreaming and not enough time “doing,” but I think it’s safe to say that I’ve also been quite a “doer” over the years and have accomplished many of my dreams. 

Through my 49 ½ years on this earth, I have been a valedictorian of my high school class, won athletic awards and scholarships in high school, completed my bachelors degree in landscape architecture, worked in my field for over 20 years designing parks, trails, landscapes, and public spaces.  I married a wonderful man, have two wonderful daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law, and two wonderful grandchildren  I have owned homes, owned rental properties, and been able to travel to many interesting places.  I love to sew and quilt and have made my own as well as both my daughters’ wedding dresses.  I have been able to volunteer regularly for my church and be involved in teaching, organizing conferences, and missionary work.  I love to garden and enjoy growing vegetables every summer.  I love living in Virginia and learning so much about our countries history.  I have already lived many of my dreams in my life.

Creating dreams and visions about my future helps me to create my life spiritually in order to later create it physically.

Randy Pausch gave his famous “Last Lecture” only a few months before he passed away from pancreatic cancer.  Randy was inspiring in how he accomplished so many of his childhood dreams.  He knew how to live life to the fullest and make the most of each day.  Something unique in Randy Pausch is that he had some very specific childhood dreams.  I think that is a gift to be able to dream so specifically at such a young age.  He knew from a young age what his “bucket list” was and went to work on it.  He is a great example of doing those things that are most important to us and living today to it’s fullest because we don’t know if we will be here tomorrow.

One of my childhood dreams was to have a very beautiful home.  I suppose having grown up in rather humble circumstances as the youngest of 7 siblings in a family of 9 in a double wide mobile home.  Although, I know that family is much more important than the home that they live in, I also believe that having a nice home in which family can feel comfortable and welcome is a wonderful blessing.   As a landscape architect, I have always been involved in design and feel that my home is reflection of my values and style.  I have lived in many lovely homes over the years that I have enjoyed, but it wasn’t until recently that my husband and I have discussed building our “dream home.”  We are in a phase of our life where our children are grown and financially independent and we have the means, financially security, and time to consider either building our dream home or remodeling our current home to become our dream home.  As we embarked on this endeavor we will seek the balance between fulfilling our dream and maintaining our standards for financial stability and integrity. 

I believe both are possible because I believe in dreams!