another life

Sometimes I wonder if I was meant for another life. Alright, you caught me... that was totally a bit of literary exaggeration. It can't be further from the truth, because I'm living the life God intended, knowing that I have tons of faults and make mistakes along the way, but still listening to His leading and doing His will... there's just no other way.

All that being said though, do you ever sit and wonder what life would have been life IF? I know it's pointless, but sometimes my mind goes down tangents of ifs, just for the fun of it, because I have nothing better to do. What if I had chosen another career? What if I had decided not to give up on that one passion/hobby? What if we had chosen to move somewhere else? What if I had stayed when I chose to leave, or leave when I chose to stay? It's weird to think about the possibilities and the way your choices shape your life. But in the end, I always realize the same truth: I am here, doing this thing, with these people, and God is awesome.

So what, you ask, would I dream about doing otherwise down a path of "what if"s? I give you these scenarios:

1.) Living in San Francisco, working at a furniture restoration/antique shop, spending my spare time exploring my city, living in a sweet old house, wearing tons of floral summer dresses, reading literary classics and poetry on park benches with Joel, and having picnics overlooking the bay.

2.) Living in France, working in a flower shop, speaking fluent French, sitting with Joel by the side of a river eating ice cream in my favorite red cardigan sweater, reading lots of literary classics and poetry (I guess it applies here too), tending to my rooftop garden, and taking trains all over Europe.

Both of these involve taking tons of sweet photography as well... such dreams, such dreams... maybe someday I can live them out for a short vacation. Meanwhile, I love my life here in Wheaton, taking photos of people I adore, exploring a fantastic big city nearby. Not too shabby, I'd say!