Yes, that is both a question and an exclamation… how did I end up here?! I find myself, a thirty-something woman, living in the suburbs, married, four kids, mortgage, family vacations, mini van, student loans; the whole middle class starter kit.

Often I find myself sitting in wonderment, amazed by where I am at this point in my life. I honestly didn’t plan any of this. Like most of us, I had big plans for my future. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get there, but I knew where I wanted to go. I wanted to act, on Broadway. Let’s all take a moment and thank the heavens above THAT didn’t happen. I would have learned what rejection felt like, quickly.

As a product of divorced parents, I never wanted to get married. I never believed I would find anyone worth the heartache I assumed went along with commitment. Yet when he walked into that room, I had never felt like I wanted something more in my life; my first u-turn. I was already on the verge of a change toward my intended direction when I deviated my course, shifted tracks. And when we vowed to marry one another on Groundhog Day 2006, I felt completely sure of my new path.

Again, I thought I knew what I was doing, where the new “we” were headed, two determined, career focused people. Suddenly, we had a family, and I became a stay at home mom. I never thought I would be the person who would take a step back for my spouse. But when he struggled, when he needed my support, when we couldn’t make the world work around our schedule, I changed my direction once more.

I have loved being home, not every minute of it, it’s exhausting sometimes, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been amazing. I know how lucky I am to have this time with my small children, even on the days when they drive me crazy. Yet, I found myself not sure of my direction in life. For the first time I felt out of control. I decided this time I would direct the change of course instead of adjusting to life’s sudden curve.

Now I find myself in uncomfortable positions. I have put myself back in the classroom as a student at college after ten years away. I have made the decision to continue on for a masters. I am putting myself out there in the internet universe, my words, my heart, my ideas, for all to see. I am not at all where I thought I would be.

But I ask myself, did any of us plan this? Have any of us stayed the course we originally set out on. I’m sure out there somewhere is someone who has had their whole life play out just how they planned. However, most of us are flying by the seat of our pants. Even after I thought my life was set, I’ve hit more plot twists than a George R.R. Martin novel. Yet every time I have learned that there really isn’t anything to fear from these new directions. Now though, I find myself terrified!

So I ask myself, why a blog, why now? Blogs (and opinions) are like, well you know the old saying; everyone has one these days. So what makes mine so special? Again, I find myself being so ready for something I did not expect, did not plan. I feel so excited by this time in my life and where I am headed. There are so many changes happening, in our world, in my world; why not start at this time!

I want all of you to be excited about this process too. I am doing it as much for all those in my life as I am for myself. I want my children to look back on something amazing their mother created. I want my parents to be proud of where I’ve come from and where I’m going. I want my friends (I include my readers in that category) to laugh at my humor and find something inspiring in my words. I want my husband to watch me reinvent myself again, and cheer me on from the sidelines. And I want to see myself become the woman I know I can be, the woman I know I am.

What can you expect from all this? Some words of wisdom, encouragement when you need a lifting hand, tips, tricks, advice, musings, and laughter, lots and lots of laughter. I hope to give you, the readers, inspiration for everything from a weeknight dinner, to changing your life with exercise, to thought provoking ideas you haven’t approached before. I hope you can laugh at my shortcomings, which are numerous, relate to my opinions, which are vast, and cheer me on during my victories, which are few.

So come along with me on this journey. And I promise I’ll leave all aspirations of singing to karaoke nights with my sister!