not the life I had imagined . . .

In 1982, Steve and I were chosen to participate in a Life Planning Seminar through his company.

One of the exercises asked us to close our eyes and picture ourselves in retirement - both Steve and I imagined ourselves walking on a beach.

As I was dusting the guest room this morning, I read the quote on this notebook and realized that I am not living the life I imagined.

This little blurb sits on the sidebar of my blog and yes, I did imagine myself living in a cottage by the sea, but our lives are so much more.

The idea of Steve becoming a full time artist was nowhere on the radar.

He never dreamed that anyone would pay money for his art

or that anything he painted would end up on a bottle of wine.

I had no idea that I would ever write a blog or that I would become friends with fellow bloggers.

Who would have predicted that I would share teaching lessons with Anita of Castles Crowns and Cottages,

 visit antique shops with Patty of Patty's Pretty Things or

that Bobbie of Cottleston Pie would drop by the house for a visit.

I never imagined that I would become a photographer

 always carrying my camera and/or iPhone to capture a special moment.

I find myself creating vignettes around the house

and posting pictures on Instagram -

definitely not in my earlier dreams.

We are now in our retirement years, walking along the beach and

 this precious little one walks/runs along side us.

This is not the life I had imagined,

it's better!