I can do anything

There was a time when I honestly believed that I would marry Prince William. It was a practical decision, really. I wanted to be a princess. He was about my age (a little younger by 10 months, which is almost a deal breaker for awhile.) He spoke English. He was ugly. England is pretty magical. So, all the pieces fit together in my mind. Done deal. It wasn't a fairytale in my mind. It was simply something that I had chosen to make happen.

Then I join the Mormon church, and things got a little complicated. I realized I would not only have to go to England, find the prince and get him to marry me, but I would also have to convert him and change some British laws. It was getting pretty complicated. For awhile I had a plan that was ready to implement, but then -- simply put -- I changed my mind, fell in love with Tim Fellow and moved on to new goals.

The magic of this childhood goal is that I was raised to think that I could do anything. You plan. You do. You make things happen. Changing your mind is totally acceptable, but basically if I continue to want to do something, I could, in fact, do it.

This of all things makes me scared to be a mother because I worry that somehow I will not be able to teach this critical principle to my girls the way my parents managed to do for me. (Disclaimer: my parents did not encourage me to move to England and marry a prince. I chose that on my own based on the general teaching that anything is possible.)

I am incredibly grateful to my parents for giving my strength, confidence and knowledge. I think it is a beautiful thing, and it pretty much prevents me from waking up some morning hating my life because I know that I could have done anything and been anyone. Nothing held me back. The skies were the limit, and I chose to be me and live here and have these beautiful 3 babies.

Choice is awesome.

So, on Friday morning I watched the royal wedding with my little girls. It was a little emotional for me to remember my goals of the past. It brought me back, but it also made me feel happy and powerful and grateful for my today.