Dear Kaitlyn,
Well look - you're finally about to finish up college. When you started out, you planned to graduate with a fashion degree and move to NYC with all of your friends. You never thought that the economy would be in the dumps or that you would have no desire to spend $2000 a month on a one bedroom flat in New York. All of your friends will move to New York, get unpaid internships and work second jobs at night. Although this seems like it could be kind of crazy and fun, figure out another way to market your degrees and get a stable job with a salary.
Even though you have both a Fashion Design and Merchandising degree, you will soon discover that these are two pieces of paper and you can really end up doing just about anything. You will end up contacting a huge defense company and getting a job with them. And although it may seem really uncool, you will move back home and live with your parents. This will be a huge blessing - you will strengthen your relationship with your mom and dad and look back fondly on this time. You will work your butt off and work your way up in your job. People will laugh and will not believe that you will land a position as a quality engineer - without an engineering degree. You always said you never wanted to be an engineer (like your dad), but this will be the most rewarding career position and you will love it!
Your plan will be to stay in Florida forever, but opportunities will arise and you will be transferred to Atlanta. You will be miserable at first - you won't know a single person and will feel completely alone. But just keep moving forward. After a few months you will be so grateful for your new life and friends. You will continue to work extremely hard at your job and it will pay off. You will land a position that allows you to travel the country and also work from home. You will accept the position, even though you will be forced to move again. It will be the hardest thing you have done up to this point - you will move to Nashville, not knowing anyone, and will start over less than a year from moving to Atlanta. Pray and trust God. At the time it will seem like a humongous leap of faith, and it is, but little do you know, it will be the best decision of your life. Your first weekend in Nashville, you will meet your future husband...
Kaitlyn, although at this moment you have no idea where you are going, what your job will be or if you will ever get married, do not worry about it. It will all work out. If only I could let you know that exactly two years from now you will have an awesome career and will meet the man of your dreams...then maybe you would spend that time in between now and then worry-free, enjoying life and just trusting God. But you are a worry wart. You'll be stressed out about finding a job, living with your parents and moving all over the place. And one day, years down the road, you'll look back at everything and see how it all was perfectly laid out. You don't need all of the answers today. Just live your life, appreciate the moment you are in, and everything will fall into place.
Love,
Older, married, incredibly happy, "mom" Kaitlyn
