Thought I had to discover this unique calling that was supposed to be different from what my mother did or what her mother did before her. I thought there was something wrong with me if I felt called toward the things that my faith and my family have always valued—being a wife, being a mother, creating a home.

But then something happened inside me. I realized that my culture, my faith, my grandmother's prayers—they weren't trying to limit me. They were trying to protect me. They were trying to point me toward something real that our modern world has made seem small and unfulfilling.

I've come to understand that my purpose isn't opposed to having a partner lead. My purpose isn't about fighting to prove I'm equal through doing everything myself. My purpose is about building something lasting, something beautiful, something that outlives me. And that's not a small purpose at all. That's the most important work anyone can do.

When I imagine my future, I don't see myself fighting to be heard. I see myself in a role where my gifts—my ability to nurture, to create, to hold things together, to make a home feel like love—are valued exactly as they are. I see myself trusting a man to be the foundation so that I can be the heart of our life together. 🤲

I think it's brave to say this out loud in a world that tells me I should want something different. But I don't apologize for it anymore. I'm not settling. I'm choosing. I'm choosing to become exactly what I was designed to be.