I Never Imagined I Would Be This Rich

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a great many things. I originally aspired to be a librarian (check), and then a teacher (check), a writer (check), an artist (I don’t know what I was thinking – ZERO talent there), and even a nun (obviously not what God had in mind). In high school, I was focused on law, though Mrs. Wilson always did tell me that I should be a writer, so I guess she knew best. In college, I went from lawyer to speech writer to history teacher, and then, finally, back to being a librarian. Other than during my third grade obsession with working in the streets of Calcutta alongside Mother Teresa, I always knew I wanted to be a wife and mother. Never did I think about how much money I would make, how big my house would be, or how much wealth I would have. My end goal was always to be happy. So it’s kind of funny now that I look around and see how rich I’ve become.

Hold on, let me clarify. I live in a modest home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Our town is a fishing village on a peninsula, but we do not have waterfront property (unless you look really hard from our second floor, through the trees, and across the street in the dead of winter). We don’t own fancy cars or have a chauffeur (except for Morgan, who currently has her learner’s permit). We are very lucky to be able to travel extensively, but most of our trips involve some sort of business trip for Ken. We have no state of the art technological gadgets throughout our house, no marble floors or vaulted ceilings, no chalet in France or yacht in the Caribbean. We pay for our cars through loans and for college with years of savings. However, we have amassed so much wealth that it cannot be measured in silver or gold.

 

I grew up in a wonderful, loving, faith-filled family.

 

 

I had the best grandparents ever. EVER.

 

 

 

My father has beaten cancer more times than I can remember and is still going strong at 80.

 

My mother is, hands down, the most wonderful mother I have ever known.

 

 

Ken and I will soon celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary. 

 

 

We have three daughters who light up our lives every single day.

 

 

 

 

 

My girls and their cousins are the best of friends. Seriously, do you know how special that is?

For that matter, I can say, with all honesty, that I have awesome in-laws! On both sides of my family, I have been blessed with caring parents-in-law and sisters-in-law who are true sisters.

I have the best friends, near and far, that a gal could ask for.

I am able to do what I love.

God has blessed me with wealth beyond my wildest imagination. I may never have diamonds on every finger or a waterfront estate or enough money to feed all the poor in the world. But what I do have is treasure far greater than any ever sought by kings. I thank God for my riches every day, and I thank all of you, who have become a part of my life, for your support, encouragement, and the treasure you add to my life.

What I was writing about one year ago this week: Nine Tips for Losing Nineteen Pounds (and Counting).

Amy Schisler is an award winning author of both children’s books and novels for readers of all ages. She lives with her husband and three daughters on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Her books, Picture Me and Whispering Vines, are recipients of Illumination Awards, placing them among the top three inspirational fiction books of 2015 and 2016. Whispering Vines was awarded the 2017 LYRA Award for the best romance of 2016. Amy’s most recent novel, Island of Miracles, is now on sale.

You may follow Amy on Facebook at http://facebook.com/amyschislerauthor, Twitter @AmySchislerAuth, Goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/amyschislerand at http://amyschislerauthor.com.

Amy’s books: Crabbing With Granddad (2013), A Place to Call Home (2014), Picture Me (2015), Whispering Vines (2016), Island of Miracles (2017), Stations of the Cross Meditations for Moms (2017)