I’m not supposed to be here right now.

Missouri Southern was just supposed to be a way point on my educational journey, only for a year, a year and a half, tops.

Funny how life changes everything, isn’t it?

My second semester, I met my bride-to-be, Genna McDaniel, and my third semester I welcomed my twin daughters, Arden and Hannah, into the world.

And for a while, everything went well, and past plans became just that, the past.

The other day when I was going through some of my stuff, I found an old catalog from Prescott University, in Prescott, Ariz., which was supposed to be my next destination after Southern. And seeing that catalog, and having all those past dreams come rushing back, was a strange experience to say the least.

At first, it was a strange feeling of shock to have all those dreams and hopes right in my face again after all these years. Then, that was replaced by regret.

Going to Prescott had been my dream since my junior year of high school, and here I was, still at Southern, still on the newspaper and about as far from going to Prescott as I had ever been. And I won’t lie — I was about as depressed as I’ve ever been.

But then, I started to think about where I was, not where I wanted to be, and I realized some things.

I’m engaged and have two beautiful, healthy daughters with the woman I love, and plan to marry (If she ever decides on a date…), and who has helped me in more ways than she will ever know. I love you.

And I’ve made the best friends I’ve ever had. I obviously can’t name everybody, but you know who you are. I love all you guys, and you’ve all made things a hundred times better than I ever thought they would be. And even at the risk of offending others, I have to thank Allison personally. You’re the sister I never had, and you’re my best friend. Even though you don’t respect me. But I’m digressing.

I guess the point I’m trying to get at is that sometimes things happen that you don’t ever anticipate, but that’s just life. Things happen and plans change. You can either get depressed about it, or you can make the best of what you have. And while I’m not any closer to where I want to be in life, I’ve finally learned that it’s what happens in between that really matters.