Born in Oklahoma City, raised in New Mexico, lived much of my adult life in Dallas, Texas, area.  53 years old, wife of Glen (for 9 years), mother of Derek (29), Reagan (23), grandmother of Gage (6), Gavin (3) and Adysen Ruby (6 months). Oldest of 7 children; raised on a dairy farm (milked lots of cows!). Have worked for Boeing at Tinker AFB for almost 13 years, doing Software Configuration Management.

How did you get to where you are now?

I arrived at this place and point in my life pretty much by chance.  Unfortunately, I never had a grand plan for my life... I guess considering that, I've done pretty well! 

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

I am more content now than I've ever been in my life.  Each night, I am truly thankful that I had the gift of another day and appreciate that I made it through another one.  I guess I am just more aware of and more thankful for all the blessings I've received.  Ten years ago, I took more things for granted and made a lot of assumptions - today I know that things can change in the twinkling of an eye, and I realize how precious family, health and life really are.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In ten years I will be 63... still working (I didn't plan ahead for early retirement, unfortunately).  Actually, I pray that I will be healthy enough to still be working at 63.  I hope I have at least two more grandchildren (that would make five) and that my husband, Glen, will still be healthy and ornery enough to be bugging me.  Am really going to try and have a home paid off in 10 years, too.

Becky Jane, you need to listen to all that good advice out there about financial planning and preparing for retirement.  Retirement time will sneak up on you before you know it, and you won't be ready if you don't start saving now.  Also, trust me, you will want to have plenty of money set aside to spoil those precious grandchildren you are going to have.

1) My mother, Sandra Jane Morgan, best Mom in the world!  Mom passed away from Early Onset Alzheimer's at age 62 in 2000, and I still miss her every day.  She was such a strong person, yet always so sweet and loving. She was the best hostess I ever knew - she loved to have people in her home to feed them and to visit!

2) My grandmothers, Zeoma Ketcheside and Marie Kear.  Beautiful, strong, women of faith - I hope to someday be just half the Christian either of them were! And, I want to be as loved by my grandchildren as they are by theirs.

3) My daddy, Roland Kear.  Daddy taught me a solid work ethic that has rewarded me well throughout my life. His motto, "If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right" has benefited me greatly in my career.  Also, he has always taken his responsibilities seriously and never gave up or ran away, even through raising 7 children.