thirty-four birthday moments of gratitude

I turn thirty-five tomorrow and I am excited! I truly believe that there are good things in store for thirty-five and that healing and many answers to prayers are on their way! I am excited to see what the Lord has planned for this coming year!

In my birthday post from two years ago and in last years birthday post, I shared that while I know some people reflect on the past year during New Years I have always looked back on my "new years" in two different ways: (1) at the start of a new school year and (2) on my birthday. As I am about to turn thirty-five tomorrow I look back on thirty-four with so much thankfulness and gratitude from the past year. While I could list hundreds of blessings from this past year I wanted to share thirty-four moments of extreme gratitude that stand out to my heart from this past year (in no particular order).

one: the amazing generosity and kindness of so many people that have walked this journey with me and continue to stand by my side. Truly I am incredibly blessed. 

two: learning the beautiful lesson of the hope that is found in history

three: grateful that my medical team is in such a beautiful place- near the San Francisco Bridge

four: Finding the courage to write about Lyme Disease. While I had shared that I was diagnosed with Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease and things from "Notes on the Porch" I had never sat down and written a whole post on what Lyme Disease actually is. I was so blessed by the support that I received.

five: My mom making the amazing decision and sacrifice to resign from her job to take care of me.

six: The absolute blessing of finding an amazing medical team to help me beat this disease.

seven: Having the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time at my favorite place on earth.

eight: Gorgeous sunsets that spoke to my little heart.

nine: Learning the beautiful gift of delighting in the beauty of the ordinary

ten: for precious friends who have walked this long journey with me and continue to pour out their love each and every day

eleven: delightful days and evenings spent on the lake

twelve: the beauty that comes with forgiveness and making peace with the fact that while some friendships change, shift, and end due to illness there are the friendships that grow so deep that you could never have imagined life without them.

thirteen: learning to show up in hope each day

fourteen: for the beautiful answered prayer of SEEN Gathering

fifteen: finding gratitude

sixteen: grace for starting the third fall

seventeen: for scripture that only has grown more precious.

eighteen: a beautiful day and a beautiful evening

nineteen: for the beautiful reminder that healing is always possible as I celebrated nine years.

twenty: for the constant sacrifice that my parents have made to not only help me get better but for the ability to bring joy and laughter to each difficult day. 

twenty-one: for a sister who loves me so much and runs half-marathons for me. 

twenty-two: for the release of my FIRST book, "Praying through Lyme Disease"

twenty-three: for the the precious lesson that adventure is right where you are at

twenty-four: writing on this little space for two years (!!) It has been so lovely to connect with so many people, develop deep and lasting friendships, and to grow in this community

twenty-five: a grandmother who prays and prays and prays... and prays... and prays.... 

twenty-six: having the courage to answer the "but you don't act sick statements"

twenty-seven: for a family who is incredibly precious beyond words.

twenty-eight: Discovering the "Hurricane Chapter" of the Adirondack Mountains

twenty-nine: stepping out... taking risks and learning to live fearlessly and with valor.

thirty: learning to live with courage in the waiting

thirty-one: for the release of my SECOND book, "Prayers for the Single Journey"

thirty-two: learning personally the truth of the Lord giving strength for each day...for every battle... and for this fight for my health.

thirty-three: for financial donations to my "Go Fund Me" Page that come in at the exact right timing and help provide for necessary medical treatment

thirty-four: learning that the Lord has a plan beyond my own little imagination.

Thank you so much to all of you who have made this past year such a blessing! I am so thankful for each of you in my life! Thank you again!