F O R T Y T H R E E, WOW!
Every year when I sit down to write this birthday post, I feel the weight and the gift of another number. But not just older, I feel yet again changed by time. Softened. Strengthened. Humbled. Refined.
It feels like this past year flew by in the blink of an eye. I’ll say it now and I’ll say it again, but the years literally move so quick once you hit 40. I don’t know if there is some odd science behind it, but it just does. And I fight it daily. I was just talking to a friend about how graduating high school doesn’t feel that far behind me. I can remember it like it was yesterday. So how can I glean from this vastness of time between seasons and the quickness in which they truly do pass, while also living in them with the mentality of deep presence. Well, I think this all boils down to how well we stay living in the present moment. Moment by moment. Not getting stuck in the fight of what was and what could be.
So below you’ll find a collection of sorts.. some funny, some serious, the hard truths, the easy to digest and maybe shed some light for you to carry into your next year. But all carry equal weight to the reality that a life lived fully, completely, and wholly requires many things. The life lessons have been countless. The pruning and the stretching on this side of heaven aren’t always enjoyable, sometimes they press deep and ask more of me than I feel ready to give. But I’m learning that the blessing and the breakthrough don’t come without both the cutting back and the pushing forward.
43rd B I R T H D A Y word
- Rooted
43rd B I R T H D A Y verse
- “I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices; My body too will dwell [confidently] in safety, You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. [Acts 2:25-28, 31] Psalms 16:8-9, 11
43rd B I R T H D A Y song
1. “Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.” Be choosy. Be careful. Be intentional. Who we surround ourselves with matters.
2. Your perspective can either imprison you or free you. Our mindset with drive the ‘car’ of life. Make sure you are steering in the right direction.
3. My worth is not tied to my productivity. Ooooofffhhh. This can be so hard for me, still. But even on the days I accomplish nothing, I am still fully loved, fully chosen, and fully enough.
4. LOVE your parents deeply. Every year I learn a deeper appreciation in how monumental my parents wisdom truly is. I don’t take for granted the sacrifices made over the years. It softens my heart to the frailty of time, in relationship and memories. And CALL them, A LOT- it really matters!
5. Forgiveness isn’t a one and done. It’s a daily practice, for myself and others. Forgive everyone everything. This doesn’t always mean they still have access, because boundaries are often needed, but it does mean you don’t live imprisoned to the darkness of unforgiveness which festers into bitterness and all kinds of unhealthy junk.
6. Comparison will starve your calling if you let it. What God has planted in you needs focus and faith to grow, let go of distraction and doubt.
7. “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].” Proverbs 3:5-6 (One of my life verses)
8. Rest is obedience, not laziness. It might not come natural but it is a skill worth pruning and learning. Just because we weren’t born a natural “something” doesn’t mean we can’t learn it. Especially if it is a skill that greatly benefits a life well lived….and REST, makes a life well lived.
9. You can be confident and kind at the same time. This starts within our own hearts and then trickles out to those around us. We can’t give out what we don’t put in. Strength doesn’t require sharp edges, and gentleness doesn’t mean you shrink.
10. My children are watching how I live more than what I say. The outward example I set in my everyday actions will echo louder than any words I speak.
11. Just wear the red lipstick. But make sure it’s the right shade! Nothing like a good pop of lipstick to turn a day around… Am I right??
12. Be honest. Don’t hold everything in. Be honest about where you are. Real connection grows when we choose courage over pretending. Authenticity matters more than anything for relationships and friendships to flourish.
13. It’s O K A Y to not be okay. Just remember the internet isn’t real. You never know how much someone is struggling behind a screen. We could all be a little kinder.
14. Feelings are real, but they are not always true. I can acknowledge them without letting them lead me
15. “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
16. Create healthy boundaries– even if others don’t understand. The only people who break other peoples boundaries are the ones who don’t have any themselves.
17. Healing is rarely linear. Some days feel like progress, and others feel like you’re right back where you started, but forward is still forward.
18. Stop saving for special occasions! I believe this DEEPLY! Today is a special occasion, don’t MISS it… Eat on the fine china, use the nice sheets, burn the candle, wear the fancy dress.. we are not promised tomorrow!
19. Not everyone is for you… and that’s OKAY! It doesn’t feel okay sometimes, but it is. Just find the ones who are FOR you!
20. Get outside everyday, even if it’s just 10 minutes. Miracles are everywhere & the sun has an amazing way of boosting endorphins, changing moods, lifting depression and anxiety and of course you get a little bonus glow- because who doesn’t love a little sunkissed skin!!
21. Taking care of your body as a Priority! Feed it well. Move it more. Rest it intentionally. Talk to it gently. And making space for grace when you fall off track.
22. Shut your mouth, Open your ears! James said it a little nicer, “Everyone be quick to listen, and slow to speak..” It’s hard to have empty ears when you have a mouth full of words.
23. ALWAYS invest in a good quality pair of boots and a warm winter coat. Quality matters. Fast fashion ain’t warm!
24. Grief is lifelong. Time doesn’t heal, it just simply puts a physical divide between open wound and healing wound. But the wound and scar never go away. Grief comes without warning and never leaves. It’s only when you press into the feelings of grief and try not to stuff them that lifelong healing can begin.
25. It’s okay to outgrow old versions of yourself.. Call yourself out. Learn the importance of self-evaluation no matter how hard it is. Leave unwanted things behind, grow, evolve, learn, step into your full potential.
26. Carry a 40 oz reusable water bottle everywhere you go. Trust me, don’t leave home without it. Put it beside your bed. Travel with it. Water is life. It’s also the best thing for your skin.
27. Be fully yourself in all capacities. Job. Relationships. Friendships. Family. Don’t puff yourself up, or make yourself little, JUST BE YOU!
28. Prayer Works. Period. In all things. In all ways. In all seasons.
29. Invest in the hobbies that bring you joy. One day those hobbies just may grow into something bigger, but even if not, you still sharpened a new skill and kept your mind thinking, learning and creating in new ways. This is so beneficial to our brain health and life health.
30. Find a healthy skin routine and STAY consistent. It’s the only skin you’ll have, treat it with gentle care.
31. In a bed of roses, be a wildflower. You don’t have to look like everyone else to be beautifully in bloom. Be authentically YOU!
32. SAVE. SAVE. SAVE. Pay off debt. Live in financial freedom. Learn how to budget. Your future self will thank you.
33. Admit when you’re wrong and sincerely apologize. The greatest apology goes beyond saying, “I’m sorry;” it’s making a actionable change.
34. Tell people you love them. This sounds so simple, but we often assume they know. And yes, they may. But let them hear it again!
35. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful. From inside our homes to inside our minds.
36. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. Don’t get the two mixed up.
37. Be interruptible. Don’t be so caught up in the to-do’s and structure of your day that you miss the miracles or divine appointments that come your way. We often miss them in our focused blindness of life.
38. All that truly matters in the end.. is how well we loved.
39. Gratitude changes everything! Taking 5 minutes at the beginning or the end of the day to write down what I am grateful for is a total mindset booster.
40. Envy and Jealousy are a waste of time. If we threw every issue we had in a pile AND saw everyone else’s.. we’d grab ours back in a minute. Quit comparing (I think I’ve mentioned that a few times now)!!!!
41. It’s a bad moment, not a bad day! I say this often to our 6 year old and I remind my own heart of it often. It’s easy to get so down in different seasons and think, “This is just how it is”. But that’s not true. Seasons come and go, so do emotions and difficulties. It’s pressing in and growing through it, not getting stuck IN it.
42. God’s timing has protected me more than it has delayed me. The doors that didn’t open and the plans that fell apart were often quiet acts of grace, shielding me from what I couldn’t see and preparing me for something even better.
43. God cares more about my character than my platform. Faithfulness will be costly. But who I am in the quiet matters more than who sees me in the spotlight.
This year ahead, I want to live lighter.
Less comparison.
Less overthinking.
Less striving to secure what God has already promised.
More obedience.
More courage.
More showing up fully as the woman He is shaping me to be.
If my years have taught me anything, it’s this: the goal isn’t to shine the brightest in the room, it’s to stay faithful to the light He placed inside me.
Another candle. Another year. Another chance to walk closely with Him.
And that is more than enough. (Read that again!)
The ONE & ONLY thing that has gotten me through all the worst of my days and humbled me on all my best days: The Bible ❤️ If you don’t know where to start, read one Psalm a day. I promise you won’t be the same!
So, Happy Birthday or Happy Any day to you! I hope you are encouraged today to go out and think about what is important to your own heart. What makes you smile, what brings you joy, what sparks new life in your soul. Let God carry your burdens and lighten your load today and NEVER ever ever EVER forget how deeply loved you are ❤️
