I’m not sure where to begin about today. It was so rich with unexpected kindnesses and sweetness that I’m just sitting here so humbled tonight. Today I turned 39. Even that mere fact feels like a giant gift. 39 years on this earth and 39 years to grow into more of who I’m called to become…the importance of not taking days for granted is not lost on me, and I am thankful for every one.

On the heels of last night’s not feeling well, I woke up this morning still needing to shake off some of my dis-ease and worry. I hadn’t slept incredibly well, and I could feel the weight of things hanging onto the start of a new day. This wasn’t how I hoped to send out 38, or how I would have picked to welcome 39, either. But I knew I needed to choose optimism to shift the course of the day, and I really wanted to be able to enjoy it. Praying with H on the way to school was the catalyst; gratitude has a way of sneaking beyond the haze and clearing up my perspective time and again. Good thing, because I was in curmudgeon mode, and I surely didn’t want to take everyone else with me.

As the day unfolded, so many moments and little delights crossed my path that I didn’t see coming. I was mostly ok with my very grown up birthday falling on an average Wednesday and calling it at that, but God is so generous and kind. J blew up sixty balloons into an arch decoration for the fireplace, and his efforts greeted me this morning when I came down the stairs. Friends stopped by, and our brief-ish visit set everyone’s moods on a better course. What’s more, every time I think about our kiddos running around the yard with their friends this morning, my heart could burst a bit. It was a long-awaited visit that happened on the perfect day and fed all of our souls in the best way possible.

From there, lunch with another friend outside, with the sun on all of our faces on this incredible weather day…a planned meetup, but without set expectations that turned out to be more goodness for all of our hearts. By the time we arrived at school pick up, there had just been moment after moment to be grateful for all day long. Connections with friends and family. Sweet messages and packages in the mail with homemade greetings and drawings. Our kiddos each giving me some of their own money, tucked into beautiful handmade cards “so that I could get myself something for my birthday.” The total sum? $4.44, and just enough to buy a coffee sometime or to bring a few flowers home from the market. (I attempted to give it back, but they insisted.) An envelope filled with hug coupons from our crew…and the list goes on. It truly wasn’t the gifts at all today, but the thoughtfulness behind each one that made me feel like the luckiest 39 year old on the planet.

Tonight we drove a few towns over to try out a beautiful market for dinner and to find ice cream to enjoy along the water as the kids admired boats in the marina. J found a sweet little (easy) spot to head down to the beach afterwards, where the kids collected rocks to their delight, running along the sand and jumping on logs and skipping stones into the water. The sun wasn’t quite close to setting, but the sky was putting on a color show the whole time. When C announced as we all piled back into the car that, “this was the BEST birthday day ever!” I couldn’t have agreed more. Having almost zero expectations meant that the whole day unfolded with surprise and grace abundant. I feel so undeserving, and yet, I can 100% celebrate God’s goodness and generosity and kindness to me in every aspect. Our littlest babe bumping around in my belly tonight is the perfect cap on all things–the reassurance that all is well and the beauty of dreaming about who our honeybee will become…it’s all overwhelming in the best ways.

I’m capturing this all here because I don’t want to forget it, not a bit. Tomorrow will come and likely bring with it its own highs and lows, and that’s just fine. Sometimes you need red letter day to get you over a hurdle and onto the next thing, and today felt like that to me. It’s so healthy to be reminded of all of the good, and to be able to savor new memories with the people we love. My heart didn’t know how much it needed the opportunity.

Maybe today isn’t any indication of the year ahead, or maybe it is. Regardless, I have felt God’s presence near today. His grace covering over me, His mercies falling thick. I never want to forget that there are days like this, or to mistake “normal” days as insignificant. They all add up to these years we’re living and trying to live well. Abundance, no doubt.

MM