To you, dear friends

TWENTY EIGHT

Its perfectly fitting that my birthday falls before thanksgiving— because my heart is so grateful.

I’m so grateful for the people in my life. Im grateful for the friends I’ve found in Texas, Oregon, Paraguay, Alaska, and Utah. You’ve made each of these places home 🤍 I love you for welcoming me & for your endless kindness in every stage of my life. It’s changed and healed my heart.

The last few years have been an absolute dumpster fire riddled with personal tragedy after tragedy— but I’m so grateful for it.

This last year in particular felt like the grand finale of the trifecta I’ve been living through— disability, death, divorce.

But somehow— after everything— I’m completely and totally undeniably filled with joy. And I think it’s because of God, and because of you.

I’m so in awe of the strength, grace, and compassion each of you has shown me over the hardest years of my life. I’ve been lifted up at my lowest point again and again. It’s a miracle to me.

And I will never stop thanking you for it.

Thank you for letting me share my life with you. For letting me write about my grief. For giving me a safe space on social media to talk about my faith. For reaching out. For genuinely connecting with me. For praying for me, for showing up at my doorstep in the pouring rain, for waking with me. For inviting and including me. For sharing kind words when I needed them most. I will never forget the hundreds of acts of love I have been the recipient of.

Whether you were a part of my high school years— college— my mission— or helped me in my journey as a mother and as a woman— I’m forever indebted to you for the influence you’ve had on my life.

I hope I can be that kind of person to others my whole life 🤍 and I hope you know that it mattered to me and that YOU matter to me. People DO care about you and about your life and you DO make a difference. I’m so grateful for you, dear friends.