It's Fun, Isn't It?

I kept thinking that perseverance was going to be the word that defined 36.

As you know, life has been stressful lately. Managing caregivers has felt especially heavy, and I walked into my birthday week thinking, I hope I can get a little respite.

I need a break!

One of my favorite things about birthdays is that they have an interesting way of slowing everyone down. We spend so much of our lives rushing from one responsibility to the next that we often forget to simply enjoy the people God has given us. This week reminded me to stop.

I laughed over watermelon mocktails with Natalie. If you've followed my blog for a while, you know Natalie is Julie's twin sister. Julie is a constant presence in my life even though she passed in 2016. Naturally, she's still part of every conversation Natalie and I have.

Julie was the root, and so many branches of friendship have grown from what she left me: a beautiful community.

I left dinner smiling, not just because of the fun mocktails, but because spending time with Natalie always gives me energy. She's one of those people who leaves you feeling happier than you were before.

A couple of days later, my family and I wandered through TJ Maxx before heading to dinner. They let me pick out a few gifts. Dad shared his opinions, which I love. He gets more and more opinionated as the shopping trip goes on. Mom is always sharing her thoughts too. It's fun because it's silly. We don't talk about the latest fight with the insurance company or the stress of managing caregivers. All that matters is having fun.

We had a wonderful dinner at Maggiano's. I remember looking around the table and feeling incredibly grateful that these are the people God chose to give me.

The next day, my friends Tom and Vic completely caught me off guard. Somehow, they managed to bake a birthday cake at home and have it brought out at the restaurant. It was such a simple gesture, but sometimes the simplest gestures say the most. Someone spent time thinking about me. Someone planned ahead. Someone wanted me to feel celebrated. I'll never outgrow being touched by that.

As I looked back over the week, I realized something.

The circumstances that made me think "I still need perseverance." The problems still exist. Caregiver schedules still need to be figured out. Challenges are still waiting for me. Thirty-six won't magically be easy.

But God, in His kindness, reminded me that He has never asked me to persevere alone. Instead, He has spent my life surrounding me with people who make perseverance possible through watermelon mocktails, family shopping trips, homemade birthday cakes, and countless ordinary moments that remind me I'm never walking alone.

People who laugh with me.

People who pray for me.

People who celebrate with me.

People who quietly carry pieces of the load without even realizing they're doing it.

So, to my family, my friends, and every person who has walked beside me over the years...

Thank you.

You give me the strength to live what should be impossible.

And when I stop long enough to notice...

It's fun, isn't it?