Hello 40!

 We're halfway through 2023! Wow! Time flies! The month of June is special for several reasons. Since it is the halfway point of the year, it leads and encourages me to reflect back over the first part of the year at goals accomplished, and adventures and memories made. I also think about the goals, adventures and memories I still want to accomplish and create. June is also important to me for two other special reasons. One, it marks the end of another school year 👏! As a teacher, this is super exciting news!! Second, it's my birthday month! This year was extra special because I entered a new decade 😊. I turned 40 on June 4th💜!! I can't believe 40 years of life have already gone by! It doesn't seem that long and I know I don't look it. I love seeing people trying to guess my age 😃. It's true though! In my last decade, I have experienced great adventures, heartache, disappointments, challenges, accomplished goals, new connections and new memories. Yes, it was filled with moments of struggles and challenges, but it was also filled with moments of growth and excitement. I'm thankful I made it and I'm still standing with God! In today's post, I want to take a moment and reflect on the last decade of my life. Since I love words, I am going to use six words to describe the last decade of my life:

1. Life-changing- As a young woman, I have seen myself change and grow in many ways. Over the 10 years, I have lost a lot of loved ones that were near and dear to my heart. I miss all of them very much! Both of my parents passed before I reached this new decade 🙏. Losing both of your parents is hard and their loss hit me hard. Both were unexpected 🙏. I remember every detail of their last days. Daddy passed on April 14, 2002 from a heart attack. Mom passed on January 18, 2020 after a brief illness in the hospital. Almost 18 years separated Momma and Daddy's passing. For so long after Daddy passed, it had been my brother, Mom and I. In the unexpected, I thank God for him continuing to change and grow me. Even when the circumstances changed, God never did! I'm not the same woman I was on that early Sunday morning when Daddy left and that early Saturday morning when Momma left. In fact, I'm not the same woman I was 2 years, 2 months, even 2 days ago. I am continually evolving 💜.

2. New beginnings-  In 2019, I started my blogging journey and thankful that continues 4 years later. In 2020, I became an author with publishing many of my devotionals in a book titled Grow Gracefully: Devotions To Change You From The Inside Out. At work, I moved from being a teacher assistant to working with Reading students to being a full-time teacher with my own classroom. That all happened in this decade- God is good 👏! When I wanted to give up, I knew I couldn't because God was calling me to greater and to teach and impact the next generation. In 2021, I received my Master's degree of Elementary Education while working full-time and losing my Mom the year before I got my degree. In turn, that helped me begin my new chapter of teaching full-time. I currently teach 6th grade Language Arts and Reading. I became a blogger, author and teacher all within the last decade 😊! I'm so grateful for those new chapters and the new chapters to come.

3. Challenging- As I mentioned earlier, I have loss lots of loved ones with my most recent relative, my great aunt who I had gotten very close to 🙏. It's hard losing those close to you. I also experienced hurt and rejection in relationships. Life itself has brought challenging times with circumstances that hurt. When I received my Master's degree and begin my teaching career, it happened in the middle of a pandemic. Whew! Talk about challenging! The teacher tests I had to take were all challenging as I do not like taking tests. I did study, but I didn't pass all of them on the 1st time. In fact, some of them I had to take at least 2 or more times to pass. My Math teacher test took 3 times to pass and I passed that just last summer 👏! I feel like I really locked in on my solid friend circle in this last decade. Before that, I knew some that was supposed to be in my friend circle. However, this decade really help me see who belonged and who I can trust. I can't and don't trust everyone. I also dealt with health issues  that came in the form of covid, strep, and a blood transfusion, which resulted in me finding out I have anemia. I am managing the anemia well. I still have to work on getting more sleep and rest, but I am getting more iron rich foods in me 😊.

4. Community- I have the best support system ever! My support system is made up of family, friends, co-workers and church family members. When going through my challenging circumstances, I can count on my people to come through 💜. In my hurt and loss, they have stood by me 🙏. In my wins and progress, they celebrate with me 💜. They continue to encourage me. Over this last decade, my community has really embraced me and helped me to embrace who I am. I have drawn closer to my community and our bond becomes stronger each day 😊.

5. Adventurous- I have had so many fun and new experiences in this last decade💕. Last year, my family started having family fun days where we get together and have a good time and may go out to eat, bowl, visit a new place, etc. It can be for a special occasion or not. What matters is that we are taking time to be together and make new memories. I have been able to visit state parks, the mountains, beach, new restaurants and new places in general. I attended Sunflower and Daffodil festivals for the first time. I love flowers, which made it even better! Roses are my favorite flower, but sunflowers are starting to creep up and knock out roses for 1st place 😉. I enjoyed weddings and wedding anniversaries, church events, and birthday and graduation celebrations with those nearest and dearest to my heart 💜. I am learning to see every moment and new experience as an adventure. I have loved seeing the world around me and look forward to the adventures that are to come 💜. 

6. Growing and Glowing- Thanks be to God, I have overcome and still overcoming daily in life. I have grown so much spiritually, in my career, in my relationships, as a woman in general. I continue to let my light shine in spite of the struggles of missing my people and life in general and negativity that comes my way. I continue to hold on to my joy that God gave me because I know it's him that's given me what I need. I have learned to tell my people I love them and cherish every hug, smile, visit, conversation, and laugh because we never know when it will be our last with someone 🙏. All of the lessons has taught me so much and really helped me gain the confidence I have today. I speak with so much more confidence than I used to. I know my voice and ideas matter. What once had me holding my head down, I can now stare it in the face because I know who I am and that I'm growing and thriving. I thank God so much! If you have been a part of my journey in the last 10 years, I say from the bottom of my heart: thank you 😊💗!!!! I can't wait to see what these next 10 years hold. I know it will be great! Here's to 40 👏!! Hello 40 👋💜!!