Settling Into 40
checking back in after a couple months off
Hello Friends!
I last wrote you the day before my birthday! And then… I went into birthday mode! Friends took me to breakfast and then my husband whisked me off to Snoqualmie Falls for an overnight! Thanks to grandma J’Nell for a night off from parenting! The falls has always held a deep and connecting place in my heart! Memories of my grandmother, family get togethers there and some memories of days where I was off to class in college, but somehow ended up at the falls! A much better use of my time I thought! :-) It was a lovely 24 hours of connecting to memories, indulging in yummy food and just letting myself rest!
The following week friends joined me for a dinner out and it just meant so much to be together with so many people I love and to celebrate our friendships and the different ways our lives weave together! A friend of mine knows my heart and invited everyone to share a little affirmation/what they appreciate about me. It meant so much to hear what people had to share! Love language = words of affirmation!
Then…. the following week… a baptism of sorts…. I went for it and I got my first tattoo! A friend joined me for the appointment, and I for sure called both my pastors to pray with me before heading in. Not because I was scared, but more so, I realized this felt like an event I wanted marked, witness, prayed over. The tattoo was an outward declaration of a deep calling of my heart and it needed to have more than just me showing up, getting it done and going home. I knew I would not only be physically changed, but somehow I knew my heart/spirit would be different after my appointment.
The tattoo…
It’s the words “Spirit Lead Me”. It’s from a song called “Oceans”:
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Saviour
I have felt called to these words for many years. This song has a lot of youth ministry memories for me. And… It really feels like the way I approach my life. I entrust Spirit to lead me and guide me to where I must go. And then, because I have a deep love for the ocean and because this song also speaks to the ocean, I knew I wanted to find an image that could speak to the ocean. And that led me to find an image of a sailboat, the ocean waves, the sun and three birds (to represent my children).
So…. thus ended my birthday celebrations and shenanigans! And then I settled into being 40! I have loved spending this year focusing a bit on my story, who I was, who I am, who I am becoming!
I have been sitting with myself and wondering what is next for this blog. Many people have expressed enjoying it and wanting more. I know that I didn’t finish all 40. So… I’m hoping to keep going to complete the list. I think I just have enjoyed the time of settling in and letting myself ponder what’s next.
I imagine, more is to come! I wanted to simply just take a moment to share about my birthday and that I'm thinking about the next steps for this blog. Much gratitude to you all for reading these over the last almost year! It was last year at the end of January when I came up with this idea! I am looking forward to going on that retreat again in a couple weeks! I wonder where Spirit will Lead Me!
