Sometimes I catch myself longing for the season of innocence.. of the sweet ignorant bliss before my earliest memories of feeling brokenness, disappointment, pain, and enduring the storms this life often brings. The season of childhood before anyone I knew or loved died before their time. The season of anticipating getting married and starting my “perfect” family. The season of starting a career that felt more like a calling before realizing there is trauma there, too. The season of being pregnant for the first time and not having a question of whether or not I would have a baby in my arms nine months later. The season after my first miscarriage where I believed the doctors that the first loss was almost certainly a fluke, and with my age and health I shouldn’t expect any problems with subsequent pregnancies. .
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But life isn’t like that. And as beautiful and enticing as those seasons were, I’ve come to learn there is an even deeper beauty, a different type of beauty, that can be found only through experiencing and surviving pain and hardship. Some of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed in this life tell a story- not a story of how often things went unbroken and remained unflawed, but a story of resilience and survivorship. .
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It’s the imperfections, the nuances of this life that we find true beauty. It’s when the rust forms, the paint chips, the stretch marks and wrinkles appear, and the open wounds close to form scars that we see the deeper beauty in our character and resilience that adds a depth of color and mystery that can only be seen through weathering the storms of life. Those are the most beautiful things that remind me to always be grateful, that my story isn’t over, and that there is always a deeper beauty to be found even in the hardest seasons.
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#strength #courage #resilience #infertility #miscarriage #recurrentpregnancyloss #pregnancyloss #hope #imperfectlybeautiful
Some friends are for a season, others are forever. Thankful these two friends fall in the second category. Maggie and Rick, I’m so grateful our paths intersected. You two have such amazing hearts, beautiful spirits, and illuminating passions. It was such a privilege working and serving alongside you both for a season, but it has been an even sweeter privilege growing in friendship alongside you as we navigate the waters of change. We are so sad we won’t be living as close to one another, but we know this is still just the beginning. Love you both so much, and we are so excited for you and for this next chapter in your lives!
2️⃣9️⃣ years today! Man, it’s hard to believe I’m entering into the last year of my 20’s. I know a lot of people dread getting older (and I catch myself in that place sometimes, too), but man life just gets sweeter and sweeter. In my 20’s I’ve become a woman and discovered who I am, I married the man of my dreams and built a life and a home with him, I discovered my passion and calling and helped spearhead a movement in my city and in my career, and I have traveled the world and have fallen in love with the diversity of our tiny blue and green planet. In my 20’s I’ve experienced new depths of incredible joy, unbelievable grief, immense pain, and deep deep love.
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Today my sweet family drove to Greenville to surprise me for my birthday, and it was seriously the sweetest time with them. Age really is just a number, and I’m grateful to be celebrating another year of this thing called life and am so excited for all that is to come! ⠀
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#happybirthdaytome #julybirthday #lastyearof20s #29 #grateful #ageisjustanumber #birthday
Still reflecting on how beautiful and amazing our trip to Greece was. But the last few days that we’ve been home, I’ve been reminded of how beautiful life at home is, too. While it’s fun to travel and see and experience the beauty this planet holds, the real beauty is at home with the community and people you love. Real life may not look as stunning in the tiny little squares that show up on your Instagram feed, but real life is where the real beauty is. In the day to day, in the routine, in the mess, and in the normal. For me, a great vacation isn’t an escape from my real life- it’s a reminder of everything I have to be grateful for and a chance to reset and recharge and focus on investing in the day to day and seeing the immense beauty found in that space.
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#lifeisbeautiful #lovelife #vacation #home
Finally back home after 30 hours of traveling! Greece was amazing, and so refreshing and healing for our souls. There’s a saying in Greek, χαλαρά, that basically means to take it easy, no rush, don’t stress, and no worries. It’s easy to get caught up in the schedule, hustle and bustle of every day life, but I think the Greeks may be onto something! #χαλαρά #greece #favoritenewphrase
