This is 54

Every year since I’ve had this domain I have shared a birthday post. Yes, today is my 54th birthday. Earlier this month I had an author marketing event with my birthday theme, but that wasn’t the actual day.

Wow. 54.

I still remember high school highlights and college fun. The fact those things were over 30 years ago messes with me a bit. But to turn back? No way.

This picture sums up a lot about my life right now. It’s a screenshot from a video, and I pressed on the screenshot and it made a new picture. It makes my hair look super poofy but guess what? When you’re 54, you don’t care.

Because it’s from a video, I was clearly talking. Guess what? I have things to say. As I age there are wrongs I see and if they aren’t dealt with, it hurts to see corruption/sin/injustice stay front and center when justice appears neglected. But I’ve been around long enough and know God’s Word enough to know justice prevails. So although there are times I have to hold my tongue, I’m not afraid to speak out if I have to. We all have to stand before God and explain our choices. I don’t want to say I kept quiet, especially when something wrong was happening. I was always that girl, but I was that girl who needed a lot of time to speak up. Not so much anymore.

Here’s what else 54 brings:

—I’m still writing. Surrendered Hearts is an active project and I’m writing the third of six books. The first two have been very well received. I know there is purpose in telling the Hart sextuplets stories. I’m very humbled God lets me continue.

—I’m stretching my faith! My heart has been for teens as long as I can remember, and still is. But there has always been this passion to unite and encourage women, I didn’t know what to do with it. The opportunity came last year to partner with my friend and pastor to re-launch the women’s ministry at our church. This is a huge faith step. I get overstimulated fast, and this introvert wants to head home and back to the dogs. But each month I’ve met some amazing ladies and formed eternal connections.

This summer our family is stepping out in faith together! We will be serving at Special Touch Camp Ohio for people who have a disability. I will be a chapel speaker and Tom is handling all tech aspects. It’s new for us, but we have longed to serve kind of together since we moved to Ohio nearly 20 years ago.

—I’m finding out I can feel pretty good again. Last fall I took a huge hit with a sinus infection and bronchitis. Looking back, I realized that happened to me quite a bit. I learned I have a lot of allergies, but only two are severe. I implemented some of the suggestions and I notice improvement.

Then my endocrinologist retired and I decided it was time for my daughter and I to find one together. She has rare issues with her thyroid and endocrine system and few know what to do. We found a specialist and he looked at my labs and could tell I wasn’t in a good place. I had not felt right in quite some time. He suggested something fairly new on the market that has been a game changer. something I can’t remember experiencing in years is finally a normal thing for me. I’m exercising and eating salads more than anything else—and I want to. I feel human. I feel good. It’s been a long time.

On the menopause front, I have felt hot since I was pregnant with our now 25 year old son. When menopause hit, I became volcanic. I had no idea how it affected my life until my gyn suggested Veozah. This is also new and I am not a medicine is the answer to all person. I will say I am not hot all the time. There is such a difference. I still need to work with insurnace on this, but I’m ready to fight. I have my life back.

—I’ll leave home if I have to, but most of the time, I don’t want to. 2024 started with us cruising the Bahamas. Not too shabby, I know. But to not have a big summer vacation? I’m excited. I don’t want to be around lots of people. I have a quiet home with space to move and find a place to create. I have a deck to write on and listen to birds. A yard to look into the woods and see deer. I crave these things. When my husband wants to camp or go here or there he has to make a great pitch for why we’d want to spend money and leave home. Because this place has everything I need.

I have no idea what 54 will bring but I know this, if nothing changes, I’d be content. God is good, and He has been good to me. I believe the best is yet to come.