I climbed another notch on the 40 to 50 ladder with my birthday yesterday. One that lands me closer to the end of the decade rather than the beginning. A non-birthday which turned into a lovely birthday because of precious people in my life.
I haven’t written in a bit so there’s nothing over here on the blog that notes the freak issues that cropped up for me while doing hurricane recovery at the farm the past two weekends. Weekend before last, some type of spider somehow got into/up/through my blue-jeaned-legs and bit my shin. It went south pretty fast. By last Thursday, I booked a quick telemed visit with my doctor’s office because of the red, hot, oozing mess. She prescribed oral and topical antibiotics to get it under control.
Then, last Sunday at the farm, I developed a painful, itchy rash on my neck and chest. Plus my leg didn’t seem to be improving.
So Bray and I got a big laugh yesterday morning when I said “Well this is what 4# looks like, you have a 7:45 am doctor’s visit for a freak rash!” (And Southern Living sent me an article on The Most Flattering Hairstyles for Mature Women…) I wouldn’t expect anything else from you, 2020! And aging!
Turns out, I was having a reaction to both the oral and topical antibiotic, but the bite was actually improving, it just had a rash on top of it. Ha! So no more antibiotics, and now I’m on steroids. This morning, everything already looks a ton better and I slept through the night.
With that as its backdrop, how could the birthday do anything but go up. I worked all day, of course, because adult birthdays are far less glamorous than kid birthdays. But my best friend sent me a little treat to encourage us to go out/get take out, and our other dear friend dropped off a beautiful gift. My texts and IMs and social media was full of gracious words from kind friends from this season of life and all the past seasons too! I love that. It’s like seeing everyone at a wedding again.
Bray picked up a Mediterranean feast per my wishes, and my mom delivered a yummy lemon cake for afterwards. I haven’t written about it a lot here because my weight is just such an up and down battle for me, but I’ve been “dieting.” I’m doing Beachbody shakes and work outs and I haven’t had a bite of sugar for three weeks so this was a fun little splurge.
The best part though was sitting around after dinner with these people God has gifted me with and opening cards and presents. My mom and little bit both picked out these gorgeous cards and wrote these long beautiful messages. This is the first year a child went and selected their own card and she penned such a beautiful sentiment inside a lovely card that I cried right through the whole thing.
Bray had a brutal day at work but showed up and did the birthday thing even though he is utterly wiped between the farm and work. The kids went to school and cross country and are still tired from farm clean up, but they showed up and showered me with love and kindness. My mom, and friends, and co-workers, all took time out to be such love and kindness. A good friend of mine had delivered dinner to us the night before since I hadn’t had time to meal prep. TWO straight nights with zero cooking for me! As much as I love to cook, it was a fantastic break in this hectic season.
The boys have a football scrimmage tonight and game on Saturday. The kids have a cross country meet next week. We’re navigating social distance and masks and a pandemic with reentry to school and sports and hurricane recovery. It’s a lot and it’s good and it’s hard and it’s full.
I started yesterday completely and utterly depleted. I’m starting this morning restored. Not because I suddenly got 12 hours of sleep or everything is different. Everything is the same (except my rash!). But I remembered how extraordinarily good God is and how I have everything I need.
I’m grateful to start this next year. I’m thankful I get to.
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