July 8, 2016 marked my 31st birthday. It was a good day of celebration, starting out with breakfast donuts with a dear friend, a few hours of work, and then a fun adventure up to Maine for lobster and more friends. My birthday each year is my new year. It is a time for me to reflect on the year past and dream about the year forward. Though this year, I didn't really do that until some time later. My new year was full of being in the present; full of joy; full of love. 

I am grateful for my year 30. I didn't get everything done on my 30 before 30 list either before turning 30 or during that entire year. Still there were some significant milestones. 

1. Completing 5 units of Clinical Pastoral Education

2. Leaving some Committees; Joining Others

3. Friends World Committee World Plenary in Peru

4. Pregnancy! 

5. Finishing teaching my first full course in Spiritual Caregiving

6. New Jobs as a Staff Chaplain

hoosh! It's been a big year, full of reasons to celebrate. My 31st year is looking just as big as Ben and I prepare to welcome our little baby into the world in November and dive deep into discernment about where we want to settle and where God is calling us in terms of career, family, and community. This year holds a lot of beautiful potential and I feel grateful to be entering it with my loving family, friends, and community.