Birthday Thanks, Reflections, and Recap: Undeserving, but Humbled and Rejoicing

Well, hello friends! I am posting this post WAY later than intended! But alas, here we are!

Parts of the post were actually written the week after my birthday on July 1st, but it was left unfinished as I wasn’t able to articulate all I wanted to say until this week.

That said the first paragraph says “past weekend” though I am referring to the weekend of July 1st :).

So here is my birthday recap, reflections, and expression of gratitude to everyone of you:

Overwhelmed with gratitude over this past weekend. My family and friends made my birthday weekend so special, and I could not be more thankful for the ways in which they have built me up and poured into my cup over the past—dare I say it—30 years!

So much hard work and diligence went into wonderful and shocking surprises for me! I am so undeserving, but I am grateful, humbled, and rejoicing! & if there is one thing I’ve learned in 30 years – it is that God is GOOD, and light prevails.

How one judges the character of God directly impacts how one judges circumstances. In clinging to the Goodness of God and the knowledge that He is good, I aim to look for the GOOD. Even if moments, circumstances, or seasons may not feel good at the time, there is hope to be had in a God, who’s proven His character one that works and redeems for good. Light will prevail.

As I go into year 30, I am honing in on ABIDING in God. Though, this has been a focus for a lot of my life and faith walk, the world wants us to lose focus on whom we abide in. Often we want good fruit: we want to be known as a good person, to carry the fruits of the Spirit, to love well, to have a happy life, to be successful, etc etc.

However, on our strength alone, we will become exhausted if these are our sole goals. We will never be good enough on our own merit, because we are broken people. We can never measure up to perfection that was Jesus.

However, as it says in John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4, NKJV). Fruit is produced in abiding in Christ.

Into this new year, I aim to re-center on the abiding part in Christ, and letting God work to produce good fruit. Don’t lose site of the vine trying to make good fruit. God first, fruit second. Focusing on fruit alone gives vulnerability to idols coming to fruition as we focus on things instead of God.

I am so thankful for all the fruit that God has provided in my life already, and I hope to never lose site of God’s handiwork in the making of such fruit.

Thank you to everyone for such a special birthday and a special life – for I would not be where I am today without your impact.

Here are some pictures from my day and weekend. Though, it could not be captured just how much fun this night and weekend was!

The weekend started with a girls day with nails, brunch, and then I had some reflection journaling (because yall know me– that’s a must!)

           

Then surprises began — ever heard of the Pontoon Saloon?! Yeah, me neither but highly recommend!

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Then LAKE time! with surprise decorations 🙂

With friends and family!

Below– CC girl already saying “No more pictures Aunt Katie” 😉

 

It was such an amazing weekend into the 4th of July holiday! One of my favorite weeks of the year, and my people always make it so special every year! I am grateful. I am undeserving. I am humbled. I am rejoicing.

Thank you Thank you Thank you to everyone!

Love always,

Katie Girl