Happy 50th Birthday (to me)!

In August I turned 50 and truth be told, I didn't set out to do what many of my fellow 50-year old friends and acquaintances were doing - throwing parties, losing weight, getting dressed up, posting on social media, or even treating myself to some self-care. There’s nothing wrong with those things, I just never got around to planning them for myself. It was partly because I was pretty busy at the time (four teenagers at home now, need I say more?) and partly because I'm always looking to save money. Don't get me wrong, I treat myself and my family here and there, but me turning 50 didn't seem like something I wanted to spend money on. I wasn't down on myself about it, but I did feel like I was missing something, though I wasn't sure what.

Right around the time of my birthday I received a few cards at my home. That’s typical, but then I received a few others, then more, and more. Within a few days I had a stack of cards like nothing I've ever received. Happy birthday wishes and words of tremendous love, encouragement and affirmation flooded my mailbox, and my heart. It brought me to tears and lifted my spirit, I felt so unbelievably loved. You can't put a price tag on it, and I wouldn't have traded it for any of the things I mentioned before, not even the weight loss and pretty dress, or even positive comments on Facebook.

This unexpected gift was a confirmation to me that what I am setting out to do through Virtue Health is build a community of women who want to be well themselves but who also share their gifts and live out the virtues in order to bless others. I am grateful to the women (I have a feeling I know who you are) who took the time to notify others about by upcoming 50th birthday and even share my home address. I pray that God blesses them for being a catalyst to overflowing my heart with the feeling of being loved and appreciated by so many women. I am humbled that God would allow me the gift of being connected to such beautiful people.

Thank you to all of you who spent your valuable time buying or making cards, filling them out, and getting them into my mailbox. You have been a priceless gift to me.