2024 is off to a curious start. Because of the curious start I’m actually more sure than ever that this year is going to be incredible.

New Year’s Eve I experienced what I thought was the worst stomach bug I’d ever had. My family had planned a weekend adventure, a trip two hours from our house, and I ended up laid up in a hotel room while they made the most of our disrupted plans. New Year’s Day I woke up with “the bug” resolved but a lingering pain in my right abdomen. I bet you can see where this is headed….

We got on the road and drove home, straight to the ER. Soon thereafter, I was back for surgery to have my appendix out. 

If you’ve followed my journey at all, or are one of my “in real life” friends, you know I seem to ALWAYS have bizzaro health things pop up, even though I’m an otherwise very healthy person. My family jokes that I need a bingo card for all the random things I deal with. 

The surgery experience and care I received was incredible. I loved the team that took care of me and how they treated me like a real human being. We laughed together, problem-solved together, and when I needed it, I was given a hand to hold. I woke up from surgery in a beautiful place of peace. It was astounding how peaceful I was. I know it was not a peace that anything on this earth can provide, it was God holding me. The post-op team told me I woke up whispering. That makes me giggle for some reason.

My husband continues to wow me with his ability to care for me and walk with me in good times and bad. He is such a source of comfort – a rock when things are feeling wild. An all-time-favorite moment of this experience is when he and our kids prayed over me. I’m grateful that he modeled the right way to approach the curve balls of life. I’m glad our kids got to experience adversity in a healthy way and that we could coach them through coping with something scary and unexpected. His parents also responded so quickly to the hospital and were an additional source of care and comfort for our kids, while we were at the hospital – we are so blessed by them.

And, my sister is my favorite doctor of all! She was the person who took my early morning call and helped me realize my “stomach bug” was likely not a stomach bug at all. She counseled me through the experience, reviewed my lab work with me, and made me feel so supported. I love you, Rose.

As I write this I’m sitting mostly comfortable on my couch, in my fuzzy socks and wrapped in a cozy blanket. My sweet neighbor just brought me homemade soup for lunch. My phone has been flooded with texts checking on me and sending love. I’m grateful for medicine, doctors, access to health care, my health, and support from friends and family. There is so much to be thankful for as I sit here appendix-less. 

2024 is Going to be Amazing!

And truly, it makes me more sure than ever that 2024 will be an incredible year. I’m certain of it. Not in an “it can only get better from here way.” That’s not it. I refuse to take that posture, which is laced with negativity. I know it will be incredible because I just felt God carry me through a scary and confusing situation and He took care of every single thing. How can I be anything BUT confident about all that He has for me this coming year!?

I hope that as you enter into 2024 you will also face it with confidence that God will be holding you, each and every step.

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