36 was

I look back and see that I have not done a birthday reflection post since I was 33! Can I blame it on the general COVID upheaval of life? Possibly. Anyway, here we are, so let's look back, shall we?

36 was marriage...
The best, sweetest, and most educational part of being 36 was getting married in October. It has been the best because I love my husband and he loves me and we both love God and really try to serve others and grow. It's comforting and challenging, and I'm so thankful. It has been sweet because there are just moments in marriage that bring a smile, or laugh and those times of silliness are very, very sweet. And it has been educational because marriage is learning. You learn your spouse AND you learn yourself. I think the longer you were single the more you have to learn, and so it goes. It's all good, but there is a learning curve to creating a solid marriage. 

36 was project based...
As a busy, go, go, go kind of girl, I am well acquainted with projects. But 36 definitely took me to a brand new level. The Stewart/Melvin wedding had it's own email address and Google drive lol. But I loved it and thrived and sometimes think I could branch into wedding planning. There were also projects around the home, and a very fun outdoor project on the horizon. 

36 was grant life....

The grant was renewed for 5 more years and we hit the ground running. I love my job and students. I love the creativity I get to use and the impact we have on our community. I was not trained in grants but it has turned out to be one of the best calculated risks I took during this season of life.

37, I can't wait to meet you! 36, thank you for being the answer to prayer. 

And speaking of prayers, as I blow out the candles, I have a special, special birthday prayer as I enter 37. I can't share it, but my heart is hopeful and we will just take it one day at a time.

2021 a review and 2022 a preview

 Happy 2022!!

We are here in a fresh new year, and I am grateful and thankful. I am also very aware that to have a good life during these times (faith, family, housing, job, joy, etc) is a gift. 2021 was a banner year for me. A special year that will always hold some of my MOST precious memories! Stephen proposed to me and we got married in 2021! No one will ever totally know the prayer and time that worked together to form our relationship. 2021 will always be beautiful to me:)  

2021 also held more COVID news worldwide. Amazing news that my grant program was renewed for 5 more years. Lots of sweet time with family and friends during the season leading up to the wedding and then the holiday season. 2021 was quite a year especially because it also held a lot of loss and grief for many that I love. 

Each year, I like to preview the year ahead (a tradition I started years ago), and here is what I am thinking...

2022:

* Finances: Well, planning a wedding can really mess with a budget. So this is my year to rebalance. Stephen and I have a family budget that we will readjust as we enter 2022. I am thankful that he trusts me to have the detailed view of the budget while he has a big picture view. May our combined budgets flow together and may we be responsible and also giving. I like to think of it as paddling in the same boat, in sync. 

* People that I know and love will pass away or suffer through illness. And it will also be my part to love and support friends and family who will experience loss this year. A kind word or deed, goes a long way in the dark days of grief.  COVID variants are still here, so I am not even going to try and predict what the year will hold on that front. 

* In my professional life, I am thankful for my work and profession. We have 5 more years under the current grant and I want to pilot our program and grow it along the way. Work relationships with my colleagues and employees continue to be very important. I am not the best boss. I make mistakes for sure, but man I am really trying and open to growth.  I am not sure how much cookie baking I will do, but you know me, I am always dabbling in something lol. 

* As I walk in Christ, 2022 will hold Stephen and I working and serving together. Such an important part of our relationship!  I am beyond grateful for our church family here in town. It's also my prayer that our church be able to fill the vacant full-time minister position. 

* In married life, I want to enjoy my marriage and also strive to grow. Marriage holds a mirror up to yourself and shows you a reflection of many things. I want to strive to be the wife God has called me to be and truly enjoy the moments with Stephen. He helps me relax and I need that.  

* I will be 37 this year, and I can't really believe that, so I want to be the healthiest me I can be, especially as I age. 

* Travel plans for this year. I look forward to a work conference or two in different locations. I am sure Stephen and I will visit family. A girl's trip in the summer sounds fun! And then Stephen and I will plan a vacation or maybe anniversary trip who knows, later in the year.

For 11 years (11 YEARS!!)  I have closed the same way, so here we go:) I did tweak one thing lol.  I have real love for you all and hope you always know how much you mean to me. Happy 2022!

Now with all of that said I will say this.....2022 is a completely unknown entity. Sure, I know some things but they are so tiny compared to what I have no idea about. The key is to hold fast to God, have faith and grace, love my family and friends, and be the very best Sabrina Stewart Melvin that I can be.....that should not be too hard ( I am kidding) it will probably take me 365 days to kind of get it right!