30 Things I'm Thankful For
I turned 30 last week. In celebration of a new decade, I wanted to reflect on and share 30 things I’m grateful for.
My husband. He has been so encouraging to me over the past few years as I’ve worked to achieve my dream of becoming a published author. He lets me bounce story ideas off of him, listens to sample chapters, and takes care of things around the house when I need extra time to write.
My mom. Ever since I was a little girl, my mom has fostered my love for reading and writing. When I told her I wanted to be an author, she was supportive and encouraging. She has been my number one cheerleader for as long as I can remember.
My family. Last year, my parents and brother moved to Central Virginia from South Carolina—something I never thought would happen. They are now just a few minutes down the road from me, and I get to see them weekly. We spent ten years apart, and I’m grateful to have them nearby, especially as my parents age and my husband and I consider growing our family.
My local critique group. Over the past four years, I’ve been a part of and am now leading a critique group for Lynchburg-area writers. This group has helped me grow so much over the past few years, and my work has become stronger as a result of the group’s feedback and encouragement.
My readers. Since I started this blog bag in 2024, my readership has grown to several hundred people across my newsletter, Instagram, and Facebook. Every email reply, comment, and note you all send motivates me to keep writing and sharing. My appreciation runs deeper than I could ever describe.
A publishing deal. While we are still in the early stages of refining my manuscript and getting it ready for publication, I couldn’t be more excited to work with Spinebreaker Books for my debut, Called from Darkness. One of my goals before I turned 30 was to sign a publishing contract. Goal achieved.
My health. This year started off rocky with a trip to the emergency room for a pretty serious infection that left me dehydrated and weak. When I finished taking my antibiotics and was feeling like myself, my husband and I began a health journey. To date, we have lost more than 75 pounds combined, and I went from not being able to run for more than a minute or so to preparing to run my first 5K this weekend.
My friends. Building friendships as an adult is certainly more challenging than when you are in school, but I am blessed to say that I have a wonderful community of friends. We support each other and have fun together, even if we have to get creative to fit things in around our work schedules.
My home. My husband and I bought a fixer-upper back in 2021, and even though it seems like something is always falling apart, I have a roof over my head, an unbeatable mortgage rate, and a place to call home.
A stable job. While I like to complain about work, I am grateful to have a steady job that provides income and flexibility.
My dogs. In the past year, my husband and I welcomed a second dog into our home—Buddy Love. Our pups, Bear and Buddy, have brought so much love, joy, and laughter into our lives.
Bear (left) and Buddy Love (right) The beauty of Central Virginia. Living near the Blue Ridge Mountains gives even the most mundane trip to town a breathtaking backdrop.
Liturgy. I discovered liturgical worship in my 20s, and I’ve fallen in love. I love the active participation and unity of liturgical worship. If you are a protestant Christian who has never been to a liturgical service, consider visiting a Lutheran, Episcopal, or Catholic church this Advent season.
The anti-generative AI movement. More and more people are realizing the harm caused by generative AI. This has been especially prominent in Catholic circles since Pope Leo XIV published his first encyclical letter, Magnifica humanitas. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it, perhaps especially if you aren’t Catholic.
Independent bookstores. One of my favorite childhood activities was going to Trade-a-Book with my mom and brother to look for titles to add to our Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Boxcar Children, or Animal Ark series. I’m still a frequent flyer at my local independent bookstores and have even decided not to purchase books from Amazon anymore.
Fan mail. Last month, I received my first fan letter to my P.O. Box, and it made my whole week. If you want to send me a note, you can reach me at P.O. Box 10, Concord, VA 24538.
I now have a P.O. Box! Send fan or hate mail to P.O. Box 10, Concord, VA 24538 State and local parks. We have made good use of our state parks and local recreation facilities this year. Our favorites include the High Bridge Trail State Park and the trails of Blackwater Creek. Both are paved over railroad tracks and are great for walking, running, and biking.
Locally roasted coffee beans. You know I love a good cup of coffee. But we have really upped our game this year by investing in wholesale beans from a local coffee shop (shoutout to Mission House Roasters). It’s a little more expensive than buying in bulk from Sam’s Club, but it’s way cheaper than buying coffee out and tastes much better than Member’s Mark.
Crispy beers. I’m not a big drinker, but I love a nice crispy beer on a summer night. While some may view this as heretical, one of my favorite weekly activities is what my husband and I call “Liturgy and Lagers.” Wednesday evening prayer at the historic Episcopal church downtown followed by a beer or cider at one of the local breweries leads to some great conversations and a nice pause to the week.
Cheers! Community theater. Broadway gets all the attention, but don’t sleep on community theater. We saw an incredible production of Shrek: The Musical at one of the local high schools and the best rendition I’ve ever seen of Come from Away at a tiny blackbox theater tucked away in downtown Lynchburg. Most places have community theater programs. Tickets are cheap, the talent is top notch, and you’ll get a good laugh or cry out of it.
Organ music. I’ve been to four organ recitals this year. Organ music is all-encompassing. Their breath will rattle your bones and leave goosebumps on your skin. It’s cathartic and transformative. Read more about my love of organ music here.
Weird small businesses. I drove past a business a few days ago that was just arcade claw machines lined up in a strip mall unit, and business was booming. In a world overrun with Amazons and Walmarts and Targets, it’s refreshing to see unique concepts. Lynchburg is full of them. Some of my favorites include Givens Books and Little Dickens, Needle Ninja, Otterback Outfitters, Baine’s Books and Coffee, and the Lynchburg Community Market.
Handwritten notes. Nothing makes me feel more special than receiving a handwritten note, even if it’s just a note from a friend that could have been communicated easier and faster through text message. There is something unapologetically human about snail mail that grounds me and makes me reflect on what’s important to me and worth taking time for.
Audiobooks and audio dramas. I grew up listening to Adventures in Odyssey and The Chronicles of Narnia on CD. I remember popping in a disk into my blue bookbox, and it would always skip partway through the episode. I’d throw empty shampoo bottles at it until it continued playing. I’m happy to see a surge of interest in audiobooks, podcasts, and audio dramas.
Knitting and crochet. While I haven’t dabbled much in fiber arts this year, I still love the craft. Knitting helped me through a very dark time with my mental health, and it continues to be a soothing activity, especially in the winter months. Read more about my love for knitting here.
Me holding a baby sweater I knitted for my nephew. Print reading materials. I love a good newspaper or magazine, especially when they are carefully crafted. Maybe I’ll work on producing my own this decade…
Soup. Nothing is cozier than a nice bowl of soup or stew. Some of my favorites this year include ground turkey and sweet potato chili, Italian sausage and orzo soup, and coconut tortellini soup.
Historic sites and museums. One of my husband and my favorite activities is visiting historic sites and museums. We are blessed to live in an area ripe with history, and we have enjoyed visiting all kind of places that are right in our backyard, including Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, Patrick Henry’s Red Hill, Avoca Museum, the Anne Spencer Home and Garden, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and Poplar Forest, and so much more.
Baseball. I’ve never been a big sports fan. Even when I played basketball in high school, I didn’t really watch it. Since marrying a Red Sox fan, I too have become a Red Sox fan. We’ve been to three major league games together, held a season ticket package to our local MiLB team this year, and have a goal to catch a Sox game at every MLB stadium.
Writing. I could write an entire blog post on why I’m grateful for writing. Writing has played such an important role in my life, and I’m eager to see where it takes me in my 30s.
Thanks for reading all the way to the end! Now I want to hear from you. What’s one thing you’re thankful for?
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