Today is the last day I will spend as a forty-year-old. Yes, tomorrow I turn 41. I embraced turning forty and celebrated with family and friends. Turning 35 was so much harder for me. As I remembered the events of the past year, I became overwhelmed by the incredible blessings God has given us. Yes, there have been tough times, but God was with us every step of the way. None of our trials surprised Him. Our blessings outweighed the struggles, though. Here are forty blessings that have happened to my family and me this past year.

1. God loves me for who I am and not what I am. His amazing grace washes over me daily.
2. I have an amazing family.
3. Friends…certainly can’t forget my friends! 
4. I am a member of a Bible-based, salvation-saves church with a pastoral team who preaches Truth.
5. I wake up every morning with a roof over my head.
6. My clothes are clean.
7. I have yet to go hungry.
8. I have a job. Sometimes it’s extremely stressful, but for the most part, I’m blessed and amazed by what I encounter daily.
9. Graduating summa cum laude from college
10. Cyber movie nights with my two online BFFs.
11. Miracles and answered prayers when my FIL had emergency surgery for a brain tumor.
12. Quality Christian fiction to read.
13. Proud tears as our oldest son graduated high school.
14. Sanibel Island vacations
15. VBS–one of my favorite parts of summer
16. Freedom
17. Seeing friends separated by miles
18. Crafting with the Coffee Girls
19. Becoming Forum Coordinator for My Book Therapy
20. Attending ACFW conference
21. Finaling in the Genesis contest
22. Having Tina James from Steeple Hill request my full manuscript
23. Having Rachelle Gardner (agent) request my full manuscript
24. Writing for PG Magazine
25. Writing for ACFW’s Afictionado
26. My Book Therapy retreats & meeting the Ponderers!!
27. Hubby going back to school
28. Celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary!
29. Being a guest blogger on Seekerville
30. Packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
31. Holiday celebrations
32. My boys’ musical talents
33. Learning to knit & the WWC prayer shawl ministry
34. Hubby’s successful recovery from an emergency appendectomy
35. God’s provision for medical bills due to no insurance
36. Becoming editor for My Book Therapy’s Voices ezine
37. Renewing my STAR
38. My older son’s poetry & my younger son’s way with words
39. Finishing my novel
40. Signing with Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary Agency