January 22 – The Birthday I'll Never Forget

My birthday this year was unlike any other. While most people wake up to coffee and cake, I woke up at 4 a.m. in the pitch dark, packing snacks, prayers, and nerves into the Jeep as I drove Cody to the hospital for his third surgery. It wasn’t glamorous, and it definitely wasn’t how I imagined celebrating my day—but you know what? I wouldn’t change a single thing. Being there for Cody, holding his hand before surgery, and knowing we were walking this road together—that was the greatest gift I could have asked for.

The surgery wasn't long, but waiting never gets easier. When it was over and we got the update that everything had gone well, I finally exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding for months. This time felt different. The doctors were confident. We were hopeful. This wasn’t just another step—it felt like the step. The final hurdle before healing.

And then, just a few weeks later… Cody was walking. Walking! No scooter, no crutches—just his own two feet. I’ll never forget the look on his face, like he was rediscovering what it meant to live again. He had a limp, sure, but he also had the biggest grin. Gratitude radiated from him in every shaky, determined step. He even got a brand-new pair of shoes out of it!

February felt like I got my husband back, but at the same time, I wasn't sure I even knew what that meant-We had only been married for ONE MONTH before the wreck. But he could move freely through the house, play with his son without limitation(ish), and finally take a full shower on his own (you don’t realize how much you miss that until you’re helping someone sponge bathe for weeks). We laughed more—really laughed. He’d take the trash out or stop at the gas station, and it felt like a miracle every time. The mundane became magical because we had spent so long without it.

I was reminded of Psalm 30:2: "Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me."

And it truly wasn’t just physical healing. It was deeper than that. The emotional weariness started to lift. Our spirits lightened. We felt God restoring not only Cody’s body, but our life, our rhythm, and our peace. We were finally on the other side of a hard season—and every moment since has felt like a blessing I never want to take for granted.

Let this be a small reminder to not take the little things for granted, and LOVE with all your heart.

Chelsea