It was almost like I was dreaming. This day started out dark, gloomy - a storm brewing. We drove through it anyway, magically escaping it - all of it. It was warm - and the pace was slow. Just exactly the way I wanted to celebrate my birthday. We browsed and perused, lingered & enjoyed every little moment.

"If not now - when?" - a friend said to me. She was right.

Savannah is our special place. We came here on our honeymoon. We visit every year on our anniversary. We have roots here - literally. But that's a story for another day... It was a quiet sun, small groups laughing in the distance, and the wind was a breath of fresh air - swooshing in and around, swift and soft. Lunch al fresco, cinnamon gelato, a walk by the river, sunset on the beach, and a river of a downpour - to round out the day.

Yes. The perfect birthday.

January's are dark and intensely depressing for me most of the time. But this day - it carried me right into February without a second glance.

sun lifting, wind singing, streets clapping, waves soothing - curled up in my thoughts, like an armor for the dark.

and praying every moment - "Please let this be where I am now - and what this year has to offer."

I'm 36.

This was a gift of HOPE. Don't you think?

xo,

amanda