Hello friends! And yes…today is my birthday!!

Covid birthdays…am I right?
I saw this meme the other day, and it said…“I’m not adding this year to my age, I didn’t use it!”

Which…I’m not going to lie…I was like, fist pumping, and all…”that’s right, girl! You tell ’em!” — all the while, mentally adopting that mindset.

But the more I think about it…nah. That’s actually not what I’m going to do.
Sure, getting older, as a young woman, is never fun. There are pressures that come with age, be it career wise, where-you-are-in-life wise, marriage/family wise. Pressures that…log onto social media for 15 seconds, and you’ll instantly be bombarded with…where everyone else my age “is” on the timeline of “societally dictated benchmarks.”
But I’ve adopted a new mindset that has been incredibly freeing, and truly has given me so much joy and peace.
And that is the truth that getting older is a privilege that isn’t afforded to everyone.

I have been around the sun enough times to realize, and also experience first (or second) hand….that life is incredibly fragile, and we are not promised tomorrow.
I think, given this whole Covid situation, we all have come to a new appreciation of that, recently.
But this aspect of “not using” the precious, precious time we’ve been given? That’s just not going to fly in my book.
This life — every moment…whether we’re quarantined, whether we’re scraping to get by, whether we’re vacationing, whether we’re just trucking along… every single moment is a blessing, and one never to take for granted.

Sure, quarantine has been different, but it has honestly been an incredibly special time. Yes, I miss my parents and family every single gosh darn day, and would give my left leg to be able to fly home and visit them….but this time has really allowed me to grow friendships and relationships that matter.
Quarantine and social distancing has really allowed the “cream to rise to the top,” if that makes any sense whatsoever. It’s really pulled into crystal-clear focus the relationships that I want to cultivate, even when it’s inconvenient, or a little bit risky health-wise, or willing to risk getting caught in the rain at the park for.
And as a result, I’ve really grown super close with “my people.” Because not only have they become a priority in my life, but we survived a pandemic together. And that means something.
So…all that to say…I’m really grateful to have the immense privilege and blessing to have another year under my belt. And even though my pride may not want to admit I’m getting “older”…the fact of the matter is that, I have so much to be grateful for…and life is certainly one of them.

So — I hope you have a wonderful evening. I’m going to go meet up with “my people” right now, and have a little socially distanced, SMALL, outdoor get together, and celebrate, COVID-style!
“This is what the Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.” Ez 37:5

A huge shoutout to Reason Nutrition Beverage! Their all-natural, high calorie drink is not only delicious, but it has no “garbage” in it! Utilizing the wholesome goodness of coconut oil, it’s a phenomenal option for those needing to gain weight in recovery, or for those simply looking to supplement their diet with convenient and fast nutrition. Check them out!

A big thank you to my foundational sponsor, BetterHelp Online Therapy. I cannot begin to express how beneficial therapy was for my recovery from anorexia. Speak with an online therapist. Or check out content about eating disorders from BetterHelp.
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Happiest birthday to you ❤️
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Thank you Paul!! Hugs and love xox
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https://ashivamchoudharyblogger.wordpress.com
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Happy birthday!
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Aw thank you so much!!! Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday!!! 🙂
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Thank you so much!! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday Caralyn! 🍰🎉🎆 love your outlook. Great photo too. Enjoy.
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Thanks so much Derek!! Hugs and love xox
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You’re welcome.
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xoxo 🙂
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Happy birthday!
This was good and so true. Love the Bible verse.
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Happy Birthday!
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Thank you so much!!! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday Caralyn. Thanks for providing so much encouragement
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Happy Birthday Caralyn! Many blessings to a person who works so tirelessly on her recovery and being about her Savior’s business. Enjoy and thanks for all your sharing and knowledge. John
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Happy Birthday chicky
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Happy birthday Caralyn! Glad you let us know. 🙂 DM
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Thank you so much DM!! Hugs and love xox
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Happy, happy Birthday!!
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Happy birthday. For my daughter too, who is 5 today.🎆
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thank you so much! happy birthday to her!!! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE. Enjoy being young… It was fun for me, and now I’ve past the torch to your generation. Somedays I miss all of it. But when I look at all of you young ones, it makes me happy to see all the light still shining. Have adventures & have fun. I know it has given my lots of stories to pass on. Live life, enjoy and have an adventure.!!!!
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aw this made me smile! thank you so much Stormy!! Hugs and love xox
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Well then, “Happy Birthday, young lady!” You are also gaining “wisdom beyond you years” through this. Enjoy your day and remember; you are not aging, you are experiencing.
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thank you so much!!! 🙂 i love that — experiencing!! Hugs and love xox
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Don’t think I’ll add it either if civic is still around in November 😂
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hahah you and me both! thanks Kenneth! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday, Caralyn!!! I pray Father shows you wonderful things this year, especially about Himself. And an early Congratulations! on topping 47,000 followers! You go, girl! 😊 Have a great evening celebrating!
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aw thank you so much KEnneth, that means a lot! and oh my gosh – yes! we did it! i didn’t even notice!! hahaha you’re the best! Hugs and love xox
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Damn predictive text civic should be it😂
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hahha all good!
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Happy birthday to you lovely!
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thank you so much Joan! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday!!!!
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thank you so much! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday young lady. It may be a different time but it most certainly has given us a gift. Like all things we go through there is a silver lining where we are asked to look within and find a more beautiful loving person because of it.
Enjoy your day, it can’t get any more special than this 😀 ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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aw thank you so much Mark! yes! let’s cling to that silver lining! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday!
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Happy Birthday 🎂🙂
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Happy birthday – May you have a truly blessed time,
God bless
Perry
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thank you so much Perry! that means a lot! Hugs and love xox
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Happy bday!!! Be safe !!!
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thank you so much BrittnyLee! Hugs and love xox
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Welcome 🙂
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🥰✨🥰
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Happy Birthday! You aren’t getting older…you’re gaining another year of wisdom.
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thank you so much 🙂 aw i love that 🙂 hehe Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday!
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thank you Susan! Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday! Continue to be the person God has created you to be and forget about what society says you should be doing at this stage of life. God is using you in wonderful ways and has given you a strong platform. Not everyone can say that. Rejoice in the anniversary of your birth and the great things God has done in your life!
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thank you so much Matthew! this is a beautiful sentiment — i’m very touched 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Blessed Happy Birthday 🎉🥳
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aw thank you so much!! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day!
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thank you so much Phil! it really was! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday and God’s blessings today and always.
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thank you so much Tim! that means a lot! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday! 🥳 🎉 🥳
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thank you so much Sean! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday!
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Happy Virthday! I read your posts often and I learn a lot. Your posts are also encouraging. God bless you!
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Thank you so much Jazmin! aw,, that put a huge smile on my face! means a lot! Hugs and love xox
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Best wishes on your birthday.
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thank you so much JC! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday, Caralyn. May God bless you abundantly. And take it from an Oldster, life will come to you as God has planned. You know that already. All we need to do is open our arms to receive it in faith.
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thank you so much Renee!! aw, this is so encouraging! yes! receive it in faith! Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday and enjoy every moment!
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aw thank you so much Ab! it was the best day! Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday!!! Enjoy! ❤🎉🎈🎊🎁
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thank you so much!! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday!
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Happy birthday! God bless 😄
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aw thank you so much! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday!!
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Thank you so much Belladonna! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday!!! 🎂
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Thank you so much Karac! Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday Caralyn and an excellent perspective to have. Time is a gift from God, let’s not try and discount it when it feels it has been less than ideal for a while. It is these moments that truly make you value life and the people around you.
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aw this is such a beautiful note, thank you so much! you’re so right about that – a gift from our loving Father! Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday. Feliz Cumpleanos. Joyuex Anniversaire. Parabens.
You might be one year older, but you are still a young, strong, faithful, beautiful woman who God LOVES so much 🙂
Birthday Blessings 🙂
By the way, I would bake you a cake but I don’t know how and it would be stale by the time UPS got it to you 🙂
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aw, this is so sweet, thank you so much! hahah too funny! Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday and many blessings to you!! Yes getting older is a privilege that we must be grateful for!! 🤍🤍
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Happy Bday!!
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Happy Birthday Caralyn!
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Thank you so much Marques! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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A blessed and happy birthday, Caralyn!
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thank you so much Roy! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Happy Birthday, Caralyn! May God continue to bless in ways that will far exceed the borders of your wildest imagination! 🙂
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thank you so much Darryl! that’s so kind! Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday to you 🎶
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aw thank you so much Alice! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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Happy birthday 🎂
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thank you so much Susie! 🙂 Hugs and love xox
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