What I Learned At 23

Hi everyone! I did a post like this last year around my birthday called “What I Learned at 22” and I wanted to do one this year sharing about what the Lord has taught me!

My 23rd year was filled with some ups and downs, but I’m so thankful that the Lord is constant and so faithful, even though I do not deserve Him. One thing that He taught me this past year is that He alone is enough for me. I can often people please and try to find my satisfaction in other people or even things, such as my job, but the Lord really showed me this year that those things do not define me, but He alone does. The pandemic was isolating for me and often made me feel like I was alone, but God showed me that because I have Him, I am never alone. He is so amazing!

On July 4th, 2020, my family and I got together with my grandparents, uncle, aunt, and cousins all together for the first time since before the pandemic. It was so great getting to be all together again.

In August of 2020, I went back to work for the first time since before the pandemic. It was definitely a learning experience for me as I had to learn to adjust to different procedures that were in place. I am grateful that God was with me every step of the way because I couldn’t have done it without Him. I worked through November of 2020, before saying goodbye to my first job in preparation for us to move. It was definitely sad for me leaving my first job, but I am thankful that God had be there for a season.

In September, we started exploring our future new home town due to the fact that my uncle, aunt, and cousins moved there! We didn’t know quite yet that we would be living there!

On New Year’s Eve, my family got together again with my grandparents, uncle, aunt, and cousins to celebrate our Christmas. It was so great being able to celebrate with them, especially after the hard year.

January of 2021 my family moved into a rental house about 3 hours away from Houston for a few months. My brother started college in a new area, and so for a few months we went back and forth between Houston and the rental house. It was definitely an adjustment being in a new place and not knowing many people, and I had some hard days, but there were also so many good times! I’m so thankful for the Lord’s unfailing love and His faithfulness!

I saw snow 2 times within a month which basically never happens in TX! The snow part was really fun, especially during the first snow, but during the second snow, the ice and low temperatures in the teens that I had not seen before in TX affected a lot of people. I am thankful that my family and my house was okay but I know that so many people’s houses weren’t.

In March, I got to meet up with my editor and beta reader for the first time! It was so much fun getting to see them!

In April, my family sold our Houston house. It was very bittersweet, as I had lived in that house since I was 2. It was my childhood home and I have so many memories from there!

In May, we officially moved 3 hours away to our new city. We’ve really been enjoying being a bit more out in the country, it’s so peaceful here. I also published my first novel, Hope in the Dark, in May! I’m so thankful that God had me meet so many amazing people through the process, He is so good! It was so surreal on release day having it out and people have been so sweet and supportive and I am so thankful!

My 23rd year was filled with some hard days but also some great memories and I am so thankful that through everything, the Lord is constant. Without Him, I have nothing. In Him, I lack no good thing and I am so in awe of His love. God has grown me in the last year, and each and every day I want to become more like Him.

How has your year been so far? What are some of your favorite memories this year?

-Hannah