Ashley Cook Instagram – another year. all of them count, but this one holds a little more weight in my heart. it was a year of quiet prayers being answered. so many of them. i will never get over the way goodness continued to come. it reminded my sometimes weary but determined to remain hopeful heart that hope is always worth it. always, always worth it. this was a year of growth and change and running in the lane that is mine. accepting all that this lane is and all that this lane is not. this was a year where the longest friendships became better and more. and new friendships showed up, surprised me, and made all the difference— i’m still not over it. the little things were the big things, as they always are. the best things were saturday morning walks with a friend, more cups of tea together than could be counted, and simple texts that came right on time. letters in the mail and phone calls from family— any of them. laughing and reading and looking out to see the trees blooming again. a boat ride at sunset. dinner around someone’s table. watching snow fall gently, beautifully just outside the window. listening to two friends say i do— honest and heartfelt. welcoming brand new babies and watching others blow out their own candles. if next year is more of the same i will be more than happy. full and grateful and so very aware that i’ve been given much. grace, grace. so much grace.