Tennis Magazine’s ‘The Heroes Issue’ – My Words Got Published!

I recently wrote about how glad I am that I started a Gratitude Journal and tonight will be one of those nights when the list comes easily as I sit down to write my entries before climbing into to bed. This has been one of those days that the sun didn’t even need to be shining (it was rather gloomy, actually) in order for me to be bursting with gratitude at the unforgettable memories I was fortunate enough to tuck away into a very special place in my mind as well as my heart. Here’s a peek at what I’m grateful for today!

1. Time with an *old*, but treasured friend. Every time we go visit my in-laws I try my best to visit my friend Crystal, who lives less than two miles from their home. Crystal was my dearest friend in high school and to this day we can just sit down and chat, picking up where we left off, whether it has been weeks or months since the last time we saw each other. She’s funny, supportive and I feel a level of comfort when I plop down on her couch that I simply can’t put into words. Just like her family’s home was a safe haven for me in my high school years, the home she now shares with her wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters is a place I always feel welcome no matter what. My only wish is that we lived closer to each other because that kind of friendship is one of the rarest gifts in life. I truly hope she knows how much I love and appreciate our time together.
2. Birthday cake from my favorite bakery. There’s a bakery in the town I grew up in and they make the best, well, everything. Whether you want a Bismark or a homemade donut for breakfast, or a meat pie for your holiday table, Hillman’s Bakery is the place to go for all of your favorite hip-loving treats. One of the most decadent things they make is birthday cake. They are the best I’ve ever eaten and since I only get one birthday a year, it’s a real treat when someone loves me enough to take out a loan ( I kid. Mostly.) and order me one. When we visited my in-laws today, they not only gave Cody and I our birthday gifts, but they also presented us with a beautiful cake from, you guessed it, Hillman’s Bakery! I may have dropped a few, or ten, hints during our last visit that I would really love a cake from Hillman’s this year, but the fact they actually did it really means a lot to me. It’s so much more than a simple birthday cake, it’s truly a thoughtful gift that I’ll savor for the next few days and beyond. Every last calorie-filled bite. Yay for people who love us with sugar.
3. My words, and a photo of Cody, published in a magazine!!!!! Typing those words just doesn’t feel real to me, but it’s true and I’ve been dying to share the news with everyone who will listen for a while and now that it’s officially in print I can shout it from the rooftops. I can’t express how proud I am that something I wrote about a wonderful tennis program for special needs kids and adults is being included in Tennis Magazine’s The Heroes Issue. If you can get your hands on one, please do so because there are some truly incredible organizations doing wonderful things in this world and their stories need to be read and shared by as many people as possible. Oh my gosh…….LOOK!! I have proof. Also? Could somebody please pinch me?