I’m forty-eight today. Surreal.
We will not celebrate for various reasons, none of which are as morbid as you’re imagining. It is: no wish to celebrate (yes, I told Tom not to do anything) and being a little broke. I’m content.
Instead of writing my annual birthday post, I’ve listed all the essays and poetry I wrote this year. In case you missed something. I have listed them chronologically from September 2013.
New Year, Old Pain, Sudden Hope: When Depression and Heartbreak do not Win
The Dust Bunnies and the Broken Hearts of Mental Illness
Life Begins Again and Again: Seeing the Good in Depression
The Silent Scream: Depression & Autopilot Mom
I Poke at My Heart To Know It is Still There. I Hold on To Belief, Clutching.
{My Silence, Depression’s Lies, and Faith}
The Stones I Carry and a Band of Saintly Women
As The Winter Is Long [a NEW Poem]
When I Was A Falling Down Drunk: A Love Story
If Winter is Dying, then Writing is Life
Be Gentle. Don’t Lose any Opportunity.
An Extended Awareness: Some Thoughts on Lent
{The Dilemma of Being unHuman—And Becoming Whole} a poem
Lent Diary: The Mundane, A Holy Awareness, Our body, and Jesus
Lent Diary: The Wilderness of My Spiritual Doubts
A Mother’s Lament {You cannot stop this train. Save yourself.}
{When the Truth Hurts: “Being Broken” is Not My Life’s Meta Narrative}
How to Love a Drunk: Bits of My Story are published and #FFWgr
{rough thoughts on love and mortality in the middle years}
{I am a Witness. I have a Voice. I Intend to Use it.} Looking Back on Year Two of Being a Writer
{I Lost the Month of May: A poem}
When Depression is a Killer: My Story
New: A Solemn & Ordinary Life. #Self-Care in Living with Depression

In October look for an essay from me on prayer and doubt in a forthcoming book Disquiet Time. Learn more here.
Here are four other birthday posts.
{reflecting on the past year and turning 46}
The Second Half of my Life, Indeed.
I’m 42 Today and Considering My Life