Do you remember celebrating the 100th day of school in kindergarten or 1st grade? I have vivid memories of stringing 100 Fruit Loops on a yarn necklace, counting out 100 fruity Lifesavers, and connecting a chain of 100 construction paper rings to mark the occasion. 

There was no real significance to that specific day other than to say we made it—we have come this far as a class. Day after day, for 100 days, we have woken up and come to learn together. We’ve shown up even when it was hard or we didn’t want to. There was no real significance to the date on the calendar, but it felt special, and that was all it needed to be significant. 

Today I am sharing my 100th blog post. It’s not a national holiday, and the local news won’t be picking up this story, but I am a big believer in celebrating the small wins and noteworthy milestones. Publishing 100 blog posts has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I absolutely love this work, and I love talking with you about it even more. Hearing how these subjects and words have impacted you, encouraged you, or inspired you means the absolute world to me. 

I don’t do this to have a big following or make my name known. I do this because I feel called to it, it brings me so much life, and when just one of you is impacted by my words, it is always worth it. We all need encouragement and hope, and now more than ever, I believe the Holy Spirit uses the internet to bring that about. 

As I reflect on the past 100 posts, I see so much growth—not just in my writing, but in my courage, perspective, faith, and voice. I never could have dreamed that the Lord would do so much in me since I wrote the first post in my college sorority house. I’ve written from college, from my first studio apartment and big-girl job, from singleness to dating to marriage, and from the ups and downs life has thrown at me. And through it all, year after year, I have shown up when it’s been nothing but fun and anything but easy. I am proud—these actions are worth noticing + celebrating! 

Below are some of my favorite pieces and posts. Not necessarily just because of the subject matter, but because they make me smile when I reflect on where I was in life when I wrote them. 

001. Fear or Beauty: It’s Your Choice // June 15, 2023

On not letting the fear of what might happen take away from the beauty that’s currently happening. I’m still learning this over and over. Also, this shares a funny anecdote of a possible bear sighting on my first family vacation with my now-husband’s family. 🙂

002. What I’m Learning About Delight // December 21, 2022

This was a topic I had no idea at the time would become such a high value and way of life for me. Since this initial post, I have written and meditated on the concept of delight so much. This was just the beginning!

003. Brick by Brick // March 20, 2021

A reflection on 1 Kings 6. I look back and am kind of astounded I wrote this in college—that I was reading 1 Kings in college! Even as I reread it now, it’s a refreshing reminder that dreams and visions take time to develop. The temple wasn’t built overnight. It took a lot of discipline, faithfulness, and obedience over time—not unlike these 100 blog posts.

004. You’re Not Crazy // September 26, 2020

An honest and vulnerable essay on dismantling the lie that our emotions are crazy, plus some healthy ways to process + move through them. Again, I look back and am so proud of my 21-year-old self for having the wherewithal to not only write this, but the courage to share it. 

005. Tips for Going Gluten-Free // October 8, 2024

This is one of the most practical (and popular) blog posts I’ve shared. I am proud that I wrangled all the information floating in my mind into one place to help people navigate the unforeseen, nebulous gluten-free world. It stretched me to use a different part of my brain, and I’m so glad I did!

006. A Love Letter to Jackets // September 13, 2024

This is just so fun. This post was the first of what has turned into one of my favorite series to write. I’m so grateful to have these fun-filled, lighthearted love letters to share with you.

007. On the Hope of Healing // October 22, 2024

Our healing isn’t just for us—God often uses it to help heal and encourage others, too. This is another one that I’m tenderhearted looking back on. I’m just very proud of myself, and if you’ve been around, you’ve heard me talk about how I am my own worst critic (aren’t we all?). I’m sharing + documenting this moment of being proud not to boast, but to highlight the growth the Lord has spurred on in me. 

A Note for My Fellow Writers:

I hope and pray that this note is a source of encouragement—you can write 100 blog posts or poems or short stories. You don’t need anyone’s permission. The best way to get there? Just start. Take one small step at a time. One essay at a time, one sentence at a time, one word at a time. It’s the only way to get there, really. This is your nudge to keep going–or to get going! Your words matter. Your writing could change someone’s day, outlook, or faith. I would love to follow you in your creative journey—share your blog/social media account/words with me in the comments. 🙂

To All My Readers and Loyal Followers:

Thank you for being here and being part of this Wildly Well collective. It would not be the same without you, truly. I would LOVE to hear from you—what are some of your favorite blog posts? What words have impacted you the most? Your responses are treasures for my heart—I cherish every single one of them. Meet you in the comments! ♥️