Day of Hope #107

Saturday November 13 – Day of Hope #107

Goal: Celebrate and make my dreams come true

Quote: “When you say your dreams out loud, the universe whispers back in signs.” – Kayla Jones

It’s my birthday weekend, and this year I decided to celebrate in one of my favorite ways, a getaway. I rented a beautiful cabin in New Meadows, Idaho, just a couple of hours north. My sister and her husband came into town on Wednesday, November 10th. We grabbed lunch at Café Olé and then headed to my house to hang out before making the drive.

We left around noon and arrived at the cabin around 3:00 p.m. It was incredible, three levels, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a game room, and a huge kitchen. Pure cozy mountain bliss.

For my birthday celebration, I assigned everyone a meal and a time slot, so they each rotated cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner. My brother-in-law made chicken Dutch the first night, and it was amazing. We settled in easily, just talking, laughing, and relaxing.

By Friday, my friends arrived, and the cabin came alive. We ate, drank, played games, and stayed up talking until about 1:00 a.m. We took long walks throughout the weekend, even wandering along the golf course in search of Hole #13. That number truly follows me everywhere. Afterward, we headed back to the cabin to relax by the fire, watch movies, and enjoy long stretches of peaceful downtime. It was exactly the birthday weekend I needed. Simple, joy-filled, and wrapped in good friends and good food.

Bonus Story – The Universe Shows Up Again

On November 21st, something absolutely amazing happened. An answer to a request I had been putting out into the universe for months. I had been asking, specifically, for an editor. On Wednesday the 17th, I got a notification on my phone that an actress named Galadriel Stineman, who has been in Glee, This Is Us, and several other shows, was coming to the Orpheum Theatre in Twin Falls. She had just released her first book, Love Against the Autumn Sky.

But the part that made my heart stop?
Her publisher and editor were coming with her to talk about the publishing process.

Hello Universe. I hear you. Loud and clear. When the universe answers, you go.

We drove two hours to Twin Falls. We even grabbed pizza nearby so we wouldn’t risk being late. I was so nervous, crying-nervous, excited-nervous, because when something you’ve asked for actually shows up, it hits differently.

The Orpheum is over 100 years old, beautifully restored, and so charming. When we walked in, there was a microphone onstage with three chairs and a small table between them. For the longest time, only 13 people were in the audience. Yes, thirteen. Of course.

Galadriel came out and read a few passages from her book, and then her editor and publisher joined her for a Q&A. They were down-to-earth, relatable, and so generous with their wisdom. They are a small, private publishing company based in Twin Falls, and everything they said made me feel like I had found the perfect fit.

I was crying the entire time, tears streaming, because it felt like witnessing my future unfold right in front of me. I got a picture with the actress, bought her book, talked to the editor, and got her name. I told myself right then that I would be sending my draft to them at 1:13 p.m. on December 2nd which was my brother’s birthday who had passed away. 1:13 p.m. is military time for 13:13. I sent it in. Now an editor has my manuscript. Oh my! Here we go. The universe loves its signs.

And then the cherry on top?
Galadriel has starred in several Hallmark movies. I had no idea beforehand. I LOVE Hallmark movies.
My boyfriend always jokes that my book could be one someday.
Standing there that night, I realized… maybe it really could.
Let me dream. Let me believe. Let me write it into reality.

Life is amazing. Truly.

My Lesson of Hope: When you dare to speak your dreams out loud, the universe starts rearranging itself to meet you. Signs, people, opportunities, they all appear when your heart is finally open to receiving them.