Walking Miracle
Consider this a January blog post happening on February 3, ok? Ok! 😉 I’m cozied up in the bedroom at the end of a very full day. NC is bouncing back after an unusually high amount of snow and ice, so routines have been a little crazy. I’ve been working from home, watching the slow melting of our street. Today I realized: I love to create. I love making pretty things on the internet. I love doing so at the dining room table in stretchy pants, watching Moo snooze by the window. I love the causes and people for whom I’m creating and posting and organizing. I love snuggling on the couch with Andrew at the end of the day, giggling over reels and steaming cups of tea. This is my daily life- what a gift! The days may be full and my brain may be mushy by the end, but it’s full of so much goodness. Enjoy some snow pictures below. ⛄
5 Years Later…
January 31 marked 5 years since my seizure. 5 years since we discovered my brain tumor, the return of my cancer, and embarking on a new journey known as metastatic breast cancer. I haven’t put much stock in statistics, personally, simply because they were scary. The 5 year survival rate for Stage IV triple negative breast cancer- aka, the chance I’d be here today- was 14%. (Even now, I just googled it and the National Breast Cancer Research Foundation claims just 12%!) 🫣 Most of the data on the internet is outdated by the time it gets published, anyway. I remember clearly thinking, “There’s no reason I can’t be in that 14%!” And by the grace of God, I was. 🥹
Thrivers who live to at least 5 years with metastatic breast cancer are called unicorns! It breaks my heart that this is so rare and unique. It isn’t fair. I will forever wish that the friends I’ve made and lost on this journey could be unicorns, too. I recognize this is a blessing and a privilege, and I want to celebrate!
*Caitlan, didn’t you already celebrate a 5 Year Cancerversary? I did! November 2024 marked 5 years since my initial diagnosis, and we celebrated with big balloons and cake. Now the calendar brings us to my 5 Year MBC Cancerversary.
Mark Your Calendars!
In that spirit, watch out, world! You’ll probably see me toting a giant number 5 balloon again soon. I’m sharing this with you, sweet friends, before anybody else on the internet. You’re warmly invited to come hang out with me at City Walk Brewing in Hickory, NC on Saturday February 28. Grab a drink, a hug, and maybe a selfie with my giant number 5 balloon. (haha) This is totally drop-in style, no commitment or RSVP. Andrew and I will just happen to be hanging out for a few hours, and would love to thank you for loving us so well for all these years in person. Our community and your prayers has truly carried us through the worst of times, and we’re forever grateful. Come celebrate all that God has done with us! 🩷
In this week’s podcast episode, I unpack my feelings behind the phrase, “walking miracle.” As you can imagine, it’s very humbling to be called a “walking miracle.” Sometimes I feel a flare of pressure, like I have to live up to this miracle or to justify why I’m still here. Other times I feel a little disoriented- if the big miracle of my life has already happened, what am I looking forward to? Or wonder if I’m allowed to seek future miracles? But one thing God is showing me lately is that miracles kept happening after Jesus went back to heaven. The Holy Spirit was active and moving in so many people and places, continuing to change people’s lives with God’s love. People were healed, hearts were opened, and earthly logistics moved- people were let out of prison against all odds! I find that so encouraging. (I’m reading She Reads Truth’s Acts Study- highly recommend!)
So if you feel like the best has already happened, or wonder if you’re eligible for more good things even though you’ve had your fill…miracle material is everywhere! As long as we have breath in our lungs, it means God has a purpose for us here. And He promises to be with us here, even to the very end. (Matthew 28:20) I can’t help but feel like every day has more potential than we can even imagine. We just never know what God is up to!
January Round-Up
Since this blog is very much my digital scrapbook, here’s a collection of goodness I want to remember:
I had a great conversation with my friend, Gennai, on the podcast! (Episode #84 One Last Look at 2025) I had named 2025 the year of abundance, and while that often felt inaccurate, I realized it wasn’t. 2025 was a pretty even mix of deep rest and hard work- I just never knew how long it would last. Somehow, in this midst of all that uncertainty, I had time to think, pray, design, and dream in wild abundance. Andrew and I traveled, Still Good Co. grew, and so much more! My prayer for 2026 is that I flail less and stay more connected to God. I know He’ll lead the way!
I was featured in Glamour Magazine! (Whaaaaat?) You can read it here!
Two months after I released my devotional for MBC Thrivers, a stranger I didn’t know actually bought one! 😂🙌 I really am proud of it, and felt called to write the words I needed so deeply on my own journey. But there’s nothing like radio silence to question what the heck you were thinking. I pray it helps others! Know someone who could use it? Check it out in the shop!
Bless you for making it to the bottom of this, sweet friends! See you next time!
