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Learning to appreciate how far we’ve come while trusting in everything that’s still ahead.

There is something so beautiful about watching your child grow while simultaneously watching yourself grow as a woman, a mother, and a person. Today, my heart is full. Full of gratitude, full of hope, and full of appreciation for the life I am living right now, even as I continue to pray for the life I dream of.

It’s Marley’s birthday, and I find myself reflecting on more than just another year of her life. I’m reflecting on our journey. The memories we’ve made, the lessons we’ve learned, the obstacles we’ve overcome, and all the little moments that have shaped us into who we are today.

And one of those beautiful moments? Marley’s FIRST CRUISE! 🚢

Something about experiencing new things with your child hits differently. Watching her experience something new, creating memories that she will hopefully carry with her for years to come, reminds me that life is happening right now. Not when I lose the weight. Not when I make more money. Not when everything finally falls into place. Not when I reach every goal on my vision board.

RIGHT NOW.

This moment, this birthday, this trip, this opportunity to create memories with my daughter is a blessing in itself.

I’m Learning to Appreciate the Journey, Not Just the Destination

For so long, I think I looked at life through the lens of what I still needed to accomplish. The goals I hadn’t reached. The things I wanted to change. The version of myself I was still working toward becoming.

And while I still have dreams, I still have goals, and I absolutely believe there is more for me, I am learning not to let the desire for more rob me of the gratitude I owe to today.

I can want a better future and still be thankful for my present.

I can pray for financial abundance while appreciating what I have today.

I can desire a beautiful, peaceful home, new opportunities, deeper love, greater confidence, and a life that feels even more aligned with who I am becoming, without dismissing the beauty of the life I already have.

Because the truth is, there was a time when some of the things I enjoy today were things I could only hope and pray for.

And I never want to become so consumed with the next chapter that I forget to appreciate the one I am living.

Marley Is One of My Greatest Reminders of Abundance

Motherhood has taught me that abundance isn’t always about having everything. Sometimes, abundance is having the opportunity to watch your child smile. It’s hearing their laughter. It’s taking pictures that will become memories. It’s seeing the world through their eyes and remembering that there is still so much beauty left to experience.

It’s being able to say, “We did that. We experienced that. We made that memory together.”

Marley’s first cruise represents more than a vacation to me. It represents the journey of a mother who wants to give her daughter a beautiful life while learning to give herself one, too.

I want Marley to have experiences. I want her to explore the world, discover who she is, feel safe enough to dream big, and understand that life can be beautiful even when it isn’t perfect.

But I also want her to see me living.

I want her to see me growing, healing, trying new things, pursuing my goals, choosing happiness, and believing that our story continues to get better.

I want her to know that we don’t have to wait until life is perfect to celebrate it.

And if there is one thing I hope she learns from watching me, it’s that gratitude and ambition can coexist. We can be thankful for our blessings and still believe God has more in store for us.

I’m Thankful for Today, but I’m Hopeful for Tomorrow

I would be lying if I said I had everything figured out. I don’t.

There are still things I want to accomplish. There are still areas of my life where I desire growth, peace, stability, and change. There are still prayers I am waiting to see answered.

But I am no longer interested in treating my current life like a waiting room.

I don’t want to spend every day waiting to become a better version of myself before allowing myself to enjoy who I am today.

I don’t want to postpone joy until my bank account looks a certain way, my body looks a certain way, my relationships look a certain way, or my life meets somebody else’s definition of success.

I want to live in gratitude while I build.

I want to experience joy while I grow.

I want to appreciate my blessings while I pray for bigger ones.

And I want to wake up every day understanding that being here, having another opportunity, loving my daughter, and having the ability to work toward something better are blessings in themselves.

My hope for our future is BIG. I pray for abundance in every area of our lives. Financial abundance. Emotional abundance. Spiritual abundance. Abundance in opportunities, meaningful experiences, genuine relationships, peace, health, and happiness.

I pray that the woman I am becoming creates a life that feels safe, fulfilling, and beautiful for both Marley and me.

I pray that one day I will look back on this season and understand why certain things had to happen the way they did. I pray that the seeds I am planting today will grow into something beautiful tomorrow.

And until then, I will keep showing up.

I will keep dreaming.

I will keep growing.

And I will keep giving thanks.

Here’s to the Memories We’re Making

Happy birthday to my beautiful Marley. ❤️

Thank you for giving me a reason to see the world differently. Thank you for the laughter, the lessons, the love, and the privilege of being your mother. Watching you grow is one of the greatest gifts of my life, and I hope you always know how deeply loved you are.

From your first cruise to all the adventures that await us, I pray that our lives continue to be filled with beautiful memories, new experiences, and opportunities that remind us just how blessed we are.

And to the woman I am becoming: I hope you remember this season.

Remember the days when you were still figuring things out. Remember the prayers you whispered. Remember the dreams you held onto. Remember the moments you chose gratitude even when life wasn’t perfect.

Remember that you didn’t wait until you had everything to start appreciating what you had.

Because this is life, too.

This is the journey.

This is the abundance.

This is the blessing.

Today, I am grateful for how far we’ve come, hopeful for how far we’ll go, and present enough to appreciate the beauty of where we are.

Here’s to Marley, to motherhood, to our first cruise, to the memories we have yet to make, and to a future that I believe holds so much more for us.

I’m thankful for yesterday because it brought us here. I’m hopeful for tomorrow because there is still so much to experience. But most importantly, I’m thankful for TODAY.

And today, my heart is full. 🤍

With gratitude, hope, and love — Amara Rivers.