Hello Beautiful Reader,
Can you believe we're already into the second week of the "love" month? Do any of you have any plans for Valentine's Day? I think it's pretty wonderful that this year the "love" day falls on a Saturday! Absolutely lovely! I would love to hear your plans. Feel free to reach out and share.
If you're new here, welcome to my little corner of the world! About once a month, I like to share some personal updates about what's happening in my life. I do this because I want you to know that we're all REAL people with REAL lives and REAL circumstances. We're in this together, you and me. And I must admit, the past few weeks have been a beautiful mix of joy and challenge for my family and me.
A Birthday to Remember
We kicked off the new year with a fabulous birthday celebration at my house for my older Brother. We had such a good time celebrating not only the arrival of 2026 but also his being a year older. We had so much food just the week before at our Christmas Eve brunch that we decided spaghetti and lasagna would be PERFECT to celebrate his special day. (Is there anything a good Italian meal can't fix? I think not!)
A Precious Family Trip
My Dad's sister, my Aunt, is not in the best of health. She is my Dad's last surviving sibling (my grandparents had 8 children). So, Hubbie, Mom, Dad, my brother, my two nephews, and my nephew's girlfriend all packed up in a rented van and traveled to Orlando to see her. It was such a precious visit. A lot of my family from Miami also traveled to the Airbnb we stayed in to see us. We stayed up until 3 or 4 o'clock almost every morning talking, laughing, and just enjoying each other's company.
And when we left Orlando, we traveled to Kissimmee to see my Mom's sister and my cousins. All the family gatherings were such a blessing… the kind of moments you tuck away in your heart and treasure forever.
Dad's Back Surgery and Mom's Broken Wrist (Yes, Both at Once!)
Some of you may know that my Dad has been suffering from back pain for years. He's had multiple falls due to weakness in his legs, and it's been just terrible for him. After a thorough assessment with his neurosurgeon, my Dad had back surgery a few weeks ago. The hospital was about 2 hours from where we live, so Hubbie and I went with Dad to stay with him during the surgery and his 6-day hospital stay.
I must admit… it has been tough. He is home now, and I was staying with Mom and Dad to help them both—because, y'all, my Mom broke her wrist and is in a full cast! Can you imagine? Both of them are recovering at the same time! Now all the family is coming together to help them both during their recoveries. It truly takes a village, and I'm so grateful for ours.
Once a Nurse, Always a Nurse
I will say it has been busy. I haven't been able to write as much as I would like. My mind and thoughts have been on my Mom and Dad's well-being and trying to coordinate everything so they are comfortable. I guess my 20-plus years of being a registered nurse are really coming into play now. As they say… once a nurse, always a nurse! LOL!
What's Coming Next
I am still doing my very best to get my next book, Soaring in Faith, out to you on time. This story is so close to my heart - Aaron and Meghan's journey of healing, love, and trusting God's plan has been such a joy to write. I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed creating it. I appreciate all of you being a part of my life and this journey more than you know.
A Scripture for the Season
This verse has been speaking to my heart lately:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." — Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)
In this busy, beautiful, sometimes overwhelming season of caregiving and creating, I'm learning to lean into His rest. If you're carrying heavy burdens too, friend, I pray you feel His gentle arms around you.
Catch Up on Previous Life Blogs
If you missed any of my previous monthly updates, you can find them all right here on my blog. I also share reflections and behind-the-scenes moments on my Substack, so feel free to visit me there too!
Let's Stay Connected
I love hearing from you! If you'd like to share your Valentine's Day plans, how your new year is going, or just want to say hello, you can email me at Barbara@BarbaraJaneOliver.com. Your messages mean the world to me.
And if you haven't already, I would be honored if you'd sign up for my newsletter. You'll be the first to know about new releases, exclusive content, and more personal reflections like this one.
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Until next time, keep reading, keep believing, and remember that God's timing is always perfect… even when life gets messy.
With love and gratitude,
Barbara Jane Oliver